Landscape Architecture
Department Head: Dr. Anne Spafford
Graduate Coordinator: Dr. Peter Summerlin
Landscape Architecture Building
Box 9725
Mississippi State, MS 39762
Telephone: 662-325-3012
E-mail: cl1004@msstate.edu
Graduate study leading to a Master of Landscape Architecture degree is offered in the Department of Landscape Architecture; thesis and non-thesis options are available. Students in the program have the opportunity to work with faculty on a wide range of research and design topics within the profession of landscape architecture. Special program emphasis is placed on watershed planning, landscape management, and community planning and design. The design studio courses broadly consider landscape issues related to water, health, and habitat in an effort to achieve the department’s mission of "fostering the will and ability to plan, design, build and manage regenerative communities.”
Admission
The applicant to the M.L.A. program should have a minimum GPA of 2.80 on a 4.00 scale. A student without a bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture from an accredited program may undertake the M.L.A. as a first professional degree but is required to undertake additional “leveling” coursework to ensure competency in the field; this typically requires an additional year of study. Submission of Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores is recommended but not required. The applicant’s submission should include a letter of interest that includes a written statement (no more than 1500 words) explaining his or her interest in pursuing graduate studies in landscape architecture at Mississippi State University. Three letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with the applicant’s academic work, motivation, and character should accompany the application. The applicant should also submit a detailed résumé. Applicants with degrees from allied fields (such as architecture or civil engineering) should submit a portfolio if they wish to be considered for course reductions during the leveling year. Contact the department’s graduate coordinator for additional information.
Accelerated Program
Highly qualified undergraduates (GPA of 3.0 or higher) in professional design programs are encouraged to apply to the Accelerated MLA Program. This program permits students to earn up to 16 hours of graduate level coursework during their junior and senior years of undergraduate studies. Students take graduate level courses and earn both undergraduate credit and graduate credit simultaneously. Students need to consult with a potential graduate advisor to ensure graduate credit could be applied to a Program of Study for the graduate degree. Application to this program may be made at the end of the sophomore or the junior year (i.e., after completion of 60 or more hours of graded undergraduate courses). Students interested in applying to the Accelerated Program should contact the Department of Landscape Architecture's Graduate Coordinator for more details.
Master of Landscape Architecture - Thesis
| Core Courses | ||
| LA 6113 | Design Theory and Criticism | 3 |
| LA 8513 | Landscape Architecture Graduate Studio I | 3 |
| LA 8711 | Seminar in Watershed Planning and Management | 1 |
| LA 8523 | Landscape Architecture Graduate Studio II | 3 |
| LA 8721 | Seminar in Landscape Management | 1 |
| LA 8533 | Landscape Architecture Graduate Studio III | 3 |
| LA 8731 | Seminar in Community Based Planning | 1 |
| LA 8741 | Proposal Writing Seminar | 1 |
| LA 8751 | Seminar in Contemporary Design Issues | 1 |
| LA 8613 | Research Methods in Landscape Architecture | 3 |
| Approved Graduate-level Elective | 3 | |
| Other Requirements | ||
| LA 8000 | 6 | |
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Statistical Methods | ||
SO 8274 | ||
| Total Hours | 33 | |
Thesis students will develop a proposal and presentation for approval by the student’s graduate committee. The committee is comprised of not fewer than three graduate faculty, at least two of whom must be from the Department of Landscape Architecture. The candidate’s graduate committee must approve the completed thesis and administer a final thesis defense.
Non-thesis students will develop a case-study research document prior to entering the final Case Study Studio. The student’s non-thesis graduate committee will be comprised of three Landscape Architecture graduate faculty assigned to instruct the Studio. The candidate’s graduate committee must approve the completed case-study project and administer a final oral examination at the conclusion of the Case Study Studio.
Master of Landscape Architecture - Non-Thesis
| Core Courses | ||
| LA 6113 | Design Theory and Criticism | 3 |
| LA 8513 | Landscape Architecture Graduate Studio I | 3 |
| LA 8711 | Seminar in Watershed Planning and Management | 1 |
| LA 8523 | Landscape Architecture Graduate Studio II | 3 |
| LA 8721 | Seminar in Landscape Management | 1 |
| LA 8533 | Landscape Architecture Graduate Studio III | 3 |
| LA 8731 | Seminar in Community Based Planning | 1 |
| LA 8741 | Proposal Writing Seminar | 1 |
| LA 8751 | Seminar in Contemporary Design Issues | 1 |
| LA 8613 | Research Methods in Landscape Architecture | 3 |
| Graduate-level Elective | 3 | |
| Other Requirements | ||
| LA 6124 | Landscape Architecture Construction V: Construction Documents | 4 |
| LA 6443 | Exterior Design-Build Studio | 3 |
| LA 6514 | Ecological Planting Design | 4 |
| LA 8545 | LA Studio IV-Case Study 1 | 5 |
| Total Hours | 39 | |
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Non-thesis student must have a signed proposal prior to entering LA 8545. The proposal must include the course instructor and one additional graduate faculty member from the department who will serve as an advisor.
LA 6113 Design Theory and Criticism: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: Undergraduates: Consent of Instructor, Graduates: None). Three hours lecture. An examination of the major theories and criticisms of modern landscape design with emphasis upon developing a critical approach to the profession
LA 6124 Landscape Architecture Construction V: Construction Documents: 4 hours.
(Prerequisites: LA 2544 and LA 2644). Two hours lecture. Four hours studio. The course integrates design principles with construction practices, culminating in the preparation of a site design and set of construction documents
LA 6443 Exterior Design-Build Studio: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite:Consent of instructor).Six hours studio/lab. An interdisciplinary exploration of an exterior project focused on sustainable site practices from design concept to implementation
LA 6463 Community Food Systems: 3 hours.
Two hours lecture. Two hours laboratory. Exploration of aspects in community food systems including planning and design, sustainable growing practices, and human nutrition and health. (Same as FNH 4463/6463 and PSS 4463/6463)
LA 6514 Ecological Planting Design: 4 hours.
(Prerequisites: Undergraduates: ART 1123, LA 1153, LA 1333, LA 1533, PSS 2423; Graduates: LA 8513 or Consent of Instructor). Two hours lecture. Four hours studio. Examine and apply adaptation theory and strategies that emphasize resilient approaches to urban and suburban green infrastructure projects
LA 6523 Applications for GIS for Landscape Architects: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite:LA 1223 or consent of instructor). One hour lecture,four hour studio/lab. Applying geographical information systems technology to the practice of Landscape Architecture
LA 6653 Study Abroad: Gardens and Urban Spaces: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: Junior or graduate standing of consent of instructor). Special on-site travel study to experience and document notable landscape architecture projects, methods of construction, and professional offices overseas
LA 6753 Sustainable Landscape Management: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite:LA 2433). Online course. An examination of methods for sustainable land management. Ecological systems, services, and processes providing the foundation for decision-making in land management
LA 6843 Sustainable Communities: 3 hours.
Three hours lecture. Theory and practices that minimize resource use and pollutant production in the human landscape (same as ABE 4843/6843)
LA 6990 Special Topics in Landscape Architecture: 1-9 hours.
Credit and title to be arranged. This course is to be used on a limited basis to offer developing subject matter areas not covered in existing courses. (Courses limited to two offerings under one title within two academic years)
LA 7000 Directed Individual Study in Landscape Architecture: 1-6 hours.
Hours and credit to be arranged
LA 8512 Landscape Architecture Graduate Studio I: 2 hours.
(Prerequisite: admission to the Master of Landscape Arch- itecture). Four hours studio. Emphasis on holistic approaches to sustainable watershed planning and management. Course deals specifically with prevention of destruction of habitat, biological stress, and hydrologic changes
LA 8513 Landscape Architecture Graduate Studio I: 3 hours.
(Prerequisites: Admission to the Master of Landscape Architecture program). Six hours studio. Emphasis on the use and management of water in the landscape. Course deals with both the planning and design of water systems at various scales and contexts
LA 8522 Landscape Architecture Graduate Studio II: 2 hours.
(Prerequisite: admission to the Master of Landscape Architecture). Four hours studio. Application of spatial anal- ytical techniques and Geographic Information Systems to the execution of landscape planning problems in the Mississippi region
LA 8523 Landscape Architecture Graduate Studio II: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: LA 8513). Six hours studio. Application of research and theories of the built environment and human health to the execution of landscape planning problems in the Mississippi region
LA 8532 Landscape Architecture Graduate Studio III: 2 hours.
(Prerequisite: second year standing in the Master of Landscape Architecture). Four hours studio. Emphasis on community based planning and design, including consideration of natural resource planning, main street revitalization, open space planning, community design, and small town planning
LA 8533 Landscape Architecture Graduate Studio III: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: LA 8523). Six hours studio. Emphasis on the design and planning of communities that integrate human and environmental systems. Broadly considers human and wildlife habitats at various scales and context
LA 8545 LA Studio IV-Case Study: 5 hours.
(Prerequisite: LA 8533, LA 8741 and a signed proposal). Ten hours studio. A culminating course in which students complete a case study, an in-depth project critique and a design of a project of similar size and scope
LA 8613 Research Methods in Landscape Architecture: 3 hours.
Three hours lecture. Application of research methods specific to problems in Landscape Architecture
LA 8711 Seminar in Watershed Planning and Management: 1 hour.
(Prerequisite: admission to the Master of Landscape Architecture program or consent of the instructor). One hour seminar. Examination of major elements of watershed planning and management pertinent to landscape architecture, with particular emphasis on emerging trends in the field
LA 8721 Seminar in Landscape Management: 1 hour.
(Prerequisite: admission to the Master of Landscape Arch- itecture program or consent of the instructor). One hour seminar. Examination of major elements of landscape manage- ment pertinent to landscape architecture, with particular emphasis on emerging trends in the field
LA 8731 Seminar in Community Based Planning: 1 hour.
(Prerequisite: second year standing in the Master of Land- scape Architecture program or consent of the instructor). One hour seminar. Examination of major elements of community based planning pertinent to landscape architecture, with particular emphasis on emerging trends in the field
LA 8741 Proposal Writing Seminar: 1 hour.
(Prerequisite: second year standing in the Master of Landscape Architecture program or consent of instructor). One hour seminar. Preparation of detailed written proposals of a variety of types including the proposal for the student’s thesis or case study (non-thesis) project
LA 8751 Seminar in Contemporary Design Issues: 1 hour.
(Prerequisite: second year standing in the Master of Landscape Architecture program or consent of instructor). One hour seminar. Exploration and debate of current design, research and planning issues in landscape architecture
LA 8990 Special Topics in Landscape Architecture: 1-9 hours.
Credit and title to be arranged. This course is to be used on a limited basis to offer developing subject matter areas not covered in existing courses. (Courses limited to two offerings under one title within two academic years)
LA 9000 Research in Landscape Architecture: 1-13 hours.
Hours and credits to be arranged