We only update this page occasionally so some of the course descriptions and syllabi might be out of date. Last update: July 2021.
NOTE: We changed some course numbers and added a few new courses in 2019–2020. To review the changes, view this document: Course Name Changes
L ARCH 212 | Designing the Future (5) VLPA/I&S
[Syllabi]
Ecological/environmental instability and resulting social/cultural disruptions make the world in which spatial designers work increasingly uncertain. Lectures and guest speakers explore diverse ways in which design may create more sustainable futures. Course activities, including in-class design exercises, internet research, group discussions, take home projects, etc. encourage synthetic/integrative thinking.
L ARCH 300 | Introductory Landscape Architecture Studio (6) VLPA
[Syllabi]
Introduction to history and environmental influences in field while developing design and graphic skills. Site analyses and drawing to convey design concepts. Relationship of visual perception to drawing, role of values in design, verbal communication, and behavioral analysis of design process. Required for admission to Bachelor of Landscape Architecture program.
L ARCH 322 | Introduction to Planting Design (3) VLPA
[Syllabi]
Traditional ways plants are used in landscape design. Composition and design characteristics of plant materials. Technical considerations for selection, climate, cultural suitability, availability, costs, and maintenance. Open to non-majors.
L ARCH 341 | Site Design and Planning (3) VLPA
[Syllabi]
Introduces urban ecological design issues for good site-planning processes, principles, and methods. Addresses planning for people, natural systems in place-making, design for movement with carried land uses. Includes readings, discussions, presentations, campus walks, case studies, graphic and written assignments.
L ARCH 352 | History of Landscape Architecture (5) VLPA/I&S + Writing
[Syllabi]
Survey of the development of landscape architecture as an art form from Mesopotamia to the present. Relationships to physical landscape, climate, culture, religion, and other arts. Open to non-majors.
L ARCH 353/553 | History of Modern Landscape Architecture (5) VLPA/I&S + Writing
[Syllabi]
Development of profession and art of landscape architecture in the United States, Europe, South America, and Japan in relation to prevailing social, economic, political, and cultural factors. Relationships with other professions, especially architecture and urban planning, and other arts, such as painting and sculpture. Open to non-majors.
L ARCH 361 | The Human Experience of Place (3) I&S/VLPA + Diversity
[Syllabi]
Interdisciplinary approaches to exploring the reciprocal relationship between people and the landscapes of everyday life. Through readings, discussion, in-class activities and mini-projects, students study place attachment, relationships to nature, environmental attitudes and perception, personal space, territoriality, urban public space, diversity, participation, and the politics of space. Open to nonmajors.
L ARCH 363/563 | Ecological Design and Planning (3) NW
[Syllabi]
Introduction to landscape ecological theory applied to urban environments. Comparison of different vocabularies used to describe landscape structure and function, from the fields of landscape design, urban design, and biology. Discussion of design theories that have sought to re-center landscape planning and design around the goal of achieving ecological sustainability. Open to nonmajors.
L ARCH 401 | Design Foundations Studio (6)
[Syllabi]
Introduces site planning and design process, principles, and skills through experiential learning. Examines and applies landscape elements used to design, including plants. Activities foster skill in design process, shaping landscape form and space, creativity, communication, group dynamics, and organization. Includes required field trips. Offered: Autumn term.
L ARCH 402 | Urban Sites Studio (6)
[Syllabi]
Explores application of design ideas and principles to urban sites. Applies theory and research informing the design of human environments and lessons from urban and ecological design precedents to the design of urban places. Includes design across scales to detailed site design studies, including planting design. Majors only. Offered: Winter term.
L ARCH 403 | Ecological Systems Studio (6)
[Syllabi]
Project design studies related to ecological systems. Emphasizes the innovative use of ecological processes and patterns in design development to improve designed landscape’s performance. Both biophysical and social criteria are used to define performance. Introduces computer-mapping applications. Majors only. Offered: Sp.
Advanced Studios [course number L ARCH 404, 405, 407, 501, 503, 504] (6)
[Advanced Studio List + Syllabi]
The advanced studio series employ a design as research approach to examine contemporary issues in landscape architecture that are culturally diverse, multi-scalar, and collaborative. The projects for each studio are distinct, however they all advance student’s skills in design thinking, critical assessment, analysis, collaboration, and communication.
L ARCH 406 | Individual Design Studio (6)
Senior projects in landscape architecture; projects vary according to the student’s particular emphasis and needs.
L ARCH 411 | Landscape Representation I (3)
[Syllabi]
Introduces fundamental graphic and representation conventions, hand-drawing techniques, and media used in landscape architecture and environmental design. Emphasizes drawing and media skills that support design ability development. Includes lectures, demonstrations, display of examples, drawing from slides, and in-class workshops. Credit/no-credit only.
L ARCH 412 | Landscape Representation II (1-3, max. 6)
Development of advanced skills of visual representation to communicate students’ visions for urban ecological design including techniques used during the design process and for presentation.
L ARCH 423 | Plant Identification & Management (3)
[Syllabi]
Plants and the soil in which they grow are the living materials that form the foundational palette from which landscape architects work to design and manage landscapes. Learn to identify plants, their ecology and understand their maintenance requirements. Provides students with the opportunity to gain insight into the field of botany, biological complexity of plants and their structural contributions to urban ecology.
L ARCH 424 | Planting Design Seminar (3)
[Syllabi]
Introduces and investigates the ecological and social functions behind planting design. Introduces conceptual methods to planting design using various ‘lenses’. Discusses the relationship between planting plan graphics and their actual three-dimensional applications. Focuses on combining plants into a cohesive, artistic, and ecologically responsible design that responds appropriately to site conditions. Prerequisite: either L ARCH 423, ESRM 331/BIOL 331, or BIOL 446.
L ARCH 431 | Landform Grading and Drainage (3)
[Syllabi]
Introduces the concepts and methods behind grading and drainage and how they are used as design and problem-solving tools. Covers the relationship between grading and drainage plan graphics and their actual three-dimensional applications. Presents basic design principles. Considers the ecological and artistic approaches to grading and drainage. Majors only.
L ARCH 432 | Materials, Craft, and Construction (3)
[Syllabi]
Materials and material assemblies in landscape architecture. Material fundamentals, design, detailing and construction techniques. Site-based material analysis and hands-on fabrication. Prerequisite: L ARCH 431.
L ARCH 433 | Design Implementation (3)
[Syllabi]
Provides an understanding of essential considerations of design implementation and construction documentation in landscape architecture. Emphasizes the landscape architect’s skill in preparing drawings and specifications and their role during bidding and construction. Includes production of a construction drawing set. Prerequisite: L ARCH 432 and L ARCH 441.
L ARCH 434 | Urban Soils and Hydrology (3)
[Syllabi]
Develops basic understanding and skills related to soil properties and their specification for use in horticulture and hydrological performance, and knowledge and skills needed by landscape architects to implement design solutions that manipulate urban hydrological conditions. Majors only. Prerequisite: L ARCH 433.
L ARCH 440 | Digital Media I in Landscape (3)
[Syllabi]
Introduces digital applications and methodologies useful in landscape architectures’ interpretive, iterative design, production, and presentation processes. Focuses on skills in 2D CAD, 3D visualization, graphic representation, and the integration of manual and digital techniques. Prerequisite: L ARCH 411.
L ARCH 441 | Digital Media II in Landscape (3)
[Syllabi]
Explores Computer Aided Design as a powerful tool in landscape design, analysis, and visualization. Consists of four core units: 2D CAD drafting; digital terrain modeling; 3D solids and surface modeling; and visualization. Prerequisite: L ARCH 440.
L ARCH 454 | History of Urban Landscapes and Environments (5) I&S
[Syllabi]
Explores the history and historiography of urban landscapes and the design of cities with an emphasis on North America in the context of the broader study of cities in China, Japan, and in the Western world from the pre-classical through twentieth centuries in Europe. Offered: Spring.
L ARCH 473 | Professional Practice (3)
[Syllabi]
Professional practice in private office, academic institutions, and public agencies. Evolution of landscape architecture as a profession, possible scenarios for future, variety of practice types and their relationships, ethical and legal/contractual responsibilities of a professional.
L ARCH 474 | Design Build Studio I (6)
[Syllabi]
Detailed design studies of small-to-medium-scale projects. General focus on public landscape areas and social/psychological uses of site. Specific focus on design development and professional office presentation. Offered: Winter.
L ARCH 475 | Design Build Studio II (6)
[Syllabi]
Students design and construct a community based project, synthesizing prior course instruction by going through the design process from concept to schematic design, creating construction documents, and implementing what they have designed. Offered: Sp.
L ARCH 476 | Internship (1-6, max. 9)
[Description]
Working experiences at various levels of professional endeavor. Student apprenticeship in selected private offices and public agencies. Credit/no-credit only.
L ARCH 495 Landscape Architectural Studies Abroad (1-10, max. 30)
[Syllabi]
Studies conducted under faculty supervision in various locations outside the United States.
L ARCH 498/598 | Special Projects (1-10)
[Syllabi]
Special projects as arranged. Open to nonmajors.
L ARCH 499 | Undergraduate Research (1-6, max. 6)
Individual or small-group studies pertaining to special problems, theories, or issues of landscape architecture and environmental issues.
Advanced Studios [course number L ARCH 404, 405, 407, 501, 503, 504] (6)
[Advanced Studio List + Syllabi]
The advanced studio series employ a design as research approach to examine contemporary issues in landscape architecture that are culturally diverse, multi-scalar, and collaborative. The projects for each studio are distinct, however they all advance student’s skills in design thinking, critical assessment, analysis, collaboration, and communication.
L ARCH 553 History of Modern Landscape Architecture (5)
[Syllabi]
Focuses on building an historic and critical overview of modernism and modernist designs in the practice and discipline of landscape architecture. Focuses on critical readings of historical narratives to explore the emergence of theory in practice.
L ARCH 561 | The Human Experience of Place (3)
[Syllabi]
Uses interdisciplinary approaches to explore the reciprocal relationship between people and the landscapes of everyday life. Studies place attachment, relationships to nature, environmental attitudes and perception, personal space, territoriality, urban public space, diversity, participation, and the politics of space. Offered: A.
L ARCH 570 | Landscape Architecture Theory and Scholarship (3)
[Syllabi]
Covers the nature of scholarship and theory building in landscape architecture. Investigates scholarship related to the design process, design critique, research, and practice. Includes consideration of capstone project topics.
L ARCH 571 | Thesis Research Methods
[Syllabi]
This class is designed to expose students to the social science research methods used to conduct effective place-based research. Students learn how to conduct observations, in-depth interviews, surveys, archival research, post-occupancy evaluations, case studies, action research, and to interpret data. Students also explore possible thesis topics and methods of inquiry.
L ARCH 590 | Seminar in Landscape Architecture (1-3, max. 12)
[Syllabi]
Advanced topics in landscape architecture with focus on unpublished areas of research.
L ARCH 598 | Special Topics (1-6, max. 9)
[Syllabi]
Systematic study of specialized regional landscape subject matters, including history, technology, implementation, and other topics depending on current interest/needs. Topics vary and are announced in the preceding quarter.
L ARCH 600 | Independent Study or Research (*)
L ARCH 601 | Internship (3-9, max. 9)
[Description]
L ARCH 700 Master’s Thesis (*)
*Variable credit
L ARCH 701 | Thesis Studio (1-6, max. 12)
[Syllabi]
Studio designed to support students’ independent thesis research and design process by providing a structured framework for regular meetings, studio reviews, peer/committee/guest critiques, and process reflections. Credit/no-credit only.
L ARCH 702 | Capstone Project Studio (1-6, max. 12)
[Syllabi]
Capstone group project studio. Credit/no-credit only.
L ARCH 703 | Group Project (1-6, max. 12)
[Syllabi]
Credit/no-credit only.