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Landscape Architecture

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Landscape Architecture

A Blend of Art and Science

Landscape architecture grew out of a unique combination of social, artistic, and environmental expertise. Landscape architects have been influential in designing scenic areas of American cities – especially parks and open spaces.

Designing, Planning and Managing the Landscape

Landscape Architecture is sensitive and creative design, planning, and management of the land, for the benefit of present and future generations. Here's what you might do with your landscape architecture training:

  • Design landscapes on small sites and on large, multi-unit developments
  • Plan the use of wilderness areas
  • Assess environmental impacts
  • Restore and manage natural ecosystems
  • Direct public policy in regional land-use planning
  • Create and revitalize urban neighborhoods, commercial districts and open space systems

Two Study Programs

The UW-Madison offers undergraduates two ways to study landscape architecture:

  • Professional Design Program
    • This is the way to go if you think you'd like to work as a professional landscape architect. This program provides a professional education accredited by the American Society of Landscape Architects. It's a good choice if you want to work for a private firm specializing in landscape architecture or architecture, engineering or landscape contracting firms, or in a governmental design and planning agency. Coursework focuses on design processes, technical knowledge and graphic and verbal communication skills.
    • Natural Resource Planning and Management Program
  • This option focuses more on the physical and natural sciences. It's a good choice if you are interested in visual resource management, environmental impact assessment, ecological restoration, landscape reclamation, natural areas management, or historic preservation. The core curriculum includes courses in site analysis, computerized land-information systems, and conservation ecology, as well as a series of issue-oriented, problem-solving workshops.

Experience Outside of Class

As a landscape architecture major, you'll get a lot out of your classes by leaving the classroom. The expertise you gain during independent study projects, field trips, site visits and professional internships will build on the foundation of knowledge garnered in classroom and studio.

You'll have a unique opportunity for personalized learning through projects directed by a nationally recognized faculty – not only our own landscape architects, but also specialists from closely related disciplines such as geography, botany, art, and architecture.

You'll also get field experience through summer courses in such areas as native plant communities and rural historic preservation. These provide students with first-hand experience of the diversity of such natural and cultural landscapes as Wisconsin's Apostle Islands and rural Door County.

Where You'll be Learning

The Department of Landscape Architecture has highly visible undergraduate and interdisciplinary graduate level programs. Several members of the Faculty are well known nationally. During the past five years alone, the faculty have received seven national awards from peers in their profession.

Located in Agricultural Hall, the landscape architecture department's facilities include large studio areas for instruction and workspaces for each student. The computer laboratory is nearby, and Steenbock Library and the Land Information and Computer Graphics Facility are one block away. Classes are also held at the UW-Madison Arboretum, the Wisconsin Historical Society and other locations throughout the state.

Financial Assistance

The College of Agricultural and Life Sciences offers many scholarships that are granted based on academic performance, need or extracurricular activities. For more information on scholarships, loans and work-study programs contact the UW-Madison Office of Financial Services.

For more information contact:

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an AA/EEO institution. University policies create additional protection that prohibits harassment on the basis of cultural background and ethnicity. Inquires concerning these policies may be directed to the appropriate campus admitting or employing unit or to the Equity and Diversity Resource Center, 179-A, Bascom Hall, (608) 263-2378, TTY (608) 263-2473.