Landscape Architecture Department
School of Architecture and Allied Arts

Undergraduate degree: B.L.A.
Undergraduate minor

The Architecture and Evolution of Landscape

Landscape architecture is an environmental design profession whose central concern is the wise use of land. In the area of environmental planning and design, you’ll complete a series of studio courses that focus on finding solutions to site and other environmental problems. Five subject areas form the foundation essential to work in this field:

• landscape architectural technology
• plants in the landscape
• landscape analysis and planning
• history and theory of landscape architecture
• landscape architectural media

Planning and design are viewed as processes for understanding the complex interdependence between natural and cultural systems.

As a landscape architect, you could be involved in a wide scope of design projects, from airports to zoos. You could also work on residential landscape developments; city plans and urban open-space networks; city, state, and national parks; and land use planning.

To apply to the UO’s five-year landscape architecture program, you must complete the university application for admission (due January 15), in addition to the departmental application (due February 15). You must also have a portfolio that includes samples of your creative work, a personal essay, letters of recommendation, and academic transcripts that meet the department’s own standards of academic excellence.

Sample Courses

• Landscape Architectural Design covers the study of places, their use, and how they evolve. Fundamentals of environmental awareness, social factors, and small-scale site design; abstract design and elementary graphic techniques are included
• Plants: Fall, Winter and Spring focuses on the characteristics, identification, and design uses of seasonal plants. In fall, this class covers deciduous trees, shrubs, vines, and ground covers. In winter, you’ll explore ornamental conifers, broad-leaved evergreen trees, shrubs, and ground covers. In spring, you’ll identify flowering trees, shrubs, vines, and groundcover
• Landscape Media Development covers freehand drawing and visualization skills; exercises on line, tone, texture, and color for plan, section, and perspective drawings
• Understanding Landscapes introduces landscape design theory and builds perception skill through lectures and examples of landscapes as environment sets, as biophysical processes, and as cultural values. Open to nonmajors and fulfills an Arts and Letters general education requirement