Architecture Landscaping

This ethos of investigation is born out of the major environmental issues facing societies around the world: resource depletion, climate change, urbanization, water shortages and desertification, energy crises, sea-level rise, suburbanization. Landscape architects now practice in a world in which design is a critical component of building new futures. In order to meet new environmental challenges through innovative and sensitive design, landscape architects need to be trained how to think speculatively as well as practically, how to make new terrains and new conditions for life, and how to reach out to communities composed of diverse peoples with diverse needs.

The Auburn MLA has developed three areas of inquiry, which guide and regulate its teaching and learning strategies. These are ecological urbanism, environmental justice and global challenges. Together they make up what we call the critical practice of landscape architecture.

Everything in the Auburn University MLA curriculum has been crafted especially for the teaching of contemporary landscape design. Students have twelve hours of studio per week. This gives them plenty of time to develop skills, to work creatively, and to have meaningful sessions with professors. Class size is small: around sixteen students. Feedback, project discussion, and review is critical, informed relevant, and focused. It is always thought-provoking and constructive, shaped to help students achieve their best.

Our research, teaching and outreach programs place a strategic emphasis on urban and regional landscape systems. Students work with real clients and communities, taking on local knowledge and helping organizations and groups to achieve their goals as participants in the building of our collective futures. They also work with professors who have significant industry experience, learning not only the skills to become a professional landscape architect, but also the confidence and authority that comes with being a good communicator of their creative work.

That's why our students have no trouble finding employment in the professional landscape architecture practices they admire.

The Auburn Master of Landscape Architecture is a two year, six semester program. Students with no design background are now able to complete the program in just over two years of full time study. Students who have a previous degree in architecture, urban design or landscape architecture may, on application, achieve Advanced Placement into the program and complete it in just under two years of full time study.