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Program Facts

Landscape, planning and design have been part of the curriculum at Kansas State University since 1871, being part of the required curriculum of all students in the early days of the institution. The first MLA student graduated in 1968.

• Accredited by Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board (LAAB)
• One of 30 accredited graduate programs in the country
• Kansas State University's landscape architecture programs have been awarded more American Society of Landscape Architecture Student Awards than any other university in the country

Applicants to the master of landscape architecture program have undergraduate degrees in many different fields. For this reason the faculty evaluate all applicants on an individual basis to determine the applicant's level of ability. Students may be required to undertake basic proficiency courses to ensure they have the knowledge and skills in history and theory, design, construction, planting design, and professional practice. The basic proficiency courses will vary with each individual, from none for a student with an accredited BLA degree to 46 credits for a student with no design background.  The MLA program is a 2 year program for a student with an accredited BLA degree to a 7 semester program for a student with no design background. 

• Program size:
     25 to 30 graduate students
     16 Faculty assigned to the undergraduate and graduate programs

Our definition of advanced landscape architecture education includes development of a strong foundation of traditional knowledge and skills as well as self-motivated and defined scholarship.  Throughout the program, we are committed to research as a means of learning and serving communities and individuals.  K-State MLA graduates provide leadership in and an advocacy for stewardship of the land and the interface of people with the land.  They seek long-term solutions concerning land health, human dignity, and aesthetic quality.  Our graduates practice across the world in a wide variety of natural and built environments including urban, suburban, rural, wilderness, domestic and international.  Their practice takes place in small and large firms, multi-disciplinary firms, design/build, land development, facility management, public practice, academic settings and within other fields.

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Program Goal
To develop leaders in the field of landscape design and project management. Since all development must begin with the landscape as its essence, students in the program have a strong educational foundation and understanding of landscape values and land design, human behavior, ecology, visual analysis and site development and conservation.
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Mission of the Master of Landscape Architecture Program

Advising

Each student receives their initial academic advising from the MLA Program Director. As an area of concentration and research topic are selected, each student selects and is advised by a committee of faculty known as the Advisory Committee. The committee works with the student in the preparation of a program of study. The Advisory Committee should consist of at least three members of the Graduate Faculty, one of whom must be from outside of the MLA Program. The Major Professor is the primary advisor and works most closely with the student to prepare the program of study. The other committee members should be consulted periodically in a manner agreed upon by all. Communication with the Advisory Committee is the responsibility of the student.
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Curriculum

The “p” following the credits indicates a basic proficiency course (listing as a deficiency by the Graduate School). 

Proficiency Courses
Students without a design background are required to undertake basic proficiency courses to ensure they have the knowledge and skills in history and theory, design, construction, planting design, and professional practice. The first semester of the three year program is devoted to development of these skills which continues in the second semester with their application.  The required basic proficiency courses will vary with each individual, from none for a student with an accredited BLA degree to 54 credits for a student with no design background. Possible required proficiency courses are: 

Core Curriculum
The core courses are designed to fulfill several purposes. The series provides an overview of the profession of landscape architecture and explores the scope, context, and opportunities of the profession. Students are introduced to research as a principle tool of advancement of the profession and the application of research in professional practice. MLA Research is described in the next section of the Handbook. The following core courses are required of all graduate students in the MLA curriculum.

Concentrations
The MLA Program offers two areas of concentration: Community and Urban Design and Resource Planning and Management. These areas represent the interests and expertise of the faculty as well as a response to the opportunities of professional practice. The intent of an area of concentration is to allow focused investigation of topics and issues specific to student interests. A minimum of 18 credit hours of the required 34 credit hour program of study should be directed by the selected area of concentration.

Community and Urban Design
The Community and Urban Design area of concentration is oriented toward the design of towns and cities. Students may focus on urban or rural environments. Project management, site design detail, community participation and historic preservation are among the specific aspects of community and urban design that students may choose to organize their choice of concentration electives.

Studio projects typically address actual urban or community situations and allow interaction with public or governmental agencies, community-based organizations, institutions and private developers. Solutions to these large-scale design problems involve socio-economic, cultural, environmental and technological responses as well as development of appropriate and practical design processes and implementation strategies.

The relationship of the designer to other disciplines and to the policies of community and urban development is emphasized in this area of concentration. Students are encouraged to explore multi-disciplinary projects in the studio and seminars as well as support electives in geography, American ethnic studies, sociology, regional and community planning.

Resource Planning and Management
The Resource Planning and Management area of concentration develops an understanding of resource analysis, planning, design and management. Development of a working knowledge of factors critical to an analysis of environmental resources, methods of data collection and interpretation and application of analysis results is central to this area of concentration.

Studio projects involve a team approach to inventory and analysis of regional sites. Site plans, development plans and environmental impact statements are among the projects undertaken in the studio. Students are encouraged

to include support electives in other disciplines such as agronomy, biology, engineering, geography and regional and community planning in their concentration electives.

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Program of Study
The Graduate School requires that each student develop a program of study. The program of study is a list of the courses each student intends to take to fulfill the requirements of their graduate degree. The 34 credit hour MLA program of study requires all students to take several core courses and to develop an individual concentration in Community and Urban Design or Resource Planning and Management. A program of study should be filed with the Graduate School by each student prior to initiating the final year of study. The program of study must adhere to Graduate School policies which address required course levels, problems courses and other specific issues.

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Other Helpful Links
Graduate Course Catalog Information to read the description of each course, Online Course Schedule shows which classes are being offered at this time, and KATS which is used to access your personal information.

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