The master’s program in landscape architecture is rigorous, particularly in the first year. The curriculum becomes more flexible as you advance, with elective courses taken in the second and third years. We encourage you to discuss past academic and professional experiences with the graduate coordinator to facilitate making the most of the curriculum and your interests. Students have three options for the final semester of work: the studio option, a design thesis option, or a written thesis option. Students considering the design or written thesis options should begin discussions with the graduate coordinator as soon as possible in order to begin work in time to meet the academic deadlines and requirements of the LSU Graduate School.
Students without pre-professional degrees are required to complete 90 hours of graduate-level coursework, 78 hours of which must be at the 7000 level, a sequence that typically takes three years. Students with accredited professional degrees are required to complete a minimum of 54 credit hours, 30 hours of which must be at the 7000 level, which generally takes two years to complete. Students holding accredited allied discipline degrees may be considered for advanced placement. This degree requires 69 credit hours, 48 hours of which must be at the 7000 level, which generally takes two years to complete.
MLA Curriculum
Semester 1
LA 7011 Site Systems Studio I (6 hours)
LA 7101 Media I (3)
LA 7013 History and Theory I (3)
LA 7014/3401 Ecology and Technology I (3)
Semester 2
LA 7021 Site Systems Studio II (6)
LA 7102 Media II (3)
LA 7023 History and Theory II (3)
LA 7402/3402 Ecology and Technology III (3)
Semester 3
LA 7031 Water Systems Studio (6)
LA 7080 Emerging Paradigms Colloquium (3)
LA 7024/3301 Ecology and Technology II (3)
LA 7504 Elective¹ (or equivalent) (3)
Semester 4
LA 7041 Urban Systems Studio (6)
LA 7044/3302 Ecology and Technology IV (3)
LA 7201 Research Methods (3)
LA 7504 Elective¹ (or equivalent) (3)
Semester 5
LA 7051 Advanced Topics Studio (or equivalent option studio) (6)
LA 7900² Design Research (currently LA 7502) (3)
LA 7504 Elective¹ (or equivalent) (3)
LA 7504 Elective¹ (or equivalent) (3)
Semester 6
LA 7900² Design Research (currently LA 7061 Advanced Topics Studio) (6)
LA 7043 Professional Practice (3)
LA 7504 Elective¹ (or equivalent) (3)
LA 7504 Elective¹ (or equivalent) (3)
¹ Two electives should be core electives
² Course number to be proposed
Questions about the Master of Landscape Architecture curriculum should be addressed to the graduate coordinator. For more details about courses, visit the LSU General Catalog or the landscape architecture portfolio page to see work.