The undergraduate and graduate programs at the LSU Robert Reich School of Landscape Architecture (RRSLA) have once again received top rankings from DesignIntelligence magazine, the leading journal of design professionals. The November/December 2015 issue of “America’s Best Architecture & Design Schools” ranked the undergraduate program as number one in the nation and the graduate program as number three in the nation for the year 2016.

The LSU Robert Reich School of Landscape Architecture undergraduate and graduate programs have been consistently ranked within the top five in the nation for more than a decade; 2016 marks the sixth time the undergraduate program has held the number one position since 2007. This year, the graduate program moved up two spots in the rankings from fifth to third in the nation.

DesignIntelligence also publishes the rankings of the top five undergraduate and graduate schools by region, and LSU is ranked as the number one landscape architecture school in the South for both its graduate and undergraduate programs.

A total of 1,426 professional practice organizations participated in the research and were queried on the question, “In your firm’s hiring experience in the past five years, which of the following schools are best preparing students for success in today’s profession?” Firms are queried about additional issues, as well, such as how programs rate in teaching various skills. The research ranks undergraduate and graduate programs from the perspective of leading practitioners.

In addition to the undergraduate and graduate school rankings by professionals, 40 deans and department heads offered their opinions about programs in their own institutions as well as other departments across the U.S. LSU was once again ranked as the number one most-admired undergraduate landscape architecture program for its “long tradition and continued commitment to design education and research.”

“It is satisfying to have our BLA ranking remain steady and our MLA ranking improve,” commented Mark Boyer, director of the LSU Robert Reich School of Landscape Architecture. “It is also noteworthy that we have the top programs in the South and are the only public institution with two programs in the top five—and that we are in the top five of all skills assessments except one.”

Surveys for “America’s Best Architecture & Design Schools” are conducted annually by DesignIntelligence on behalf of the Design Futures Council. The research ranks undergraduate and graduate programs from the perspective of leading practitioners. Survey participants are professionals in architecture, industrial design, interior design, and landscape architecture, drawn from the Greenway Group database of leading firms throughout the United States. “America’s Best Architecture & Design Schools, 2016” is available for purchase online. Visit di.net/articles/Americas-best-architecture-schools-2016/ to view a complete list of design school rankings.

About LSU Robert Reich School of Landscape Architecture
The Robert Reich School of Landscape Architecture has established an international reputation as one of America’s leading and consistently top-ranked programs. Part of the LSU College of Art & Design, the school offers Bachelor of Landscape Architecture and Master of Landscape Architecture programs. For more than 70 years, the program has produced landscape architects who practice all over the world and participate in the full spectrum of the discipline. For more information, visit landscape.lsu.edu.