Landscape Architecture

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Dr. Vance Watson, Dean

Prof. Cameron R. J. Man, Department Head and Interim Graduate Coordinator

Landscape Architecture Building

662-325-3012

The Master of Landscape Architecture Program provides an opportunity for students with undergraduate degrees in landscape architecture and related disciplines to refine and develop professional strengths in three areas of concentration: watershed planning and management; landscape planning, management and design; and community-based initiatives.  In addition, students from other disciplines may enter the Master of Landscape Architecture as a first professional degree.  The educational objective of the program is to prepare individuals for management roles within the profession of landscape architecture.

Admissions—The applicant to the M.L.A. program should have a minimum GPA of 2.80 on a 4.00 scale and a bachelor’s degree in a design or planning-related field such as landscape architecture, urban planning, environmental design, or architecture.  A student with a bachelor’s degree in non-design fields may undertake the M.L.A. as a first professional degree and is eligible to apply but is required to undertake additional “leveling” coursework to ensure competency in the field.  Submission of Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores is not necessary if the applicant has attained a minimum of a 3.00 GPA in upper division major emphasis courses from an accredited university.  An international student must have a TOEFL score of 600.  The applicant’s submission should include a letter of interest which includes a written statement (no more than 1500 words) explaining why his or her interest in pursuing graduate studies in landscape architecture at Mississippi State University.  Three letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with the applicant’s academic work, motivation, and character should accompany the application.  The applicant should also submit a curriculum vitae. 

Program of Study—The M.L.A. program offers a wide latitude of study for students and their faculty advisers to craft educational objectives within the course curriculum, graduate elective courses drawn from other departments at Mississippi State , and their thesis work.  When undertaken as a first professional degree, the M.L.A. also requires a rigorous program of study designed to ensure candidates are competent in the profession of Landscape Architecture.  Since a number of “leveling” courses are required in order to achieve a level of expertise, the M.L.A. as a first professional degree normally takes three  years rather than two to complete.

All students in Landscape Architecture are required to have their own personal computer.  Students should check with the department for equipment specifications prior to purchasing.

Academic Performance—A student is expected to achieve a grade of B or better in his or her course work after admission to the program.  The student’s grade record may contain a maximum of two C grades in courses at the graduate level. More than two C grades will result in dismissal from the program.

Core Courses—Courses required of all students in the program include:

LA 8512         Landscape Architecture Graduate Studio I

LA 8711         Seminar in Watershed Planning and Management

LA 8522         Landscape Architecture Studio II

LA 8721         Seminar in Landscape Management

LA 8532         Landscape Architecture Studio III

LA 8731         Seminar in Community Based Planning

LA 8741         Seminar in Landscape Architecture Thesis

LA 8000         Research/Thesis. 1-6 hours

LA 8613         Research Methods in Landscape Architecture

ST 8114         Statistical Methods

Electives—Elective courses are selected from across the University to adapt the degree program to the individual student’s professional interests and area of concentration.

Completion Requirements—A thesis is required for the granting of the Master of Landscape Architecture degree.  The student must complete a minimum of 30 hours of graduate credit, 24 of which must be non-research course hours.  Half of the non-research courses hours must be 8000 level and above.  A thesis proposal will be developed for presentation to and approval by the graduate committee.  The graduate committee is comprised of not fewer than three graduate faculty, at least two of whom must be from the Department of Landscape Architecture.  The candidate’s graduate committee must approve the thesis and administer a final oral examination or thesis defense.  The thesis must be submitted to the members of the committee for approval at least fourteen days prior to a scheduled defense.