So, you want to be a landscape architect? A landscape architect designs and builds landscapes that make people feel comfortable, look sharp, and beautiful. It’s an artistic field with multiple promising employment opportunities.
Landscape Architecture is rigorous, has many complex requirements and regulations, and requires a lot of learning. But if you want to construct beautiful landscapes for clients, this is a worthwhile major!
Is Landscape Architecture A Hard Major?
Landscape Architecture is a challenging major. The first thing to remember is that this course isn’t just about design—it’s also about planning. It requires four to five years to complete your degree. Their curriculum is competitive and requires a lot of hard work. Yet, landscape architects enhance life quality as they are known to contribute to ecological planning in their communities!
If you want to be a landscape architect, this is what it takes. Let’s begin!
1. Designing and Planning
Landscape architecture is the man-made developments and improvements in your surrounding environment. Influenced by the local geography, biodiversity, and culture, some examples include plants, gardens, plazas, structures, artwork, and urban layouts.
It uses an integrative strategy that incorporates a variety of fields, including ecology, climate, arts, and earth sciences.
Additionally, landscape architecture is racing towards a more sustainable, natural, and community-built future with climate change and other social and environmental issues.
Landscape architects improve the quality of life by creating and maintaining meaningful, contemporary, and environmental landscape design and planning approaches.
With this discipline, students manage the complex relationships between human cultures, the surrounding structures, and ecological habitats.
2. Intense Requirements
With continued employment prospects after graduation, a major in landscape architecture may very well be one of the most complex degrees a student can pursue.
Through 4-5 years of intense education, students are equipped with the ability to create landscapes, formulate strategies, and coordinate projects.
To begin the journey, students need to establish in their application that they have the potential to succeed in the degree. You can demonstrate this by creating a folio that showcases your,
- basic understanding of design and environment
- interest in landscape architecture and,
- independent thinking and decision-making ability.
Through this curriculum, prospective landscape architects receive a cognitive reward for their artistic expression and a financial benefit via freelancing engagement or business ownership!
3. Qualifications
Undergraduate and postgraduate courses in landscape architecture provide the foundation and expertise in this field.
For instance, recommended degrees and qualifications include a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture and a Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture.
Generally, four or five years of education in architecture, construction techniques, art, history, natural sciences, and social sciences are essential.
4. Landscape Architecture Courses in College
Landscape design, architectural innovation, and the history and philosophy of landscape architecture are all typical course subjects.
In addition to the curriculum in landscape architecture, students also cover gardening, urban planning, and practice standards.
You would learn using the following computer software and tools: Autodesk AutoCAD, Adobe Creative Suite, Sketchup, and Revit.
Learning scale and pacing will also be the trickiest landscape design fundamental for students. However, being patient when creating your designs is advised, so you’ll be less likely to make mistakes!
5. Timely Delivery of Projects and Assignments
Students must submit their assignments and materials by the deadline and know the significance of delivering their tasks and projects on time.
Students generally leave projects unfinished and rush them to completion. As a result, they encounter stress and worry brought on by poor time management.
6. Stick to a Regular Schedule
For many students, architecture school presents an unforeseen obstacle.
But, even while obtaining that degree can be challenging, going to school and working outdoors can be fun.
Some students begin classes early in the day, so they will undoubtedly be able to leave the lectures and studios and still have some personal time.
Graduates of this course recommend planning time for leisure and hobbies you enjoy doing for yourself and arranging enough time for the commitments you need to accomplish.
They recommend staying on a regular schedule and using your time effectively.
7. Internships and Licensure
A summer internship with a landscape architecture firm while still in school may benefit aspiring landscape architects.
Juniors can develop their technical expertise and learn how the business is run frequently, including how to find clients, generate income, and stay within a budget.
Additionally, internship experience help with finding jobs in landscaping firms after graduation!
You must also take the state exams such as LARE to register as a Landscape architect. Each state has different requirements and tests.
Aspirants must complete the qualification criteria set forth by each state to gain a license.
Generally, architects may need to complete continuing education requirements to preserve their licenses.
8. Designing Large-Scale Capital Projects
Students are encouraged to enroll for up to three credits throughout their summer internships; three credits are equal to 12 full-time periods in a curriculum.
Interns typically participate in every phase of the planning, designing, and construction process, from analyzing master plans to visiting sites and conducting product research.
Landscape architect interns collaborate with professionals to design gardening exhibits and displays for exterior and indoor environments, product launch events, and work on large capital projects.
9. Advancement to Full-Time Roles
Some of the students who interned for parks and recreation got the opportunity to create their manuals for the basics of Photoshop and SketchUp uses and presented them to planning and design.
Because of their internship experiences, several graduates have advanced to the rank of Associate Planner.
In addition, they are actively working on various projects, including small region plans and grand designs for park systems.
10. Further Study
You may also consider a Master of Landscape Architecture program to gain expert knowledge and specializations or to change your career. You can complete these programs in two or three years.
Due to the competitive nature of this course, students need to comprehend the design context and enhance their analytical, communicative, creative, problem-solving, technical, and visualization skills!
Therefore, having a design background would be critical and helpful in pursuing a postgraduate qualification.
11. Education Costs and Salary
The usual tuition for universities with a landscape architecture school ranges between $10,000 to $30,000.
In terms of salary, according to the BLS, on average, Landscape Architects earn an annual income of $74,980.
To learn more, you can also see our posts on Interior Design and Architecture.
Conclusion
As we’ve learned, the truth is that landscape architecture is an incredibly diverse profession, and there is financial stability after graduation.
If you want to be a landscape architect, be prepared to take courses and projects that will require you to have the ability to work within financial parameters.
In the end, what makes this significantly enjoyable is that it’s a fulfilling profession where your work affects people’s lives!
