Landscape Architecture

Master’s Degree

The Landscape Architecture Program within the School of Design and Community Development of the Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design at West Virginia University offers an accredited Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA) degree program. The MLA was granted continued full accreditation as evaluated by the Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board (LAAB) of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) in 2019.

Demand for professional landscape architects is increasing due to emerging environmental markets and projected shortages of graduates from accredited landscape architecture programs. The MLA focuses on environmental and community design and planning, in addition to providing the primary skills and methods of landscape architecture. The curriculum is flexible for students who may want to develop specialized knowledge in areas such as health care facility design, environmental restoration, community design, cultural or historic landscape planning, or environmental resource analysis methods.

The MLA is three academic years of full-time graduate enrollment. The program allows for advanced placement of up to one academic year of study — which counts towards the minimum three year requirements — in case students enrolling in the MLA have a background education in landscape architecture (BLA or BSLA) or a bachelor degree in a related design field.

Program Mission 

Landscape Architecture is the art of design, planning, and arranging natural and man-made elements on the land. It applies cultural and scientific knowledge with concern for the conservation and stewardship of natural, cultural and aesthetic amenities to create an environment that serves a useful and enjoyable purpose. This involves consideration of the quality of life in urban and natural settings, as well as the interaction of humans with nature. The Landscape Architecture Program at WVU strives to equip students with knowledge and skills in problem solving, design theory, site construction, land use planning, and planting design. It emphasizes a philosophy of responsibility and commitment to ethical standards regarding the natural environment, personal relationships, and professional practice.

The faculty represents a multi-disciplinary team with practical experience in creative and scientific research, design, consultation, and public service. This diversity is the nucleus of the Program, allowing for a strong graduate curriculum supplemented by related courses in the arts, sciences, engineering, and planning, reflecting the needs of the Appalachian region, both urban and rural, and current trends within the profession. Three of the faculty are licensed.

Graduates of the program can assume traditional landscape architectural roles, e.g., positions with design consulting firms, governmental planning departments, construction firms, transportation planning agencies, etc. In addition, WVU MLA graduates are prepared for design and planning positions meeting the needs common to West Virginia and other rural areas.

Objectives

• To provide students with a solid professional educational foundation encompassing knowledge and skills of multi-scaled site design, construction, problem-solving, plant materials, geographic information systems, and professional practice responsive to the needs of the environment, society, and the landscape architecture profession. 
• To instill ethical standards in the students regarding the environment, the profession, personal relationships, and social responsibility. 
• To prepare students to be proficient in communicating professional concepts graphically, orally, and in writing. 
• To provide students with cognitive opportunities to incorporate professional information through the study of real-life problems in Morgantown, the state of West Virginia, and the region. 
• To enhance course offerings, collaborative faculty research opportunities, and avenues for scholarly activities by increasing and diversifying ties with other disciplines across campus. 
• To provide design and planning expertise to West Virginians in the areas of community development, and improvement of the quality of life by offering the skills of the faculty and students of the Landscape Architecture Program.

Admission requirements

In applying for the MLA, the following admissions requirements should be met:

• 4 credits of biology or plant science (including a laboratory); this requirement can be made up during the first year in the program
• College algebra and trigonometry (or pre-calculus or calculus or equivalent); this requirement can be made up during the first year in the program
• Undergraduate GPA of 3.00 or higher on a scale of 4.00; this requirement can be considered on an individual applicant basis

• Portfolio demonstrating creative expression (can be written or graphical)
• Graduate Record Exam (GRE); recommended but not required
• Writing sample: professional publication or a multi-page essay on environmental or community design
• Three letters of recommendation 
• Applicants whose first language is not English must submit TOEFL scores to demonstrate English language proficiency. (Minimum scores: 550 paper; 213 electronic).