Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Arizona State University Tempe

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture (BSLA) at Arizona State University prepares students to design sustainable outdoor environments through a combination of design, environmental knowledge, technology, construction, and professional practice. Students develop their skills through progressive design studios, digital applications, landscape construction, planting design, ecosystem-focused work, and opportunities for professional experience.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students begin with the foundations of environmental and landscape design through ALA 100 Introduction to Environmental Design, ALA 121 Design Fundamentals I, and ALA 122 Design Fundamentals II. They also complete DSC 100 ASU Design Experience and supporting mathematics and general education, establishing the creative and analytical base for later landscape architecture studios.

Year 2: The second year introduces more specialized landscape architecture skills through LAP 231 Introduction to Digital Applications for Designers, LDE 261 Landscape Architecture Design Fundamentals III, and LDE 262 Landscape Architecture Design Fundamentals IV. Students also study LAP 251 Plant Materials for Sustainable Landscapes and landscape architecture history while developing knowledge of physical geography and environmental systems.

Year 3: Students move into professional-level design and technical development through LDE 361 Landscape Architecture I, LDE 362 Landscape Architecture II, LAP 341 Landscape Construction I, and LAP 342 Landscape Construction II. LAP 352 Ecosystems and Sustainable Design, LAP 353 Planting Design for Sustainable Landscapes, and LAP 371 Landscape Architecture Professional Practice I connect design thinking with sustainability, construction, planting, and professional practice.

Year 4: The final year emphasizes advanced design, professional practice, and critical thinking through LDE 461 Landscape Architecture III, LDE 462 Landscape Architecture IV, LAP 372 Landscape Architecture Professional Practice II, and LAP 413 Landscape Architecture Theory and Criticism. Students can also complete LAP 484 Internship or choose an approved upper-division design professional elective, while computer-focused options include LAP 332 GIS Applications in Environmental Design, AutoCAD for Landscape Architecture and Planning, 3D Technologies for Designers I, Rhino, Grasshopper, and Revit topics.

Focus Areas

Focus areas: Sustainable landscape design, ecological planning, urban design, site planning, planting design, landscape construction, green roofs and living walls, biodiversity, green stormwater infrastructure, restorative environments, creative placemaking, environmental equity, and urban climate design.

Learning Outcomes

Learning outcomes: Creative and technical landscape design, environmental and ecological analysis, digital design applications, planting and landscape construction, sustainable design, professional practice, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the ability to develop socially and environmentally responsive outdoor environments.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

Accreditation: The four-year BSLA is accredited by the Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board (LAAB), and graduates have the qualifications to begin taking the Landscape Architect Registration Exams leading toward professional registration, subject to applicable licensing requirements.

Reputation (Employability Rankings)

Reputation: ASU's Design School states that its programs are ranked among the top 20 nationally, while an ASU-published 2019 DesignIntelligence survey placed the undergraduate landscape architecture program No. 8 in its size group for schools from which firms hired graduates.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students in ASU’s Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture gain practical experience through design studios, site analysis, digital representation, ecological investigation, and hands-on project development. The program connects landscape architecture with environmental systems, urban design, and community needs, while ASU’s Tempe campus provides specialized design spaces, digital fabrication resources, and landscape-focused academic facilities. Students progressively apply their skills through studio projects and opportunities to engage with real-world landscape and environmental challenges:

Design Studios: Students complete landscape architecture studio courses where they develop site-based design proposals and apply research, analysis, visualization, and design methods to increasingly complex projects.
Digital Design Tools: Students use digital technologies for landscape representation, drafting, modeling, visualization, and site analysis as part of the program’s design coursework.
Fabrication Resources: ASU provides access to design and fabrication facilities where students can develop physical models and prototypes to test landscape and spatial concepts.
Site Analysis: Studio work gives students opportunities to investigate topography, vegetation, climate, water, circulation, and other site conditions before developing landscape interventions.
Collaborative Projects: Landscape architecture coursework incorporates collaborative design activities that allow students to work with peers and address multidisciplinary environmental and urban-design challenges.
Real-World Design Applications: Projects are connected to landscape, ecological, urban, and community contexts, helping students translate classroom concepts into practical design proposals.
Field-Based Learning: The program incorporates observation and analysis of actual landscapes and sites, allowing students to understand environmental and spatial conditions beyond the studio.
Interdisciplinary Resources: Students can draw on ASU’s broader resources in architecture, design, sustainability, engineering, and environmental studies to strengthen landscape architecture projects.
Tempe Campus Resources: Students study at ASU’s Tempe campus, with access to design studios, technology-enabled learning spaces, libraries, and university-wide research resources.
Professional Preparation: Studio-based projects, portfolio development, and applied design experience help students build work that can support future professional practice or graduate study in landscape architecture and related fields.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture at Arizona State University prepares graduates for professional landscape architecture practice and further study, with experience applicable to urban design, ecological planning, public agencies, and private landscape firms. ASU states that graduates have found employment with large multinational firms, nationally recognized firms, and public agencies, while the accredited degree also provides a pathway toward professional licensure.

Career opportunities: Graduates can pursue roles such as Landscape Architect, Urban Planner, Sustainability Specialist, and Park Ranger, depending on experience, additional qualifications, and applicable licensure.

Career services: Herberger Institute Creative Career Services provides career advising, resume and cover-letter support, networking guidance, portfolio development, graduate-school application support, and access to ASU CareerLink for jobs and internships.
Internship support: Landscape Architecture is among the Herberger Institute majors requiring an internship for credit, giving students structured opportunities to apply classroom learning in professional settings; ASU recommends internships during the summer after the third year.
Employment opportunities: ASU CareerLink connects students and alumni with employers, jobs, internships, career events, and advising, while current ASU listings include landscape designer and landscape architecture internship opportunities.
Salary figures: ASU's career data lists a $79,870 U.S. median annual salary for landscape architects in 2025, with the middle 50% earning approximately $64,170–$104,090; Arizona's median was $75,310. These figures are occupation-wide and are not guaranteed starting salaries for BSLA graduates.
Industry connections: ASU provides employer and industry-partner access through CareerLink, where employers can post degree-related jobs, internships, gigs, and short-term projects; the university also facilitates professional networking through career events and mentoring.
Professional accreditation: The BSLA is accredited by the Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board (LAAB), with the program last accredited in Spring 2026. ASU states that graduates have the qualifications to begin the Landscape Architect in Training examination pathway leading toward professional registration, subject to applicable state requirements.
Graduation outcomes: ASU's published student-achievement data reports 100% timely graduation for the BSLA in 2024, meaning students graduated within four years or less; the BSLA retention rate was 88% in 2024. ASU notes that post-graduation employment information is not currently publicly accessible on its accreditation page.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the BSLA, students can continue into ASU's Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA) or pursue graduate study in landscape architecture and allied design fields. ASU's MLA offers pathways of two to three years depending on the student's previous academic background and is designed for professional practice, advanced study, leadership, and preparation for potential doctoral research.