Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (BLA)

5 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Oklahoma State University

Program Overview

Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (BLA) at Oklahoma State University prepares students to design and plan outdoor environments such as parks, urban spaces, residential landscapes, trails, and sustainable development projects, combining creative design with ecological, technical, and planning knowledge. The program suits students interested in shaping natural and built environments through studio-based design, landscape construction, planting, ecological analysis, urban planning, and professional practice.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students establish their design and visual communication foundation through LA 1013 Introduction to Landscape Architecture, LA 1213 Visual Communication I for Landscape Architecture, and LA 1525 Studio 1: Principles and Theory of Design. They begin developing two- and three-dimensional design thinking while gaining an introduction to landscape architecture, communication, and design theory.

Year 2: Students move into applied site and environmental design through LA 2515 Studio 2: Site Design, LA 2525 Studio 3: Recreation and Open Space Design, and LA 2413 Ecological Landscape Design. Studio projects address residential and site design, parks, open spaces, natural landscapes, site analysis, and the relationship between people and ecological systems.

Year 3: The program develops students' planting, construction, and professional understanding through LA 3515 Studio 4: Landscape Planting Design, LA 4894 Landscape Construction: Materials and Methods, and LA 3673 History and Theory of Landscape Architecture. Students work with planting design, construction documents and specifications while studying the historical and theoretical foundations of the profession.

Year 4: Students tackle advanced urban, community, and professional practice through LA 4515 Studio 6: Urban Design, LA 4525 Studio 7: Community Development and Neighborhood Design, and LA 3683 Professional Practice & Office Procedure. The final stage addresses urban design, community development, landscape planning, professional office environments, and community involvement, with LA 3010 Internship in Landscape Architecture also providing supervised professional experience.

Focus Areas

Design, Environmental Planning, Horticulture, ecological landscape design, site design, landscape construction, planting design, urban design, community development, land-use planning, sustainable design, professional practice.

Learning Outcomes

Site assessment and pre-design analysis, comprehensive landscape design problem-solving, visual and verbal communication, computer applications and advanced technologies, visualization and modeling, CAD/GIS/GPS-based analysis, construction technology, site engineering, plant and vegetation management, professional practice, ethics and construction administration.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

LAAB Accreditation: The Bachelor of Landscape Architecture at Oklahoma State University is nationally accredited by the Landscape Architecture Accreditation Board (LAAB) of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA); OSU states that the program successfully completed LAAB's six-year re-accreditation process in 2022.

Reputation (Employability)

Official employment outcome: Oklahoma State's Landscape Architecture program reports that 95% of students had full-time jobs prior to graduation for the years reported on its public information page, including the 2023–2024 graduating year; this is a program-reported statistic rather than a QS or Guardian ranking.

Professional exposure: OSU also reports more than 100 interactions with industry professionals before graduation, including portfolio reviews, office visits, and a design workshop with professionals.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students in Oklahoma State University’s Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (BLA) gain practical experience through intensive design studios, construction courses, ecological landscape design, community-based projects, and professional practice. The program combines 2D and 3D design with site analysis, landscape construction, planting, urban design, and sustainable design, while giving students opportunities to learn through The Botanic Garden at OSU, construction labs, field trips, professional office visits, industry interactions, and internships.

These opportunities give BLA students direct exposure to professional landscape architecture practice:

Design Studios: Seven landscape architecture studios cover principles and theory, site design, recreation and open space, planting design, sustainable construction and design, urban design, and community development/neighborhood design.
Construction Labs: Landscape Construction: Site Grading and Landscape Construction: Materials and Methods provide practical experience with grading, stormwater runoff, construction materials, methods, and construction-detail drawings.
Ecological Design: Ecological Landscape Design gives students practical experience analyzing natural, cultural, and aesthetic site components and applying principles of landscape performance.
Botanic Garden: The Botanic Garden at OSU is used as an active learning environment, allowing students to connect landscape design concepts with real landscapes and plant material.
Community Projects: Real-world, community-based design projects allow students to apply landscape architecture methods to practical community and environmental challenges.
Field Trips: Landscape Architecture National Survey includes a required 4–6 day out-of-state field trip to the city hosting the ASLA National Convention, with visits to recognized built works, convention participation, research, and professional networking.
Professional Exposure: 100+ interactions with industry professionals can include portfolio reviews, professional-office visits, and a design workshop where students work alongside practitioners on design concepts.
Professional Office Visits: Field trips to professional offices and built works allow students to see landscape architecture practice beyond the classroom.
Internship: LA 3010 Internship in Landscape Architecture provides supervised professional experience with approved public or private employers; students typically complete it during the summer after their third or fourth year.
Long-Term Internship: LA 3020 Long-Term Internship in Landscape Architecture provides supervised continuous professional experience of six months or more with an approved employer and includes a presentation after the internship.
Digital Design: Digital technologies and computer-aided design applications are incorporated into the design-intensive curriculum, supporting students in developing technical and professional design skills.
Hands-On Construction: Site grading, stormwater management, materials, construction methods, and detail drawings connect design concepts with the technical realities of building landscapes.
Plant Materials: Woody Plant Materials and other horticulture coursework give students practical knowledge of plant selection and its relationship to landscape design.
Research & Extension Experience: Urban Horticulture Research and Extension Experience for Undergraduates is available through the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, providing an additional pathway for undergraduate research and applied learning.
Professional Practice: Professional Practice & Office Procedure prepares students for employment in landscape architecture firms through study of professional business ethics, office practices, and procedures.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (BLA) at Oklahoma State University prepares graduates for professional work across landscape architecture, urban design, site planning, parks, public spaces, sustainable design, and related planning fields. The program combines professional practice with internships, community-based projects, industry interaction, and a nationally accredited curriculum, giving students a direct foundation for entering landscape architecture practice or pursuing further study.

Typical job roles: Landscape Designer, Landscape Architect, Urban Designer, Site Planner

Career support and progression: OSU Career Services provides career coaching, resume and cover-letter assistance, career fairs, employer connections, interview preparation, and access to its Job & Interview Portal for internships and full-time positions. The university also works directly with employers to organize recruiting events and campus interviews.

Employment outcome: OSU’s Landscape Architecture public information report states that 95% of students had full-time jobs prior to graduation for the reported BLA cohorts from 2014–15 through 2023–24, excluding spring 2020 graduates whose employment was delayed by COVID-19.
Salary information: Not stated by OSU for BLA graduates on the program’s official career/outcomes pages, so no university-specific salary figure is provided.
Industry interaction: Students have more than 100 interactions with industry professionals before graduation, including portfolio reviews, professional-office visits, and a design workshop conducted with practicing professionals.
Professional exposure: The department organizes visiting-professional lectures, class critiques, field trips to professional offices and built works, as well as design workshops.
Internships: A summer internship is required, and students can pursue a six-month long-term internship for academic credit with approved public or private employers in landscape architecture or related fields.
Professional accreditation: The BLA is nationally accredited by the Landscape Architecture Accreditation Board (LAAB) and successfully completed a six-year reaccreditation process in 2022. OSU states that the degree can be applied toward licensure requirements throughout the United States and some parts of Canada.
Professional preparation: The curriculum develops competencies in visualization and modeling, geospatial analysis, construction technology, site engineering, landscape materials, vegetation, professional practice, and construction administration.
Real-world projects: Students participate in community-based design projects, construction labs, active learning at The Botanic Garden at OSU, and tours of built works and professional offices.
Industry connections: OSU’s Design & Education Center brings faculty and students together on collaborative design projects addressing real-world community challenges, with a focus on sustainable landscape solutions.
Graduation pathways: Graduates can enter landscape architecture firms, architectural/engineering firms, government agencies involved in land planning and environmental or conservation work, urban planning, and parks and recreation.

Further Academic Progression: After the BLA, students can pursue graduate study in related fields. At Oklahoma State University, the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture offers an M.S. in Horticulture, while OSU also offers graduate-level programs in areas such as environmental science that can support further specialization in environmental and sustainable landscape-related research.