Landscape Architecture (BS)

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Connecticut

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture (BS) at the University of Connecticut combines design, environmental science, and technical knowledge to prepare students to shape sustainable outdoor spaces, communities, and landscapes. It suits students interested in design, ecology, planning, and the built environment, with coursework progressing from foundational design and landscape studies to advanced professional practice.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students begin developing foundational skills through courses such as Introduction to Landscape Architecture, Landscape Architecture Design I, and Landscape Architecture Representation, gaining an understanding of landscape design, visual communication, and the relationship between people and the environment.

Year 2: The curriculum moves into more developed design and technical concepts through subjects such as Landscape Architecture Design II, Landscape Architecture Design III, and Landscape Ecology, helping students connect design decisions with ecological processes, site conditions, and landscape systems.

Year 3: Students deepen their professional design capabilities through advanced studio work and technical coursework, including Landscape Architecture Design IV, Landscape Architecture Design V, and Landscape Construction, developing skills in site planning, construction methods, materials, and the implementation of landscape proposals.

Year 4: The final year focuses on advanced professional preparation through upper-level design and practice-based coursework, including Landscape Architecture Design VI, Landscape Architecture Design VII, and Professional Practice, allowing students to integrate design, technical, environmental, and professional knowledge into comprehensive landscape architecture projects.

Focus areas: Landscape design, site planning, landscape ecology, environmental systems, landscape construction, urban and community landscapes, sustainable design, visual representation, and professional practice.

Learning outcomes: Students develop the ability to analyze sites and environmental conditions, create landscape design solutions, communicate design ideas visually and technically, integrate ecological principles into design, understand landscape construction, and apply professional landscape architecture methods.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation): The University of Connecticut’s landscape architecture program is professionally aligned through accreditation by the Landscape Architecture Accreditation Board (LAAB), supporting preparation for professional landscape architecture practice and licensure.

Reputation (Employability Rankings) : UConn is a nationally recognized public research university, providing Landscape Architecture students with access to a large research environment and professional connections across design, environmental, and planning fields.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students in UConn’s Landscape Architecture (BS) develop practical skills through studio-based design, site analysis, construction, planting design, environmental planning, and community planning. The program combines design with plant, soil, ecological, and construction knowledge, while students use dedicated studio computing and GIS resources, professional landscape architecture software, printing and plotting equipment, and field-based learning opportunities. Service and project-based learning also connects students with real communities and case studies:

Design Studios: LAND 2410 Landscape Architecture: Design I – Site Analysis, LAND 3420 Design II – Space, Form and Meaning, LAND 3430 Design III – Program Development, and LAND 4440 Design IV – Community Planning provide progressive studio experience in site analysis, spatial design, programming, and community planning.
Computer Applications: LAND 3130 Landscape Architecture: Graphics III – Computer Applications develops computer-based graphic and design skills specifically within the landscape architecture curriculum.
Professional Software: ArcGIS Pro, AutoCAD, Adobe Creative Cloud, Rhinoceros, and V-Ray are identified by UConn Landscape Architecture as required or commonly used software for LAND courses.
GIS Resources: NRE GIS Lab in the Wilfred B. Young Building provides additional computing resources that can be reserved for Landscape Architecture students when needed.
Studio Computing: Dedicated desktop stations are provided in each studio space for students who need additional computing power for landscape architecture work.
Printing and Plotting: Studio printing facilities include black-and-white and color printers and a plotter for producing architectural drawings and presentation materials.
Construction Practice: LAND 3310 Site Engineering covers earthwork, drainage, erosion control, roadway design, and low-impact design, while LAND 3312 Materials and Methods requires students to develop construction drawings and related documents.
Planting Design: LAND 3311 Construction II – Planting Design has students create planting plans that respond to physical site conditions and integrate plants as visual, spatial, ecological, and cultural design elements.
Field Trips: LAND 3430 Design III – Program Development includes required field trips, giving students direct exposure to project sites and landscape contexts.
Community Projects: LAND 4440 Design IV – Community Planning provides community-focused design experience; UConn students have worked with local communities on projects such as the Tolland Senior Center and Farmington Canal Heritage Trail.
Collaborative Learning: Design studios serve as spaces for collaborative design research, interaction with peers and instructors, and development of technical and professional skills.
Internships: LAND 3981 Landscape Architecture Internship allows students to gain practical experience and professional skills in a landscape architecture work environment under an instructor and internship supervisor.
Research Lab: Sustainable Urban Planning and Ecology Research (SUPER) Lab investigates urban sustainability, landscape ecology, environmental planning, community resilience, and natural and built environments, providing a relevant research environment for landscape architecture students.
Community Engagement: Service-learning projects have included real community design charrettes, presentations to community members, and landscape proposals developed in response to local needs.
Capstone: LAND 4450 Landscape Architecture: Design V – Capstone provides the culminating design experience within the BS curriculum.
Plant and Soil Resources: Plant and soil science facilities and resources within UConn’s College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources complement the landscape architecture curriculum, with laboratories, greenhouses, plants, and related resources supporting applied learning and research.
Library Support: Homer Babbidge Library provides technical computer assistance for Landscape Architecture students in addition to UConn’s broader academic research resources.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Landscape Architecture (BS) at the University of Connecticut prepares students for professional landscape architecture through design, environmental planning, construction, planting, community planning, and professional practice. Graduates can enter landscape architecture, planning, design, and related environmental fields or continue into graduate study; UConn reports that 80% of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture alumni have positive outcomes six months after graduation, based on a five-year average of UConn survey responses.

Typical Career Roles: Landscape Architect, Landscape Designer, Community Planner, Urban/Environmental Planner

Career Development: UConn’s Center for Career Readiness and Life Skills provides career coaching, employer connections, internship and co-op support, career fairs, and the Handshake platform for finding jobs and internships. UConn also offers paid, career-related co-ops of 4–12 months, with Career Center assistance available for finding positions.
Experiential Employment: UConn’s Landscape Architecture students and alumni have participated in experiential learning with organizations including BL Companies, Community Research & Design Collaborative, Connecticut ASLA, Design Professionals, Madison Earth Care Services, and The Yard Group.
Employment Outcomes: UConn’s Plant Science and Landscape Architecture department reports 80% positive alumni outcomes six months after graduation, based on a five-year average covering employment, continuing education, or service.
University Employment Data: Across UConn undergraduate programs, the 2025 first-destination survey reported 91% favorable outcomes six months after graduation, including 56% employed and 30% continuing education. The university reported an average annual starting salary of $67,500 for the overall undergraduate graduating class; this is a university-wide figure, not a Landscape Architecture-specific salary.
Industry Exposure: Students can attend professional conferences such as ASLA and LABASH, with the Landscape Architecture program supporting participation through program and student-club fundraising.
Professional Accreditation: The BS Landscape Architecture is fully accredited by the Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board (LAAB). UConn states that the program meets the educational requirements for landscape-architecture licensure eligibility in every U.S. state, providing important long-term value for students pursuing professional licensure.
Professional Practice: The curriculum includes LAND 4340 – Landscape Architecture: Professional Practice, while the program develops competencies in design, construction, plant and soil science, environmental planning, communication, and professional practice.
Graduation Outcomes: UConn reports that most Landscape Architecture graduates enter professional landscape architecture and engineering firms in Connecticut and beyond, while others continue into graduate education.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can continue into M.S. Landscape Architecture programs or related graduate fields such as geography, planning, real estate, environmental studies, and other design disciplines. UConn’s own career-exploration data specifically records Landscape Architecture alumni pursuing an M.S. in Landscape Architecture, an M.B.A. in Real Estate, and a Ph.D. in Geography, with the University of Connecticut and University of Georgia among the graduate schools represented.