Bachelor of Landscape Architecture

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Florida

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (BLA) at the University of Florida is a four-year, 120-credit professional degree that combines creative design, environmental stewardship, planning, construction, and management of natural and built landscapes. It suits students interested in shaping sustainable places and communities while developing professional skills in site design, planting, landscape technologies, ecological planning, communication, and landscape construction.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students begin with the foundations of the built environment and design communication through DCP 1003 Creating our Built Environment and LAA 1300C Introduction to Design Communication, alongside mathematics and general education studies. The emphasis is on developing the communication and analytical foundation needed for later landscape design work.

Year 2: Students move into core landscape architecture concepts through LAA 2360C Landscape Architecture Design 1, LAA 2376C Design Communications 1, and LAA 2710 History of Landscape Architecture. They also study ORH 3513C Environmental Plant Identification and Use, LAA 2310 Sustainable Landscape Technologies 1, and LAA 2365C Landscape Architecture Design 2, connecting design with plants, ecosystems, and sustainable landscape practices.

Year 3: The curriculum becomes more advanced and professionally focused through LAA 3350C Landscape Architecture Design 3, LAA 3420 Sustainable Landscape Technologies 2, and LAA 3394C Advanced Design Communication. Students then progress to LAA 3353C Landscape Architecture Design 4, LAA 3312 Sustainable Landscape Technologies 3, and LAA 4532 Landscape Ecology and Management, developing capabilities in site planning, digital design communication, technical implementation, and ecological management.

Year 4: Students undertake advanced environmental and professional work through LAA 4356C Landscape Architecture Design 5, LAA 4940 Landscape Architecture Internship, and either LAA 4364C Landscape Architecture Design 6 or the research-oriented LAA 4358 Senior Independent Project. The year also includes LAA 4210 Landscape Architecture Professional Practice and LAA 4450 Sustainable Landscape Technologies 4, bringing together design, implementation, professional practice, and independent project development.

Focus Areas

Landscape design, site planning, ecological planning, planting and ecosystems, sustainable landscape technologies, stormwater management, green infrastructure, graphic visualization, 3D modeling, GIS, landscape construction, landscape analysis, urban design, conservation, and professional practice.

Learning Outcomes

Students learn to integrate professional landscape architecture knowledge into design decisions, apply core professional skills, incorporate ethical considerations, analyze information from multiple sources, and produce professional visual, oral, and written communications.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

LAAB accredited: The BLA is accredited by the Landscape Architecture Accreditation Board (LAAB) and has been continuously accredited since 1972; the current accreditation extends through December 31, 2030. The professional degree qualifies graduates to sit for state licensure, subject to applicable state requirements.

Reputation (Employability/Outcomes)

Graduate outcomes: In the 2024–25 academic year, 81% of BLA graduates entered private practice, while 4% entered graduate education and 15% had an unknown destination. The department also reports that 96% of BLA students graduated on time, and the program awarded 22 BLA degrees in 2024–25.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The University of Florida’s Bachelor of Landscape Architecture combines studio-based learning with field experience, professional exposure, research, and hands-on design. Students work across Florida’s diverse landscapes and can participate in interdisciplinary studios, community-based design-build projects, research teams, and field trips while using specialized fabrication and digital resources. The program also includes a landscape architecture internship opportunity under the guidance of a registered landscape architect and a required senior-level professional experience.

Internship: Students can complete LAA 4940 Landscape Internship during the summer of their fourth year, gaining professional experience under the guidance of a registered landscape architect.
Field Trips: Second-year BLA students can participate in a three-day Central and Southeast Florida field trip, while third-year students can take part in a week-long urban field experience visiting locations such as San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver.
Team-Based Learning: LAA 3950 Landscape Architecture Experience 2 uses team-based learning, field observation, and documentation during a week-long study of landscape architecture in an American city.
Design-Build Projects: The department provides opportunities for community-based design-build projects and interdisciplinary studios, allowing students to connect design work with real community contexts.
Digital Fabrication: The DCP Fabrication Lab provides access to specialized fabrication equipment and supports hands-on work connecting digital design with physical making.
Computer Facilities: The Architecture Computer Lab includes dedicated Wacom tablets, computing classrooms, and specialized printing hardware for coursework and design development.
GIS & Research: The GeoPlan Center provides a multidisciplinary GIS research environment supporting geospatial data, land-use, transportation, environmental planning, teaching, and research.
Landscape Conservation Research: The Center for Landscape Conservation Planning conducts applied research connecting landscape design, conservation, land use, wildlife, planning, and management.
Professional Exposure: The annual DCP Industry Expo connects landscape architecture students with industry professionals and provides opportunities to explore internships and employment.
Travel & Conferences: The Kim Stewart Landscape Architecture Travel & Discovery Award supports undergraduate participation in field trips and conferences, helping students gain experience beyond the classroom.
Studio Experience: Students undertake landscape architecture design work involving environmental planning, site selection, design development, and impact assessment, with the senior requirement providing a culminating design or research experience.
Library & Facilities: The College provides access to the Architecture and Fine Arts Library, DCP Fabrication Lab, DCP Model Shop, GeoPlan Center, CityLab facilities, and other specialized resources supporting design and research.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The University of Florida’s Bachelor of Landscape Architecture provides a direct pathway into professional landscape architecture and related planning and design careers. The program is a LAAB-accredited professional degree that qualifies graduates to sit for state licensure, while its internship, capstone, field-trip, and professional-practice experiences help students transition from academic design work into employment.

Career Development & Employment Support:

Career Connections Center: UF’s Career Connections Center provides career counseling, professional-development services, employer connections, internships, job-search assistance, and access to Gator CareerLink, where employers recruit UF students and alumni.
Required Internship: BLA students complete an internship during the summer between their junior and senior years, giving them professional work experience before graduation.
Employment Outcomes: UF’s 2024–25 public information reports that 74.1% of BLA graduates entered private practice, 7.4% continued into graduate education, 3.7% entered government practice, and 14.8% were unknown.
Salary Information: UF does not publish a current BLA-specific graduate salary figure on the official program pages reviewed, so a program-specific salary range or median is not stated rather than estimated.
Industry & Community Projects: Senior capstone projects may be provided by professional firms, UF research entities, or nonprofit community organizations, giving students experience working on projects connected to professional and community needs.
Professional Exposure: Students can attend state and national landscape architecture conferences and participate in UF’s active American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) student chapter, strengthening professional and industry connections.
Field-Based Experience: Required field trips expose students to built landscape projects, professional firms, and public agencies in Florida and other U.S. cities, adding practical context to studio-based learning.
Accreditation Value: The BLA has been continuously LAAB-accredited since 1972; in 2025, LAAB granted the BLA a six-year accreditation period through December 31, 2030. The accredited professional degree is an important step toward landscape architecture licensure in states that regulate the profession.
Graduation Progress: In 2024–25, 94.4% of students entering the upper division in 2023 completed the BLA within two years and graduated in 2025, while 22 BLA degrees were awarded during the academic year.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the BLA, students can continue into graduate study in landscape architecture, urban and regional planning, or related built-environment fields. UF itself offers a Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA) and a Ph.D. concentration in Landscape Architecture, while its MLA curriculum provides opportunities for advanced research and specialized graduate certificates.