Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (BLA)

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Nebraska Lincoln

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (BLA) at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln is a four-year professional degree that combines design, ecology, site engineering, horticulture, planning, and environmental systems to prepare students to shape resilient, sustainable, and functional landscapes. It suits students interested in designing parks, public spaces, urban environments, ecological landscapes, and other places where human needs and natural systems intersect.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students begin with the d.ONE Common First Year, building fundamental design and communication skills through DSGN 110 Design Thinking, DSGN 111 Design Making, and DSGN 120 Design Drawing. They also develop digital skills through DSGN 123 Computer Applications in Design, alongside mathematics, communication, and general education coursework.

Year 2: Students move into professional landscape architecture studies through LARC 210 Studio I: Landscape Architecture Design Foundations and LARC 211 Studio II: Landscape Architecture Site Design, developing design approaches for sites and landscapes. Supporting subjects such as LARC 230 Site Systems I: Materiality in Landscape Architecture, LARC 231 Site Systems II: Site Engineering, CRPL 433 GIS in Environmental Design and Planning, and PLAS 153/SOIL 153 Soil Resources connect design with materials, engineering, GIS, and environmental conditions.

Year 3: The curriculum becomes more advanced through LARC 310 Studio III: Landscape Architecture Advanced Site Design and LARC 311 Design Studio IV: Ecological and Cultural Landscape Systems, where students investigate ecological, social, and cultural systems at different scales. Students also study LARC 330 Site Systems III: Landscape Architecture Implementation, LARC 461/ARCH 461 Urbanism, NRES 220 Principles of Ecology, and LARC 480 Professional Practice, followed by the required LARC 495 Internship.

Year 4: Students work collaboratively and undertake research through DSGN 410 Design Studio: Collaborate and LARC 489/ARCH 489/IDES 489 Design Research, alongside professional and ecology electives. The degree concludes with LARC 411 Design Studio VI: Advanced Design in Landscape Architecture, which addresses contemporary landscape architecture issues involving human settlement and the natural environment.

Focus Areas

Landscape design, site design, site engineering, ecological systems, cultural landscapes, urbanism, horticulture, plant science, GIS, environmental planning, sustainability, stormwater management, landscape implementation, professional practice, design research, and collaborative design.

Learning Outcomes

Design thinking, communication and representation, design theory, ecological and cultural systems, sustainable landscape solutions, professional management and business skills, research skills, and preparation for advanced study.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

LAAB accreditation: The BLA is a professional landscape architecture degree accredited by the Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board (LAAB), and UNL identifies it as the only LAAB-accredited landscape architecture program in Nebraska. The program also includes professional practice and a required internship, providing direct exposure to professional design environments.

Reputation (Employability Rankings)

QS World University Rankings 2027: University of Nebraska–Lincoln is ranked #801–850 globally in the QS World University Rankings 2027. UNL’s official Landscape Architecture achievement data reports 100% of students who graduated in May 2024 were employed in the profession, compared with 71% for the May 2023 graduating class.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students in the Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (BLA) at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln gain practical experience through project-based design studios, hands-on site work, physical mock-ups, interdisciplinary collaboration, undergraduate research, and community-focused projects. The program’s studios regularly travel to study landscape architecture firsthand, while students can work with community groups and public organizations on site designs and master plans. Dedicated fabrication facilities, digital tools, research opportunities, and internship pathways help students connect design concepts with professional landscape architecture practice:

Design Studios: Studio I: Landscape Architecture Design Foundations introduces composition, spatial manipulation, cultural forces, and environmental conditions, while later studios develop increasingly advanced landscape architecture design skills.
Real-World Projects: Project-based experiential learning allows students to create real-world site designs, develop physical mock-ups, and help community groups and public organizations visualize potential futures.
Cross-Disciplinary Studios: Collaborative studios connect landscape architecture with allied disciplines including architecture, interior design, and planning, giving students opportunities to work across design fields.
Field Trips: Studio travel is incorporated into the program so students can see outstanding examples of landscape architecture firsthand and study sites in context.
Community Engagement: Service-learning allows students to collaborate with community groups, professionals, parks and recreation departments, and other organizations on landscape and master-planning activities.
Undergraduate Research: Faculty-led research projects can involve activities such as parks master planning, lead-pollution mapping, and digitizing records for a georeferenced database.
Physical Fabrication: College of Architecture Shop provides more than 3,000 square feet of hands-on fabrication space with power and hand tools for making physical projects and models.
Digital Fabrication: Laser cutters, 3D printers, and a three-axis CNC router are available through the College of Architecture’s digital fabrication resources, supporting physical prototyping and model production.
Software: Autodesk software is available to College of Architecture students through the Autodesk Student Software Program, with educational licenses provided through Autodesk Education.
Laptop & Digital Tools: Landscape Architecture students are required to have access to a suitable laptop, with UNL providing specific computer and software requirements for the program.
Internship Preparation: LARC 380: Internship Preparation helps students understand career choices in landscape architecture and prepare materials for securing an internship.
Internships: Landscape Architecture internships are supported through the College of Architecture, which maintains internship opportunities and hosts an annual career fair; current listings have included Landscape Architecture Intern positions.
Outside Enrichment: Internship/co-op or study abroad can satisfy the Landscape Architecture program’s required outside-enrichment opportunity, giving students an additional experience beyond the design studio.
Design Research & Making: Design/Build resources within the College of Architecture provide opportunities to connect design thinking with making, fabrication, construction, and real-world project development.
Group Investigation: LARC 392: Selected Topics in Landscape Architecture provides opportunities for group investigation of specialized landscape architecture topics.
Professional Experience: Career Immersion opportunities have provided early landscape architecture students with mentoring, networking, community and skill-building activities, and exposure to professional design offices.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (BLA) at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln prepares graduates for professional landscape architecture practice through studio-based design, interdisciplinary collaboration, professional practice coursework, and connections with employers. The four-year BLA is LAAB-accredited, providing a professional educational pathway toward landscape architecture licensure, while UNL reports strong recent employment outcomes for graduates.

Typical career roles include Landscape Architect, Landscape Designer, Urban Design Professional, and Parks & Recreation Designer:

Career Services: The College of Architecture runs a dedicated annual Career and Internship Fair, where professional firms and businesses recruit students for internships and full-time positions; preparation includes portfolio development, resumes, interviewing, and negotiation skills.
Employment: UNL’s published Landscape Architecture student-achievement data reports 100% of May 2024 graduates employed in the profession, compared with 71% for the May 2023 graduating class.
Employer Connections: Graduates have been employed by organizations including HDR, HOK, Sasaki Associates, ZGF Architects, Kimley-Horn, Walker Macy, National Park Service, City of Lincoln Parks and Recreation, Nebraska Department of Roads, and The Clark Enersen Partners.
Current Internship Opportunities: The College of Architecture currently lists opportunities such as Landscape Architecture Intern at Shive-Hattery, alongside its annual career fair.
Industry Immersion: UNL’s College of Architecture Career Immersion Initiative provides students interested in landscape architecture and related design fields with mentoring, networking, community and skill-building activities, and exposure to local design offices.
Professional Preparation: Courses such as LARC 380 Internship Prep and LARC 480 Professional Practice expose students to industry expectations, licensure, firm culture, and current professional trends through interaction with practicing professionals.
Industry Environment: UNL’s College of Architecture reports connections with major design firms including HDR, DLR, and Leo A Daly, as well as regional practices such as Clark Enersen, APMA, Sinclair Hille, and BVH.
Professional Accreditation: The BLA is accredited by the Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board (LAAB). The current accreditation was granted in 2025 for six years, through June 30, 2031, supporting the degree’s role as a professional landscape architecture qualification.
Licensure Pathway: UNL identifies the BLA as a professional degree associated with landscape architecture licensure requirements across U.S. jurisdictions; graduates should still check the specific education, experience, and examination requirements of the jurisdiction where they intend to practice.
Graduation Outcomes: UNL states that 90% of landscape architecture students graduate in four years; its published 2024 achievement data also reports a 57% four-year graduation rate among the small group of students who entered the professional program in the second year, so these figures represent different populations and should not be treated as interchangeable.
Salary Information: UNL’s official Landscape Architecture materials reviewed here publish employment and employer data but do not state a specific graduate salary or median salary figure for the BLA; therefore, no salary figure is provided rather than using an external estimate.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the BLA, students can pursue graduate-level study in areas such as landscape architecture, architecture, community and regional planning, urban design, environmental studies, or related design fields. UNL’s College of Architecture also offers graduate study in Community and Regional Planning and related interdisciplinary pathways, allowing students to build on their professional landscape architecture foundation.