Master of Landscape Architecture

3 Years On Campus Masters Program

Texas A and M University College Station

Program Overview

The Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA) at Texas A&M University prepares students to plan, design, assess, and construct outdoor environments while understanding the relationship between people, natural systems, and the built environment. It is a first-professional program suited to students from landscape architecture and related backgrounds who want to develop expertise in spatial design, environmental assessment, land-use planning, construction, research, and professional landscape architecture practice.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: The first year builds the essential design, technical, theoretical, and communication skills needed for professional landscape architecture. Students study LAND 601 – Landscape Architectural Design Foundations, LAND 612 – Landscape Architectural Site Engineering and Development, LAND 622 – Landscape Architectural Theory III, and LAND 655 – Landscape Architectural Communications, before progressing to LAND 602 – Cultural and Social Issues in Landscape Architecture, LAND 614 – Landscape Architectural Construction, and LAND 635 – Concepts in Ecological Planning and Design.

Year 2: Students move into more advanced planning, planting, research, and professional-practice applications. Key subjects include LAND 620 – Open Space and Land Use Planning I, HORT 608 – Plants for Landscape Design, LAND 630 – Development of Landscape Architecture, LAND 621 – Open Space and Land Use Planning II, LAND 640 – Research Methods, and LAND 646 – Professional Practice; the curriculum also includes LAND 684 – Internship, providing direct experience in private practice.

Year 3: The final year focuses on integrating the skills developed throughout the program into advanced professional and independent work. Students complete LAND 693 – Professional Study, LAND 645 – Practice Diversity Landscape Architecture, electives, and a substantial Professional Study, enabling them to apply design theory, research, planning, and professional judgment to real or theoretical landscape projects.

Focus areas

Spatial configuration, environmental design, land-use planning, landscape construction, site grading, stormwater management, critical thinking, sustainable site planning, graphic and verbal communication, ecological planning, GIS, plant materials, research methods, and professional practice.

Learning outcomes

Students develop the ability to create evidence-based landscape solutions, assess natural and built environments, integrate spatial and environmental considerations, communicate design ideas effectively, conduct research, think critically, and develop simple-to-complex integrated solutions for professional landscape architecture practice.

Professional alignment (accreditation)

The Master of Landscape Architecture is fully accredited by the Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board (LAAB) and is structured as a professional degree that prepares graduates to pursue landscape architecture licensure. Texas A&M states that its curriculum meets the educational requirements for licensure in all listed U.S. states and jurisdictions, although individual licensing authorities make the final determination.

Reputation (employability rankings)

Texas A&M describes its MLA as one of the top-ranked landscape architecture programs in the country, with students regularly receiving national and state awards for their work. The university also reports that its graduate landscape architecture program ranked No. 15 in DesignIntelligence's “Most Admired Landscape Architecture Schools” and No. 4 among similarly sized schools for programs “Most Hired From by Firms” in the 2019 rankings.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Master of Landscape Architecture at Texas A&M University is strongly project-based, with studio classes connecting academic learning to professional landscape architecture. Students work through an evidence-based design process and, in the final year, complete a comprehensive final study based on a real or theoretical project while taking on responsibilities similar to those of a project manager in a professional firm. The program also gives students access to College of Architecture fabrication and making facilities, digital design resources, and opportunities to work on real community landscape projects.

Practical learning opportunities include:

Professional design studios: MLA students engage in project-based studio coursework that develops design, assessment, professional judgment, construction, planning, and communication skills while connecting studio work to professional practice.
Real-world community projects: Through the Partnership for Community Outreach, landscape architecture studios can work on real projects involving urban design, open-space design, public parks, environmental design, and other landscape-design challenges for organizations, groups, and nonprofits.
Final study: The program concludes with a yearlong final study in which students apply design theories to real or theoretical projects and assume responsibilities similar to a project manager in a landscape architecture firm.
Evidence-based design: Students gain experience using research, precedent, context, creative thinking, and diverse perspectives to make informed design decisions about natural and built environments.
Digital design and GIS: The program's curriculum includes computer graphics and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), supporting digital analysis, visualization, and landscape-planning work.
Automated Fabrication & Design Lab: The College of Architecture's 15,000-square-foot Fab Lab supports student, faculty, and industry projects and provides hands-on access to technologies including 3-axis CNC routers, laser cutters, water jets, welding equipment, mills, saws, hydraulic presses, and other fabrication tools.
Makerspace: The Langford Makerspace provides FDM, SLA and SLS 3D printers, laser cutting, workbenches, and design computer stations, giving students facilities for physical prototyping and digital-to-physical project development.
Interdisciplinary design: Langford C provides a cross-disciplinary environment where College of Architecture students collaborate with students from the School of Performance, Visualization and Fine Arts, combining landscape and spatial design with digital media, visual storytelling, and immersive technologies.
Research facilities: The College of Architecture supports several research centers, institutes, laboratories, and research groups, including facilities focused on areas such as health systems and design, housing and urban development, hazard reduction, sustainable communities, and technology-infused learning.
Industry-oriented fabrication: The Fab Lab also provides fabrication and engineering services for projects across the Texas A&M University System and external clients, giving students exposure to a facility that supports both academic and industry projects.
Study-abroad opportunities: The College of Architecture offers study-abroad programs in locations including Italy, Spain, Germany, and England, along with special programs in other countries, providing opportunities for students to experience design in different cultural and environmental contexts.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA) at Texas A&M University prepares graduates for professional practice in private firms, government agencies, municipal planning and design offices, and interdisciplinary organizations. The program’s project-based studios, evidence-based design approach, and yearlong final study develop graduates for professional leadership, while the university reports that 100% of MLA graduates in 2024 obtained positions in landscape architecture.

Typical career roles: Landscape Architect, Landscape Designer, Urban Designer, Landscape Planning Consultant

Career development and progression opportunities include:

Career services: Students prepare for employer engagement through LAND 681, which includes preparation for interviews and the LAUP Career Fair. The College of Architecture also uses career fairs and other opportunities to connect graduates with industry partners and employers.
Internships: The MLA requires qualifying internships of at least 10 weeks/400 hours, completed after the first advanced year and under the supervision of a licensed landscape architect. Opportunities can be with landscape architecture firms, interdisciplinary engineering/architecture firms, city planning departments, parks departments, and state or federal environmental agencies.
Employment outcomes: Texas A&M reports that 100% of students who graduated from the MLA program in 2024 obtained positions in landscape architecture.
Salary information: Texas A&M's 2026 College of Architecture career information, using U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data, reports a $79,870 median annual salary for landscape architects. This is occupation-level salary data rather than a Texas A&M MLA-specific salary figure.
Industry connections: Students connect directly with employers through the LAUP Career Fair, where landscape architecture firms and other organizations recruit students for internships and professional opportunities. The program also identifies government entities, interdisciplinary firms, and professional landscape architecture practices as employment destinations.
Professional network: Texas A&M's landscape architecture alumni have progressed into senior professional roles; for example, MLA alumnus Dennis W. Jerke became a principal/division manager with Carter & Burgess and later a principal with TBG Partners, leading urban design and planning work.
Long-term accreditation value: The MLA is fully accredited by the Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board (LAAB). This provides the professional educational foundation for pursuing landscape architecture licensure, although additional experience and examination requirements vary by jurisdiction.
Licensure pathway: Texas A&M states that its accredited MLA prepares students to pursue licensure as professional landscape architects. In Texas, the registration pathway includes an LAAB-accredited professional degree, required professional experience, and successful completion of the Landscape Architect Registration Examination (LARE).
Graduation and professional outcomes: Beyond employment, graduates are prepared for leadership in landscape architecture and interdisciplinary practice, while the university notes that many graduates continue into doctoral programs and further advance the field through research.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the MLA, students can continue into doctoral-level study, particularly where their interests involve landscape architecture research, urban systems, environmental design, or related interdisciplinary fields. Texas A&M specifically notes that many MLA graduates continue through doctoral programs, and the College of Architecture offers a Ph.D. in Urban and Regional Sciences for advanced research into the relationships between social-ecological systems and the built environment.