Master of Landscape Architecture

3 Years On Campus Masters Program

University of California Berkeley

Program Overview

The Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA) at the University of California, Berkeley is a three-year first-professional degree for students from non-design backgrounds, combining design excellence with ecological integrity, social equity, and environmental planning. Students study landscapes at multiple scales through design studios, fieldwork, ecological analysis, drawing and modeling, site design, landscape construction, research, and professional practice, preparing for careers in private firms, public agencies, nonprofits, and related fields.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: The first year establishes the foundations of landscape architecture through LA 200A Fundamentals of Landscape Design, LA 234A Drawing the Landscape, and LAC110A Ecological Analysis, followed by LA 200B Case Studies in Landscape Design, LA 234B Landscape Processes through Drawing and Modeling, and LA 112 Landscape Plants: Identification and Use. Students develop design thinking, visual communication, ecological understanding, landscape representation, plant knowledge, and an understanding of landscape history through LA 170 History and Literature of Landscape Architecture.

Year 2: Students progress into more complex landscape and site-scale design with LA 201 Ecological Factors in Urban Landscape Design, LA 202 Design of Landscape Sites, and LA 120 Topographic Form and Design Technology. They also develop practical knowledge through LA 121 Design in Detail: Introduction to Landscape Materials and Construction and LA 233 Drawn from the Field, while social-factor or elective coursework broadens their understanding of the social dimensions of landscape design.

Year 3: The final year emphasizes advanced project development, public-realm design, research, and professional preparation through options including LA 203 Landscape Project Design, LA C203 Shaping the Public Realm, LA 204 Advanced Project Design, and LA 206 Final Project Preparation Studio: Thesis and Reports. Students also undertake LA 260 Professional Practice and Internship and may complete LA 252B Independent Research Preparatory Course, giving the final year a strong combination of professional experience, independent research, and advanced design work.

Focus areas : Landscape design, ecological integrity, environmental planning, ecological analysis, urban landscapes, site design, landscape representation, landscape plants, topography, materials and construction, public-realm design, social factors, professional practice, research, and environmental justice.

Learning outcomes : Students develop advanced abilities to analyze and design landscape spaces and systems, integrate ecological and social knowledge into design decisions, communicate ideas through drawing and modeling, understand landscape construction and site technology, conduct independent research, and address environmental and social challenges through landscape architecture.

Professional alignment (accreditation): The three-year MLA 3D is the first professional degree for students with non-design backgrounds and is accredited by the Landscape Architecture Accreditation Board (LAAB).

Reputation (employability rankings): UC Berkeley's College of Environmental Design identifies Berkeley as the #1 public university in the U.S. for Architecture & the Built Environment in the 2026 QS World University Rankings.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA) at the University of California, Berkeley combines design studios, field-based investigation, environmental analysis, and hands-on fabrication so students can apply landscape architecture concepts to real sites and ecological challenges. Students work across Berkeley’s studios and fabrication facilities, using digital and physical tools to develop drawings, models, prototypes, and site-based design proposals, while the program’s research environment connects landscape architecture with ecology, environmental planning, and urban design. The curriculum also includes opportunities for collaborative studio work and engagement with real-world landscapes through field studies and site visits:

Design studios: MLA students progress through a sequence of landscape architecture design studios where they investigate sites, develop design proposals, and integrate ecological, cultural, social, and technical considerations into their work.
Field studies and site visits: Students undertake field-based investigations of landscapes and sites, using direct observation and site analysis to understand environmental conditions and inform design decisions.
Digital representation: Students use digital drawing, mapping, modeling, and visualization techniques as part of the landscape architecture curriculum to communicate design ideas and analyze sites.
Fabrication facilities: Berkeley’s architecture and landscape architecture students have access to fabrication resources for developing physical models and prototypes, supporting hands-on exploration of materials and construction.
Digital fabrication: Fabrication resources include equipment for digitally driven production, enabling students to translate digital designs into physical models and prototypes.
Collaborative studios: Studio-based learning provides opportunities for students to work collaboratively on complex landscape and environmental design problems while receiving critiques from faculty and invited professionals.
Research facilities: Students can engage with Berkeley’s interdisciplinary research environment, including work related to landscape ecology, environmental systems, urbanism, and sustainable design.
Environmental investigation: MLA coursework connects design with ecological and environmental analysis, helping students examine issues such as water, vegetation, climate, habitat, and human interaction with landscapes.
Library resources: Students have access to UC Berkeley’s extensive library system and architecture-related research collections, supporting design research, precedent studies, history, theory, and independent academic work.
Interdisciplinary opportunities: The program benefits from Berkeley’s wider academic environment, allowing landscape architecture students to engage with fields including architecture, city planning, environmental design, and environmental science.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of UC Berkeley’s Master of Landscape Architecture are prepared for professional careers in landscape design, environmental planning, urbanism, and related public-sector and environmental fields. The program’s graduates work across private practices, government agencies, environmental organizations, and international development settings, with alumni progressing into senior design and leadership roles.

Typical career roles: Landscape Architect, Landscape Designer, Environmental Planner, Urban Designer

The program supports students’ transition into professional practice through Berkeley’s career resources and its strong professional and alumni network:

Career services: The College of Environmental Design provides career support covering job and internship opportunities, applications for employment and graduate school, résumé and cover-letter preparation, interview practice, career development, and alumni mentorship. Students can also use Handshake to connect with employers, internships, fellowships, and on-campus recruiting opportunities.
Employment opportunities: Berkeley’s Landscape Architecture & Environmental Planning department identifies graduate employment across professional landscape architecture firms, the U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, state and regional natural-resource agencies, international development organizations, and environmental NGOs.
Employment statistics and salary: Program-specific employment percentages and salary figures are not stated on the official UC Berkeley MLA pages reviewed, so no unsupported salary or employment figure is provided.
University–industry connections: Berkeley’s program maintains strong links with professional practice through faculty and alumni working in leading landscape architecture and design practices. Alumni examples include Hood Design Studio, Surface Design, and PWP Landscape Architecture, while the CED career platform connects students with employers through Handshake and recruiting opportunities.
Professional licensure value: The three-year MLA is the first professional degree accredited by the Landscape Architecture Accreditation Board (LAAB). Berkeley notes that landscape architecture is a licensed profession in California and most other states; graduates with a Master’s degree in Landscape Architecture can proceed toward California licensure by completing the required professional experience and licensing examinations.
Graduation outcomes: Berkeley graduates have progressed into professional practice, public-sector environmental management, research, teaching, and interdisciplinary design. The department also has a strong record of professional recognition, with multiple Berkeley MLA alumni elected to the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) Council of Fellows, one of the profession’s highest honors.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the MLA, students can pursue Berkeley’s PhD in Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning for advanced scholarly and research work in landscape architecture, environmental planning, planning and design theory, and natural and urban environmental problems. Students can also combine landscape architecture with related disciplines through Berkeley’s concurrent MArch + MLA or MCP + MLA pathways, where applicable, to develop broader expertise across architecture, city planning, environmental planning, and urban design.