College of Agricultural and Life Sciences

Landscape Architecture

Courses

1 Agricultural Hall, 1450 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706; 608-263-7301; www.la.wisc.edu

Professors Howell (chair), Harrington; Associate Professors Dennis, Sibernagel; Assistant Professors Bart, Gilmore, Thering; Faculty Associate Kelly; Senior Lecturer Steiner

The Department of Landscape Architecture offers three undergraduate programs. A nationally accredited, four-year professional landscape design program, leading to a Bachelor of Science-Landscape Architecture degree, is offered under the Landscape Architecture degree program. The Natural Resources degree program with a major in landscape architecture leads to a Bachelor of Science-Natural Resources degree, whereas the International Agriculture and Natural Resources program culminates with a Bachelor of Science-International Agriculture and Natural Resources degree.

The professional landscape design program leads to licensure in landscape architecture and focuses on form-giving design, design and planning implementation, and professional practice. The program emphasizes principles of planning and design theory and process; problem solving in relation to human needs and aspirations, institutional regulations, and environmental awareness and stewardship; and the development of technical proficiencies required of professional practice, such as site analysis, graphic communication, design synthesis, construction technology, and planting design.

Within the Natural Resources program and the International Agriculture and Natural Resources program, students may pursue a specialization in one of two areas: landscape management or landscape planning.

Landscape management is involved primarily with the development of strategies to integrate human activities with landscape resources. It is an emerging, highly diverse area that includes reclamation and ecological restoration of degraded landscapes, natural and scientific area ecosystem management, and the exploration of issues related to the management of cultural and historic resources.

Primarily concerned with natural resources and land-use allocation, the emphasis of landscape planning includes planning theory and process, data gathering and manipulation techniques, environmental impact amelioration, public participation techniques with an emphasis on geographical information systems, and methods of land-use controls.

Information on specific course sequence recommendations is available from the department or the Office of Undergraduate Programs and Services. The department may be consulted for specific career information.

The following admission policy applies to students entering the professional landscape design program and not the Natural Resources or the International Agriculture and Natural Resources degree programs.

1. Admission to the Pre-Landscape Architecture Program. Applicants must satisfy the admission policies for this college (apply to the UW-Madison Office of Undergraduate Admissions); entering freshmen follow the instructions on the admissions application and list Landscape Architecture as their intended major. During the first year the student enrolls as a pre-landscape architecture student (PLA-1 classification) and concentrates on the completion of the prerequisite courses and basic degree requirements.

2. Eligibility for consideration into the Landscape Architecture Accredited Professional Program (Landscape Architecture degree program) depends on fulfillment of these requirements: students may apply for formal admission to the program during the spring semester of each academic year. Selections are made only once a year for the fall semester. The first round of selections takes place in early summer. All students will be notified of their status at least two weeks before the start of the fall semester. Students who plan to complete their prerequisite courses during the summer session must so indicate on their application. The department will admit up to a minimum of 22 students, as resources permit. Selection will be based on a letter of intent, written by the applicant, which addresses her or his reasons for wanting to enter the major, and on grades earned in the following six prerequisite courses:

   Land Arc 201 Introductory Landscape Architecture Studio (fall semester)
   Land Arc 250 Survey of Landscape Architecture Design (fall semester)
   Land Arc 262 Site Inventory and Evaluation Methods (spring semester)
   Land Arc 312 Graphics for Designers (spring semester)
   Gen Engr 160 Architectural Graphics, Art 102 or Art 112 or Design Studies (DS) 120

   AND the applicant must have completed at least 24 hours of credit. In case of ties, cumulative GPA will be considered.

   Note: Application forms for consideration of admission to the Landscape Architecture professional program are available from the Department of Landscape Architecture, 1 Agricultural Hall, 1450 Linden Drive.

3. Selection policies. On-campus selections for admission will be made as soon as possible after spring semester grades are received. Advanced-standing transfer students and second degree majors must have their final transcripts on file (in Room 116 Agricultural Hall) as soon as possible after the close of their spring term, but no later than June 15. The department must be notified immediately if a grade report is incorrect, as selections must be made on the basis of information available at the time of selection.

4. Notification of status. Applicants who have completed their prerequisite courses at the end of spring semester will be notified of their status between June 1 and July 1 of each year for fall semester admission. Decisions on those applicants completing prerequisites during summer session will be made as soon as grades are received.

   Note: Students not selected for admission may enroll for a second time with a pre-landscape architecture classification (PLA-2) and seek admission for the following fall by reapplying during the spring semester. If not selected after a second application, students will need to transfer to another program on the Madison campus or to another institution. Students will not be able to register in pre-landscape architecture for a third year.

5. Appeal procedures. An appeal to the department's Curriculum Committee may be presented to clarify an error of fact or extenuating circumstances.

6. Reentering landscape architecture students. Note: Those students who are accepted and enroll in Land Arc 261 and drop the course during the fall semester must reapply for admission by April 15 if they wish to be considered for the following fall.