University Catalog

Master of Landscape Architecture (Advanced Standing Landscape Professional)

About This Program

The Master of Landscape Architecture (Advanced Standing Landscape Architecture Professional) allows students with first professional degrees in landscape architecture to enter the research (third year) phase of the curriculum. 

The Master of Landscape Architecture is fully accredited by the Landscape Architecture Accreditation Board. Graduates from the Landscape Architecture Program are qualified to sit for the Landscape Architecture Registration Exam which, when successfully passed, qualifies individuals to practice as landscape architects in the State of Texas.

Competencies

  1. Proficiency in communication: graduating students will demonstrate proficiency in communicating ideas with visual proficiency.
  2. Proficiency in verbal communication: graduating students will demonstrate proficiency in communicating ideas with verbal proficiency.
  3. Identification of natural and cultural systems: graduating students will demonstrate the ability to identify the local and regional cultural and natural systems including hydrology for a given design program.
  4. Knowledge of computer applications: graduating students will demonstrate proficiency with relevant computer programs.
  5. Knowledge of construction materials, methods, technologies and applications: graduating students will demonstrate the ability to produce a set of industry standard construction documents.
  6. Advanced written research/communication: graduating students will demonstrate the ability to produce scholarly research in the form of a written and oral thesis.
  7. Design comprehension, creativity and rigor: graduates will demonstrate understanding of design processes, comprehension, creativity and rigor.


 
 

Admissions Criteria

Applicants must meet the general requirements of the Office of Graduate Studies. A personal interview with the Director, Graduate Advisor or members of the landscape architecture faculty is strongly recommended. Three letters of recommendation are required and it is suggested that at least two of the letters come from former educators and/or academic contact. Letters of recommendation  should be sent directly via email to cappa.advising@uta.edu or by  postal service, to: CAPPA Program – Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA), Box 19108, Arlington TX 76019.. Applicants also are required to submit scores from the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). Also required is a grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 as calculated by the Office of Graduate Studies.

Selected applicants holding first professional degrees in landscape architecture, or in some cases degrees related to landscape architecture (such as architecture, engineering, environmental design, horticulture, interior design, planning, and the like) are required to submit portfolios reflecting the applicants' professional and/or academic experiences and interests. Portfolios are assessed according to proficiency in design, presentation and layout, technical skills, and content, similar to criteria used in design studios.

Applicants who have a weakness in one of the criteria for admission can enhance their credentials with strengths in the remaining criteria.

Unconditional Admission

Applicants must possess a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. Transcripts from all previous college or university work, along with scores from the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), and three letters of recommendation are required of all applicants. In addition, applicants should have a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0, as calculated by the Office of Graduate Studies. Applicants holding the first professional degree in landscape architecture, or related fields, must submit a portfolio. Applicants should contact the Landscape Architecture Graduate Advisor or Program Director regarding this requirement.

Minimum GRE scores of 298-147 verbal and minimum 142 on the quantitative section.

Provisional Admission

Those who have submitted their applications forms, but whose packets are incomplete, can be admitted provisionally if their GPA meets minimum requirements, and if the Program and the Office of Graduate Studies have received official transcripts. In this case, incomplete materials could include letters of recommendation, GRE scores, and/or portfolios.

Probationary Admission

Those who have weaknesses with respect to letters of recommendation, GRE scores, and GPA can be admitted on probation, with the condition that they make no less than a B in the first 12 hours of coursework in landscape architecture. Such students must complete no fewer than 9 credits during the semester in which they are on probation.

Deferred Admission

Those who have weaknesses in with respect to letters of recommendation, GRE scores, and GPA, and/or who have not submitted all of the materials required for unconditional admission, can have their applications deferred for one semester, until outstanding requirements and criteria are met.

International Student Admission

International applicants must meet all admission requirements and be admitted in one of the admission categories described above. In addition, applicants whose native language is not English must have a demonstrated speaking ability in English. They also must meet the Program's minimum required score of 79 on  the TOEFL IbT or 6.5 on the IELTS. International applicants who do not meet the Program's minimum TOEFL IbT or IELTS score must complete extramural training in English, as approved by the Program and the Office of Graduate Studies.

Graduate Teaching/Research Assistantships

To be considered for a Graduate Teaching or Research Assistantship, the candidate must be admitted without provisional conditions. In order to be eligible for teaching assistantships, students whose native language is not English, must complete extramural training in English as approved by the Program and the Office of Graduate Studies or a score of 23 on the TOEFL speaking.

Fellowships and Scholarships

To be considered for fellowships or scholarships in the program the candidate must admitted without provisional conditions and have a favorable review in most of the evaluation criteria. Fellowships and scholarships in landscape architecture are limited and very competitive. Generally, candidates must be new students coming to UT Arlington, must have a GPA of 3.0 in their last 60 undergraduate credit hours and any graduate hours, and must be enrolled in a minimum of 9 hours in both long semesters to retain their fellowships or scholarships.

FACILITATED ADMISSION OF OUTSTANDING uT ARLINGTON UNDERGRADUATES

The Master of Landscape Architecture offers outstanding graduating students from UTA's Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Urban Design program the opportunity to participate in the Facilitated Admissions program.

Students are recommended for facilitated admission by the Master of Landscape Architecture graduate advisor. To qualify the students must meet the following minimum requirements:

  • Graduation from UTA's Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Urban Design program no more than one academic year prior to the semester for which facilitated admission is sought.
    • If the student has not yet graduated from the program, they must be in their final undergraduate semester and have applied for undergraduate graduation. 
  •  Achieved a grade-point average of 3.5 in these calculations:
    • Last 60 hours GPA as calculated in Graduate Admissions for admission purposes,
    • All work completed to date at UTA (cumulative GPA),
    • Within their major (from LARC and UDES courses)

Students who qualify for facilitated admission will be admitted into graduate school without completing the application for admission, submitting the application fee, or taking the GRE or GMAT test. The graduate advisor of the Master of Landscape Architecture program will complete an Facilitated Admission Application on behalf of the student.

Curriculum

Foundations
LARC 5313HISTORY AND THEORY OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE II3
LARC 5380RESEARCH METHODS IN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE3
LARC 5623STUDIO TEACHING PRACTICUM6
LARC 5665DESIGN STUDIO V: THE URBAN LANDSCAPE6
LARC 5397THESIS PREP3
Elective
Select one LARC course numbered 5300 or above.3
Thesis
Select one of the following:6
MASTERS DESIGN THESIS
THESIS
Total Hours30

Suggested Plan of Study

First Year
Fall SemesterHoursSpring SemesterHours
LARC 53803LARC 56236
LARC 56656Specialization Option Course3
 9 9
Second Year
Fall SemesterHoursSpring SemesterHours
LARC 53973LARC 53133
 LARC 56986
 3 9
Total Hours: 30

Program Completion

Milestones

After completing 45 credit hours, the first professional degree student is evaluated by means of an academic review and portfolio review by the Graduate Studies Committee. The committee identifies areas of strength and weakness in the student's performance and recommends appropriate action.

Upon completion of the three core semesters, the student is required to develop an area of specialization or primary interest. The student must consult with faculty advisors to complete this step, which includes a preliminary agreement between student and faculty advisors regarding the specialization or primary interest and the appropriate research method to support it.

design thesis option

The design thesis option requires the student to conduct independent research, but also design investigations to demonstrate their capacity for rigorous original thinking. The design thesis, as does the written thesis, will include a research proposal, a written research portion and also design products (analysis and design drawings) that meet the highest standards of academic excellence and contribute significantly to the discipline and profession. Students will take research methods, masters comp/thesis preparation, and design thesis.

Academic Standing

 LARC 5693 MASTERS DESIGN THESISmany not be taken more than 4 times before a “Fail” grade is assigned and the student has to be reinstated in order to complete their degree.

A student may be subject to dismissal from the program if they accumulate 4 deficiency points during their graduate study. Students who complete a Master’s degree at CAPPA will not carry deficiency points into their PhD work. Deficiency points may not be removed from a student’s record by repeating a course or additional coursework.

D = 2 deficiency points
F = 3 deficiency points
I = 1 deficiency point
W = 0.5 deficiency point

A student whose cumulative grade point average (GPA) falls below a 3.0 in all courses taken while enrolled as a UT Arlington graduate student may be subject to dismissal from the program.

Advising Resources

The College of Architecture, Planning and Public Affairs (CAPPA) at UT Arlington equips students with skills and knowledge to address real-world challenges in design, public policy, and research. Our Advising Office supports academic and career success. Explore our Future Students page to connect with an Academic Advisor and shape your future.

Location:

203 CAPPA Building

Email:

cappa.advising@uta.edu

Phone:

817-272-2801

Web:

General advising

Future students