Bachelor of Landscape Architecture
Students gain hands-on experience through studio work, evidence-based research and professional engagement, preparing them for impactful careers in landscape architecture and related fields.
Study Landscape Architecture at Texas A&M University
The Landscape Architecture program at Texas A&M consistently ranks as one of the nation’s top ten programs. In this program, you’ll learn how to plan, design, oversee, build and nurture natural and built landscape environments such as parks, campuses, streetscapes, trails, plazas and residences.
You’ll enjoy a combination of classroom and real-world learning opportunities. With one of the most research-active faculties in the nation, even undergraduates can join our research efforts as we continue to push design innovation through evidence-based design.
About the Landscape Architecture Program
The Texas A&M Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (BLA) program is consistently recognized as one of the nation’s best. College Factual ranks our program No. 5 for Best Landscape Architecture Schools in the United States and No. 1 in Texas for the discipline, reflecting our excellence in landscape design education.
Students take studio classes that connect their learning to the professional world. This project-based coursework fosters innovation, assessment, and professional judgment. We also provide unique opportunities to conduct undergraduate research rooted in evidence-based design.
Our BLA program is a four-year accredited program by the Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board (LAAB) under the auspices of the American Society of Landscape Architects. After completing your degree, you’ll be ready to enter the workforce, obtain licensure, or pursue a graduate degree at Texas A&M or another institution.
Our graduates have gained distinction for projects including residential communities, college campuses, and urban designs.
Curriculum
The Bachelor of Landscape Architecture is a four-year undergraduate degree and requires a minimum of 128 credit hours:
- 42 hours university core curriculum
- 9 hours upper-level general electives
- 56 hours LAND major coursework
- 21 hours supporting coursework (primarily URPN and HORT)
Landscape architecture students must spend one semester away from College Station, studying abroad or completing an internship. Study abroad students travel to Bonn, Germany, and take 9–12 hours of studio-based classes. Students on internships spend a semester working for landscape architecture firms around the country.
BLA Core Curriculum Sequence
- URPN 220 Digital Communication I | 3 credit hours
- URPN Digital Communication II | 3 credit hours
- LAND 231 | Landscape Construction I | 4 credit hours
- LAND 232 | Landscape Construction II | 3 credit hours
- LAND 311 | Landscape Construction III | 4 credit hours
- LAND 111 | Landscape Architecture Communications I | 3 credit hours
- LAND 112 | Landscape Architectural Communications II | 3 credit hours
- LAND 211 | Landscape Design I | 4 credit hours
- LAND 212 | Landscape Design II | 4 credit hours
- LAND 311 | Landscape Design III | 5 credit hours
- LAND 312 | Landscape Design IV | 5 credit hours
- LAND 412 | Landscape Design VI | 5 credit hours
- LAND 240 | History of Landscape Architecture | 3 credit hours
- HORT 306 | Trees and Shrubs for Sustainable Built Environments | 3 credit hours
- HORT 308 | Plants for Sustainable Landscapes | 3 credit hours
- LAND 301 | Landscape Architecture Theory | 3 credit hours
- LAND 241 | History and Development of Landscape Architecture in North America | 3 credit hours
- LAND 101 | Introduction to Landscape Architectural Practice | 1 credit hour
- LAND 431 | Professional Practice | 3 credit hours
Year 1
32 Credit Hours| Course No. | Course Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ECCB 205 | Fundamentals of Ecology | 3 |
| LAND 101 | Introduction to Landscape Architectural Practice | 1 |
| LAND 111 | Landscape Architecture Communications | 3 |
| MATH 140 | Mathematics for Business and Social Sciences | 3 |
| URPN 202 | Building Better Cities | 3 |
| URPN 220 | Digital Communication I | 3 |
| Total Hours | 16 | |
| Course No. | Course Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| LAND 112 | Landscape Architectural Communications II | 3 |
| LAND 240 | History of Landscape Architecture | 3 |
| MATH 142 | Business Calculus | 3 |
| URPN 320 | Digital Communication II | 3 |
| Life and Physical Sciences | 4 | |
| Total Hours | 16 | |
Year 2
31 Credit HoursYear 3
36 Credit Hours| Course No. | Course Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| LAND 301 | Landscape Architecture Theory | 3 |
| LAND 311 | Landscape Design III | 5 |
| POLS 206 | American National Government | 3 |
| American History | 3 | |
| Urban Planning Elective | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 17 | |
Year 4
29 Credit Hours| Course No. | Course Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| LAND 241 | History and Development of Landscape Architecture in North America | 3 |
| LAND 412 | Landscape Design IV | 5 |
| American History | 3 | |
| Cultural Discourse | 3 | |
| Urban Planning Elective | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 17 | |
Preparing for the BLA Program
High school students can take the following courses to prepare for the LAUP program. These courses are not required, but recommended to students who are interested in pursuing a BLA:
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- AutoCAD or drafting courses
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- Plant identification
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- Site engineering
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- Rendering and art courses
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- Speech and leadership courses
Our Mission
The Bachelor of Landscape Architecture Program at Texas A&M University is an accredited, nationally recognized professional degree providing evidence-based, engagement-driven education.
The program’s comprehensive curriculum prepares creative leaders for public and private practice in land planning and design. Graduates are equipped to create sustainable, healthy, and resilient urban and regional landscapes that meet ecological, social, and economic needs.
Accreditation
Our BLA program is a four-year accredited program by the Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board (LAAB) under the auspices of the American Society of Landscape Architects.
Provisional accreditation was first granted for the BSLA program in 1971. Our program has maintained accredited status since that time.Programs accredited by the Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board (LAAB) are required to provide reliable information to the public. Programs must report on accreditation status and its performance (PDF). This information is to help potential students make informed application decisions.
Professional Licensure and Certificate Disclosure Statement
Approximately 25% of the registered landscape architects in the state of Texas graduated from the Texas A&M University landscape architecture programs. Our graduates are prepared for employment with private design firms and with federal, state, or local government agencies. Upon graduation, students are qualified to pursue licensure in the profession or post-graduate education in landscape architecture or a related field.
Programs accredited by the Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board (LAAB) are required to provide reliable information to the public. Programs must report on accreditation status and its performance. This information is to help potential students make informed application decisions.
Notice to students pursuing programs that may lead to a professional license or certification required for employment.
The following programs may lead to a career in which a professional license or certification is required for employment. Professional licensure/certification requirements vary from state to state, which may affect a student’s ability to apply for a professional license/certification upon the completion of the program. U.S. Department of Education regulation 34 CFR 668.43 (a) (5) (v) requires an institution to disclose a list of states where the institution has determined that the program “Does” or “Does not” meet educational requirements for licensure or certification. The administrative departments that offer the program have made the following determination regarding their curriculum:
| Program | Bachelor of Landscape Architecture |
| Meets | AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KX, KY, LA, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WV, WI, DC, VI, AS; CNMI, GU, MH, FM, PR, PW |
| Does not meet | ME, MT, WY, VT |
| A determination has not been made | — |
In accordance with 34 CFR 668.14 (b) (32), Texas A&M University must certify that programs leading to licensure or certification satisfy applicable state educational requirements in the State of Texas and where students enrolled in distance education are located at the initial time of enrollment or where the student attests they intend to seek employment. Therefore, we cannot enroll students in distance education programs from a state where we have determined that the curriculum does not meet professional licensure/certification requirements or where we have yet to make a determination. If you wish to enroll in a distance education program and plan to seek employment in another state which meets the professional licensure/certification requirements, please contact the program to discuss your options.
Each state board, agency, or department has the ultimate authority and discretion to determine whether professional licensure or certification will be issued. We recommend students contact the appropriate state licensing agency in the state where they intend to work to seek the most up-to-date information about state licensure/certification requirements before beginning the program.
In accordance with the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners (TBAE), basic qualifications required to obtain landscape architectural registration by examination in Texas are: 1) Received a professional degree from a landscape architectural education program accredited by the Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board (LAAB); 2) Successfully completed two years actual experience working directly under a licensed landscape architect or other experience approved by the Board in accordance with the Texas Table of Equivalents for Experience in Landscape Architecture; and 3) Shall successfully complete all sections of the Landscape Architect Registration Examination (LARE).
Pertinent information related to the importance of licensure in landscape architecture can be found at the American Society of Landscape Architects website.
Pertinent information related to experience requirements for licensure for landscape architects can be found with the Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards.
Pertinent information related to the licensure requirements in landscape architecture in Texas can be found on the Texas ASLA site.
