Sustainable Design, BS and Landscape Architecture, MLA

for the degrees of Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Design and Master of Landscape Architecture in Landscape Architecture

The six-year joint BSSD/MLA 4 + 2 program combines a B.S. in Sustainable Design with a MLA in Landscape Architecture. Current University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign undergraduate students enrolled in the Sustainable Design undergraduate major who have completed between 30 and 96 credit hours and maintain superior academic performance are eligible to apply for this program. Students admitted to the program will receive the B.S. degree after four years and the M.LA. degree after two additional years.

Students interested in the BSSD/MLA 4 + 2 program will need to plan their schedules well in advance of their Junior year to ensure they have taken the appropriate course work. By judicious selection of general education courses and major electives, students will be prepared to apply to the 4+2 program in their sophomore year, and to the Graduate College in their senior year.

For additional details and requirements refer to the MLA department's Web site and the Graduate College Handbook.

for the degrees of Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Design and Master of Landscape Architecture in Landscape Architecture

Graduation Requirements

Minimum hours required for graduation: 168 hours.

  • Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Design: 120 hours.
  • Master of Landscape Architecture in Landscape Architecture: 48 hours.

University Requirements

Minimum of 40 hours of upper-division coursework, generally at the 300- or 400-level. These hours can be drawn from all elements of the degree.  Students should consult their academic advisor for additional guidance in fulfilling this requirement.

The university and residency requirements can be found in the Student Code (§ 3-801) and in the Academic Catalog.

General Education Requirements

Follows the campus General Education (Gen Ed) requirements. Some Gen Ed requirements may be met by courses required and/or electives in the program.

Composition I4-6
Advanced Composition3
fulfilled by LA 314
Humanities & the Arts (6 hours)6
fulfilled by FAA 201, LA 222, and LA 314
Natural Sciences & Technology (6 hours)6
fulfilled by LA 250 and any Physical Science
Social & Behavioral Sciences (6 hours)6
Cultural Studies: Non-Western Cultures (1 course)3
fulfilled by LA 222
Cultural Studies: US Minority Cultures (1 course)3
fulfilled by FAA 201
Cultural Studies: Western/Comparative Cultures (1 course) 3
fulfilled by LA 314
Quantitative Reasoning (2 courses, at least one course must be Quantitative Reasoning I)6-10
Language Requirement (Completion of the third semester or equivalent of a language other than English is required)0-15

  Sustainable Design Major Requirements

Students should plan to complete all requirements prior to senior year, except for FAA 430 and FAA 431 which will be taken during senior year.
Foundation18
FAA 101Arts at Illinois1
FAA 230Sustainable Design of the Built Environment3
LA 101Introduction to Landscape Arch2
ARCH 171Introduction to Design I3
ARCH 172Introduction to Design II3
FAA 201Black Arts Today3
ARTH 211Design History Survey3
Urban Scale Sustainability (select one course)3
UP 136Urban Sustainability3
UP 205Ecology & Environmental Sustainability3
ARCH 237Urban Scale Sustainability3
Drawing (select one course)3
ARTD 225Design Drawing3
ARTF 102Observational Drawing3
LA 280Design Communications I (limited seats solely for BSSD/MLA 4+2 students)3
Core15
FAA 330Making Sustainable Design5
ARTD 326Sustainability & Manufacturing3
ARCH 321Environment, Architecture, and Global Health3
ARTD 451Ethics of a Designer in a Global Economy4
Senior Capstone8
FAA 430Capstone Seminar3
FAA 431Capstone Studio5
Total Hours47
Major Electives
All 16 hours of major electives are met with the full completion of the requirements below.
Required LA Coursework taken prior to Senior Year
Students who follow this program will be eligible for a minor in Landscape Studies regardless of their admission to the 4+2 program.
Physical Science: Any Natural Science & Technology- Physical Sciences general education course3
LA 222Islamic Gardens & Architecture3
LA 281Design Communications II3
LA 314History of World Landscapes (Completing this requirement in undergraduate waives the requirement of LA 513 in MLA)4
LA any 300 or 400-level course2
Total Hours15
 
Senior Year Courses
LA 241Landform Design & Construction3
LA 250Environmental Site Analysis3
LA 352Woody Landscape Plants (OR any UG Free Elective)4
LA 433Graduate Foundation Studio5
LA 434Graduate Site Design Studio5
LA 501Landscape Arch Theory & Prac4
Total Hours20

Master of Landscape Architecture in Landscape Architecture Pre-Professional degree program with Advanced Studio Option

The following coursework is required of MLA students in the Pre-Professional degree program. These courses do not count toward the graduate degree. Therefore, 4+2 students may elect to take these during the undergraduate portion of the 4+2.
LA 342Site Engineering4
LA 343Landscape Construction4
LA 346Professional Practice2
LA 352Woody Landscape Plants4
MLA Requirements
Studio
LA 533Planning & Design Studio I5
LA 534Design Workshop G-I5
LA 537Planning & Design Studio II5
LA 539Design Workshop G-II5
Additional Seminars/Coursework
LA 452Planting Design3
LA 482Advanced Design Communications4
LA 597Research Design & Methods3
Additional Required Electives chosen in consultation with MLA Advisor
Social/Cultural Factors in Design
Ecology
Methods
Total Minimum Hours48
Minimum Hours Required Within the Unit: 24
Minimum 500-level Hours Required Overall: 18
Minimum GPA: 3.0

Summary of Credits for the Joint Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Design and Master of Landscape Architecture in Landscape Architecture Program

Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Design 120
General Education
Major Requirements47
Major Electives0
Additional LA Course Requirements15
Senior Year Courses20
Free Electives
A minimum of 40 credits at the 300 or 400 course level are required
Master of Landscape Architecture in Landscape Architecture48
 

for the degrees of Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Design and Master of Landscape Architecture in Landscape Architecture

Sample Sequence

This sample sequence is intended to be used only as a guide for degree completion. All students should work individually with their academic advisors to decide the actual course selection and sequence that works best for them based on their academic preparation and goals. Enrichment programming such as study abroad, minors, internships, and so on may impact the structure of this plan. Course availability is not guaranteed during the semester indicated in the sample sequence.

Students must fulfill their Language Other Than English requirement by successfully completing a third level of a language other than English. This may require up to three semesters of language depending on high school coursework or placement. For more information, see the corresponding section on the Degree and General Education Requirements page.

First Year
First SemesterHoursSecond SemesterHours
FAA 1011UP 136, ARCH 237, or UP 2053
ARCH 1713ARCH 1723
LA 1012ARTH 2113
FAA 2013Composition I or Language Other than English (3rd level)4
Composition I or Language Other than English (3rd level)4LA 2223
Free Elective course2 
 15 16
Total Hours 31
Second Year
First SemesterHoursSecond SemesterHours
FAA 2303FAA 3305
LA 2803LA 2813
Physical Science General Education course3General Education course3
ARCH 3213General Education course3
General Education course3 
 15 14
Total Hours 29
Third Year
First SemesterHoursSecond SemesterHours
FAA 4303ARTD 3263
ARTD 4514FAA 4315
General Education course3LA 3144
LA 300-or 400-level course2Free Elective course3
Free Elective course2 
 14 15
Total Hours 29
Fourth Year
First SemesterHoursSecond SemesterHours
LA 4335LA 4345
LA 5014LA 2503
LA 2413Additional MLA course or Free Elective course3
LA 3524Additional MLA course or Free Elective course3
 16 14
Total Hours 30
Fifth Year
First SemesterHoursSecond SemesterHoursSummer SemesterHours
LA 5335LA 5345Graduate Internship0
LA 342 (4 credit hours, prerequisite)0LA 343 (4 credit hours, prerequisite)0 
LA 4824LA 5973 
Graduate Elective course4Graduate Elective course3 
 13 11 0
Total Hours 24
Sixth Year
First SemesterHoursSecond SemesterHours
LA 5375LA 5395
LA 4523Graduate Methods course3
LA 346 (2 credit hours, prerequisite)0Social/Cultural Issues course3
Graduate Elective course4Graduate Seminar or Elective, if any remaining2
 12 13
Total Hours 25

 Total Hours: 168

 

for the degrees of Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Design and Master of Landscape Architecture in Landscape Architecture

Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Design

Upon the successful completion of a degree in Sustainable Design, students will:

  1. Have a deep level of understanding of the fundamentals of sustainability and their functional links to the built environment.
  2. Have a deep level of understanding of the fundamentals of design thinking and practice.
  3. Be proficient in applying basic principles of visual and material communication, including sketching, drafting, model-making, 2D and 3D design software and geographic information systems.
  4. Be able to combine design theory and practice with sustainability principles to address environmental issues at the product, building, neighborhood, city, landscape, and global levels.
  5. Be comfortable working in multidisciplinary teams to solve complex design problems.

Master of Landscape Architecture in Landscape Architecture

Upon the successful completion of a Master of Landscape Architecture in Landscape Architecture students will have:

  1. Design Thinking. Use a variety of processes to discover and frame opportunities, generate multiple possibilities, evaluate and refine ideas, rapidly prototype and test your proposal, and share your ideas in a compelling manner.
  2. Communicate with Skill. Use a variety of digital tools to generate design proposals, test those proposals, and share your ideas with others.
  3. Tap into Existing Knowledge. Incorporate our best understanding of natural resources, environmental systems, human development, social systems, professional practice and professional ethics into your work.
  4. Technical Competence. Demonstrate the technical competence to translate design proposals into built work.
  5. Responsibility and Leadership. Develop and demonstrate a sense of responsibility to the land and the people for whom we design.
 

for the degrees of Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Design and Master of Landscape Architecture in Landscape Architecture