Sustainable Design, BS and Landscape Architecture, MLA

Overview

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.

Degree Requirements

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 214
Humanities & the Arts (6 hours)6
fulfilled by LA 222 and LA 214
Natural Sciences & Technology (6 hours)6
fulfilled by LA 250 and any Life 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
Cultural Studies: Western/Comparative Cultures (1 course) 3
fulfilled by LA 214
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
FAA 231Tools for Sustainable Design Studio3
LA 101Introduction to Landscape Arch2
ARCH 171Introduction to Design I3
ARCH 172Introduction to Design II3
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
Core17
FAA 330Making Sustainable Design5
ARTD 326Sustainability & Manufacturing3
ARCH 321Environment, Architecture, and Global Health3
ARTD 451Ethics of a Designer in a Global Economy4
FAA 310FAA Professional Development2
Senior Capstone8
FAA 430Sustainable Design Capstone Seminar3
FAA 431Sustainable Design Capstone Studio5
Total Hours49
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.
Life Science: Any Natural Science & Technology- Life Sciences general education course3
LA 214History of World Landscapes (Completing this requirement in undergraduate waives the requirement of LA 513 in MLA)4
LA 222Islamic Gardens & Architecture3
LA 281Design Communications II3
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 Requirements49
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
 

Sample Sequence

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

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 Semester
RequirementsHours
FAA 101 - Arts at Illinois1
ARCH 171 - Introduction to Design I3
LA 101 - Introduction to Landscape Arch2
Life Sciences General Education course3
Composition I or Language Other Than English (3rd level)4
Free Elective course1
Semester Hours14

Second Semester
RequirementsHours
UP 136 - Urban Sustainability, ARCH 237 - Urban Scale Sustainability, or UP 205 - Ecology & Environmental Sustainability3
ARCH 172 - Introduction to Design II3
ARTH 211 - Design History Survey3
Composition I or Language Other Than English (3rd level)4
LA 222 - Islamic Gardens & Architecture3
Semester Hours16

Second Year 

First Semester
RequirementsHours
FAA 230 - Sustainable Design of the Built Environment3
LA 280 - Design Communications I3
General Education course 3
ARCH 321 - Environment, Architecture, and Global Health3
FAA 231 - Tools for Sustainable Design Studio3
Semester Hours15

Second Semester
RequirementsHours
FAA 330 - Making Sustainable Design5
LA 281 - Design Communications II3
General Education course 3
General Education course 3
Free Elective course2
Semester Hours16

Third Year 

First Semester
RequirementsHours
FAA 430 - Sustainable Design Capstone Seminar3
ARTD 451 - Ethics of a Designer in a Global Economy4
General Education course 3
LA 300-or 400-level course2
Free Elective course2
Semester Hours14

Second Semester
RequirementsHours
ARTD 326 - Sustainability & Manufacturing3
FAA 431 - Sustainable Design Capstone Studio5
LA 214 - History of World Landscapes4
FAA 310 - FAA Professional Development2
Semester Hours14

Fourth Year 

First Semester
RequirementsHours
LA 433 - Graduate Foundation Studio5
LA 501 - Landscape Arch Theory & Prac4
LA 241 - Landform Design & Construction3
LA 352 - Woody Landscape Plants4
Semester Hours16

Second Semester
RequirementsHours
LA 434 - Graduate Site Design Studio5
LA 250 - Environmental Site Analysis3
Additional MLA course or Free Elective course4
Free Elective course2
Semester Hours14

Fifth Year 

First Semester
RequirementsHours
LA 533 - Planning & Design Studio I5
LA 342 - Site Engineering (4 credit hours, prerequisite)0
LA 482 - Advanced Design Communications4
Graduate Elective course4
Semester Hours13

Second Semester
RequirementsHours
LA 534 - Design Workshop G-I5
LA 343 - Landscape Construction (4 credit hours, prerequisite)0
LA 597 - Research Design & Methods3
Graduate Elective course3
Semester Hours11

Summer Semester
RequirementsHours
Graduate Internship0
Semester Hours0

Sixth Year 

First Semester
RequirementsHours
LA 537 - Planning & Design Studio II5
LA 452 - Planting Design3
LA 346 - Professional Practice (2 credit hours, prerequisite)0
Graduate Elective course4
Semester Hours12

Second Semester
RequirementsHours
LA 539 - Design Workshop G-II5
Graduate Methods course3
Social/Cultural Issues course3
Graduate Seminar or Elective, if any remaining2
Semester Hours13

Total Hours

Total hours for all requirements: 168

Learning Outcomes

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.

Contact Information

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