What Can I Do With a Major In Landscape Architecture?
UGA Specific Information for Landscape Architecture
The Bachelor of Landscape Architecture at UGA is a professional degree (can sit for certification test after graduation and 18 months of professional practice in the state of Georgia) and is one of the top ranked Landscape Architecture programs in the country. Students take Landscape Architecture courses in various content areas as well as complete a required internship to gain professional experience before graduation. To better meet the challenges and needs of an ever-changing society, the B.L.A. program focuses on sustainable design in an effort to produce graduates with the most current knowledge and skills. Students participate in studio classes with graduated content and partner classes, offering the chance to combine theory with practice as well as technology. The B.L.A. at UGA offers guest lecturers, service learning opportunities, charette experiences, study abroad trips with opportunities to gain credit in LAND classes, student clubs, and much more.
Landscape Architecture is a growing field, and a B.L.A. degree does not limit one to only landscape architecture as a future career. Careers are available in both private and public sectors. Typically, students gain employment in design firms specializing in Landscape Architecture, Urban Design and/or Planning. Working with Federal and State agencies such as the National Park Service, Forest Service and City Planning Departments are also employment options. Growing trends in Sustainable Design have opened additional employment opportunities for Landscape Architects in these and other related fields. Graduates of the program also often go on to study at the graduate level in environmental planning, design, landscape architecture or historic preservation.
Class of 2021 Career Outcomes for Landscape Architecture*
** Includes Self-Employed
Campus Resources
- Handshake (UGA's hub for job and internship postings)
- UGA Mentor Program
- CE+D Student Organizations
- Sigma Pi Kappa (Honor Society for Students of Historic Preservation)
- US Green Building Council Student UGA Chapter
- Sustainability Focused Volunteer Opportunities
- CED Student Job Board (log in with your UGA credentials to view)
To find additional clubs and organizations, go to the Center for Student Organizations
Connect with your Career Consultant for additional guidance and support
Additional UGA Career Center Recommendations/Considerations
Landscape Architect Projects:
Landscape Architects are hired for a variety of projects from residential to commercial. Typically, Landscape Architects do not need a Masters Degree to obtain entry-level employment. Listed below are just a few of the projects that they can be involved in:
- School and college campus
- Corporate and commercial grounds
- Public gardens and arboreta
- Historic preservation and restoration
- Hotels, resorts, and golf courses
- Hospital and other facility sites
- Interior landscape
- Land planning
- Landscape art and earth sculpture
- Monument grounds
- Parks and recreation
- Land reclamation and rehabilitation
- Residential sites
- Security design
- Streetscapes and public spaces
- Therapeutic gardens
- Transportation corridors and facilities
- Urban and suburban design
Licensure
Landscape architects who work outside of the federal government need a license. As of 2010, all 50 states required landscape architects to be licensed. Licensing is based on the Landscape Architect Registration Examination (L.A.R.E.), which is sponsored by the Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards. Candidates can take the L.A.R.E. at different times of the year in two parts—three multiplechoice sections and two graphic response sections.
Applicants who want to take the exam usually need a degree from an accredited school and 1 to 4 years of work experience under the supervision of a licensed landscape architect, although standards vary by state. For those without an accredited landscape architecture degree, most states provide alternative paths to qualify to take the L.A.R.E., usually requiring more work experience.
Currently, 13 states require landscape architects to pass a state exam, in addition to the L.A.R.E., to satisfy registration requirements. State exams focus on laws, environmental regulations, plants, soils, climate, and other characteristics unique to the state.
Because requirements for licensure vary, landscape architects may find it difficult to transfer their registration from one state to another. Common requirements include graduating from an accredited program, serving 3 years of internship under the supervision of a registered landscape architect, and passing the L.A.R.E. By meeting national requirements, a landscape architect also can obtain certification from the Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards. That certification can be useful in getting one state to accept a license from another state.
Landscape architects who work for the federal government do not have to be licensed. For federal government jobs, landscape architects should have a bachelor's or master's degree in landscape architecture.
*Taken from Bureau of Labor Statistics
Supplemental Career Research Dashboard
Additional Career Research Resources
- O*NET (click on Find Occupations)
- Occupational Outlook Handbook (type in general term for career of interest)
- Georgia Career Information Center (accessible only on campus computers)
- Firsthand (Explore a library of guides, articles, and other resources to help you explore careers, plan your job search, and learn about different work environments. Create a free account with your UGA email.)
- Candid Career (Watch recorded informational interviews of professionals in specific careers. Filter videos by career title, college major, industry, and more.)
- Issuu (Landscape Architecture Portfolio Examples)
Employment Websites
- American Society of Landscape Architects
- Archinect
- The Environmental Careers Organization
- Planetizen
- GIS Job Board
- USAjobs.gov
Additionally, it is recommended to make a list of firms that you are interested in and check out their individual websites to identify open positions.
Professional Associations/Resources
- American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA)
- Urban Land Institute
- The Georgia Chapter, ASLA
- American Institute of Architects
- American Planning Association
- Environmental Design Research Association
- Land8Lounge
- Trees Atlanta
- The Land Lovers
Tip: Join LinkedIn groups that are related to your career interest. Need help finding groups? Check out the Groups You May Like link under the Interests/Groups tab. Review the groups that professionals in your field of interest have joined and consider joining them as well.
Employers/Position Title Reported by Class of 2021 Landscape Architecture majors
The information below represents employers and position titles from the Class of 2021 Career Outcomes Survey. To view historical Career Outcomes for this major, click here and select "Historical Data" from the navigation menu.
Employer | Position Title(s) |
---|---|
Cornerstone Construction Group LLC | Construction Project Manager | Dix Hite | Designer | ESP Associates, Inc. | Landscape Designer/Planner | Falcon Design Consultants | CAD Designer | Hallway Plumbing LLC | Quality Control and Safety Worker | Hallway Plumbing LLC | Quality Control and Safety Worker | Hallway Plumbing LLC | Quality Control and Safety Worker | Ironwood Design Group, LLC | Landscape Designer | Ironwood Design Group, LLC | Landscape Designer | Kimley-Horn | Landscape Architecture Analyst | Koons Environmental Design | Landscape Designer | Land Resource Design Group | Landscape Designer | Norris Design | Landscape Designer | Norris Design | Landscape Designer | Outdoor Makeover & Living Spaces | Landscape Designer | Plant Peddler | Greenhouse Technician | Russell Landscape Group | Landscape Designer | Seamon Whiteside , Associates, Inc. | Land Planner | Six Hire | Designer | VanKirk Electric, Inc. | Project Manager | W&A Engineering | Design Associate | Waldrop Engineering, P.A. | Project Designer | Waldrop Engineering, P.A. | Project Designer | Waldrop Engineering, P.A. | Project Designer |
Graduate/Professional Schools attended by Class of 2021 Landscape Architecture majors
The information below represents graduate/professional schools and programs reported through the Class of 2020 Career Outcomes Survey. To view historical Career Outcomes for this major, click here and select "Historical Data" from the navigation menu.
Graduate School | Program(s) |
---|---|
University of Georgia | Urban Planning and Design, MUPD | University of Georgia | Landscape Architecture, MLA | University of Michigan | Landscape Architecture, MS |