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WVU Morgantown

Landscape Architecture, B.S.L.A.

  • Overview
  • Admissions Requirements
  • Major
  • Learning Outcomes

Degree Offered

  • Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture

Nature of the Program

Landscape architecture is the art of design, planning, and arranging natural and human-constructed elements on the land.  It is a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) designated discipline. It applies cultural and scientific knowledge with concern for the conservation and stewardship of natural and aesthetic amenities to create an environment that serves a useful and enjoyable purpose.  This involves consideration of the quality of life in urban, rural and natural settings, as well as the interaction of humans with nature.  The landscape architecture program at West Virginia University strives to equip students with techniques and skills through problem-solving in design theory, site design and construction, land use planning, and planting design.  It emphasizes a philosophy of responsibility and commitment to ethical standards regarding the natural environment, social contexts, and professional practice.

The faculty represents a multi-disciplinary team with practical experience in creative and scientific research, design, consultation, and public service. This diversity is the nucleus of the program, allowing for a strong undergraduate curriculum supplemented by related courses in the arts, sciences, engineering, and planning, reflecting the needs of the Appalachian region and current trends within the profession.  Two of the faculty are 

Graduates of the program can assume traditional landscape architectural roles, e.g., positions with landscape architecture, architecture and engineering firms, design consulting firms, governmental and private planning departments, construction firms, transportation planning agencies, etc.  In addition, WVU graduates are prepared for design and planning positions meeting the needs common to West Virginia and other rural areas.

The Landscape Architecture Program is accredited by the Landscape Architecture Accreditation Board of the American Society of Landscape Architects.  To graduate, students must complete a full four-year course of study following a studio sequence and earn a minimum of 120 total credits. The Landscape Architecture Program is within the School of Community and Economic Development of the Davis College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at West Virginia University. Demand for professional landscape architects is increasing due to emerging environmental markets and projected shortages of graduates from accredited landscape architecture programs. The BSLA focuses on environmental and community design and planning, in addition to providing the primary skills and methods of landscape architecture.

Program Mission

Landscape architects utilize both art and science in planning and design, creating environments of natural, social, cultural, and aesthetic value.

The Landscape Architecture Program at West Virginia University equips students with critical thinking, design skills, and technical knowledge to engage in successful careers. Our program contributes to quality of life in both urban and rural areas and improves how humans interact with their environments. We promote stewardship and address the rapidly growing environmental, social, and economic challenges of tomorrow. 

Program Goals

  • We prepare students for challenging and satisfying careers through a rigorous curriculum, building broad professional skills and technical strengths across the full spectrum of the discipline.
  • We ensure students develop practical experience through experiential learning, internships and study abroad.  We foster critical thinkers and future leaders for ever-changing environmental, economic, and societal challenges.
  • We collaborate across disciplines on campus to enhance course offerings, creative scholarship, and research opportunities.  We develop and build teams to address critical regional and global problems.
  • We involve students in research, design, and creative inquiry.  We innovate and integrate engaged scholarship with research, teaching, and service. 
  • We instill responsibility and stewardship: we uplift communities to support our land grant mission by engaging with communities in West Virginia and the Appalachian Region. Through service-learning, we share the skills of the faculty and students of the Landscape Architecture Program.
  • We provide supportive learning environments and safe spaces.  We welcome diverse students and are respectful of a broad range of cultural and societal perspectives.  We are committed to the success of first-generation and underrepresented students.

Student Retention and Graduation Rates, and Degrees Granted

The graduation rate, defined as the percentage of freshmen that ultimately graduate from the program, has been 55.55% for the cohort starting in Fall 2017 and graduating in Spring 2021, and 50% for the cohort starting in Fall 2018 and graduating in Spring 2022.

The retention rate, defined as the percentage of freshmen that return for their sophomore year, has been 81.48% for the cohort starting in 2017, 91.66% for the cohort starting in 2018, 72.4% for the cohort starting in 2019, 45.45% for the cohort starting in 2020, and 51.61% for cohort starting in 2021.

From academic year 2017-2018 to academic year 2021-2022, 93 degrees were awarded for an average of 18.6 degrees per year.

Post-graduation Employment

The BSLA program regularly surveys graduates in order to get a picture of their employment status. From academic year 2016-2017 to academic year 2021-2022, 47 alumni are working in private practice and 16 are employed in landscape horticulture and design-build practice. They correspond to 65.2% and 22.2% of the respondents respectively.

Estimated Cost of Attendance

Information about fees, tuition and other expenses, as well as scholarships and financial aid can be found at https://admissions.wvu.edu/academics/majors/landscape-architecture#sticky-page-nav__cost

and at https://admissions.wvu.edu/cost-and-aid

The following are dedicated scholarships for Landscape Architecture students.

Jack Paules Endowed Scholarship  

This scholarship is designated for regularly enrolled third and/or fourth year students majoring in Landscape Architecture in the WVU Davis College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. 

The McHale Family Landscape Architecture Scholarship

This annual scholarship is provided to students in landscape architecture based on financial need and academic performance.

John R. Tschiderer Landscape Architecture Education Experience Fund

Annual awards to students and faculty for special activities such as travel and continuing education.

Program Costs

Upon enrollment students are required to buy a kit of drafting supplies for a cost of around $300. At the end of the second year studio sequence, students are required to purchase a computer that is capable of efficiently running programs with graphic intensive applications extensively used during the third and fourth years studio sequences. The approximate cost of a computer of this capability is around $2,500.

Study Abroad

Opportunities for study abroad include the LARC 444 Summer Field Experience: Western European Gardens, Landscapes and Architecture (6 credits). The course qualifies for student financial aid.

In accordance with the Higher Education Act the program meets the educational requirements for licensure eligibility in each U.S. state.

Contact:

Elisabeth "Lisa" Orr
Program Coordinator
Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture
(304) 293-5439
4321 Agricultural Sciences Building

For examples of student designs, view projects from LARC 450 and 652.

Admissions for 2025-2026

  • First-Time Freshman are admitted directly into major.
  • Students transferring from another major within WVU must have a 2.0 cumulative GPA or departmental approval.
  • Students transferring from another institution must have a 2.0 cumulative GPA or departmental approval. 

Major Code: 1713

General Education Foundations

Please use this link to view a list of courses that meet each GEF requirement.

NOTE: Some major requirements will fulfill specific GEF requirements. Please see the curriculum requirements listed below for details on which GEFs you will need to select.

Course List
Code Title Hours
General Education Foundations
F1 - Composition & Rhetoric3-6
ENGL 101
& ENGL 102
Introduction to Composition and Rhetoric
and Composition, Rhetoric, and Research
or ENGL 103
Accelerated Academic Writing
F2A/F2B - Science & Technology4-6
F3 - Math & Quantitative Reasoning3-4
F4 - Society & Connections3
F5 - Human Inquiry & the Past3
F6 - The Arts & Creativity3
F7 - Global Studies & Diversity3
F8 - Focus (may be satisfied by completion of a minor, double major, or dual degree)9
Total Hours31-37

Please note that not all of the GEF courses are offered at all campuses. Students should consult with their advisor or academic department regarding the GEF course offerings available at their campus.

Degree Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
University Requirements40
Landscape Architecture Major Requirements80
Total Hours120

University Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
General Education Foundations (GEF) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 (31-37 Credits)
Outstanding GEF Requirements 1, 4, 5, 7, and 824
ANRD 191First-Year Seminar1
General Electives15
Total Hours40

Landscape Architecture Major Requirements

In addition to the following curriculum requirements, students will be required to work at least one summer in an approved landscape architecture office or equivalent.  Student will be required to earn a grade of C- or better in all of their Landscape Architecture/Horticulture Courses.

Timely completion of required MATH courses are critical for advancement in this program of study.

Course List
Code Title Hours
Select one of the following (GEF 2):4
PLSC 206
& 206L
Principles of Plant Science
and Principles of Plant Science Laboratory
BIOL 101
& 101L
General Biology 1
and General Biology 1 Laboratory
BIOL 105
& 105L
Environmental Biology
and Environmental Biology Laboratory
Select one of the following or higher (GEF 3):3-8
MATH 124
Algebra with Applications
MATH 126
College Algebra
MATH 129
Pre-Calculus Mathematics
MATH 150
Applied Calculus
LARC 105Introduction to Landscape Architecture, Environmental Design and Planning3
LARC 120SLandscape Architectural Drawing Studio3
LARC 121SLandscape Architectural Graphics Studio3
LARC 212History of Landscape Architecture (GEF 6)3
LARC 223Computer Graphics in Landscape Architecture3
LARC 224Digital Design Graphics for Landscape Architecture2
LARC 231Landscape Construction Materials and Methods3
LARC 250STheory of Landscape Architectural Design Studio3
LARC 251Landscape Architectural Design1
LARC 251SLandscape Architectural Design Studio2
LARC 261Planting Design1
LARC 261SPlanting Design Studio2
LARC 330SLandscape Architectural Construction 1 Studio4
LARC 331Advanced Grading & Stormwater1
LARC 331SAdvanced Grading & Stormwater Studio3
LARC 350Landscape Architectural Design 21
LARC 350SLandscape Architectural Design 2 Studio3
LARC 351Landscape Architectural Design 31
LARC 351SLandscape Architectural Design 3 Studio3
LARC 360Natural Systems Design1
LARC 360SNatural Systems Design Studio3
LARC 450Advanced Landscape Architectural Design 11
LARC 450SAdvanced Landscape Architectural Design 1 Studio4
LARC 451Advanced Landscape Architectural Design 2 (Capstone)1
LARC 451SAdvanced Landscape Architectural Design 2 Studio4
Contemporary Issues in Landscape Architecture2
LARC 452
Contemporary Issues in Landscape Architecture
LARC 484Professional Practice3
HORT 260LWoody Plant Materials Laboratory3
RESM 440
& 440L
Foundations of Applied Geographic Information Systems
and Foundations of Applied Geographic Information Systems Laboratory
3
Select one of the following:3
LARC 465
Regional Design
LARC 466
Introduction to Urban Design Issues
Total Hours80

+Suggested Plan of Study

First Year
FallHoursSpringHours 
LARC 1053ENGL 101 (GEF 1)3 
LARC 120S3LARC 121S3 
LARC 2233LARC 2242 
ANRD 1911GEF 4, 5, 7, or 86 
Select one of the following (GEF 2):4  
BIOL 101
& 101L
   
BIOL 105
& 105L
   
PLSC 206
& 206L
   
Select one of the following or higher (GEF 3):3  
MATH 124
   
MATH 126
   
MATH 129
   
MATH 150
   
 17 14
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours 
ENGL 102 (GEF 1)3LARC 212 (GEF 6)3 
HORT 260L3LARC 2313 
LARC 250S3LARC 2511 
GEF 4, 5, 7, or 86LARC 251S2 
 LARC 2611 
 LARC 261S2 
 RESM 440
& 440L
3 
 15 15
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHoursSummerHours
LARC 330S4LARC 3311Summer Professional Experience 
LARC 3501LARC 331S3 
LARC 350S3LARC 3511 
LARC 3601LARC 351S3 
LARC 360S3LARC 4843 
GEF 4, 5, 7, or 83GEF 4, 5, 7, or 83 
 Elective3 
 15 17 0
Fourth Year
FallHoursSpringHours 
LARC 4501LARC 4511 
LARC 450S4LARC 451S4 
LARC 4522Elective7 
LARC 465 or 4663  
Elective5  
 15 12
Total credit hours: 120

Major Learning Outcomes

Landscape Architecture

Landscape Architecture is a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) discipline.  Students who complete the Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture (BSLA) will:

1.Develop a solid professional educational foundation, building knowledge and skills of: graphics, written and oral communication, site analysis, multi-scaled site design, detailing and construction, plant materials, site grading, and professional practice.

2.Apply critical thinking and theory to address societal, economic, and environmental challenges; understand the breadth of landscape architecture, cultural history, and contemporary issues and the tool of design as an agent of change.

3.Create designs that respond to the needs of the environment and society’s health, safety, and welfare, reflecting the standards of the landscape architecture profession and demonstrating innovation.

4.Demonstrate best practices promoting environmental sustainability, justice, and inclusivity for all, addressing the needs of universal access and underrepresented and marginalized communities.  

5.Contribute to community development and quality of life through local and regional service-learning projects.  Analyze and apply design skills to solving real-life problems in diverse environments.  Build skills in leadership, client relations, and stakeholder engagement. 

6.Apply professional ethical standards and social responsibility to benefit outdoor places, the public, and clients.

 
  • Agribusiness Management
  • Agribusiness Management and Applied Economics
  • Agricultural and Extension Education
  • Animal and Nutritional Sciences
  • Biochemistry
  • Energy Land Management
  • Environmental, Energy, and Land Management
  • Environmental and Natural Resources Economics
  • Environmental and Energy Resources Management
  • Environmental, Soil and Water Science
  • Forest Resources Management
  • Horticulture
  • Horticulture and Plant Sciences
  • Human Nutrition and Foods
  • Landscape Architecture
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
  • Sustainable Design and Development
  • Sustainable Food and Farming
  • Wildlife and Fisheries Resources
  • Wood Science and Technology

WVU Morgantown

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