Landscape Architecture Courses overview
Landscape architecture is designing and shaping the outside world to the specifications and desires of an individual, government or company. It can range from simple gardening to designing entire parks. Postgraduate study allows students to develop their skills by undergoing a series of design projects and seminars to help refine their visions.
The term first saw use when Gilbert Laing Meason published his book on the subject in 1828. Others soon followed, inspired by the practice. Other books, like those by the likes of Andrew Jackson Downing, saw publication in 1841, leading to the eventual adoption of ‘landscape architect’ as a professional title.
Excitement for the field remains to this day. Professional landscape architects work tirelessly to bring forth their visions of the natural world through the use of planning and superb organisational skills.
Is landscape architecture for me?
Landscape architecture is best suited to lovers of nature. It’s an opportunity to shape environments that people will experience and enjoy for years to come. If you’re an organised person who’s comfortable doing extensive planning, landscape architecture could well be for you.
Study pathway
Both graduate certificates and master degrees can be taken in landscape architecture, with graduate diplomas being slightly more rare.
Graduate certificates provide entry level knowledge on a specific portion of landscape architecture. The Graduate Certificate in Garden Design from the University of Melbourne is an ideal example of this, providing knowledge of landscape plants, landscape design and more. These programs take six months of full time study to complete, or longer if part time.
Master degrees consist of various research projects and practical workshops that allow students to develop their skills in landscape architecture. The RMIT exemplifies this, providing ample opportunity to apply and refine field knowledge. These programs take two years of full time study to complete, or four years part time. They can be taken by students coming from any prior discipline.
Employment options
Landscape architect
This is the clearest career path, providing the opportunity to utilise all the skills learned throughout postgraduate study in a professional context. Companies like Oculus or Hassell Studio thrive by employing skilled landscape architect to shape cities all around Australia.
Landscape assessor
These professionals evaluate blocks of land to determine whether they are appropriate for development. The field is well suited to those with a landscape architecture background; SLR Consulting and similar companies hire those with landscape architecture skills to work in this field.
Garden designer
Large swathes of public land aren’t the only domain of landscape architects. A career in garden design allows graduates to have a detailed focus on an ecosystem of their own. Companies like Alex Smith Garden Design thrive by employing high quality landscape architecture services applied to gardens great and small.
Specialisations
There are a variety of career specialisations available to landscape architecture graduates. The following are just some of these: