programs

bachelor of landscape architecture

master of landscape architecture

Bachelor of landscape architecture

Your education in Landscape Architecture will be unlike any to which you are accustomed. In our four year professional program you will take lecture, seminar, field trip and studio courses. The intensive studio courses, taken every term, allow you to practice and master what you have learned. You will work on design solutions alone or in teams, with input and critique from faculty. Through frequent presentations you will develop abilities in verbal and graphic communication of your design ideas. Students find our BLA program to be an intense and enjoyable way to learn.

The BLA program of studies addresses both the learning objectives of the University and the needs of the profession of landscape architecture. Half of the required credits are through courses given in the Landscape Architecture program; other required courses are taken from departments throughout the University. You are also able to choose nine electives from other departments on campus. This allows you to take courses in a number of disciplines or concentrate on one or two areas of interest.

There are a number of unique learning opportunities provided through the BLA program. You may earn academic credit for work in professional offices, take advantage of our international exchange program that allows students to study in many foreign countries, assist community groups by participating through the Community Outreach Centre, or become involved in social and professional life through annual conferences, field trips and events. Our program is well equipped with computer and video facilities, and all students are assigned their own studio workspace with 24/7 access. 

Refer to the University of Guelph Undergraduate Calendar for details on courses and program requirements.

Career Opportunities

Graduates from our BLA program are in high demand nationally and around the world as the program has an excellent reputation based on over 40 years of experience preparing students for careers in landscape architecture.  A large percent of each year's graduates are employed by design and planning firms where they are involved with preparation of design and construction documents for a wide range of projects, from planning communities, to restoring historic properties, to creating ecotourism and ski resorts. Other graduates enter the public sector and become involved in community planning and design. Others with design-build firms, enjoying direct involvement in designing and constructing built works.  A growing number of BLA graduates pursue advanced degrees in landscape architecture or in related disciplines.

Recent graduates are working in communities and firms across Canada, in the United States, and in other countries around the world.  The excellent reputation of our BLA program puts graduates in a good position to find exciting and fulfulling employment.

master of landscape Architecture

The Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA) program is structured to assist students in acquiring and mastering a professional level of design knowledge and skills. The curriculum at Guelph has three integrated streams: design theory and practice, landscape analysis and planning, and research inquiry and application.

In the first two years of the MLA program, learning is centred around design studios that provide the opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge to real life projects ranging in scale from individual sites to entire communities and regions. Lecture courses, field studies and seminars provide additional opportunities to acquire knowledge and develop professional skills.  Some students elect to participate in our international exchange programs to further develop their areas of interest and to expand their professional networks.

The final year of the MLA program is focused on the individual interests of each student and on completion of a thesis. For most of our MLA students, their thesis is the first step toward a specialized area of practice or to doctoral study in landscape architecture or a related field.

MLA Profile

MLA Program Requirements

MLA First Professional Degree Program

This program is designed for individuals with an honours degree other than the Bachelor of Landscape Architecture. The prescribed studies consist of at least thirteen graduate courses (6.25 credits) and a thesis requiring six semesters of full-time study over three calendar years. Students normally register for Fall and Winter semesters each year, and request a 'Leave of Absence' during the Spring semester in order to gain practical experience.

MLA Second Professional Degree Program

Students who hold a first professional degree (BLA, BSLA) will undertake a program of study that includes both courses and a thesis. If you have recently completed your first professional degree in landscape architecture, you may expect to undertake a program of at least seven graduate courses (3.25 credits) and a thesis.

Applicants who have several years of substantial professional experience subsequent to their first professional degree will be required to undertake a program of at least five graduate courses (2.25 credits) and a thesis.

Those holding a professional degree in architecture may be exempted from some introductory courses, based on discussions with the graduate coordinator.

Refer to the University of Guelph Graduate Calendar for details on course requirements for each program.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of our MLA program enjoy a broad range of career opportunities. Many own or are employed by private-sector consulting firms, multi-disciplinary firms and design-build firms. As professionals, they often specialize in a particular area of practice, such as landscape restoration, golf course and resort design, community design, heritage conservation or computer visualization. A growing number of our graduates are employed by resource-based industries, including forestry and aggregate resource management. A high percentage of our MLA graduates are employed by national, provincial, regional and municipal agencies where they provide expertise within parks and recreation, community development, transportation, engineering and planning departments. Other Guelph MLA graduates choose academic careers after pursuing doctoral studies. Career opportunities for Guelph MLA graduates are enhanced by the program's national and international reputation based on thirty years of experience preparing students for careers in landscape architecture and related fields.