Landscape Architecture

Master of Landscape Architecture - Admission

MLA Gathering Event - 2023

Cal Poly Pomona MLA Program Faculty and Student Gathering - 2023

 

The CPPMLA Program offers two MLA program tracks:

  • General Standing Track: (72-unit/3-year ) – Our General Standing 72-unit curriculum is crafted for students without a design background, providing the essential foundation of professional and advanced skills in three years. for applicants with undergraduate degrees in non-design disciplines. General Standing students complete a year-long series of foundational courses preparing students for the intermediate and advanced courses in the second and third years of the program.

  • Advanced Standing Track: (48-unit/2-year) – For students with a prior accredited environmental design baccalaureate degree that focus on studio-based learning, e.g., landscape architecture, architecture, urban design, etc., our 48-unit Advanced Standing track provides opportunities to develop deeper expertise and critical abilities in two years.  Applicants with an accredited degrees in landscape architecture or other environmental design disciplines, will be admitted to join the General Standing students in the second and third years of the program.
  • Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) – As per Cal Poly Pomona Policy No. 1412, graduate students may be eligible to receive course, general education area, or elective unit credit through Credit for Prior Learning (CPL). Students are ineligible for CPL if they have previously received credit for a course containing similar or advanced material from the same subject matter field or if they are currently enrolled in that course.

    Applicants without an accredited environmental design degree focusing on studio learning (so don’t qualify for the Advanced Standing track), but with landscape architecture related coursework may apply for CPL.  The Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA) program permits general standing track students to apply for up to 9 units of CPL toward their total credit requirement of 72-semester units. To apply for CPL, students must complete the designated form, sign it, and submit it to the graduate coordinator, Dr. Weimin Li (wli@cpp.edu), or the faculty member serving in that capacity.

    Supporting documentation for CPL may include, but is not limited to:
    1. Prior Academic Coursework: Completion of relevant college or graduatelevel courses in landscape architecture or aligned disciplines at accredited institutions, with grades of B or higher.
    2. Professional Experience: Demonstrated real-world practice in institutional or employment settings closely related to landscape architecture or environmental design.
    3. Portfolio or Documentation: Submission of a portfolio or other forms of documentation that substantiate the applicant’s qualifications, showing that they meet the learning outcomes of the courses under review for credit.

    Approval of CPL requests is at the discretion of the graduate coordinator, in consultation with the graduate curricula/study committee of the MLA Program. Approval is based on a careful evaluation of the submitted materials.

General Standing and Advanced Standing programs begin in Fall Semester. The CPPMLA do not currently accept Spring Admission for new students but may allow returning students to start in spring semester.

 

The Department of Landscape Architecture at Cal Poly Pomona (CPPLA) welcomes graduate students with a baccalaureate degree of any academic discipline from an accredited university. We encourage applicants from all socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds who wish to pursue careers in the public or private sector, designing sustainable landscapes, creating just and healthy communities, or managing conservation programs and land trusts. We have a 50+ year legacy of training graduate students in advanced human-ecosystemic design methods to establish strong, well-defined, and mutually life-sustaining and enhancing relationships between people and the land. 

We invite you to learn more about our program, the faculty, our award-winning Master’s Project Studio projects, and the admission process by downloading the MLA Program Guide for Prospective Students and exploring our website.

To initiate the application process, please fill out the Department Record of Application for Graduate Admission to receive updates about our program and admissions events. This form also serves as the checklist for the MLA Supplemental Application.

 

Domestic Students 

MLA applicants must have a baccalaureate degree (or will complete their degree prior to starting the program), and have an overall undergraduate grade point average of at least 2.5 to meet Cal Poly Pomona admission req. The MLA program recommends a GPA of 3.0 or better. International students must meet or exceed the CSU minimum English Proficiency test scores. GRE scores are not currently required.

Applicants from non-design academic disciplines are invited to apply for the 72-unit three-year long MLA General Standing (first professional degree) program. General standing courses may be satisfied by alternate means including waivers of selected courses based on previous academic and professional experience, or qualified units transferred from other academic programs upon the MLA Graduate Coordinator's approval. Waivers and transferred units are not guaranteed, and will be approved on a case-by-case.

Applicants holding an accredited degree in Landscape Architecture or a closely aligned environmental design discipline, are invited to apply to the 48-unit two-year Advanced Standing (Post-Professional) MLA graduate program. Applicants interested in Advanced Standing track should demonstrate their additional academic preparation and/or professional experience in their portfolio and transcript, in addition to meeting all the General Standing admission requirements. Admission to the Advanced standing program is not guaranteed, and based on an applicant's overall qualifications, experience, and available space. Contact the MLA Graduate Coordinator MLA@cpp.edu to be considered for the Advanced Standing.

All applicants are required to undergo transcript evaluation and portfolio review during the admission process. Unofficial transcripts can be used for this review process, but an official transcript must be submitted to the University's Admission Office before registering for MLA Courses.

Limited space in the MLA program may be available for transfer applicants currently enrolled in another accredited MLA program, or for students who wish to change majors from another graduate program at Cal Poly Pomona. Please contact the graduate coordinator (mla@cpp.edu) for specifics about transferring or changing majors.

 

International Applicants

Known for our outstanding academic programs, Cal Poly Pomona offers an excellent education for international students who wish to pursue a graduate degree in the United States. International students who have a Bachelor degree in environmental design disciplines focused on studio learning experience such as landscape architecture or architecture can apply to the 48-unit Advanced Standing program. Applicants without environmental design background should apply to the General Standing Program. Applicants should consult the graduate coordinator if they are not sure if they are eligible for the Advanced Standing Track. Applicants who attended a university where instruction was provided in a language other than English must submit TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo scores.

Prospective international applicants must contact CPP’s International Students and Scholars Office for information regarding visas, guidelines for maintaining academic progress, and procedures for internships and post-graduation work at international@cpp.edu

For additional information on Incoming International Students and requirements, please refer to: Office of Admissions - Apply as an International Student page.

 

The MLA program is committed to provide a smooth application experience to all applicants, helping applicants through every single application steps and address application questions timely. To allow the program to assist effectively, applicants should carefully review and follow the application process. 

Application to the MLA program requires completing TWO separate steps:

 

CAL STATE APPLY

STEP 1. Cal State Apply online application needs to be completed by February 15th (applications open October 1st). Please visit Cal Poly Pomona's Office of Admission and review the Graduate Application Guide for detailed instructions about the CSU Apply process. You will submit the following information via CSU Apply:

  • Biodemographic and Economic Information (by filling out the online application form)
  • Academic History
  • Citizenship/residency status
  • Test Scores 
  • Application Fee ($70 for Fall 2025)
  • All requested program materials
    Applicants must submit the unofficial transcripts via Cal State Apply. They are recommended to submit all other application materials along with their application via CSUAPPLY. If an applicant is unable to submit all materials by February 15th, they should submit them directly to mla@cpp.edu by March 1st. 
    • Unofficial Transcript(s) - Required for Cal State APPLY. (Applicants must also submit their official transcript digitally through their previously enrolled universities and instutions. 
    • Statement of Intent
    • Portfolio 
    • Program Application Form (Please submit here and print a pdf copy)
    • CV/Resume 
    • Test Score Reports
    • Application Essay of other Writing Samples

For additional information on the Cal Poly Pomona/CSU admission requirements and deadlines, please refer to Masters Requirements. questions regarding the CSU Apply application procedures, please contact the Office of Admissions and Outreach (909) 869-3210.

You may see on Cal State Apply or the CPP Graduate Program Application website that the deadline to apply for Fall for some programs as early as December 15th. We do not follow that deadline. But we appreciate receiving applications early, wo encouraged you to do so.

Once you complete your CSU Apply application and your application fee is deposited, please inform the department by email MLA@cpp.edu.

 

MLA Spplemental Application

STEP2. MLA Supplemental ApplicationDeadline is March 1st for admissions consideration into the MLA 1 or MLA 2 program. The list cover the application materials that were requsted through Cal State Apply plus letters of recommendations. You can use this submission to directly connect to program administrators and use the opportunity to complete your submission of all the application materials. Regardless whether you have submit the following materials, you should send a copy to mla@cpp.edu. See below for detailed instructions for each items. Required materials include:

    1. Cover Page indicating which track you are applying to, e.g., General Standinng Track or Advanced Standing Track
    2. Cal Stay Apply application form (attache a pdf copy)
    3. Program Application Form (Please submit here and attach a pdf copy)
    4. C.V. 
    5. Unofficial transcript(s)
    6. Test scores (English proficiency for international students, e.g., TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo)
    7. MLA Portfolio
    8. MLA Statement of Intent (600-words)
    9. MLA Scholarly Writing Sample - Application Essay (400-words)
    10. Two Letters of References [sent directly to mla@cpp.edu by the references]

Review of all MLA applications begins on March 1st, and admission notifications will be sent out beginning in early April. Our review and decision process may be delayed if all the application materials are not received on time. Late applicants will be considered case-by-case only if there is available space.

Submit your MLA Supplemental Application Package

Items in your Supplemental Application Package should be submitted to mla@cpp.edu by one email. Applicant should limit submission size to 20MB in order to submit through email. 

  • By Email your files as one attachment to MLA@cpp.edu with "MLA Application - Current YEAR (e.g., 2025)" in the subject line. Please do not include application materials in the body of the email。 

Maximum file size (and the total size of all attachments) that we can receive via email is 20mb. For larger files, please use a file sharing/cloud storage website (see below). Even if you send it via online storage, your totla file size should not be greater than 25mb. 

  • By File sharing/cloud storage website (Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive, other file sharing services), or digital portfolio publishing site (ISSUU, Portfolium) – by submitting the URL to MLA@cpp.edu.

Make sure to set the file’s permissions so anybody with the link can view and download the files.

If you have technical difficulty in sending us your applicatiton materials to mla@cpp.edu we will accept your application via mail. We recommend that you only use this option if you really can't do it digitally. To keep track of your application materials, we expect you to inform us that you are using mail to deliver your package via email or phone call to avoid potential delay of your application. If you ship any of your supplemental application package items to us, make sure it will be delivered before March 1st, and share the tracking number with us at MLA@cpp.edu. 

  • By Mail them (USPS, UPS, FedEx, DHL, or international mail) to:

Attn: MLA Admissions
Department of Landscape Architecture
3801 W. Temple Ave, Pomona
CA 91768 USA

Letters of Reference should be submitted directly to the department by the letter writer via email to mla@cpp.edu with a subject line including your name and ‘Letter of Reference’. Individuals who don't have access email or internet can mail their letter to the above address and ensure delivery by March 1st every year. 

File Naming

For all digital files included in your Supplemental Package, please save each item as a separate PDF file, and use the following file naming format:

Name_Program_Item.pdf

With:

  • Name = last name-first name
  • Program = 'MLA1' for General Standing applicants, or 'MLA2' for Advanced Standing applicants
  • Item = identify the file content: CSUApplyApp, Portfolio, Statement, WritingSample, Transcript, et cetera.

Attention to the procedures and timely submission of all required materials will enhance your chances of acceptance to the program. Incomplete applications cannot be considered.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please review all information presented on the Department’s webpage with all tabs unfolded. You need to submit application packages to BOTH the University Admission Office (via Cal State Apply) and the Department of Landscape Architecture. Missing any part of the application package will lead the significant delay of the application process. In addition to the following admission process on the webpage, you can download the application checklist for your own reference.

 

The following application materials should be submitted to Cal State Apply by the February 15th deadline. If the applicant can't submit them by February 15th deadline, they must submit them to the Department of Landscape Architecture by March 1st. Both steps are required to complete the application process. 

Unofficial Transcripts


The department needs (unofficial) copies of your transcripts from all colleges and universities you previously attended. You may attach them to an email, upload them to a cloud storage site and submit the URL via email, or print and mail them to the department.

For international applicants with transcripts in other languages than English, certified English translations are required.

Prior to registering for courses, official copies of your final transcripts from EACH college and university attended must be sent directly to Cal Poly Pomona’s Office of Admissions and Outreach from the college and universities. Failure to submit your OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS (SEALED AND MAILED or SENT DIRECTLY VIA EMAIL) will delay your ability to enroll.

Final Official Transcripts should be submitted digitally. If your sending institution does not offer electronic transcripts, we recommend that applicants use the following service: National Student Clearinghouse or Credential Solutions. For PDF transcripts, please have them sent directtly to verify@cpp.edu. Should these services not be available for your sending institution, please have them mail your transcript(s) to:

Cal Poly Pomona
Attn: Admissions & Enrollment Planning
3801 W. Temple Avenue
Pomona, CA 91768 USA

 

English Proficiency Test Scores and/or GRE Score


International applicants with degrees from international colleges or university that are not taught in English need to provide copies of your English Proficiency Test results to the department.

Please have official results of your TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo test sent directly to the University (ETS Code: 4082). For admission to any graduate program at Cal Poly Pomona, you would need to have a minimum TOEFL score of 80, IELTS score of 6.5, and Duolingo score of 105.

Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are no longer required. Applicants who took the GRE sin the past five years are encouraged to submit their scores to the Department of Landscape Architecture. For more information, visit: http://www.ets.org/gre.

MLA Application Portfolio


A portfolio (20 pages maximum) that showcases your creativity is required. If applicants have questions about what should be included in the portfolio, check the portfolio guide below, in the Q&A section or make an appointment to review examples of portfolios by emailing MLA@cpp.edu.

The PDF of your portfolio can be submitted via email, via a file sharing site (Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, et cetera) or digital portfolio publishing site (ISSUU or other) with the URL submitted by email or the Supplemental Application, or by printing a copy and mailing it to us (address is above). Mailed portfolios will not be returned.

Portfolio Content

Your portfolio does not need to feature landscape design work or be landscape architecture related. We recognize that many candidates come from academic backgrounds with little to no art or design experience. Feel free to include work that you think provides evidence that you are a creative thinker and problem solver. For example, past students have submitted knitting patterns, dance routines, cake decorating, original recipes, musical scores or recording, and computer programs that illustrate their creative problem-solving abilities. Please provide a sufficient explanation about each project to assist so our faculty can interpret your process and the significance of your accomplishment.

Each project or type of project should have dedicated pages.

We strongly encourage you to include a sample of your writing (up to 10 pages) in the portfolio - this could be a few pages from a report, a chapter out of a thesis, article, etc.

A resume is recommended for Advanced Standing applicants, and is optional for General Standing applicants.

To include videography/animation, performing arts/music, or interact media work in your portfolio, please include frame grabs/still images + URL to view/hear the full work (don’t embed the file in the PDF as this will bloat the file size). Audio or video media files under 20mb can submitted via email separately from your PDF portfolio file. Media files larger than 20mb must be submitted by providing a URL to them on cloud sharing website via email. 

For any group/collaborative project, or professional work completed as an employee, please be sure to specify the role you played in the project, and to identify the other team members.

All portfolios require a cover page with your name, contact information, address, phone number, email, and the program to which you are applying (MLA 1 or MLA 2).

Portfolio Formatting and Creation Instructions

Your portfolio should be submitted as single multi-page PDF file (or printed), with no more than 20 pages (8.5x11/letter-size or A4 size paper). Please don’t combine 2-page spreads into single 11x17 pages. PDF files are preferred.

To create your portfolio, there many apps that allow you to easily layout multiple pages with a combination of images and text, such as: Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, MS Word, Google Docs, PowerPoint, or Keynote. It is essential that any software used allows saving the final version as a PDF. Any Windows, MacOS, and iOS app should be able to do this, either by ‘save as…’ in the file menu or in the print dialog window.

If you will not be printing your portfolio, you will generate a smaller file that displays better on a screen with images that are 8-bit RGB color mode or 8-bit gray scale (not CMYK or 12-bit color). Please optimize your image files so they have a final resolution of 100 to 200 pixels per inch using a photo editing application, by using the ‘compress images’ tool available in many apps, or in the ‘save as’ options. Higher resolution images will bloat the file size and are not recommended. For an image that is reproduced as 6” x 4” in the portfolio, the resolution should be at least 600x400 pixels and no more than 1200x800 pixels.

If you only can provide a hard copy printed version of portfolio, please mail it to the Department address above. Printed portfolios should be printed on both sides of the page (double-sided), and bound to be easily opened/accessed and easy to leaf through (use staples, spiral or comb bindings, or insert the pages into a folio/binder). No loose pages/sheets accepted. Printed portfolios WILL NOT BE RETURNED, so please do not spend lots of money on a fancy binder/cover.

See the file name format instructions above.

Portfolio Checklist (inspired by Professor Emeritus Lee-Anne Milburn)

  1. Selection/curation of projects
    1. Does the portfolio present a focused vision?
    2. Do the projects clearly illustrate your strengths and creative abilities?
    3. Does it show how you develop ideas and solve problems?
  2. Organization
    1. Are the projects presented chronologically (oldest to newest), or organized by theme, project type, or another logic?
    2. Do projects selected reflect your best and most recent work?
    3. For design projects, are you providing an overview of the final version, along with details, methodology/process, and context?
    4. Do the views/images/drawings of the work/projects make sense, and do subsequent views/pages expand upon and make clearer the previous pages?
    5. Is the significance of each project matched by the amount of space/pages dedicated to it?
  3. Reviewing the overall layout:
    1. Is there sufficient white space? Do the pages feel crowded?
    2. Are the borders clean and consistent?
    3. Is there a page organizing system that is consistently applied (without being boring)?
    4. Do you have to rotate the portfolio back and forth from landscape (horizontal) to portrait (vertical) to the extent that it is irritating?
    5. Is there a consistent graphic style expressed through organization, page layout, use of fonts, and color palette?
  4. Images/graphics
    1. Are the images/drawings presented sharply and clearly, with adequate contrast and resolution to see the details?
    2. Are the subjects in the photographs sharp and clear?
    3. If the images pixelated or otherwise of low quality, find a replacement or reduce the size of image on the page (aim for 100dpi or better for all photos/raster graphics).
    4. For high resolution original files, please reduce the resolution before placing them in the portfolio file so they reproduced in the portfolio at a resolution of 100dpi to 200dpi.
    5. Do any of the projects require being re-drawn or re-rendered?
  5. Text
    1. Is all text legible (big enough and with sufficient contrast)?
    2. Is there a consistent set of font sizes/styles used for the headers, captions, body text, et cetera?
    3. Have you checked the spelling and grammar?
    4. Is capitalization and punctuation consistent?
    5. Do the project statements/captions allow the reviewer to understand the material without having you there to explain it?
    6. Do you provide compelling outline the program, scope, concept and scale of the projects?
    7. Do you describe the location, project type, challenges, approach, and key innovations?
    8. For academic projects, do you identify the course number/name, instructor, and term/date?

MLA Statement of Intent

Use this Statement of Intent for both the CSU Apply and MLA Supplemental Application. It should be a maximum of 600 words long. Suggested content for your statement includes:

  1. Relevant experience, interests or aptitudes that make you a great candidate for a career in landscape architecture? How did first discover landscape architecture and why do you want to become a landscape architect? Is there a specialization, type of project, or practice you want to pursue, what is it and why? Also make sure to highlight any interests or experiences that might otherwise be missed in your resume or package that inspired your interest in landscape architecture.
  2. Fit to the program - What experiences, interests, or aptitudes make you a good "fit" for Cal Poly Pomona's landscape architecture program? Please discuss your perspectives toward societal challenges, design thinking, methods and approaches toward planning and design, collaborative experience, approach to teamwork, emotional resilience/temperament, work ethics, and experiences working with diverse communities.
  3. Why do you want to enroll in our MLA program in particular? Why you want to study landscape architecture in Southern California. How did you first discover our program? What is the unique characteristics of the program attract you the most? If you were inspired by one of our faculty’s research or courses, who, what, and how you are inspired, and how you encountered their work. What do you think you can gain from our MLA program that is distinct from the other programs you are applying too?

MLA Scholarly Writing Sample

 

To help us learn more about your values/interests, critical thinking, and writing ability, please write a short essay (400-word maximum) responding to following:

  1. What are the top three challenges facing our society today?
  2. Why do you consider these the most significant challenges?
  3. What can landscape architecture do to address these challenges?

Please support your rationale and perspective with at least 4 relevant bibliographic citations.

 

Two Letters of Recommendation


Two letters of recommendation are required. For recent graduates:

  • At least one of your reference letters is from a faculty member at your most recently attended university or college program who can assess your academic strengths and weaknesses, critical thinking/design aptitude,
  • The other reference letter can be from professional mentor, a supervisor/boss, volunteer position, or other individuals familiar with your work, capabilities, interests, and problem-solving/creative aptitudes.

For applicants who graduated more than five years with their Bachelor's degree:

  • Both letters of recommendation can be from either academic or non-academic references who can assess your work, capabilities, interests, and problem-solving/creative aptitudes.

It is the applicant's responsibility to contact the references as early as possible to request they provide a letters of recommendation, and provide submission information about sending it directly to the Department of Landscape Architecture via email to mla@cpp.edu or by mail.

Please indicate which track you are applying to in all correspondence and on the Supplemental Application. If you have questions about which program you qualify for, please email us at MLA@cpp.edu.

Scholarship applications are due 03/02/2025. 

Table.1 Department Scholarship for Incoming MLA Students
Name Amount Application Link Note
Dangermond Research Fellowship $5,000 Apply Here
B.L.A.C.K in L.A. Scholarship $3,000 Apply Here FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application required
ONA Scholars Scholarship $2,500 Apply Here
Lifescapes International Scholarship $1,000 Apply Here FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application required


For more information, please contact mla@cpp.edu for more information

Please look over the FAQ list before you reach out for help.