Master of Landscape Architecture - Curricula
Cal Poly Pomona MLA Program Faculty and Student Gathering - 2023
Students in the MLA program will achieve the following learning outcomes upon graduation.
- Leadership and Advocacy – Demonstrate ethical leadership and advocacy to advance equity and sustainability in communities in response to pressing environmental and social challenges.
- Design – Apply an iterative, evidence-based design process across multiple scales to promote climate resilience, public health, and nature-based solutions.
- Application of Evidence – Collect, analyze, and apply literature, data, and community evidence to inform design decisions and policy recommendations.
- Research Integration – Critically evaluate and integrate academic research to support design concepts and solutions.
- Inclusive Engagement – Apply inclusive community engagement strategies to support equitable design outcomes.
- Theoretical Foundation – Analyze and apply historical and theoretical frameworks from diverse cultural and ecological traditions that inform landscape architecture practice.
- Communication – communicate design ideas and evidence-based solutions clearly and effectively through written, verbal, and visual media tailored to diverse audiences and platforms.
- Climate change mitigation and adaption design, which address knowledge on landscape mitigation strategies that if employed at mass scale, can help reduce GHG emissions (ASLA, 2016), adjust global and micro-climate, protect natural resources and wildlife habitats, promote local agriculture, and foster community resiliency against climate change;
- Participatory design and social practice, which seeks to create places that reflect and serve diverse cultural, racial and economic communities by involving users in the entire process of creating and improving their own landscape.
- Geodesign, which embraces and utilizes big data, Artifical Intelligence (AI), machine-learning and other latest geospatial technologies to empower human capability in scientific rationalization and sophisticated outreach and engagement to public agencies and various stakeholders to address complex and systematic landscape design challenges that are otherwise difficult to address; and
- Urban sustainable landscape design that brings in creative landscape strategies to sequester carbon, clean the air and water, increase energy efficiency, restore habitats, and create value through significant economic, social and, environmental benefits (ASLA, 2016).
Additionally, CPP’s John T. Lyle Center for Regenerative Studies and the other graduate programs offered by the College of Environmental Design (ENV) and CPP provide a tremendous range of electives for our students.
GST - Required Foundation Courses (15-units)
(Please refer to University Catalog for most updated information).
All MLA Core Courses are taught in sequence and are 3-units each. Seminars and lectures meet 3-hours, one day/week. Labs/Studios meet 3-hours/day on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
LA 5111L Design I (Lab/Studio)
This course is an introduction to the discipline of landscape architecture and design foundations as a result of personal awareness. This course will specifically challenge students to understand the relationships of the body in space including the presence and reflection of the self and others in space. Multiple methods of personal and public recording and engagement will be utilized to reveal the latent potential and issues of space and site.
LA 5121L Design II (Lab/Studio)
This course is an introduction to the discipline of landscape architecture and design foundations as a result of a public awareness and public space. This course will specifically challenge students to understand the relationships of the public or a community to designed public space. Multiple methods of information collection, comparative study and measurement of capacity will be utilized to reveal the latent potential and issues of space and site beyond current conditions.
Introduction to visual communication for landscape architecture. Addresses the basic theory and intent of visual communication as applied to environmental design. Focuses on the exploration of what designers draw, why, and how, and the concepts of notation, observation, diagramming, measuring, and communicating. Uses problem-based learning to critically evaluate audience, tools, venue, and mechanics of visual communication. Integration of manual and digital tools.
LA 5771 Landscape Awareness and Assessment
Focuses on the development of awareness and skills related to reading the landscape around us: what is under, on and above the ground, and its implications for design. Introduction to methods of landscape documentation, inventory, analysis and assessment, including traditional site inventory and analysis, McHargian analysis, SWOT analysis, natural resources inventories, phenomenological approaches, behavioral observation, natural areas inventories, environmental impact analysis, archival research, still and motion picture photography as documentation, among others. Students will evaluate the appropriateness of various inventory, analysis and assessment tools and their connection to design. A series of field trips is required to provide opportunities to critically assess the California landscape as a product of human intervention and natural resilience.
LA 5611 Construction I: Manipulation + Making
Explores fundamental technical theories, concepts, methods and processes associated with primary categories of constructing the built environment as associated with landscape architecture. Emphasis is placed on site engineering, water management, tectonic structure and project construction workflow. Additional content may include general survey and technical soils.
MLA Core Courses (30-units)
The practice of landscape architecture, covering professional responsibilities and ethics, client and contractor relationships. Analysis and discussion of the structure and organization of the profession of landscape architecture; its history and future. Case studies of professional firms and organizations in the Los Angeles region.
LA 5261 Grad Landscape Architecture History
An overview of historic developments and foundations of landscape design and the profession of Landscape Architecture from prehistory to the 20th century. Students will understand the role of biophysical and socio-cultural contexts in design development, and the connections between past landscape design and present practice. Students will develop skills in analysis of landscapes, library research, and written communication of ideas.
LA 5582 Geodesign Fundamentals for Environmental Designers
Study of fundamental knowledge, principles, processes, models, and skills of geodesign in the context of environmental design with a focus in landscape architecture. Application of geospatial thinking, geospatial data, geo-processing and other contents of contemporary Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to solve sustainable planning and design problems defined by a wide range of ecological, environmental and social conditions at different scales.
LA 5621 Construction II: Methods + Materials + Measuring
Introduction to the technical processes, concepts, methods and performance metrics associated with materials and the making/building of the urban landscape. Focuses on the structure and attachment of built elements with an emphasis on both the cultural and ecological performance measures of built landscapes.
LA 5772 Environmental Design Theory
An exploration of design, urban, aesthetic, evolutionary, behavioral, and ecosystem theory to explain human landscape preference, perception, and ecological functioning within a context of design problem-solving in urban and non-urban environments at a range of scales. Landscape as a lens to understand civilization.
LA 6111L Design III: Design for Change (Lab/Studio)
Examination of concerns underlying landscape design and planning and processes for dealing with them at all scales from the small project to the regional. Emphasis on applied ecology, systems techniques, and environmental policy and management as well as design and planning techniques. Techniques for predictions of alterations in social and natural processes brought about by human use of the land and the application of such assessments to environmental management.
LA 6121L Design IV: Complex Systems (Lab/Studio)
Explores energy, food, water, land, air, habitat, fire, and other key landscape systems as core design requirements for ecological and human health and maximizing natural capital. Site typologies under study will include marginal agricultural land/rangeland, mine/quarries/landfills, power lines and transportation corridors (including highways and railroads), flood control (spreading grounds, debris basins, or floodways) and water supply infrastructure (aqueduct right-of-way, reservoirs or treatment plants), energy and resource landscapes, and logistic hubs or data centers.
An introduction to plant ecology and design issues relevant to the profession of landscape architecture. Special emphasis is placed upon plant communities and association of plants most appropriate to the Southern California region and the environmental factors that control these communities as related to planting design theory and application. Identification of native and adapted species; introduction to cultural, functional, and aesthetic criteria in the organization of design associations of plants. Special emphasis is placed upon the study and application of plant ecology and design in urban ecosystems. Introduction to the challenges encountered in urban ecosystems with a focus on sustainable and resource-efficient planting design. Identification of plant species adapted to urban conditions.
LA 6451 Coupled Human and Natural Systems
Studies the interface and reciprocal interactions that link human (e.g., economic, social) and natural (e.g., hydrologic, atmospheric, biological) systems. Addresses the complex nature of reciprocating interactions and feedbacks between humans on the environment, the effect of the environment on humans, and tools to anticipate impacts of design decisions on coupled human and natural systems.
LA 6771 Research Methods for Environmental Design
Introduction to the development and assessment of research questions, preparation and writing of literature reviews, matching of research questions to methods, strengths and weaknesses of methods, qualitative and quantitative data and their analysis, critique of existing research, and preparation of research reports. Also addresses research accessibility, quality of research, venues for communication, and common standards of rigor. Addresses data mining; visualization of data; experiments.
Master’s Culminating Experience (18-units)
Since 2018, the MLA Thesis track has been suspended.
LA 6071L Design V: Integrative Design and Planning (Lab/Studio)
Group project related to large scale regional planning and design. Adopts an integrative issue-based approach to problem solving and documentation that is directed at identifying the problem, developing mapping tools to assist with problem-solving, and visual communication. Involves advanced application of geodesign technology, interaction with the public or other stakeholders, and other forms of primary data collection as required to solve the problem.
LA 6081L Design VI: Project Documentation (Lab/Studio)
Requires preparation of an extensive professional report documenting data collection, analysis, results, and recommendations related to a large-scale integrative design and planning project
LA 6941 Master's Thesis/Project Research
Research and development of thesis project or faculty-approved master's project.
Development of a terminal creative or research project designed to demonstrate skills and knowledge achieved in the graduate program. Project focus and site will be selected by the student in consultation with Master's Project Advisor. Development of the Master's project is conducted under the supervision of a Master's Project Committee. Student selects Committee members, conducts original design research, and produce a report within a landscape-related theoretical framework.
LA 6773 Advanced Design Methods (Fall and Spring)
Take in Fall and Spring. Topics to be announced that align with the LA6071L and LA6081L projects. Thesis students will earn credit by making satisfactory progress on their work.
LA6961 Master's Thesis (Currently suspended)
Development of a terminal thesis designed to demonstrate skills and knowledge achieved in the graduate program. Thesis subject and methods will be selected by the student in consultation with Master's Thesis Advisor. Development of the Master's Thesis is conducted under the supervision of a Master's Thesis Committee. Student selects Committee members, conducts original quantitative and/or qualitative research, and produce a report within a landscape-related theoretical framework.
MLA Directed Electives Courses (9-units)
A variety of electives courses will be offered each semester.
LA4781 Urban Green Infrastructure
Explores problems related to stormwater management, climate adaptation, urban heat island effect (etc.). Provides the tools required to optimize the design of natural and technical resource flows in the landscape from a systems perspective. Introduces design practices that reduce human impacts and optimize the built environment to restore degraded ecosystem services. Flows of water and human movement across the landscape are the primary focus.
LA4782 Evolving Issues in Environmental Design
Focuses on new and changing topics and methods in environmental design aimed at improving social, environmental and economic conditions. Principles will be learned through case studies, field trips, readings, and design exercises as appropriate to the topic. Historical basis of the issue, scope of the problem, impacts, and possible solutions will be examined.
Topics will be announced each semester
Topics will be announced each semester.
LA5271 History II: Modern Landscape History
Analysis of significant landscapes in the 20th and 21st Centuries in urban, suburban and rural contexts. Focuses on a range of landscape typologies that include parks, plazas, streetscapes, and notable residential projects. Addresses the emergence of landscape architecture as a profession; and the design concepts, firms and significant personalities who shaped the American landscape. Instruction emphasizes the historical, social, political, economic, and philosophical forces that influenced the profession's modern era.
LA5782 Landscape Architecture Teaching Practicum
Designed to give students actual teaching experience and developmental feedback. Practicum students are involved in course planning and implementation as well as assessment of students and of the course throughout the semester. Practicum students perform a variety of instructional roles, including, at a minimum, the independent teaching of a subject unit in the course and regular classroom attendance for a semester. Practicum students prepare an assessment instrument for the course, assist with lecture preparation and assignment design, as well as work in class with students.
LA5990 Special Topics for Graduate Students
Group study at a graduate level of a selected well-defined topic or area not covered by a regularly offered course.
LA6772 Finding Problems
Leadership in professional practice requires more than ethics and liability for ensuring the health, safety, and welfare of the public. LA6772 explores how projects are realized from the perspective of public practice, an emerging mode of professional activism that is entrepreneurial and proactively engaged in defining issues and projects that address them, then seeking funding for design and implementation. LA6772 also covers academic practice: from research and writing, through publication.
LA 6910 Directed Research
LA 6920 Independent Research
Other Electives
Additional pre-approved electives are listed in the MLA Handbook. Please consult with the MLA graduate coordinator about taking other courses as an elective.
International Program Courses
Students attending the Italy Program will be taking these courses in replacement of LA6111L, LA5261, LA4771.
LA4811L International Landscape Architecture Methods (Lab)
Features the development of studio projects that focus on cultural and environmental issues within Italy and Western Europe developed within a context of critical dialogue about current cultural values, the role of leisure and pleasure in the landscape, the sacred and profane, the influence on religion on physical form and relationships, and evidence of past cultures and their impact on design thinking.
LA4872 History of International Landscapes [or LA4251 Asian Garden]
Investigation of a selected urban site within the European region, with a focus on the contemporary function of the site’s urban landscape elements. Focuses on both the historic and contemporary contributions of selected urban center. Emphasis on transportation, pedestrian accommodation, and open space structure.
LA4873 International Professional Practice
Exploration of the scope and nature of professional practice in Europe, including presentations by regional professionals. Addresses the practice of landscape architecture, covering professional responsibilities and ethics, client and contractor relationships. Analysis and discussion of the structure and organization of the profession of landscape architecture; its history and future. Case studies of professional firms and organizations in the European region. Addresses standards of practice in Europe, and compares European practice with practice in California.
MLA Core Courses (21-units)
Advanced Standing Track students will choose 21 units from the following core list, depending on their prior academic preparation. Students may be advised to take additional core courses as electives to fill in their knowledge gap.
The practice of landscape architecture, covering professional responsibilities and ethics, client and contractor relationships. Analysis and discussion of the structure and organization of the profession of landscape architecture; its history and future. Case studies of professional firms and organizations in the Los Angeles region.
LA 5261 Grad Landscape Architecture History
An overview of historic developments and foundations of landscape design and the profession of Landscape Architecture from prehistory to the 20th century. Students will understand the role of biophysical and socio-cultural contexts in design development, and the connections between past landscape design and present practice. Students will develop skills in analysis of landscapes, library research, and written communication of ideas.
LA 5582 Geodesign Fundamentals for Environmental Designers
Study of fundamental knowledge, principles, processes, models, and skills of geodesign in the context of environmental design with a focus in landscape architecture. Application of geospatial thinking, geospatial data, geo-processing and other contents of contemporary Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to solve sustainable planning and design problems defined by a wide range of ecological, environmental and social conditions at different scales.
LA 5621 Construction II: Methods + Materials + Measuring
Introduction to the technical processes, concepts, methods and performance metrics associated with materials and the making/building of the urban landscape. Focuses on the structure and attachment of built elements with an emphasis on both the cultural and ecological performance measures of built landscapes.
LA 5772 Environmental Design Theory
An exploration of design, urban, aesthetic, evolutionary, behavioral, and ecosystem theory to explain human landscape preference, perception, and ecological functioning within a context of design problem-solving in urban and non-urban environments at a range of scales. Landscape as a lens to understand civilization.
LA 6111L Design III: Design for Change (Lab/Studio)
Examination of concerns underlying landscape design and planning and processes for dealing with them at all scales from the small project to the regional. Emphasis on applied ecology, systems techniques, and environmental policy and management as well as design and planning techniques. Techniques for predictions of alterations in social and natural processes brought about by human use of the land and the application of such assessments to environmental management.
LA 6121L Design IV: Complex Systems (Lab/Studio)
Explores energy, food, water, land, air, habitat, fire, and other key landscape systems as core design requirements for ecological and human health and maximizing natural capital. Site typologies under study will include marginal agricultural land/rangeland, mine/quarries/landfills, power lines and transportation corridors (including highways and railroads), flood control (spreading grounds, debris basins, or floodways) and water supply infrastructure (aqueduct right-of-way, reservoirs or treatment plants), energy and resource landscapes, and logistic hubs or data centers.
An introduction to plant ecology and design issues relevant to the profession of landscape architecture. Special emphasis is placed upon plant communities and association of plants most appropriate to the Southern California region and the environmental factors that control these communities as related to planting design theory and application. Identification of native and adapted species; introduction to cultural, functional, and aesthetic criteria in the organization of design associations of plants. Special emphasis is placed upon the study and application of plant ecology and design in urban ecosystems. Introduction to the challenges encountered in urban ecosystems with a focus on sustainable and resource-efficient planting design. Identification of plant species adapted to urban conditions.
LA 6451 Coupled Human and Natural Systems
Studies the interface and reciprocal interactions that link human (e.g., economic, social) and natural (e.g., hydrologic, atmospheric, biological) systems. Addresses the complex nature of reciprocating interactions and feedbacks between humans on the environment, the effect of the environment on humans, and tools to anticipate impacts of design decisions on coupled human and natural systems.
LA 6771 Research Methods for Environmental Design
Introduction to the development and assessment of research questions, preparation and writing of literature reviews, matching of research questions to methods, strengths and weaknesses of methods, qualitative and quantitative data and their analysis, critique of existing research, and preparation of research reports. Also addresses research accessibility, quality of research, venues for communication, and common standards of rigor. Addresses data mining; visualization of data; experiments.
Master’s Project or Thesis Track (18-units)
Since 2018, the MLA Thesis track has been suspended.
LA 6071L Design V: Integrative Design and Planning (Lab/Studio)
Group project related to large scale regional planning and design. Adopts an integrative issue-based approach to problem solving and documentation that is directed at identifying the problem, developing mapping tools to assist with problem-solving, and visual communication. Involves advanced application of geodesign technology, interaction with the public or other stakeholders, and other forms of primary data collection as required to solve the problem.
LA 6081L Design VI: Project Documentation (Lab/Studio)
Requires preparation of an extensive professional report documenting data collection, analysis, results, and recommendations related to a large-scale integrative design and planning project
LA 6941 Master's Thesis/Project Research
Research and development of thesis project or faculty-approved master's project.
Development of a terminal creative or research project designed to demonstrate skills and knowledge achieved in the graduate program. Project focus and site will be selected by the student in consultation with Master's Project Advisor. Development of the Master's project is conducted under the supervision of a Master's Project Committee. Student selects Committee members, conducts original design research, and produce a report within a landscape-related theoretical framework.
LA 6773 Master's Culminating Experience Seminar
Take in Fall and Spring. Topics to be announced that align with the LA6071L and LA6081L projects. Thesis students will earn credit by making satisfactory progress on their work.
LA6961 Master's Thesis
Development of a terminal thesis designed to demonstrate skills and knowledge achieved in the graduate program. Thesis subject and methods will be selected by the student in consultation with Master's Thesis Advisor. Development of the Master's Thesis is conducted under the supervision of a Master's Thesis Committee. Student selects Committee members, conducts original quantitative and/or qualitative research, and produce a report within a landscape-related theoretical framework.
MLA Directed Electives Courses (9-units)
A variety of electives courses will be offered each semester for students to fullfill their elective requirements. Students may also choose to take additional courses from the above core list to fullfill their elective requirement.
LA4781 Urban Green Infrastructure
Explores problems related to stormwater management, climate adaptation, urban heat island effect (etc.). Provides the tools required to optimize the design of natural and technical resource flows in the landscape from a systems perspective. Introduces design practices that reduce human impacts and optimize the built environment to restore degraded ecosystem services. Flows of water and human movement across the landscape are the primary focus.
LA4782 Evolving Issues in Environmental Design
Focuses on new and changing topics and methods in environmental design aimed at improving social, environmental and economic conditions. Principles will be learned through case studies, field trips, readings, and design exercises as appropriate to the topic. Historical basis of the issue, scope of the problem, impacts, and possible solutions will be examined.
Topics will be announced each semester
Topics will be announced each semester.
LA5271 History II: Modern Landscape History
Analysis of significant landscapes in the 20th and 21st Centuries in urban, suburban and rural contexts. Focuses on a range of landscape typologies that include parks, plazas, streetscapes, and notable residential projects. Addresses the emergence of landscape architecture as a profession; and the design concepts, firms and significant personalities who shaped the American landscape. Instruction emphasizes the historical, social, political, economic, and philosophical forces that influenced the profession's modern era.
LA5782 Landscape Architecture Teaching Practicum
Designed to give students actual teaching experience and developmental feedback. Practicum students are involved in course planning and implementation as well as assessment of students and of the course throughout the semester. Practicum students perform a variety of instructional roles, including, at a minimum, the independent teaching of a subject unit in the course and regular classroom attendance for a semester. Practicum students prepare an assessment instrument for the course, assist with lecture preparation and assignment design, as well as work in class with students.
LA5990 Special Topics for Graduate Students
Group study at a graduate level of a selected well-defined topic or area not covered by a regularly offered course.
LA6772 Finding Problems
Leadership in professional practice requires more than ethics and liability for ensuring the health, safety, and welfare of the public. LA6772 explores how projects are realized from the perspective of public practice, an emerging mode of professional activism that is entrepreneurial and proactively engaged in defining issues and projects that address them, then seeking funding for design and implementation. LA6772 also covers academic practice: from research and writing, through publication.
LA 6910 Directed Research
LA 6920 Independent Research
Other Electives
Additional pre-approved electives are listed in the MLA Handbook. Please consult with the MLA graduate coordinator about taking other courses as an elective.
One can download the Course Flow Chart, Curricula Sheet and Curricula Flow Chart for reference.
- A minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA is required in all courses taken to earn as part of the MLA program in order to receive the degree. A "C" or better grade is required for students to receive credit toward the MLA program. Please refer to the University Catalog and Graduate Studies for more information. All MLA Coursework must be completed within 7 years of beginning the program.
- Students admitted with General Standing need to complete all General Standing courses (15 units) + MLA Core Courses (30-units) + MLA Electives (9-units) + either Project or Thesis Track courses (18-units) = 72-units.
- Advanced Standing students take the MLA Core Courses (21-units) + MLA Electives (9-units) + either Project or Thesis Track Course (18-units) = 48-units.