MLA vs. MLA/MUP dual degree

[Betty LaGuapa]

I've been out of school for 4 years, working in non-profit social service and legal aid agencies. I'm planning to apply to Master of Landscape Architecture programs this winter, but have recently considered some dual-degree programs--MLA and Urban/Regional Planning. I'm pretty sure that when I graduate I want to work as a landscape architect in the public sector, maybe work for a city or town, or a private firm that does mainly public sector jobs. Would adding a MUP degree make a landscape architect more effective in these types of jobs, i.e. more familiarity with regs and bureaucracy?

I can see how urban planning and landscape architecture fit well together in an academic setting, but when you actually start working, will there be any interdisciplinary cross-over? Or is a LA just a LA and a planner just a planner?

Any thoughts on whether the extra time and money spent for a MUP is worth it in this scenario?

[nrschmid]

Good to hear more people wanting to pursue LA and planning. I work as a land use planner/urban designer and am planning on going back to school in a few years to focus on both areas (there is actually quite a bit of overlap between the two fields and I have lectured on the relationship between the two. LA's and planners colloborate on many types of projects such as physical site planning, code enforcement (site and landscape plan review), site impact analysis, ordinance creation, and long range planning (comprehensive and master planning). Most of my early planning internships in college focused in open space planning (several of my later internships were strictly current and long-range planning). As a planning student and now as a planner, I have worked directly with landscape architects for about 4 years. IMO, I think you are probably going to be a better fit in either consulting and/or design build than the public sector.

Although planners and LA's work together on several types of projects, I think that LA's are more capable of learning planning than planners learning landscape architecture, and a masters degree in planning is not always necessary, especially if you have a bachelors in planning. After working with LA's for a few years, I, as a planner, have identified a few areas of planning where many (but not all) landscape architects have not mastered yet:

1. Understanding the planning process. The steps needed to approve a project.
2. Interpreting an ordinance: two communities may interpret the same requirement differently.
3. Research and planning analysis: landscape architecture is not heavy into research, unless you are on the academic side. Even then, most LA professors don't have PhD's as opposed to planning professors. I think the LA profession is more hand's on.

Fortunately, there is a growing number of LA's who are successfully taking on the full roles of planners and have demonstrated their understanding of items #1-3.

I have written a ton of posts/respones to posts on here regarding dual programs in planning and landscape architecture (as well as the unexplored third degree in urban design, separate from urban planning, which is gaining ground in several graduate programs). Click on my name, nrschmid, and see other posts that I have created (there are too many to count on here regarding LA and planning).

Hope that helps.

[bdaleray]

The answer, of course, is "it depends." It depends on which school, and what the coursework is like. Some MLA programs are pretty heavy in planning, and some aren't. The ideal situation would be to get into a planning-friendly MLA program that would allow you to focus or take some extra courses on the planning side. In your part of the country I *think* both Ball State and Univ. of Illinois C-U fit that bill.

The MLA/MUP would be a great combo, but my concern would be if it's worth the extra time/money.

Lots of MLAs do planning work, and much of it is on-the-job training, IF you can get your foot in the door at the right place.

IMHO, if I were spending my money, I'd do a planning-heavy MLA, my thesis on a planning topic, and intern with a planning-type firm. That *should* be enough to get you in the door, and from there you can make whatever you want of it.

[nrschmid]

In my neck of the woods, I would recommend Iowa State and Ball State for landscape architecture programs. The landscape and planning programs at UIUC are VERY theory based (alum of the undergrad planning program). I would recommend you look elsewhere if you are interested in design. You will need to spend a minimum of 3 years working on an MLA degree, including required summer internship(s). The only dual programs in planning and LA within the midwest is the Ohio State and the University of Michigan. The latter has the option of a separate degree in urban design apart from planning, but you have to either have a degree in architecture or landscape architecture or advanced standing in your graduate planning program to be admitted (UofMich is also expensive for both in-state and out of state students. OSU seems more reasonable). Typically the dual program is 4 years, where you take 3 years of required LA. Electives within those 3 years are usually planning schools, and you wrap up the fourth year with all planning courses.

Instead of taking planning courses, I would recommend you take as many courses in landscape architecture as possible (considering you are planning on becoming an LA). These would include plant material, CAD practice, grading, stormwater, surveying, hardscapes, etc. You can always pick up planning on the job, and there are a lot of firms which are landscape architecture heavy that usually look towards landscape architecture graduates to fill planning and site design positions. LA grad school will be intense, so I don't think one extra year is going to really matter, considering most of the respected LA programs are offered in public schools.

The University of Georgia is ranked as one of, if not, the best college for landscape architecture (the graduate school is also highly ranked). There is a landscape architect in the office who went to Iowa State and did her summer internship there and learned a ton, so I highly recommend that school as well.

[bdaleray]

Instead of taking planning courses, I would recommend you take as many courses in landscape architecture as possible (considering you are planning on becoming an LA). These would include plant material, CAD practice, grading, stormwater, surveying, hardscapes, etc. You can always pick up planning on the job, and there are a lot of firms which are landscape architecture heavy that usually look towards landscape architecture graduates to fill planning and site design positions. LA grad school will be intense, so I don't think one extra year is going to really matter, considering most of the respected LA programs are offered in public schools.

Yes, but... The basic LA courses are required - you take them as a part of the degree. The electives are meant for just this kind of thing, to allow you to specialize.

The University of Georgia is ranked as one of, if not, the best college for landscape architecture (the graduate school is also highly ranked).

I'm at UGA for my MLA now. I've got a BLA, so I'm on the 2-year track, but that's pretty much the last 2 years of the 3-year professional program. While I may be biased, it *is* a good school, but if you're interested in planning, UGA is NOT the school for you. The planning courses are pretty basic, as the planning program is at GA Tech.

[Betty LaGuapa]

It's been a while since I've checked up on this thread, but I want to thank both of you for your input!

I've decided to focus on MLA programs only, and now I just have to narrow down my list of where to apply.

It seems eerily coincidental to me that three of the schools at the top of my list are UIUC, Ball State, and UGA. I'll qualify for in-state tuition at the two former and have an inexplicable infatuation with UGA.

[bdaleray]

If you've got any more questions, feel free to ask or IM me directly. If you've narrowed it down to those 3, then it's time for a road trip! Visit them, and see what you think. All are good schools, so figure out what feels more right.

If you make it to UGA, let me know - I'd be happy to show you around.