MLA Program Structure
The Master of Landscape Architecture is a first professional degree at the master's level. It is a course-based degree which means no research thesis is required. The Program curriculum incorporates the breadth of Canadian Society of Landscape Architects accreditation requirements and the program was accredited in 2018, three years after it admitted its first students.
Degree Requirements
The Program is a three-year curriculum (including a Foundation Year plus two years, M1 and M2). Applicants with previous related design degrees (for example, a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture) may have some or all of the Foundation Year courses waived. The program is structured around a sequence of core design studios, technology courses, and design theory and methods courses. Because of this curriculum sequencing all applicants admitted to the MLA must enter the Program in the Fall term.
MLA Program Requirements:
a) Core required courses:
Foundation Year
Planning 600 Landscape Ecology and Planning (3 units)
Planning 602 Computer Modelling for Urban Design (3 units)
Planning 606 Site Planning Studio (6 units)
Planning 608 GIS for Environmental Design (3 units)
Planning 626 Urban Design Theory (3 units)
Landscape Architecture 600 Landscape Architecture History and Theory (3 units)
Landscape Architecture 604 Landscape Architecture Studio I - Foundation (6 units)
Landscape Architecture 606 Site Technology I: Grading and Landform (3 units)
M1 and M2
Landscape Architecture 602 Plants in the Landscape (3 units)
Landscape Architecture 608 Landscape Responses to Climate Change, Energy and Water (3 units)
Landscape Architecture 610 Green Infrastructure/Winter City Design (3 units)
Landscape Architecture 612 Site Technology II: Construction and Materials (3 units)
Landscape Architecture 614 Landscape Architecture Studio II - Intermediate (6 units)
Landscape Architecture 616 Professional Practice and Project Management for Landscape Architecture (3 units)
Landscape Architecture 618 Advanced Graphics in Landscape Architecture (3 units)
Landscape Architecture 700 Regional Landscape Systems Studio (6 units)
Landscape Architecture 702 Landscape Architecture Studio III – Advanced (6 units)
Landscape Architecture 620 Synthesis Studio in Landscape Architecture (6 units)
Planning 612 Urban Infrastructure and Land Use (3 units)
Planning 616 Urban Design Studio (6 units)
Architecture 675 Urban Systems (3 units)
b) 3 units from:
LAND 670 Experiential Learning in Landscape Architecture (3 units)
LAND 672 Experiential Learning in Landscape Architecture (1.5 units)
LAND 674 Experiential Learning in Landscape Architecture (1.5 units)
LAND 676 Experiential Learning in Landscape Architecture (3 units)
c) 6 units of elective credits from other courses offered by SAPL or the University of Calgary at the 500-level or higher that relate to individual interests in Landscape Architecture.
Total Credits: 93 units
Sample course sequence
The following sample course sequence is typical of the three-year curriculum leading to a Master of Landscape Architecture degree.
MLA Foundation Year
Fall Term
PLAN 602 Computer Modelling for Urban Design (3 units)
PLAN 606 Site Planning Studio (6 units)
PLAN 600 Landscape Ecology and Planning (3 units)
PLAN 626 Urban Design Theory (3 units)
SAPL Fall Block Week
LAND 67X Experiential Learning in Landscape Architecture
UCalgary January Block Week
No Classes
Winter Term
LAND 600 Landscape Architecture History and Theory (3 units)
LAND 604 Landscape Architecture Studio I - Foundation (6 units)
LAND 606 Site Technology I: Grading and Landform (3 units)
PLAN 608 GIS for Environmental Design (3 units)
SAPL Winter Block Week
LAND 67X Experiential Learning in Landscape Architecture
Spring Intersession
PLAN 616 Urban Design Studio (6 units)
ARCH 675 Urban Systems (3 units)
M1 Year
Fall Term
LAND 602 Plants in the Landscape (3 units)
LAND 612 Site Technology II: Construction and Materials (3 units)
LAND 614 Landscape Architecture Studio II – Intermediate (Core) (6 units)
LAND 618 Advanced Graphics in Landscape Architecture (3 units)
SAPL Fall Block Week
LAND 67X Experiential Learning in Landscape Architecture
UCalgary January Block Week
No Classes
Winter Term
PLAN 612 Urban Infrastructure and Land Use (3 units)
LAND 608 Landscape Responses to Climate Change, Energy and Water (3 units)
LAND 610 Green Infrastructure/Winter City Design (3 units)
LAND 702 Landscape Architecture Studio III - Advanced (3 units)
SAPL Winter Block Week
LAND 67X Experiential Learning in Landscape Architecture
Second (M2) Year
Fall Term
LAND 700 Regional Landscape Systems Studio (6 units)
SAPL Fall Block Week
LAND 67X Experiential Learning in Landscape Architecture
UCalgary January Block Week
No Classes
Winter Term
LAND 616 Professional Practice and Project Management for Landscape Architecture (3 units)
LAND 620 Synthesis Studio in Landscape Architecture (6 units)
SAPL Winter Block Week
LAND 67X Experiential Learning in Landscape Architecture