The Master of Landscape Architecture is a first professional degree at the Masters 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 fully accredited in 2018, three years after it admitted its first students. 

The three-year curriculum (Foundation Year plus two years (LA 1 and LA 2) is expected to be completed in six consecutive terms; less if you are admitted directly into LA 1 rather than the Foundation year.  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. 

Applicants with previous related design degrees (e.g. a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture) may have some or all of the foundation year courses waived. Applications will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, this review will require supporting documentation such as course outlines. An assessment of these prerequisite requirements will be made by an admissions committee and applicants will be informed in offers of admission which, if any, courses at the Foundation level will be required.

Successful completion of the MLA degree requires successful completion of three years (7 terms) of coursework if admitted to the Foundation Year. Coursework requirements include required core courses, required electives, and electives. These course requirements are referred to by ‘credit units’. A studio course is a full course and full courses are worth 6 units. A half course, whether required or elective, is worth 3 units. In total, 93 credit units are required as outlined below and in the 2020-2021 Faculty of Graduate Studies Academic Calendar.

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 612 Urban Infrastructure and Land Use (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 (6 units)

M1 and M2

Special Topics in Landscape Architecture-Advanced Graphics  (3 units)
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 (6 units)
Landscape Architecture 616 Professional Practice and Project Management for Landscape Architecture (3 units)
Landscape Architecture 700 Regional Landscape Systems Studio (6 units)
Landscape Architecture 702 Senior Research Studio in Landscape Architecture (6 units)
Landscape Architecture 688 Special Studio Topics in Landscape Architecture (6 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 open elective credit

Total Credits: 93 units

MLA Foundation Year

The following sample course sequence is typical of the three-year curriculum leading to a Master of Landscape Architecture degree.

Fall Term

PLAN 602 Computer Modelling for Urban Design (3 units) 
PLAN 606 Site Planning Studio (3 units) 
PLAN 600 Landscape Ecology and Planning (3 units) 
PLAN 626 Urban Design Theory (3 units)

SAPL Fall Block Week 

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 (6 units)
PLAN 608 GIS for Environmental Design (3 units) 
PLAN 612 Urban Infrastructure and Land Use (3 units)

SAPL Winter Block Week

Experiential Learning in Landscape Architecture

Spring Intersession

PLAN 616 Urban Design Studio (6 units)
ARCH 675 Urban Systems (3 units)

First (LA1) Year

Fall Term

LAND 602 Plants in the Landscape (Core) (3 units) 
LAND 606 Site Technology I: Grading and Landform (Core) (3 units) 
LAND608 Landscape Responses to Climate Change, Energy and Water (Core) (3 units) 
LAND 700 Regional Landscape Systems Studio (Core) (6 units) 

SAPL Fall Block Week

Experiential Learning in Landscape Architecture

UCalgary January Block Week

No Classes

Winter Term

LAND 610 Green Infrastructure/Winter City Design (Core) (3 units) 
LAND 612 Site Technology II: Construction and Materials (Core) (3 units)
LAND 6xx Special Topics in Landscape Architecture-Graphics (3 units)
LAND 614 Landscape Architecture Studio II (Core) (6 units)

SAPL Winter Block Week

Experiential Learning in Landscape Architecture

Second (LA2) Year

Fall Term

LAND 688 Special Studio Topics in Landscape Architecture (not offered in 2020-2021)
LAND 616 Professional Practice and Project Management for Landscape Architecture (Core) (3 units)

SAPL Fall Block Week

Experiential Learning in Landscape Architecture

UCalgary January Block Week

No Classes

Winter Term

LAND702 Senior Research Studio in Landscape Architecture (Core) (3 units)

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