Program

Landscape Architecture (Hons) - 3381

Program Summary

Faculty: Built Environment

Contact: Built Environment

Campus: Sydney

Career: Undergraduate

Typical Duration: 4 Years  

Typical UOC Per Semester: 24

Min UOC Per Semester: 6

Max UOC Per Semester: 24

Min UOC For Award: 192

UAC Code: 423500

Domestic Entry Requirements: See Domestic Entry Requirements

International Entry Requirements: See International Entry Requirements

View program information for previous years

Program Description

Program Summary:

Landscape Architecture is a design discipline which is concerned with the environment as a whole. Students at UNSW learn the theory and practice of Landscape Architecture through the exploration of design principles, graphic techniques, ecological processes and studies of human modification of the environment. The emphasis of the program is on creative design inspired by the Australian situation, and prepares our students to work anywhere in the world.

The Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree provides academic education and practical experience leading to professional qualifications in landscape architecture. It requires full time attendance for four years plus work experience that must be completed prior to graduation. For students unable to undertake full-time study, the Program Director may negotiate a part-time study schedule to enable students to complete the program over a longer period.

The program seeks the synthesis of knowledge and skills through project based learning in a sequence of eight Design Studios. Design projects are related to the subject matter of concurrent courses and culminate in an independent design study of regional and national significance. Lectures and practical semesters cover theoretical knowledge in the following areas:

Landscape Architectural Design
Design Communications
Landscape Architectural History and Theory
Landscape Architectural Technology
Natural and Cultural Systems
Professional Practice

Program Objectives and Graduate Attributes

At UNSW landscape architecture is taught as a powerful way of thinking and a vocation. Graduates of the UNSW landscape architecture program are creative problem solvers, able to draw on a depth and range of knowledge and skills. The vocational aspects of landscape architectural education at UNSW equip students with the theoretical and practical knowledge needed for the implementation of landscape design at site, urban and regional scales.

Program Structure

Year 1

Semester 1
All commencing first year Landscape Architecture students are also required to enrol in a workshop training course called Fabrication Fundamentals. This course is compulsory, but is has no credit points and there are no fees for this course.

Semester 2

Year 2

Semester 1
  • General Education (6 UOC)

Semester 2
  • Select Elective* (6 UOC)
  • General Education (6 UOC)

Year 3

Semester 1
  • Interdisciplinary Learning Course** (6 UOC)

Semester 2
  • Interdisciplinary Learning Course** (6 UOC)

Year 4

Semester 1
  • Open Elective (6 UOC)
OR

Semester 2
  • Open Elective (6 UOC)

OR

*Select Elective List
**NOTE: The 12UOC of Interdisciplinary Learning Courses can be undertaken at any stage from the end of Year 2 to the end of Year 4 including summer terms.

Additionally, students are not required to undertake the other elective and general education requirements in the exact order as indicated in the above program structure. This structure provides a suggested order for the completion of these elective and general education requirements, however a student can choose to do them in a different sequence. For example, a student may choose to complete an open elective in S2 of Yr 2 and undertake the 6 UOC of general education in Yr 4.

A list of 2016 Interdisciplinary Learning Courses is below:

Summer Semester:
Semester 1:
Semester 2:
Students are required to choose 2 courses from the suite of Built Environment Interdisciplinary courses to complete a minimum of 12 UOC of BEIL courses.

Honours

The Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (Honours) degree is awarded with a class of honours or without an award of an honours class, based upon the quality of performance in the program and in accordance with current program policy. Honours are Class 1 or Class 2 Division 1 or Class 2 Division 2. Eligibility for honours is determined by the following criteria:

Honours Class 1 - overall WAM of 75 or greater and aWAM of 80 or greater in LAND 2401, LAND 2402 and LAND 2421.

Honours Class 2 Division 1 - overall WAM of 72 to 74.99 and a WAM of 75 or greater in LAND 2401, LAND 2402 and LAND 2421.

Honours Class 2 Division 2 - overall WAM of 68 to 71.99 and a WAM of 70 or greater in LAND 2401, LAND 2402 and LAND 2421.

The final year components of honours degree are assessed by a minimum of two examiners qualified to assess the work independently of each other. The first semester design research proposal is assessed typically by the course conveners of LAND 2421 and LAND 2401. The second semester design project is assessed twice: by an external examiner and a review panel. Both parties prepare separate assessment reports and final marks are reviewed in a parity session by BE academics.

Academic Rules

1. The degree of Bachelor of Landscape Architecture is awarded at either Pass or Honours level after the successful completion of a minimum of 192 units of credit.

2. To fulfill these requirements, students must complete:

Depth Component
  • 150 units of core courses, being all those prescribed in the Faculty regulations for this program
  • 6 units of select electives taken from Landscape elective list
  • 12 UOC of FBE Electives from the list of Interdisciplinary Learning Courses (see list above)

Breadth Component
  • 12 units of open (free) electives, selected in accordance with the Faculty regulations for undergraduate study in the Faculty of the Built Environment (see below)or LAND1421 Thesis Foundation and LAND1422 Landscape Thesis
  • 12 units of General Education courses in accordance with University requirements (see below)
3. The standard duration of the program is 4 years consisting of 8 semesters of full-time study (24 units of credit per semester) plus the required work experience.

4. There is an option in Year 4 to undertake a thesis. This specialised and independent study, allows students to gain or extend their in depth knowledge and understanding of a particular aspect of landscape architecture. Students may substitute the thesis (LAND1421 and 1422) for 12 uoc of open elective credit. To qualify for the thesis, students must have an overall WAM of 70 and submit an application to the Program Director by the end of Year 3. The thesis is approximately 12,000 words in length. Each student conducts the required research, organization of material and writing under the guidance of their supervisor.

5. A Progress Portfolio must be submitted at the end of year 3 as part of LAND2302 which will determine progression into the final year of design.

6. Design Studios are considered to be a linear sequence, which requires that each design studio must be passed before a student can advance to the next level.

General Education Requirement

Open Elective
Open Elective can be chosen from any course offered by any Faculty at UNSW for which the student meets pre-requisite or other enrolment requirements.
The exception being specific General Education GEN prefix course/s which cannot be counted as open elective. Open elective do not need to be taken outside the Faculty, students can choose FBE electives as open electives.

BE Elective
BE Elective are elective courses offered by the Faculty and are generally denoted by a BENV prefix. Electives from outside the Faculty cannot be counted as FBE electives.

Work Experience
Students of the undergraduate program must obtain a total of 90 days work experience prior to graduation, of which a minimum of 40 days must be in landscape industry work and a minimum of 40 days in a design office. This normally takes the form of employment during long student vacations supervised by a landscape architect, landscape contractor or nursery. Each student undertaking work experience must obtain prior approval of the Work Experience Co-ordinator. Each student must obtain from the employer a statement of experience gained, maintain an accurate record in logbook form and submit a written report describing the work undertaken during the various work experience components. Details of these arrangements are available on the Faculty website.

Fees

For information regarding fees for UNSW programs, please refer to the following website:  UNSW Fee Website.

Professional Recognition

The program is accredited by the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects and graduates holding the BLArch degree qualify for corporate membership of the Institute after a period of approved professional experience following graduation.

Area(s) of Specialisation