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RISD stands out as the sole US art and design college offering an accredited Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA) program, providing a distinctive chance to explore the field within a creative community working across diverse media and critical approaches. The program fosters a distinctive methodology that merges intuitive and analytical thought, promotes hands-on material investigation, and opens doors for interdisciplinary exploration. Students immerse themselves in critical making processes, employing varied techniques spanning artistic and design disciplines. While tackling 21st-century social, cultural, and ecological issues, MLA students develop research and practice models demonstrating dedication to both people and the planet. The curriculum examines how design can transform landscapes impacted by climate shifts, urban expansion, and ecological damage while enhancing social justice and public access to natural spaces and resources. Through close faculty mentorship, students gain essential design and analytical abilities to tackle these multifaceted challenges with practical, site-specific solutions.
The MLA II track caters to students holding accredited pre-professional Landscape Architecture degrees (BLA), requiring existing foundational skills while offering greater elective flexibility to tailor advanced studies at RISD.