Bachelor of Landscape Architecture - Community Design in College Park United States | University of Maryland, College Park

The Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (BLA) program holds accreditation from the Landscape Architecture Accreditation Board (LAAB). This degree fulfills the educational prerequisites for professional licensure across all U.S. states. According to LAAB guidelines, first-professional degree programs must cover essential landscape architecture competencies: historical context, philosophical foundations, ethical considerations, professional practice, planning methodologies, design techniques, implementation strategies, and management approaches. This site-focused design field also addresses broader regional and environmental/societal challenges. The program's studio-centered curriculum weaves together ecological and social considerations throughout the design and planning sequence. Students progress through a structured series of lectures and design studios, starting with foundational landscape design concepts in their initial year and concluding with an advanced research and design project in their final year. Course offerings encompass Site Analysis and Ecological Fundamentals, Site Design Studio, Urban Design Studio, and Professional Practice, along with digital design studios that combine CAD, GIS, and other technical tools with core design and drafting abilities.

Community Design - focusing on challenges like climate adaptation, cultural heritage conservation, urban farming initiatives, vacant lot revitalization, crime reduction through environmental planning, and diverse participatory design processes that incorporate community perspectives.