Landscape architecture is a profession on the move, and it's shaping the future of our world. Practitioners in this expanding, diversified field apply aesthetic and scientific principles to plan, design, and manage the land and outdoor spaces for human use, enjoyment, safety, health, and welfare.

Successful landscape architecture creatively blends the built and natural environments to solve everyday problems and improve the quality of life. It adds long-term ecological, economic, social, and psychological value to contemporary development projects.

Landscape architects must understand the potential and limitations of natural systems--including soils, water, vegetation, wildlife, and climate--so they can respond to complex land-use problems.

Professionals with these skills are increasingly needed as the public desires better places to live and work and as environmental protection and sustainability becomes a global priority.

Project Types
Typical projects in the landscape architecture profession include:

• public parks and plazas
• recreational corridors
• botanical gardens
• golf courses
• residential developments
• commercial centers
• college campuses
• streetscapes and highway landscapes
• indoor environments

Landscape architects also develop communities, conserve and restore natural resources, reclaim blighted areas, and preserve historic landscapes. They even become involved in wetland and farmland preservation, urban and rural forestry, river corridor management, small town revitalization, and energy resource development.  Learn more about project areas in this field.

Project Roles
The work of landscape architects includes research, program development, inventory and analysis of site elements, the preparation of design development studies, and even the production of construction documents. Depending on the scope of a project, they may plan the entire arrangement of a site, including the location of buildings, grading, storm water management, construction, and planting.

Professionals in this field also may coordinate interdisciplinary teams of design, construction, and contracting professionals. They may be assisted by architects, engineers, planners, ecologists, geologists, geographers, hydrologists, biologists, economists, and sociologists.

Job Opportunities
Landscape architects find employment in small professional offices, larger multidisciplinary firms, design/build companies, and many public agencies, including the National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service, state natural resource offices, local park departments, and urban design and redevelopment programs. Residential and commercial real estate developers, city planning commissions, and individual property owners also retain the services of landscape architects.

Meet a few of Ball State University's landscape architecture alumni who are working in this profession

Becoming a Professional
As interest in this field grows, students are studying landscape architecture in increasing numbers. The American Society of Landscape Architects has grown to nearly 12,000 members in 46 chapters.

All but five states require landscape architects to be registered through professional licensing. After one to three years of professional experience with a licensed landscape architect, practitioners may become licensed by passing the national Landscape Architecture Registration Examination. Professionals continually enhance their skills through on-the-job training and experience plus continuing education programs.

Aptitudes for Success
To be successful in an environmental design and planning career, aspiring professionals should develop:

• The ability to perceive and interpret societal needs, goals, and values in regard to the earth's limited resources.
• Analytical abilities through training in mathematics and the physical and social sciences.
• The ability to organize and synthesize concepts.
• Artistic talent--the ability to see and compose functional, creative environments.
• The ability to communicate effectively--orally and in written and graphic form--with clients, the public, and other professionals.

For More Information
Malcolm Cairns, Chair
Department of Landscape Architecture
(765) 285-1971
mcairns@bsu.edu