Ball State's Department of Landscape Architecture has been ranked as the fifth best undergraduate program in the nation and the best in the Midwest by Design Intelligence.

The 2007 edition of "America's Best Architecture and Design Schools" also cited Malcolm Cairns, chair of the landscape architecture department, as one of the 2007 Landscape Architecture Educators of the Year.

"It's certainly an honor to be named as one of the top educators in my field, but more importantly, the national program ranking is a tremendous recognition for our department," Cairns said. "We have improved our national ranking over the past three years from 10th to fifth, and we find ourselves ranked in a peer group of very distinguished programs. This recognition is a tribute to our faculty, students and graduates."

Along with the best in the Midwest ranking for the undergraduate program, landscape architecture's graduate program was listed as the region's third best. The department also scored high in multiple skills assessment rankings:

• Security design principles—fourth
• Sustainable design practices and principles—fourth (tied)
• Design—fifth

"These honors are impressive and speak volumes to how our stellar faculty immerse our outstanding students in in-depth projects," said Joseph Bilello, dean of the College of Architecture and Planning. "By participating in projects that benefit local and international communities, we graduate global citizens who are ready to be productive professionals and responsible community members."

Through the program, landscape architecture students plan and design land and outdoor spaces for human use, enjoyment, safety, health and welfare. They also learn to integrate the work of architects, engineers, planners, ecologists, geographers, and physical and social scientists.

Design Intelligence's annual ranking of architecture and design schools was based on the hiring experiences of leading U.S. landscape architecture firms. Employers were polled in regard to which of the programs accredited by the Landscape Architecture Accrediting Board produced the most professional, best-prepared graduates over the last five years.

"We are very proud that practicing professionals recognize our graduates and interns for being well prepared for the practice of landscape architecture," Cairns said. "I think the profession is acknowledging our degree programs for the strength and depth or our curricula and for the faculty's commitment to student learning."