Admissions Information
Prospective students may receive an application by contacting the
Graduate School
Application Information
Transcripts from all educational institutions and two (2) letters of recommendation are required for graduate students. Admission is made in the Fall semester only. GRE scores are recommended, and required for fellowship applicants. Submission of a portfolio demonstrating creative ability is required. Portfolios may include, drawings, photography, creative writing or designs. Foreign students without an undergraduate degree from a U.S. institution or an undergraduate degree conducted in English are required to pass the Test for English as a Foreign Language(TOEFL) with a reading (20), writing (20), listening (15), and speaking (22).
Curriculum Information
Central to the graduate curriculum is the design studio which focuses on conceptual and applied design. The studio format entails lecture, demonstration, one-on-one instruction and group discourse. Rather than espousing a single design philosophy, the department presents numerous perspectives on design, imparted through the studio course sequence. Small class sizes allow for discussion among faculty and students. The graduate curriculum culminates with a thesis or capstone studio. Thesis students, with the guidance of the Thesis Committee, may choose from a variety of options for their research, including a special project, design or an aspect of theory applied to a project. The capstone studio option features a comprehensive design project. A studio book, submitted to the department, is required for this option.
Study Abroad Options
The Department encourages study abroad. The Danish International Study program in Copenhagen, Denmark is available to third-year graduate students in their Fall semester and is administered by the Department of Landscape Architecture and Cornell Abroad. The Rome Program and other summer programs of study abroad are made available to students through the College of Architecture, Art and Planning.
Program Overview
Students holding a four-year (BS, BSLA) or five-year (BLA) professional degree in Landscape Architecture may apply for the Master of Landscape Architecture–Advanced Degree. Each student's undergraduate academic record and professional practice experience will be reviewed to look for opportunities to enhance their education and work experiences through the course work and research opportunities at Cornell.
The interaction between cultural and environmental systems in the landscape is the focus of the academic program and the context for design and planning issues internationally.
Curriculum
The MLA–AD curriculum consists of design studios, the augmenting of a previous education with courses unique to Cornell, the development of a concentration, and independent research and a thesis.
The course of study is 60 credits over a two-year period, and the accumulation of four residency units. Design studios and other course work are taken at an advanced level.
Concentration
Every student in Landscape Architecture at Cornell is required to develop a concentration within their degree program. For the MLA-AD student, the concentration is 16 credits, and it builds on a theme, a subject matter or a research area that advances the students' capacity to understand complex relationships between culture and environment.
The specifics of each Concentration are worked out in consultation with one's advisor, and the concentration allows the student to take advantage of the resources of the entire university.
Program Curriculum
| Design Studio Concentration Thesis Electives TOTAL | 10 credits 16 credits 09 credits 25 credits 60 credits |
Application Information
Applications are due February 15th. Applications will be accepted after that date if places remain open. Transcripts from all educational institutions and two (2) letters of recommendation are required for graduate students. Admission is made in the Fall semester only. GRE scores are recommended, and required for fellowship applicants. Submission of a portfolio demonstrating creative ability is required. Portfolios may include, drawings, photography, creative writing or designs. Foreign students without an undergraduate degree from a U.S. institution or an undergraduate degree conducted in English are required to pass the Test for English as a Foreign Language(TOEFL) with a total reading (20), writing (20), listening (15), and speaking (22).
Admissions Information
Prospective students may receive an application by contacting the Graduate School
Study Abroad Options
The Department encourages study abroad. The Danish International Study program in Copenhagen, Denmark is available to third-year graduate students in their Fall semester and is administered by the Department of Landscape Architecture and Cornell Abroad. The Rome Program and other summer programs of study abroad are made available to students through the College of Architecture, Art and Planning.
The Master of Professional Studies (M.P.S.) in Landscape Architecture was
created for individuals with an interest in advancing their career options by pursuing timely and innovative issues related to planning, designing, and/or managing natural and built environments. The program investigates areas of Landscape Architecture through a year-long program of coursework, involvement in department faculty/project based problem solving and independent studies.