Master of Landscape Architecture in Urban Design: MLAUD

Felipe Correa, Director of the Urban Design Degree Program
Anita Berrizbeitia, Director of the Master in Landscape Architecture Degree Programs

Jointly administered by the Department of Urban Planning and Design and the Department of Landscape Architecture, the program leading to the Master of Landscape Architecture in Urban Design (MLAUD) is intended for individuals who have completed a five-year undergraduate professional program in landscape architecture or its equivalent.  Students enrolled in the GSD's professional programs in Landscape Architecture are also encouraged to apply for a concurrent Urban Design degree, for which an individual curriculum may be arranged. Taking advantage of the remarkable international make-up of the student body, the Urban Design Program establishes a common intellectual ground among architects and landscape architects who intend to practice as urbanists. The program provides knowledge of urban theories, design techniques and procedures that challenge students to rethink design within the climate of economic speculation, political negotiation and democratic struggle that often characterizes urban development today. Included are courses in history, theory, law, planning, public policy, and real estate finance that provide students with a broad understanding of the forces that shape urbanization at both local and global scales. Particular emphasis is placed upon developing mastery in urban design through studio work and an elective thesis sequence in the second year of study.

Studio work in urban design covers a broad range of topics in both American and international settings. Topics include schemes and scenarios for existing urbanized areasincluding the analysis and restructuring of areas from the inner city to the metropolitan edge, the development of new territoriesfrom cities to towns, districts and neighborhoods, and the extension or transformation of historic and contemporary contexts. Importance is placed on exploring the interfaces between design and the broad phenomena that figure in the making of the built environment, including social, cultural and artistic trends (both emerging and historical), real estate markets and development trends, public policies and infrastructure. Experimentation with the visual, tactile, and programmatic qualities that lend distinction to urban environments is consciously emphasized, as a way to reform and enhance the approaches graduates bring to the professional realm.

Preparation for Admission
Individuals who have completed an accredited bachelor of landscape architecture degree, or persons who hold the degree master in landscape architecture, are eligible for admission to the Master of Landscape Architecture in Urban Design degree program. Two to three years of experience in professional practice is recommended but not required.

First Term
GSD 1221 Elements of Urban Design - Core Studio (8 units)
GSD 3503 Proseminar: Defining Urban Design (4 units)
GSD 5210 Cities by Design I (4 units)
Courses in required subject areas and/or electives (4 units)

Second Term
GSD 1500 Urban Planning and Design Studio Option (8 units)
GSD 5211 Cities by Design II (4 units)
Courses in required subject areas and /or electives* (8 units)

Third Term
Studio Option (8 units)**
Courses in required subject areas and/or electives* (12 units) (Thesis track includes GSD 9204: Preparation of Thesis Proposal (4 units)***

-OR-

Five courses satisfying required subject areas and/or electives (20 units)** (Thesis track includes GSD 9204: Preparation of Thesis Proposal (4 units)***

Fourth Term
Studio Option** -OR- GSD 9302 Independent Thesis (8 units)
Courses in required subject areas and/or electives* (12 units)

-OR-

Five courses satisfying required subject areas and/or electives (20 units)

*Distribution Requirements: Students must take a total of three courses in the two subject areas: Models of Development and Urban Systems and Form. At least one course must be taken in each category.
** MAUD candidates may petition out of up to one studio option in the second year.
*** Candidates pursuing a thesis must complete the Preparation of Design Thesis Proposal course in the fall, or petition for an alternative.

Courses that Fulfill Subject Area Requirements

1. MODELS OF DEVELOPMENT
Qualifying Courses for Models of Development Requirement:

Fall 5201: Urban Politics, Planning and Development – A. Altshuler
Fall 5203: Markets and Market Failure – J. Gomez-Ibanez
Fall 5204: Real Estate Development and Finance – R. Peiser
Fall 5206: Planning and Environmental Law – J. Kayden
Fall 5213: Policy Making in Urban Settings at HKS – W. Apgar
Fall 5304: Transportation Planning and Development – R. Dimino
Fall 5335: Public Participation in Planning and Development Theory and Practice – M. Hooper
Fall 5476: Housing Delivery Systems in the US – J. Stockard
Fall 5492: Real Estate Finance and Development Fundamentals – E. Marchant
Spring 4475: Case Studies in Critical Conservation: Architecture and Urban Design – M. Hays and R. Mehrotra
Spring 5101: History and Theory of Urban Interventions – N. Brenner
Spring 5103: Public and Private Development – J. Kayden
Spring 5212: Field Studies in Real Estate, Planning and UD – R. Peiser/B. Wang
Spring 5302: Transportation Policy and Planning – J. Gomez-Ibanez
Spring 5303: Advanced Real Estate Development and Finance – R. Peiser (prerequisite required)
Spring 5473: Housing Policy in the US – E. Belsky
Spring 5489: Real Estate in Frontier Markets at HKS – N. Retsinas
Spring 5490: Affordable and Mixed Income Housing Development, Finance and Management at HKS – E. Marchant
Spring 5501: Transforming Cities in Emerging Economies – D. Davis

2. URBAN SYSTEMS
Qualifying Courses for Urban Systems Requirement:

Fall 3241: Theories of Landscape as Urbanism, Landscape as Infrastructure - P. Belanger
Fall 3445: Recalibrating Infrastructure - C. Reed
Fall 3449: The Third Coast Atlas – C. Lyster and M. White
Fall 3472: Urban Grids: Exploring its Design Potentials – J. Busquets
Fall 4105: Studies of the Built North American: 1580 to the Present – J. Stilgoe
Fall 5342: Creating Resilient Cities: Climate Adaptive and Anticipatory Practices – J.Rosenthal
Spring 3302: Designing the American City: Civic Aspirations and Urban Form – A. Krieger
Spring 3478: Planetary Urbanization: Theoretical Foundations and Frontiers – N. Brenner
Spring 4344: Modern Architecture and Urbanism in China – P. Rowe
Spring 4359: Urban Form: History + Theory - E. Blau
Spring 5101: Histories & Theory of Urban Planning – N. Brenner
Spring 5319: Urbanization and International Development – M. Hooper
Spring 6370: Urban Responses to Sea Level Rise – J. Kayden, D. Barron, G. Frug, D. Schrag, C. Waldheim
Spring 9117: Airport Landscape: Ecological, Infrastructural, and Urban Implications of the Aerial Age – S. Duempelmann, C. Waldheim
Spring 9118: Urban Formation and Spatial Analysis in East Asian Cities – P.Rowe
3443: Ecology as Urbanism & Urbanism as Ecology – C. Waldheim (2010-2011)
3421: New Geographies – H. Sarkis (2010-2011)
4323: Constructing Vision – H. Sarkis (2010-2011)
4329: Urbanization in the East Asian Region – P. Rowe (2010-2011)
5331: Reinventing Formal and Informal: Latin American Urbanism – O. Grauer (2010-2011)
5332: Decent, Safe, and Sanitary: America’s Quest for Social Housing – A. Von Hoffman (2010-2011)
9106: Resource Extraction Urbanism – F. Correa (2010-2011)

MAUD/MLAUD Forms

Petition to Take Elective Courses, Studio Options or Independent Thesis
Petition to Exempt from a Required Subject Area
Petition to Substitute Elective Course(s) for a Required Subject Area