Individuals who hold an accredited professional degree in architecture, or a pre-professional undergraduate degree in landscape architecture or architecture, and a strong design portfolio, may be granted advanced standing of up to two terms, completing the MLA I in two years.

Applicants who are granted advanced standing must have completed the same pre-requisites in college-level environmental science that are required for the MLA I, as well as courses that are roughly analogous to the course of study of the first year program in representation and history described in the MLA I curriculum, and demonstrate a high level of achievement in their design work.

For more information, please visit the MLA Degree Requirements page.

Curriculum

A candidate will be recommended for the MLA I AP upon satisfactory completion of 80 units in the following course of study:

First Term

  • 0 units STU 1211 Pre-Term Workshop (August; one week)*
  • 8 units STU 1211 Landscape Architecture III (studio)
  • 4 units DES 3241 Theories of Landscape as Urbanism
  • 4 units SCI 6241 Ecologies, Techniques, Technologies III
  • 4 units SCI 6244 Climate by Design

Second Term

  • 0 units STU 1212 Pre-Term Workshop (January; one week)*
  • 8 units STU 1212 Landscape Architecture IV (studio)
  • 4 units DES 3242 Theories of Landscape Architecture
  • 4 units SCI 6142 Ecologies, Techniques, Technologies II
  • 4 units SCI 6242 Ecologies, Techniques, Technologies IV

Third Term

  • 8 units Option Studio**
  • 4 units HIS 4141 Histories of Landscape Architecture I
  • 4 units PRO 7241 Practices of Landscape Architecture
  • 4 units Distributional electives or general electives***

or

  • 8 units Option Studio**
  • 4 units HIS 4141 Histories of Landscape Architecture I
  • 4 units PRO 7241 Practices of Landscape Architecture
  • 4 units ADV 9341 Preparation of Design Thesis Proposal****

Fourth Term

  • 8 units Option Studio**
  • 4 units satisfying AP History/Theory Distributional Elective
  • 8 units Distributional electives and/or general electives***

or

  • 8 units ADV 9342 Design Thesis in Landscape Architecture
  • 4 units satisfying AP History/Theory Distributional Elective
  • 8 units Distributional electives and/or general electives***

Footnotes

* The Graduate School of Design offers week-long pre-semester Digital Media Skills Workshops for each term of the core years (4 classes), all of which are required for all Master in Landscape Architecture students. These workshops are integrated with the design studios and are intended to give students the necessary preparation and knowledge of the workflows and digital techniques used in the context of studios: 3D software basics, rendering basics, data-transfer from 3D software, output and model building techniques using CAD/CAM facilities. The workshop will include an orientation session in the woodshop and on using laser cutters. No academic credit is given for the workshop.

** A minimum of one option studio must be taken from those offered by the Department of Landscape Architecture.

*** Distributional electives must be taken from two fields of study, to be selected from a list of approved courses issued by the department each year indicated as follows: 4 units of electives in landscape architecture representation, history, or theory; and 4 units of electives in ecologies or technologies; plus an additional 4 units of electives in AP history or theory electives.

**** For AP candidates electing thesis, GSD 9341 Preparation of Design Thesis Proposal serves as a Distributional Elective in representation, history, or theory.

Residence

Individuals admitted with advanced standing to the MLA I AP normally begin with the third term of the program and must complete a minimum of four terms of full-time study in residence. Under special circumstances, students may receive permission to reduce their course load and extend their studies over a longer period of time.

Please note that the MLA I, MLA I AP, and MLA II programs are now designated as a STEM program. Accordingly, international students holding F-1 visas may be eligible for a 24-month Optional Practical Training (OPT) extension on top of their initial OPT of 12 months, for a total of 36 months, following graduation.  Each F-1 student must petition United States Citizenship and Immigration Services to approve the 24-month STEM extension, and Harvard does not represent or warrant that USCIS will grant any individual petition.

Professional Licensure

The Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA) program is accredited by the Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board. Combined with practical experience, it meets the requirements for licensure in all fifty states and the District of Columbia.