Master in Landscape Architecture I

Date

MLA I application deadline

The program stream leading to the Master in Landscape Architecture (MLA) is an accredited professional degree intended for individuals who have completed a bachelor’s degree with a major other than one of the design professions.

The curriculum of the three-year MLA I is rigorous and comprehensive, and prepares candidates for the full range of professional activities in landscape architecture. A four-semester core curriculum provides a solid intellectual base of knowledge in design, history, theory, technology, ecology, representation, and professional practice. The remaining two semesters offer the opportunity to engage in advanced studios and elective courses across all GSD departments. Particular emphasis is given to developing mastery in design in each of the six studios. For those students who want to pursue independent work, there is also the option to develop an elective design thesis in their final semester.

TESTIMONIALS

“Without the GSD, I wouldn’t be able to envision so clearly the possibilities that I have ahead of me in the next five to ten years. Much of that is because of my peers, and the passions and skill sets they bring to the school. I’ve learned so much from my cohort by digging into big questions amid discourse in the trays. It’s important to have different perspectives at the table—with classmates from different income levels and backgrounds—so that conversations aren’t one-sided or from a single point of view.”

Felicia Perez

(MLA ’24)

“Grad school at the GSD has been an honor of a lifetime. I have learned so much about landscape architectural practice, and urban planning, and have developed a network of connections I would never have been able to find directly out of my undergraduate degree.”

Chadwick Bowlin

(MLA ’25)

“The GSD’s emphasis on challenging conventional ‘design boundaries’ aligns with my drive to innovate and experiment within my work. Moreover, its diverse faculty and student body have enriched my perspective, encouraging me to rethink design’s role in advocating for environmental justice and climate resilience.”

Cory Page

(MLA ’25)

“The GSD is also the oldest landscape architecture degree program in the world, and I wanted to be a part of this well-established institution and rich tradition. I also wanted to be a part of the GSD’s network of outstanding global design leaders.”

Sara Abduljawad

(MLA I ’27)

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

PREPARATION FOR ADMISSION RESIDENCE PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE

Admission with No Previous Professional Education:

Individuals who have completed a four-year Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree in any field are eligible for admission to the first term of the professional degree program. Preference for admission is given to applicants who have completed a balanced undergraduate education that includes study in the arts, sciences, and humanities. Three college-level, semester-long courses are specifically required as prerequisites for admission to the MLA I program: one semester of environmental science; one semester of history of the built environment (this could include history of architecture, history of gardens and designed landscapes, environmental history, urban history); and at least one semester of visual arts (drawing, painting, sculpture, graphics). Applicants must achieve a grade of B- or better in each of these courses. Courses in the humanities, philosophy, literature, and economics are also recommended but are not required.

For students entering the three-year MLA I program, a minimum of six terms of full-time study in residence is required. 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.