The four year BSc programme in Landscape Architecture leads to an IFLA accredited professional degree. Students acquire fundamental knowledge and skills in landscape research, analysis and design, enabling them to enter the profession on graduation or to continue their education and specialise in one of the various fields shaping the future of the landscape. This interdisciplinary programme emphasises understanding of built and natural landscapes, and the potential for addressing spatial problems through design.

Embedded in a research active environment this programme raises awareness of contemporary landscape issues, and of the ecological, social and cultural significance of landscapes. It introduces methods to conserve, maintain, and develop rural, urban, sub- and peri-urban landscapes at a range of scales. This programme aims to instill in students intellectual confidence imbued with a sensitivity towards the landscape. Multidisciplinary by nature Landscape Architecture has close links to different subject areas across the university, to national and international professional bodies concerned with the landscape, and maintains close relations with a range of international schools of Landscape Architecture, Architecture, Urban Design and Arts.

Studio -based learning is at the centre of the teaching. This is supported by a range of lectures, seminars and field trips.  Students are encouraged to develop professional and transferable skills in critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication through tutored and self-directed individual or small group research and project-work, allowing knowledge transfer from tutors, both academics and practitioners, to students as well as peer learning.  Assessment in landscape architecture modules is largely based on continuous review of project work and student performance during the semester supported by end of term portfolio submissions and exhibitions.

1 - On completion of the programme students should be able to: Observe and analyse the built and natural landscapes of Ireland and elsewhere.
2 - Understand the roles, responsibilities and challenges of landscape architecture in contemporary society.
3 - Understand problem-solving strategies in designing landscape and the capacity to apply these techniques in different situation.
4 - Undertake field investigations to identify significant natural and cultural features, characteristics, and systems.
5 - Appreciate and understand fundamental landscape precedents, historic to contemporary, key literature, and landscape and design theories.
6 - Demonstrate transferable skills in research, critical thinking, problem solving, and communication.
7 - Communicate process, findings and design proposals verbally, graphically and in written form to their peers and wider audiences.
8 - Work competently both as an individual and also as a group member in interdisciplinary and/or intercultural groups.
9 - Develop conceptual design, planning and management solutions for protection and management of land resources.
10 - Envision the implications of design, planning, and management proposals on natural and cultural systems at a range of scales.
11 - Work with established research methods in gathering, analyzing and evaluating various forms of landscape related data.

UCD produces landscape architects who, in their working lives, draw on a great diversity of skills and knowledge to plan, design and manage spaces which are useful, sustainable, and fit for the specified purpose. UCD landscape architects are involved in enhancing, improving and conserving our natural and built environment, creating inspiring places to live, work and relax and transforming degraded environments. Their work combines scientific and cultural understanding, design creativity, and knowledge of man-made materials and structures with an understanding of ecology, land use and ecosystems. Their training ensures that graduates are equipped to work on diverse projects ranging from regeneration of urban and rural sites, conservation and management of heritage landscapes and waterways to the design of public and private open spaces. Landscape architects also advise on landscape resource management, the siting and potential impact of new structures in the landscape and management of site construction.

Our education model is designed to give students the creative ability and discipline to work alone or as part of a team of specialists. As graduates, they frequently work as part of large multidisciplinary teams alongside architects, engineers, planners, artists, ecologists, and surveyors. Such is the broad overview gained in UCD Landscape Architecture that graduates are often chosen as the master-planners for large-scale projects.

The UCD Landscape Architecture degree programme comprises two main elements: studio project work and lectures. Design modules make up 50% of this degree programme and students spend half of the week in the studio. Design methodology is taught and practised in studio-based landscape design modules involving on-site projects and requiring an important element of self-direction. As students progress through the programme they will learn to inform design decisions by analysis of information concerning the natural and cultural processes affecting particular case studies.

The other half of the programme involves lecture modules, which provide theoretical material in the areas of ecology and environmental sciences, human and social sciences, technology and culture, professional practice and management. In addition to their core landscape architecture modules, students can avail of elective options in UCD, which will enable them to choose to study modules across a varied range of subjects from politics to philosophy, language to law and art history to maths. The programme also offers students the opportunity to gain professional experience interning in a landscape related company or institution.

Erasmus Exchange and other Non-EU Exchange opportunities exist.

The UCD Landscape Architecture degree programme is part of the European Landscape Education Exchange. This Erasmus programme is a landscape architecture education network involving 11 universities in Europe and providing opportunities for staff and student exchange. Students regularly spend time abroad, either on short field trips, or participating in intensive design studios with students from other universities, or opting to spend a semester studying at one of our partner universities.

Recent exchange opportunities include: Leibniz University Hannover, Germany, École Nationale Supérieure de la Nature et du Paysage, Blois, France, University of Applied Sciences Weihenstephan – Triesdorf, Germany.

Graduates of UCD Landscape Architecture work all over the world because of their transferable skills. Our students become professional landscape architects, setting up in business, working in private practice, for governmental bodies or NGOs. Others go onto further academic study in landscape architecture or related subjects and some go onto work in areas such as: Environmental and Ecological Policy-Making, Conservation and Resource Management, Planning or Urban Design.

The majority of our students become professional landscape architects. After two years of approved work experience, graduates sit the Irish Landscape Institute professional exams, which lead to full professional membership of the ILI. (See www.irishlandscapeinstitute.com).

A Master of Landscape Architecture is available for those who wish to pursue the subject at taught graduate level. The School of Architecture also offers related Masters by Research and Doctoral programmes.

Also check out the UCD Career Neworks career guide for the College of Engineering & Architecture for details on the career supports available to UCD students.

UCD Engineering and Architecture Programme Office,
Room 122 (first floor), UCD Engineering and Materials Science Centre,
Belfield,
Dublin 4
Tel: +353 1 716 1868
Enquiries Email: choosearchitecture@ucd.ie
Current Students Email: eng.arch@ucd.ie
Web: www.ucd.ie/engarch. and www.ucd.ie/apep.

Module ID	Module Title	Trimester	Credits
Stage 1 Core Modules
AESC10010	Land Use and the Environment	Autumn	5
LARC10050	Landscape Studio 1A	Autumn	15
LARC10110	Understanding Landscape I	Autumn	5
LARC10120	Plants&Landscape Architecture	Autumn	5
LARC10090	Landscape studio 1B	Spring	15
LARC10100	Understanding Landscape II	Spring	5
Stage 1 Core Modules
Stage 1 Options - A)MIN1OF: Students must register to a minimum of 55 Programme Credits (Core/Options). Therefore, all Students MUST select one of the following Option Modules. Students MAY also take an Elective Module or select another Option Module from the list below, in order to fulfill their Stage requirements.
ARCH10050	Intro archaeology of Ireland	Spring	5
BIOL10030	Cell and Plant Biology	Spring	5
ENVP10010	Environment Change & Policy	Spring	5
HORT10020	Plants and People	Spring	5
Stage 1 Options - A)MIN1OF: Students must register to a minimum of 55 Programme Credits (Core/Options). Therefore, all Students MUST select one of the following Option Modules. Students MAY also take an Elective Module or select another Option Module from the list below, in order to fulfill their Stage requirements.
Stage 2 Core Modules
BIOL30020	Landscape Ecology	Autumn	5
HORT30050	Landscape Plants	Autumn	5
LARC20150	Landscape Studio 2A	Autumn	15
AESC20070	Soil Resources	Spring	5
LARC20160	Landscape Studio 2B	Spring	15
LARC20170	Landscape Theory and History	Spring	5
Stage 2 Core Modules
Stage 2 Options - A)MIN0OF: Students must register to a minimum of 50 Programme Credits (Cores). Students also take two Elective Modules or may instead select Additional Option Modules from the list below, in order to fulfill their Stage requirements.
PLAN10010	Introduction to City Planning	Autumn	5
FOR20110	Forests, Climate and Carbon	Spring	5
Stage 2 Options - A)MIN0OF: Students must register to a minimum of 50 Programme Credits (Cores). Students also take two Elective Modules or may instead select Additional Option Modules from the list below, in order to fulfill their Stage requirements.
Stage 3 Core Modules
ARCT30030	History & Theory of the Designed Environment IV - Architecture, Urban and Landscape	Autumn	5
LARC30150	Landscape Studio 3 A	Autumn	15
Stage 3 Core Modules
Stage 3 Options - A)MIN1OF: Students must register to a minimum of 55 Programme Credits (Core/Options). Therefore, all Students MUST select ONE of the following Option Modules. Students MAY also take an Elective Module or select another Option Module from the list below, in order to fulfill their Stage requirements of 60 credits.
GEOG40770	GIS for Environmental Assessment	Autumn	5
LARC30170	Site Specific Design 1	Autumn	5
PLAN30020	Placemaking: Urban and Rural Design	Autumn	5
Stage 3 Options - A)MIN1OF: Students must register to a minimum of 55 Programme Credits (Core/Options). Therefore, all Students MUST select ONE of the following Option Modules. Students MAY also take an Elective Module or select another Option Module from the list below, in order to fulfill their Stage requirements of 60 credits.
Stage 3 Options - B)MIN0OF: Select this Option ONLY if you wish to take a Long (30 credit) Landscape Architecture Internship.
LARC30220	Landscape Architecture Internship - Long	2 Trimester duration (Spr-Sum)	30
Stage 3 Options - B)MIN0OF: Select this Option ONLY if you wish to take a Long (30 credit) Landscape Architecture Internship.
Stage 3 Options - C)MIN0OF: Select this Option ONLY if you wish to undertake Study Abroad on Exchange ( equivalent to 20 credits) in Spring along with a Short (10-credit) Landscape Architecture Internship. Credits from this Trimester of Study Abroad on Exchange will be added to your academic record following successful completion of the Exchange.
LARC30230	Landscape Architecture Internship – Short	2 Trimester duration (Spr-Sum)	10
Stage 3 Options - C)MIN0OF: Select this Option ONLY if you wish to undertake Study Abroad on Exchange ( equivalent to 20 credits) in Spring along with a Short (10-credit) Landscape Architecture Internship. Credits from this Trimester of Study Abroad on Exchange will be added to your academic record following successful completion of the Exchange.
Stage 3 Options - D)MIN0OF: Select this Option ONLY if you are not intending to undertake any Internship or Study Abroad opportunity: You must select Landscape Studio 3B (15 credits) plus taught modules (15 credits).
BOTN30050	Diversity of Plant Form & Function	Spring	5
FOR20110	Forests, Climate and Carbon	Spring	5
LARC30120	Landscape Studio 3B	Spring	15
LARC30140	Site Specific Design 2	Spring	5
Stage 3 Options - D)MIN0OF: Select this Option ONLY if you are not intending to undertake any Internship or Study Abroad opportunity: You must select Landscape Studio 3B (15 credits) plus taught modules (15 credits).
Stage 4 Core Modules
GEOG30860	Environmental Assessment	Autumn	5
LARC40390	Landscape Studio 4A	Autumn	15
LARC40420	Landscape Research 1	Autumn	5
LARC40360	Landscape Studio 4 B	Spring	15
PLAN30150	Planning Law	Spring	5
PLAN40040	Rural & Landscape Planning	Spring	5
Stage 4 Core Modules
Stage 4 Options - A)1OF: All students must select one Autumn Option Module from the list below:
LARC30170	Site Specific Design 1	Autumn	5
LARC40620	Climate Policy and Politics	Autumn	5
PLAN40030	Planning, Society and Diversity	Autumn	5
Stage 4 Options - A)1OF: All students must select one Autumn Option Module from the list below:
Stage 4 Options - B)MIN0OF: Students must register to a minimum of 55 Programme Credits (Core/Options). In the Spring Trimester Students also take an Elective Module or may instead select an Additional Option Module from the list below, in order to fulfill their Stage requirements.
LARC30140	Site Specific Design 2	Spring	5
LARC40550	Building Biodiversity: nature as Builder	Spring	5
Stage 4 Options - B)MIN0OF: Students must register to a minimum of 55 Programme Credits (Core/Options). In the Spring Trimester Students also take an Elective Module or may instead select an Additional Option Module from the list below, in order to fulfill their Stage requirements.

		Award		GPA
Programme	Module Weightings	Rule Description	Description
BHARCH005	Stage 4 - 50.00% Stage 3 - 50.00%	Standard Honours Award	First Class Honours	3.68	4.20
			Second Class Honours, Grade 1	3.08	3.67
			Second Class Honours, Grade 2	2.48	3.07
			Pass	2.00	2.47
BHARCH010	Stage 4 - 70.00% Stage 3 - 30.00%	Standard Honours Award	First Class Honours	3.68	4.20
			Second Class Honours, Grade 1	3.08	3.67
			Second Class Honours, Grade 2	2.48	3.07
			Pass	2.00	2.47