LANDXL:MLA - Accelerated Master of Landscape Architecture

For students seeking to begin their professional design studies as undergraduates, the Landscape Architecture Department offers the accelerated Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA), which provides a seamless course of study leading from undergraduate freshman year to the conferral of the professional Master of Landscape Architecture degree, which is fully accredited by the Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board (LAAB), an autonomous committee of the American Society of Landscape Architects.

Ownership of Student Work

Student work submitted to the department in satisfaction of course or degree requirements becomes the physical property of the department. However, students retain all rights to the intellectual property of such work. This work may include papers, drawings, models, or other materials. The department assumes no responsibility for safeguarding such materials and at its discretion may retain, return, or discard such materials. Students must petition the department in writing for any deviation from these established policies.

Study Abroad

Study abroad is an important component of an MLA education. Our study abroad center is in Genoa, Italy, and is ideally situated in the historic center of the city in a renovated former convent dating from the 13th century. During the semester abroad option in Italy, students are afforded the opportunity to study artistic, architectural, landscape and interior spaces and artifacts that have long been acknowledged for their exceptional and enduring value. Other travel options are also available for shorter durations and vary by year, but have historically included travel to Spain, France, Mexico, the Bahamas, and Japan. Departmental approval is required for participation.

Pre-Graduate Preparation

Students should enroll in Lower Division design courses the first semester they attend FIU or their progress through the curriculum will be delayed. Seats for the Pre-Graduate course of study are limited and cannot be guaranteed to all students.

Progression Requirements

No grade below a ‘C’ will be accepted for graduation in required courses or required electives.

Undergraduate to Graduate Standing

Students will be evaluated for matriculation to graduate status based upon their graduate GPA at the end of the spring semester of their 4th year (provided they have earned a minimum of 120 total credits). The criteria listed below must be satisfied:

(1) A minimum of 120 earned credits (counting no more than 60 lower-division transfer credits),

(2) 3.0 or higher GPA in graduate level coursework (5000 level or higher), and

(3) Completion of undergraduate coursework.

No Bachelor's degree is awarded in the accelerated MLA degree path.

Admissions for Undergraduate Students

Admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis as applications are completed and all supporting documents are received. You may apply as early as July of your senior year. In order to be scholarship eligible you must submit your Fall application by November 1. Check the department website for updated application deadlines: http://carta.fiu.edu/landscape/academics/undergraduate/admissions/

The department admits students once a year to begin their course work in the fall semester; therefore, it is recommended that interested applicants meet with a member of the college’s Student Services and Advising Center during the Fall semester prior to the application deadline. Admission to the department is competitive and is not guaranteed. Admission will be offered based on space availability to those applicants judged by the department faculty committee to have the greatest potential for successful program completion.

The department offers professional degrees in Landscape Architecture. The curriculum is composed of two years of foundational, undergraduate coursework followed by three years of focused graduate course work leading to the accredited Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA) professional degree. The department does not award a pre-professional Bachelor’s degree.

Undergraduate students may apply for admission into the first year or the third year of the program. Students of the program are considered undergraduate students until they have accumulated 120 credit hours; therefore, freshman and transfer applicants must apply to both FIU’s Undergraduate Admissions Office and to the appropriate department as a two-part process via the links below:

- Undergraduate Admissions: http://admissions.fiu.edu

- Department of Landscape Architecture: http://carta.fiu.edu/landscape/

First-Year Admission Requirements

Applicants must meet the University’s admission requirements and submit a design portfolio – please refer to the Design Portfolio Requirements section.

Third-Year Transfer Student Admission Requirements

Applicants for third year admission must meet the University’s admission requirements and submit a design portfolio – please refer to the Design Portfolio Requirements section. Students who have completed an AA in architectural studies must meet the following requirements: minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0; completed design studio courses 1 through 4 with a grade of ‘C’ or better, as well as all undergraduate architecture pre-requisites (please refer to the transfer guide or contact an advisor for course equivalences); and be judged by the Faculty Admissions Committee to have passed a competitive portfolio review. Only grades of ‘C’ or higher (2.0 on a 4.0 grading scale) are accepted for transfer of applicable prerequisite and core courses from other institutions. No grade below a ‘C’ will be accepted for graduation in required courses or required electives.

Transfer Students: University policy allows the transfer of 60 lower division credits. Additional upper-division transfer credits may be accepted. For most transfer students it will be necessary to take a certain number of undergraduate credits at FIU to achieve the minimum required to satisfy the degree requirements. course may be waived with approved AA in Architectural studies.

Third-Year Native Student Admission Requirements

FIU undergraduate students who wish to change their major to landscape architecture should check program requirements and be advised by the college’s undergraduate advisors in advance of applying for admission. Departmental approval is required.

Design Portfolio Requirements 

All applicants must meet University admissions requirements. Applicants to the Landscape Architecture + Environmental and Urban Design Department degree programs must also submit a portfolio for departmental review that demonstrates the candidate’s creative aptitudes. The design portfolio is evaluated based on a candidate’s demonstrated sense of composition, attention to detail, graphic communication skills, expressive quality, and sense of space, accuracy, and observation.

Design portfolios may include two-dimensional storyboards (a sequence of still images that show a story), computer printouts, and photographs of three-dimensional models/projects.

Digital design portfolios should be formatted to fit on 8.5” x 11” pages within a single, multi-page PDF file. Please refer to the departmental website for submission details.

 Portfolios submitted after the Application Deadline will be considered if studio space is available.

First-Year Design Portfolio Requirements

All candidates’ design portfolios must include a one-page statement outlining your intentions, aspirations, and purpose in pursuing a professional degree in landscape architecture. In addition, all candidates’ design portfolios require three freehand drawings based on accurate observations: (1) a drawing of a stair or stairs, (2) a drawing of a bicycle or bicycles or a part of a bicycle or bicycles, and (3) a drawing of your own choice. These drawings may be in ink, pencil, or charcoal. In addition to the three required freehand drawings, the first-year design portfolio may contain reproductions of a two or three-dimensional work.

Third-Year Design Portfolio Requirements

All candidates’ design portfolios must include a one-page (maximum) statement outlining your intentions, aspirations, and purpose in pursuing a professional degree in landscape architecture. The design portfolio should include no more than 10 examples of your design work executed within the past five years. Examples include, but are not limited to, studies of buildings or landscapes that demonstrate your analytical ability. Recent art and/or design projects that the applicant completed in collaboration with others are acceptable if the example contains an explanation of the applicant’s role in the process. Portfolios should not contain samples of architectural or interior design construction documents either by hand or by computer.

Additional Information for Applicants

Students applying to the LAEUD should plan for the financial aspects of a design education.  This includes the costs of computer hardware, software, travel and field trips, tools and equipment, drawing and modeling supplies. All students must have continued access to a laptop computer by purchasing, leasing or other arrangements. For further information contact any of the School of Architecture Advisors.

There are no tracks, specializations, concentrations, areas of emphasis, or other curricular offerings associated with this program.

There are no majors associated with this program.