Major Overview

Description

Landscape architecture is primarily concerned with the quality and design of the environment. It focuses on all aspects of landscape and land use planning, design and management; the restoration and rehabilitation of disturbed environments; and the design and management of outdoor spaces to create exciting, functional and attractive environments that will contribute to the life of the community. The Landscape Architecture major shares a number of units with the Architecture major. As such, cross-disciplinary content, collaboration and learning are key features of these majors. Other points of distinction include an emphasis on discovery through drawing; grounding in cultural landscapes and integration of culturally diverse content; engagement with contexts that are local, regional and international; and an embedding across learning areas of a deep appreciation for sustainability. By studying this major you will develop essential skills in critical thinking, providing you with a strong understanding in the practical, as well as the theoretical, art of landscape design. It will provide you with the foundation to pursue a professional postgraduate qualification in Landscape Architecture. Landscape architects work on a variety of scales, ranging from major regional projects to smaller urban developments which include industrial, commercial, institutional, recreational and residential environments.

Outcomes

Students are able to:

  1. design projects that take a philosophical and ethical position in regard to the ecological, aesthetic and sociopolitical roles of landscape architecture
  2. apply historical, theoretical and technical knowledge to design
  3. produce designs which illustrate a working knowledge of plants, materials and construction techniques
  4. negotiate and resolve complex site planning issues and developmental programs
  5. display an active engagement with experimental design processes and self-directed research
  6. work productively in collaborative and trans-disciplinary situations
  7. communicate at a sophisticated level in verbal, visual and written modes.
Broadening guidelines
All students studying towards a Bachelor's Degree at UWA are required to broaden their studies by completing a minimum of four units (24 points) of study outside their degree specific major. Broadening is your opportunity to explore other areas of interest, investigate new disciplines and knowledge paradigms and to shape your degree to suit your own aspirations and interests. Many of you will be able to undertake more than this minimum amount of broadening study and we encourage you to do so if this suits your aspirations. Over the next few months you will find here some broadening suggestions related to your degree-specific major. While we know that many students value guidance of this sort, these are only suggestions and students should not lose sight of the opportunity to explore that is afforded by your Broadening Choices. Advice can also be sought from your Allocated Student Advising Office.
Suggested Minors to broaden you study area, are:
(1) MNR-CURAT Curatorial Studies
(2) MNR-DCREA Digital Creativity
(3) MNR-ETHFT Earth's Environmental Challenges
(4) MNR-MEHUM Environmental Humanities
(5) MNR-ECOLY Ecology
(6) MNR-GEARL Geological and Archaeological Landscapes
(7) MNR-OCEAN Ocean Innovation
(8) MNR-SPCEU Science and Policy: Climate Change, Environmental Planning and Urban Environments
(9) MNR-ENVST Understanding the Environment
Courses

Landscape Architecture can be taken as a degree-specific major in the following degree courses:

Example Study Plan

See study plans for more information.

Units

Key to availability of units:
S1
Semester 1
S2
Semester 2

Level 1

Degree-specific major units

Take all units (24 points):

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S2 ARLA1030 Structures and Systems
Incompatibility
ARCT1030 Structures and Natural Systems
S1 ARLA1040 Techniques of Visualisation
Incompatibility
IDES1040 Techniques of Visualisation
S2 LACH1000 Landscape Foundation Studio None
S1 LACH1010 History and Theory of Landscape Architecture None

Level 2

Degree-specific major units

Take all units (18 points):

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 LACH2000 Landscape Context Studio
Prerequisites
ARLA1040 Techniques of Visualisation
and ARLA1000 Design Studio--Groundings
OR URBD1000 Introduction to Urban Design
S2 LACH2001 Landscape Dynamic Studio
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
Unit(s) ARLA1040 Techniques of Visualisation
Successful completion of
Unit(s) LACH1000 Landscape Groundings Studio
S2 LACH2050 Plants and Landscape Systems
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
Unit(s) LACH1000 Landscape Groundings Studio

Level 3

Degree-specific major units

Take all units (24 points):

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 LACH3000 Landscape Synthesis Studio
Prerequisites
LACH2000 Landscape Architecture Studio—Considerations
and LACH2001 Landscape Architecture Studio—Speculations
or ARLA2001 ARLA2001 Design Studio
and LACH2030 Site Manipulation
or LACH2001 Landscape Architecture Studio—Speculations
and LACH2030 Site Manipulation
S2 LACH3001 Landscape Resolutions Studio
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
Unit(s) LACH2000 Landscape Context Studio
Successful completion of
Unit(s) LACH2001 Landscape Dynamic Studio
S2 LACH3003 Design through Landscape Management
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
Unit(s) LACH2000 Landscape Context Studio
Successful completion of
Unit(s) LACH2001 Landscape Dynamic Studio