The formal concentration in Landscape Architecture
allows degree candidates in the department the opportunity
to define an area of personal interest within this broad profession
or to examine the landscape dimensions of an associated field.
Requirements: |
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1 |
The concentration is defined by the student
in consultation with his/her faculty advisor. |
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The requirements of the concentration are at
least 10 credits for the BSLA and 16 credits for the MLA beyond
those required by the department for the degree. |
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3 |
You must include LA 403/603: The Concentration
(see below) |
There are no further requirements. This is an opportunity
to have your interests formally established as part of your
degree. You may state your concentration on your resume. |
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LA 403/603: The Concentration 1 credit
This course develops the intellectual rationale for your concentration.
It is a short 2-5 page essay or other reflective document
developed during your final year, in consultation with your
advisor. It is much more than a listing of the other 15 (BSLA
and MLA) credits. It sets the courses into
the context of your interests and experience to establish
your concentration in its fullest sense: |
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Reflective. The essay allows you to reflect
upon and synthesize what may have been a long exploration,
a maturing of your interests. Your courses may seem disparate
as a list, but by the time of the concentration essay, they
be should be viewed in the context of your broader interests
and experience to form a coherent expression of where you
are heading in your career. |
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Sets context. Essay may include how summer
internships, travel, scholarships, extracurricular activities,
work-study jobs, required courses, and prior degrees and work
experience fed into your intellectual thinking about your
concentration within the field of landscape architecture. |
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Formal documentation of your concentration.
The essay is placed in your student file. It will serve as
a reference for faculty as you apply to graduate school, for
jobs, or to reflect upon when you become famous. |
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Preparation for jobs and grad school.
Think of the essay as the text for your interview with an
employer or your personal essay for graduate school regarding
your particular interests within landscape architecture or
a relevant field. |
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Revise as you wish. Even after submission,
you may revise it for your file. It is your statement of how
you would like us to read your experience and accomplishments. |
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Change goals. In the event that you realize
that design is not the career for you, the concentration may
be your preparation for graduate study in a new or related
area: law school, research, business school, etc. The essay
may help you explore this transition in positive tenns. |
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| Advising Guidelines |
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1. |
Discuss the concentration with your advisor
upon arrival at Cornell. If you have any questions about a
concentration, be sure you are clear about the opportunity
it presents. |
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2. |
Begin the concentration courses as soon as you
can. The concentration is composed of courses that interest
you, not requirements. If you come with a specific interest
(golf course design, ecology, sustainable development, art,
historic preservation), take the electives as soon as you
can--you will find that degree requirements compete with the
times available, so don't wait, pre-register promptly for
the next term. In any case, get started, see where you interests
lie, talk to your advisor, talk to other students. Be proactive
in pursuing courses that interest you. |
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3. |
The concentration can begin broadly and focus
later, or begin in a focused manner and broaden. There is
no need to have a set title that you might regret later--make
your initial definition broad enough to cover your realm of
interest. If you start specifically and wish to broaden or
shift focus, just change your title. You can do this at any
time before graduation. |
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4. |
Plan ahead, as soon as you know what interests
you. Restoration ecology and other popular courses are offered
every other year. Plan the year your requirements will allow
you to fit in desired classes. This is an inexact science;
however, the staff can tell you the times that your future
courses typically meet. |
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5. |
The students know the scoop. As soon as we have
enough feedback from students, we will set up information
in the landscape architecture office and website where you
can read surveys of concentration topics, course preferences,
examples of essays, and other student-generated advice. |
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| Meanwhile, it is up to you to you to seek out
good courses. |
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| Popular and Possible Concentrations |
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Fine arts, design studies, representation, sculture, landscape
art, computer visualization, dance, theater studies, woodworking. |
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Ecology, Environmentally sustainable design, Green architecture,
re8toration ecology, urban remediation, environmental law. |
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Horticulture, public garden management, urban horticulture. |
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Landscape history, cultural landscape history, Historic
preservation, landscape preservation, archaeology. |
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Community based design, participatory action research, playground
design. |
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Entertainment industry, eco-tourism, golf course design,
business, economics. |
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Italian, Spanish studies, other area studies. |
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Invent your own. |
