Department of Landscape Architecture Program Information and Public Disclosures
PROGRAM MISSION
Landscape Architecture is more than just the design of physical outdoor spaces. We believe that it is a platform for the cross-pollination of ideas, a tool for positive social and environmental change, and a living narrative that connects us to our surroundings. At the University of New Mexico, the Landscape Architecture program prepares students with the tools to think and act critically, enabling them to understand the complexity of our world and address the diverse challenges we face today. We foster curiosity and passion for living environments in our students while providing them with the necessary professional skills to become future leaders in the expanding field of landscape architecture.
ACCREDITATION AND GRADUATION RATE INFORMATION
The UNM Department of Landscape Architecture has been fully accredited with the Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board (LAAB) since 2003 and is currently accredited through 2027. Master of Landscape Architecture degrees received from our program meet the educational requirements for initial licensure as a Landscape Architect in all 50 states in the US. Our faculty includes 3 professionally licensed Landscape Architects.
For the last eight academic years our program has had a 95% second-year student retention rate and a 97% graduation rate with an average of 8 degrees per graduating cohort. More than 97% of our graduates complete the program on time or within one year of their expected graduation year.
Since 2016, 98% of our graduates have found employment in professional practice or an allied field after graduating from the program. Our program helps students establish employment networks by inviting members of local firms to our studio reviews and connecting students with local professionals through our student ASLA chapter’s mentorship program.
EDUCATIONAL GOALS
- To ensure that students are well prepared to pursue a career in Landscape Architecture as private, public or academic practitioners, and to be future leaders.
- To maintain a faculty group with diverse interests and knowledge, robust scholarly engagement and strong teaching skills.
- To develop an effective integrated curriculum that builds skills and knowledge in creative and systematic ways and that acknowledges changes in the discipline.
- To maintain effective, creative, respectful and transparent governance and administration in the program.
- To obtain and maintain up-to-date equipment, teaching spaces, research facilities and resources to support the LA program.
- To build strong relationships within the university and the community.
TUITION, FEES AND ASSOCIATED PROGRAM COSTS
The University’s current tuition and fees are available on the UNM Bursar's site. Students in the program may qualify for graduate assistantships, which pay $17-$20 per hour for up to 10 hours a week. Student loans are available to qualifying students. Scholarship opportunities are available.
The courses you’ll take in our program are designed to develop your skills in a wide range of media, from hand drawing and physical models to digital illustration, CAD construction documents, and 3D computer modeling. Students are required to have a laptop meeting the School of Architecture and Planning’s technical specifications policy. Technical staff are available to answer student questions about laptop needs. Free access to all required software is available to students during their time in the program, either through educational version downloads or on lab computers.
Students are responsible for providing their own studio materials, including sketch books, notebooks, drafting materials (straight edge, engineering scale, pencils, pens, erasers, trace paper), drawing media (colored pencils, markers, micron pens, and other preferred art media), model making materials (cutting board, cutting blades, glue, pins), a camera (smartphone cameras are acceptable), and any supplies required for studio project work.
Several fabrication and printing facilities are available within the School of Architecture and Planning, including large scale color printing, 3D printing, CNC router, laser cutters, and a fabrication lab with a wide range of tools. Tools are available free of charge for students in the program. Costs for materials are the students’ responsibility.
Our faculty make every effort to keep studio and course expenses reasonable and affordable. Materials and production costs will vary for each studio, and students should expect to spend between $200 to $500 per semester depending on the project and student’s choice of materials. Students may acquire materials from whatever source they prefer, including online shopping sources. The student bookstore and a local art supply store are both within walking distance of the school building.
SUPPLEMENTAL PROGRAM ACTIVITIES
Our program actively encourages students to participate in extra-curricular activities to supplement their educational experience. The School of Architecture and Planning hosts lectures and presentations which are open for free to students.
The UNM Student chapter of American Society of Landscape Architects (SASLA) coordinates opportunities for students to engage with local organizations and professionals. Engagement covers a wide range of topics including LID, water conservation, professional mentorship, portfolio review, licensure exam preparation, and many other areas of design and practice.
Students are encouraged to attend the annual American Society of Landscape Architecture annual conference. Scholarships and financial support to attend the conference are coordinated each year through SASLA.
Department of Landscape Architecture Licensure Disclosure Statement
The University of New Mexico Department of Landscape Architecture curriculummeetsthe educational requirements for licensure in all U.S. jurisdictions (all states and the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands).
The UNM Master of Landscape Architecture degree has met the Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board (LAAB) requirements for accreditation, and it is recognized by the Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards (CLARB) as an accredited degree.
Licensure for landscape architecture is a formal, legal recognition that an individual has demonstrated the knowledge, skills, and abilities to practice landscape architecture without endangering the health, safety, or welfare of the public. Requirements for testing eligibility, education, and experience vary by jurisdiction.
Additional Licensure information
There are 56 U.S. licensing board jurisdictions (which includes the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands) and Canada that the Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards represents. Some jurisdictions require applicants seeking licensure to hold a professional degree from a LAAB-accredited program or LAAC (Canada’s Landscape Architecture Accreditation Council) accredited program to become a licensed landscape architect. However, most jurisdictions have alternate pathways to receive licensure. Specific licensure requirements per jurisdiction may be found on the CLARB website.
CLARB prepares, administers, and scores the Landscape Architect Registration Examination (L.A.R.E.) and manages the CLARB Council Record, a professional information system, which documents and verifies one’s education, experience, and licensure history. Individuals may be licensed in multiple jurisdictions.
