Landscape Architect
What does a Landscape Architect do?
- Landscape Architects develop plans and designs of outdoor spaces for
useful and aesthetic purposes.
- Projects include commercial, industrial, and housing developments;
parks, gardens, and recreational areas such as resorts and golf courses,
coastal facilities, urban plazas and other public places; and residences.
- Other projects may include schools, cemeteries, landmark monuments,
marine facilities, and scenic highways.
- They study the site and analyze their client's needs, draw up plans, and
make sketches, models, and drawings.
- They estimate costs, schedule the work, and supervise resulting work.
They must understand the scale and properties of regional, community, and
neighborhood landscapes as a whole.
- They must work in compliance with codes and ordinances.
- Tasks include: In some cases, they may prepare environmental impact
statements or reports which describe potential effects on the physical
environment from the proposed development.
- They often consult with other professionals and sometimes supervise or
review work in progress.
Salary and Employment Outlook:
EDD Labor
Market Information
Occupational Outlook Handbook
Career Info Net
Typical Employers:
In federal, state, and local government agencies including the U.S. Forest
Service, the national park service, city planning, public housing, water
storage, urban renewal, highway or parks and recreation departments; landscape,
architectural and engineering firms; colleges and universities; in forest
management, plant and landscape nurseries, and for planning contractors. Some
are self-employed. Some are concerned mainly with small local projects or
residential landscaping.
Preparation:
A bachelor's degree in Landscape Architecture is required for persons
entering this field. A master's degree is generally required for teaching
positions. Some colleges offer training programs and certified programs. College
coursework should include land planning and design, surveying, soil science and
geology, world history, earth science, sociology and psychology for insight into
human behavior is also an advantage. Applicants who want the better jobs should
be above average in academic attainments. A good foundation in the natural
sciences is of utmost importance and since design is at the root of what they
do, applicants should have good artistic perception.
Educational Program(s):
Horticulture and Landscaping
Related programs: Architecture and Environmental Design, Environmental Design
DVC Certificate in Horticulture:
What does DVC offer?
Web Resources:
EDD Labor
Market Information
Occupational Outlook Handbook
ONet Online
Career Info Net
Career Center
American
Society of Landscape Architects
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