DesignIntelligence, a bi-monthly report from the Design Futures Council, has included Utah State University’s Landscape Architecture and Environment Planning’s graduate program in a ranking of the top schools in the United States. The USU program was listed among the country’s top 20 schools in rankings released in the November/December 2009 edition of DesignIntelligence.

 

To assemble the list, leading practitioners ranked the schools that best prepared students for practice in architecture, interior design and landscape architecture and environmental planning. In the graduate school listings, USU’s program tied for 15th place with five additional schools.

 

“The DesignIntelligence rankings are helpful for both current and potential students as they seek information to understand the quality of a degree and landscape architecture programs,” said Sean Michael, USU Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning department head. “For those considering a master’s of landscape architecture or a bachelor’s, USU is among the nation’s best. For the dollar, USU ranks even higher than the survey reveals.”

 

For students who have already been accepted into LAEP, the ranking affirms what they already knew — USU’s program is one of the very best, Michael said.

 

Annually, DesignIntelligence publishes rankings of America’s best architecture and design schools. For the rankings, 381 private practice firms and organizations that hire architects, landscape architects, interior designers or industrial designers participate in the survey and research. According to DesignIntelligence, the core question is: “From your hiring experience in the past five years, which schools are best preparing students for success in the architecture/landscape architecture/interior design/industrial design profession?”

 

“The DesignIntelligence rankings are conducted to provide feedback on where quality education is being delivered, valued and communicated,” the publication said in its Nov./Dec. edition. “We believe that good design education matters and is crucial for good professional practice performance in the future.”

 

At USU, the program for the master’s of landscape architecture (MLA) emphasizes both traditional site scale planning and design, as well as broader areas of the profession that include large-scale regional landscape analysis and planning, utilizing computer-aided design and planning techniques. In fall 2009, 23 students were enrolled in the MLA program at USU, and an additional five are putting the finishing touches on thesis revisions.

 

Following completion of the graduate degree, USU’s students go on to careers in the private and public sectors. Departmental records and communication show they work in private landscape architecture, architecture and engineering firms and for city, county and state planning offices. Those working for federal agencies work for the BLM, Forest Service and Homeland Security. USU’s LAEP department maintains contact with many of its graduates who go on to become top designers or principals at some the country’s most prestigious firms, with some working internationally.

 

“The LAEP program at USU has been producing some of America’s best and brightest landscape architects for more than 70 years,” Michael said. “We’re proud to carry on that heritage and to see the MLA’s excellence again recognized by peers across the United States.”

 

The top 20 list of landscape architecture programs in the United States include: (1) Harvard University; (2) Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; (3) Louisiana State University; (4) Kansas State University; (5) University of Georgia, University of Pennsylvania, University of Virginia; (8) Texas A&M University; (9) Cornell University; (10) Ball State University; (11) Ohio State University; (12) North Carolina State University, University of Michigan, University of Texas at Austin; (15) California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, Rhode Island School of Design, University of California at Berkeley, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Texas at Arlington, and Utah State University.

 

 

Writer: Patrick Williams, 435-797-1354, patrick.williams@usu.edu