2026-2027 Course Catalog
Source: https://catalog.illinois.edu/undergraduate/faa/sustainable-design-bs-landscape-architecture-mla/ Parent: https://catalog.illinois.edu/degree-programs/undergraduate_index/
for the degrees of Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Design and Master of Landscape Architecture in Landscape Architecture
The six-year joint BSSD/MLA 4 + 2 program combines a B.S. in Sustainable Design with a MLA in Landscape Architecture. Current University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign undergraduate students enrolled in the Sustainable Design undergraduate major who have completed between 30 and 96 credit hours and maintain superior academic performance are eligible to apply for this program. Students admitted to the program will receive the B.S. degree after four years and the M.LA. degree after two additional years.
Students interested in the BSSD/MLA 4 + 2 program will need to plan their schedules well in advance of their Junior year to ensure they have taken the appropriate course work. By judicious selection of general education courses and major electives, students will be prepared to apply to the 4+2 program in their sophomore year, and to the Graduate College in their senior year.
For additional details and requirements refer to the MLA department's Web site and the Graduate College Handbook.
for the degrees of Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Design and Master of Landscape Architecture in Landscape Architecture
Graduation Requirements
Minimum hours required for graduation: 168 hours.
- Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Design: 120 hours.
- Master of Landscape Architecture in Landscape Architecture: 48 hours.
University Requirements
Minimum of 40 hours of upper-division coursework, generally at the 300- or 400-level. These hours can be drawn from all elements of the degree. Students should consult their academic advisor for additional guidance in fulfilling this requirement.
The university and residency requirements can be found in the Student Code (§ 3-801) and in the Academic Catalog.
General Education Requirements
Follows the campus General Education (Gen Ed) requirements. Some Gen Ed requirements may be met by courses required and/or electives in the program.
Course List
| Code | Title | Hours |
| --- | --- | --- | | Composition I | | 4-6 | | Advanced Composition | | 3 | | fulfilled by LA 314 | | | | Humanities & the Arts (6 hours) | | 6 | | fulfilled by FAA 201, LA 222, and LA 314 | | | | Natural Sciences & Technology (6 hours) | | 6 | | fulfilled by LA 250 and any Physical Science | | | | Social & Behavioral Sciences (6 hours) | | 6 | | Cultural Studies: Non-Western Cultures (1 course) | | 3 | | fulfilled by LA 222 | | | | Cultural Studies: US Minority Cultures (1 course) | | 3 | | fulfilled by FAA 201 | | | | Cultural Studies: Western/Comparative Cultures (1 course) | | 3 | | fulfilled by LA 314 | | | | Quantitative Reasoning (2 courses, at least one course must be Quantitative Reasoning I) | | 6-10 | | Language Requirement (Completion of the third semester or equivalent of a language other than English is required) | | 0-15 |
Sustainable Design Major Requirements
Course List
| Code | Title | Hours |
| --- | --- | --- | | Students should plan to complete all requirements prior to senior year, except for FAA 430 and FAA 431 which will be taken during senior year. | | | | Foundation | | 18 | | FAA 101 | Arts at Illinois | 1 | | FAA 230 | Sustainable Design of the Built Environment | 3 | | LA 101 | Introduction to Landscape Arch | 2 | | ARCH 171 | Introduction to Design I | 3 | | ARCH 172 | Introduction to Design II | 3 | | FAA 201 | Black Arts Today | 3 | | ARTH 211 | Design History Survey | 3 | | Urban Scale Sustainability (select one course) | | 3 | | UP 136 | Urban Sustainability | 3 | | UP 205 | Ecology & Environmental Sustainability | 3 | | ARCH 237 | Urban Scale Sustainability | 3 | | Drawing (select one course) | | 3 | | ARTD 225 | Design Drawing | 3 | | ARTF 102 | Observational Drawing | 3 | | LA 280 | Design Communications I (limited seats solely for BSSD/MLA 4+2 students) | 3 | | Core | | 15 | | FAA 330 | Making Sustainable Design | 5 | | ARTD 326 | Sustainability & Manufacturing | 3 | | ARCH 321 | Environment, Architecture, and Global Health | 3 | | ARTD 451 | Ethics of a Designer in a Global Economy | 4 | | Senior Capstone | | 8 | | FAA 430 | Capstone Seminar | 3 | | FAA 431 | Capstone Studio | 5 | | Total Hours | | 47 |
Course List
| Code | Title | Hours |
| --- | --- | --- | | Major Electives | | | | All 16 hours of major electives are met with the full completion of the requirements below. | | |
Course List
| Code | Title | Hours |
| --- | --- | --- | | Required LA Coursework taken prior to Senior Year | | | | Students who follow this program will be eligible for a minor in Landscape Studies regardless of their admission to the 4+2 program. | | | | Physical Science: Any Natural Science & Technology- Physical Sciences general education course | | 3 | | LA 222 | Islamic Gardens & Architecture | 3 | | LA 281 | Design Communications II | 3 | | LA 314 | History of World Landscapes (Completing this requirement in undergraduate waives the requirement of LA 513 in MLA) | 4 | | LA any 300 or 400-level course | | 2 | | Total Hours | | 15 |
Course List
| Code | Title | Hours |
| --- | --- | --- | | Senior Year Courses | | | | LA 241 | Landform Design & Construction | 3 | | LA 250 | Environmental Site Analysis | 3 | | LA 352 | Woody Landscape Plants (OR any UG Free Elective) | 4 | | LA 433 | Graduate Foundation Studio | 5 | | LA 434 | Graduate Site Design Studio | 5 | | LA 501 | Landscape Arch Theory & Prac | 4 | | Total Hours | | 20 |
Master of Landscape Architecture in Landscape Architecture Pre-Professional degree program with Advanced Studio Option
Course List
| Code | Title | Hours |
| --- | --- | --- | | The following coursework is required of MLA students in the Pre-Professional degree program. These courses do not count toward the graduate degree. Therefore, 4+2 students may elect to take these during the undergraduate portion of the 4+2. | | | | LA 342 | Site Engineering | 4 | | LA 343 | Landscape Construction | 4 | | LA 346 | Professional Practice | 2 | | LA 352 | Woody Landscape Plants | 4 | | MLA Requirements | | | | Studio | | | | LA 533 | Planning & Design Studio I | 5 | | LA 534 | Design Workshop G-I | 5 | | LA 537 | Planning & Design Studio II | 5 | | LA 539 | Design Workshop G-II | 5 | | Additional Seminars/Coursework | | | | LA 452 | Planting Design | 3 | | LA 482 | Advanced Design Communications | 4 | | LA 597 | Research Design & Methods | 3 | | Additional Required Electives chosen in consultation with MLA Advisor | | | | Social/Cultural Factors in Design | | | | Ecology | | | | Methods | | | | Total Minimum Hours | | 48 |
Grad Other Degree Requirements
| Requirement | Description |
|---|---|
| Minimum Hours Required Within the Unit: | 24 |
| Minimum 500-level Hours Required Overall: | 18 |
| Minimum GPA: | 3.0 |
Summary of Credits for the Joint Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Design and Master of Landscape Architecture in Landscape Architecture Program
Course List
| Code | Title | Hours |
| --- | --- | --- | | Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Design | | 120 | | General Education | | | | Major Requirements | | 47 | | Major Electives | | 0 | | Additional LA Course Requirements | | 15 | | Senior Year Courses | | 20 | | Free Electives | | | | A minimum of 40 credits at the 300 or 400 course level are required | | | | Master of Landscape Architecture in Landscape Architecture | | 48 |
for the degrees of Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Design and Master of Landscape Architecture in Landscape Architecture
Sample Sequence
This sample sequence is intended to be used only as a guide for degree completion. All students should work individually with their academic advisors to decide the actual course selection and sequence that works best for them based on their academic preparation and goals. Enrichment programming such as study abroad, minors, internships, and so on may impact the structure of this plan. Course availability is not guaranteed during the semester indicated in the sample sequence.
Students must fulfill their Language Other Than English requirement by successfully completing a third level of a language other than English. This may require up to three semesters of language depending on high school coursework or placement. For more information, see the corresponding section on the Degree and General Education Requirements page.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| FAA 101 | 1 | UP 136, ARCH 237, or UP 205 | 3 |
| ARCH 171 | 3 | ARCH 172 | 3 |
| LA 101 | 2 | ARTH 211 | 3 |
| FAA 201 | 3 | Composition I or Language Other than English (3rd level) | 4 |
| Composition I or Language Other than English (3rd level) | 4 | LA 222 | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 2 | ||
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Total Hours 31 |
| Second Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| FAA 230 | 3 | FAA 330 | 5 |
| LA 280 | 3 | LA 281 | 3 |
| Physical Science General Education course | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| ARCH 321 | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | ||
| 15 | 14 | ||
| Total Hours 29 |
| Third Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| FAA 430 | 3 | ARTD 326 | 3 |
| ARTD 451 | 4 | FAA 431 | 5 |
| General Education course | 3 | LA 314 | |
| LA 300-or 400-level course | 2 | Free Elective course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 2 | ||
| 14 | 11 | ||
| Total Hours 25 |
| Fourth Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| LA 433 | 5 | LA 434 | 5 |
| LA 501 | 4 | LA 250 | 3 |
| LA 241 | 3 | Additional MLA course or Free Elective course | 3 |
| LA 352 | 4 | Additional MLA course or Free Elective course | 3 |
| 16 | 14 | ||
| Total Hours 30 |
| Fifth Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours | Summer Semester | Hours |
| LA 533 | 5 | LA 534 | 5 | Graduate Internship | 0 |
| LA 342 (4 credit hours, prerequisite) | 0 | LA 343 (4 credit hours, prerequisite) | 0 | ||
| LA 482 | 4 | LA 597 | 3 | ||
| Graduate Elective course | 4 | Graduate Elective course | 3 | ||
| 13 | 11 | 0 | |||
| Total Hours 24 |
| Sixth Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| LA 537 | 5 | LA 539 | 5 |
| LA 452 | 3 | Graduate Methods course | 3 |
| LA 346 (2 credit hours, prerequisite) | 0 | Social/Cultural Issues course | 3 |
| Graduate Elective course | 4 | Graduate Seminar or Elective, if any remaining | 2 |
| 12 | 13 | ||
| Total Hours 25 |
Total Hours: 168
for the degrees of Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Design and Master of Landscape Architecture in Landscape Architecture
Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Design
Upon the successful completion of a degree in Sustainable Design, students will:
- Have a deep level of understanding of the fundamentals of sustainability and their functional links to the built environment.
- Have a deep level of understanding of the fundamentals of design thinking and practice.
- Be proficient in applying basic principles of visual and material communication, including sketching, drafting, model-making, 2D and 3D design software and geographic information systems.
- Be able to combine design theory and practice with sustainability principles to address environmental issues at the product, building, neighborhood, city, landscape, and global levels.
- Be comfortable working in multidisciplinary teams to solve complex design problems.
Master of Landscape Architecture in Landscape Architecture
Upon the successful completion of a Master of Landscape Architecture in Landscape Architecture students will have:
- Design Thinking.Use a variety of processes to discover and frame opportunities, generate multiple possibilities, evaluate and refine ideas, rapidly prototype and test your proposal, and share your ideas in a compelling manner.
- Communicate with Skill. Use a variety of digital tools to generate design proposals, test those proposals, and share your ideas with others.
- Tap into Existing Knowledge. Incorporate our best understanding of natural resources, environmental systems, human development, social systems, professional practice and professional ethics into your work.
- Technical Competence. Demonstrate the technical competence to translate design proposals into built work.
- Responsibility and Leadership.Develop and demonstrate a sense of responsibility to the land and the people for whom we design.
for the degrees of Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Design and Master of Landscape Architecture in Landscape Architecture
Sustainable Design
210C Architecture Building\ 608 East Lorado Taft Drive
Program Director: Professor Karin Hodgin Jones\ Program Coordinator: Ashley Smart
Sustainable Design Accelerated Graduate Program website
Department of Landscape Architecture
Master of Landscape Architecture program\ Landscape Architecture Faculty