Mission

University of Maryland Landscape Architecture is committed to a vision of a sustainable and resilient future for the natural and cultural landscapes of Maryland, the Mid-Atlantic region, and the world.

We are dedicated to providing the highest quality education for our students, to engaging in research that creates new knowledge for the profession, and to providing service to communities. Our BLA and MLA curricula applies ecological design principles to provide solutions to regional, local, and site-specific issues influenced by rapid urbanization and the danger to fragile ecosystems, particularly in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

The program disseminates information in a manner that makes students aware of their environmental and social responsibility within a global perspective. The faculty uses the design studio experience to focus the students on the ecological design synthesis of research and observation in the process of site, community, urban, and regional design and planning. As the landscape architecture profession continues to change by expanding its interests in political, social, and physical interventions, we give our students the technological and creative tools they need to become knowledgeable, discerning, and ethical leaders and interpreters of the environment and our richly diverse culture.

Our History

1856	Maryland legislature established the Maryland Agricultural College.
1870's	Hobart Hutton appointed as first "professor of Agriculture, Horticulture and Arboriculture, Landscape Gardening and Rural Architecture." A. Grabowski appointed as first "Professor of Agriculture, Architecture and Drawing."
1910's	Department of Horticulture created. B.W. Anspon appointed as first "Professor of Landscape and Ornamental Horticulture."
1930's	Mark Shoemaker appointed as first "Professor of Landscape Design", and Holzapfel Hall becomes occupied by the Horticulture Department.
1993	Maryland Higher Education (MHEC) approves BLA. Thirteen BLA degrees awarded that academic year. Department name changed to Horticulture and Landscape Architecture. Robert Scarfo named first Landscape Architecture Coordinator.
1996	Landscape Architecture Program moves into the new Plant Sciences Building and Digital Studio.
1997	Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture merges with Agronomy to become Department of Natural Resource Sciences and Landscape Architecture.
1998	BLA: granted initial accreditation by LAAB.
2001	BLA: granted full accreditation by LAAB.
2006	LAAB Scheduled BLA Accreditation Review: Department of Natural Resource Sciences and Landscape Architecture renamed Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture.
2007	Maryland Higher Education (MHEC) approves MLA.
2011	MLA: granted initial accreditation by LAAB.
2012	BLA: Renewal of Accreditation by LAAB.
2018	BLA and MLA: Renewal of Accreditation for 6 Years by LAAB

What an amazing location!

We are located in the Metropolitan Washington-Baltimore area. We are also within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed and a few hours away from New York City and Philadelphia! The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. Learn about strategies to save the bay.

Our location provides unique opportunities for students to study and appreciate a variety of landscapes in rural, suburban, urban and maritime settings. Less than ten miles from Washington, D.C. and accessible on the Metrorail system, the 1300-acre College Park campus is at the doorstep of some of the country's most important landmarks and noted institutions.

Washington, D.C. Convenient access to landscapes designed by award winning designers from around the world. Check out Washington, D.C. ratings on Place Pulse. Check out fantastic landscapes and exciting landscape architects in Washington, D.C. in The Landscape Architect’s Guide to Washington, D.C.

The greater Washington/Baltimore geographic area offers students and faculty easy access to a range of facilities, natural and built spaces of the Nation's Capitol including the:

National ASLAWe are a 30 minute ride on the Green Line to ASLA Center for Landscape Architecure
Smithsonian
Scores of significant public spaces including the
Pennsylvania Avenue Landscapes
- Navy Memorial, and
- John Marshall Park
Dumbarton Oaks
Rock Creek Park

Historic Annapolis and Baltimore, MD are within a forty-minute drive of the campus and the Mid-Atlantic region is home to many award-winning national and international landscape architecture firms.

You can also make a day trip to incredible cities such as New York City and Philadelphia! They are only a few hours away and there are many popular transportation modes to get there and back! Our students are able to visit Washington D.C., Baltimore, Annapolis, New York City, Philadelphia, and other great cities during their studio experience!

Greater College Park

Some great things are happening in our hometown of College Park!

Location on the University of Maryland Campus
We are located in the Plant Science Building (Bldg # 36). The Landscape Architecture Program administrative office is room 2139 Plant Sciences Building.

Our Facilities

The Plant Sciences Building opened in November 1996 with an exciting computer studio environment for the study of Landscape Architecture. Each student in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th year studios of the undergraduate program and all graduate students have 24-hour access to his or her assigned computer workstation and drafting table. Student stations include a drafting table with a parallel ruler, a chair, and a computer table with a computer and monitor. Each computer is equipped with a variety of software programs as well as full Internet access. Each student station is also connected to a Local Area Network that allows shared resources (plotters, printers, scanner, etc.). Individual computers provide unparalleled opportunities to integrate digital technology into the curriculum. The technology-rich environment of the program enables the program to explore new and rapidly changing areas in landscape architectural education and new and emerging technologies that characterize today's global environment.