Bachelor of Design (Landscape Architecture)

Overview

• The only landscape architecture degree in Queensland.
• Learn to combine art and science to create long-lasting and meaningful outdoor spaces.
• Prepares you to research, plan, design and advise on the organisation, conservation and sustainability of  outdoor environments.
• Gain experience in real-world projects during your studies that incorporate interdisciplinary professions and community consultation and engagement.
• Graduates can apply for membership with the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects.

Details

Who designed New York’s Central Park, and the gardens of the Palace at Versailles in France? They were the work of landscape designers, nowadays called landscape architects. Landscape architecture offers a design career combining art and science to create long-lasting and meaningful, enjoyable outdoor places. Today’s landscape architects continue to play a significant role in the economic, social and environmental interests of communities through design, planning, development and management.

Landscape architects research, plan, design and advise on the stewardship, conservation and sustainability of development of all kinds of outdoor environments. Landscape architects can make really important contributions to making the world a better place physically, socially, culturally and environmentally. The profession is concerned with the design of external landscapes at all scales, to ensure the health and welfare of the environment and people.

Landscape architects design and plan projects including parks and other recreational places, botanic gardens, sporting complexes, various educational, commercial, industrial and residential sites as well as landscapes associated with major infrastructure systems such as roads and railways.

Why choose this course?

Studying landscape architecture at QUT is a great choice. We offer the only fully accredited landscape architecture degree in Queensland and have a 40-year history as one of Australia’s principal landscape educators. Graduates are leading practitioners employed around the world. Subtropical Brisbane also offers an exceptional threshold location.

During your degree you will be involved in some real-world problem-solving projects for our final-year students involving community participation. We use many part-time tutors from professional practice in our design studios and theory units. This keeps our teaching well grounded and linked to industry. We’re passionate about keeping our courses real and relevant. We also feed our findings from individual staff research back into our teaching so we can advance the discipline of landscape architecture for the community and practice.

Career outcomes

As a landscape architect you may work independently, in small partnerships or large multidisciplinary teams with other professionals such as architects, engineers, urban design and town planners. You may work in private practice or in government areas at all levels (municipal, state and federal). You will be engaged primarily in site planning, site design, planting design and landscape planning. Many graduates enjoy work in overseas practices.

Professional recognition

This course has accreditation from the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects. Graduates can apply for membership of this professional organisation.

Units

Your course

Year 1

This foundation year sets the groundwork for landscape design and theory units in later years. You undertake five units common to the design degree or Faculty covering design, design history, design and sustainability and digital communication. You also complete two units of core landscape design studios and your first unit dealing with plant studies.

Year 2

Four units for the second major or minors come on stream in your second year. You participate in two key design studios covering place theory, environmental psychology and site planning. Two theory units explore landscape ecology, aspects of physical geography and a preliminary construction unit based on land grading.

Year 3

You complete two units for your second major or minor plus two landscape design studios which extend the scale and complexity of previous studios, including an emphasis on planting design and detailed design resolution. Three construction and practice units reach an advanced level. Lastly, a history and criticism unit focuses on landscape design in the past, with a critical overview of contemporary landscape design trends.

Year 4

You further expand your expertise with two units towards your chosen second major/minors. Four units are devoted to advanced landscape design studios covering a wide range of urban and regional sites and scenarios. Two of these studios contain opportunities for personal design exploration on an agreed topic. You also complete two units in design research and professional practice.

Landscape Architecture Second Major and Minor Options

Second Major:

A 2nd major from anywhere in QUT.

Minors:

A minor from anywhere in QUT.
*Please remember that one minor must be from outside of your course.
**Design students interested in enrolling in the BEE Applications minor, must first consult and obtain approval from the Subject Area Coordinator/Course Coordinator

Entry requirements

Minimum academic requirements

Did you complete secondary school in Australia?

Course fees

Your actual fees may vary depending on which units you choose. All fees are based on current fixed fee prices. We review fees annually.

Scholarships and financial support

You can apply for scholarships to help you with study and living costs.

These scholarships are available for this course:

View all scholarships