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The Department of Landscape Architecture is dedicated to providing the highest quality professional educational experience for its students. We recognize that the profession of Landscape Architecture is changing and calling on professionals to play a more active leadership role in designing and managing numerous aspects of our environment. With a learning-centered educational approach, Cal Poly students will develop the professional skills and knowledge needed to make valuable contributions to a changing global society. Through the faculty’s commitment to excellence in teaching and the core values of the profession, students will develop an appreciation for life-long learning and an interdisciplinary approach to landscape architectural design. The department offers a program which:
- Emphasizes an understanding of natural and cultural systems in the process of site, community, urban, and regional design and planning.
- Promotes a responsible, humanistic and sustainable approach to land planning and design.
- Presents the Landscape Architect as a leader and integrator of information from allied disciplines, the arts, technology, and the natural and social sciences.
Thank you for considering the Landscape Architecture program at Cal Poly.
Margarita Hill, ASLA, Department Head
Notebook Computers
The Landscape Architecture Department has 24-hour general access Macintosh computers, scanners, and printers located in the studio environments.
The department has a requirement that all freshmen and transfer students have a notebook computer when they enter the program. In the profession of landscape architecture, computing is an integral component, and developing the ability to critically integrate hand and digital tools is a fundamental aspect of landscape architecture education. A notebook computer is key to having computing capabilities available at all times and at all locations. Financial aid may be available to cover the cost of the notebook computer (contact the Financial Aid Office for more information).
The studio environment has wireless access (as does the Cal Poly campus) to facilitate internet access to the web, email, instructional media, server storage, and student printing.
The department recommends a laptop with enough power and storage to create 2D and 3D visualizations and multimedia used in design projects at different year levels.
We recommend a Macintosh computer since it can run both the Mac OS and Windows operating systems. We have a Macintosh-oriented facility, although most of the software used is cross-platform. All students have access to printers and server storage.
Laptop Characteristics
- 1 GB RAM (minimum)
- Intel™ Core 2 Duo
- 120 GB Disk Drive (minimum)
- Performance Graphics card
- SuperDrive (Mac) DVD Writer (Win)
- Airport Extreme Wireless (Mac), Wireless G card (Win)
- 15.4 Display (minimum)
- OS X (Mac) XP Professional (Win)
Laptop Recommendations
- MacBook Pro 15"
- Dell Latitude D820 (or equivalent)
Educational Pricing
Call or visit Cal Poly's El Corral Bookstore for educational pricing on both software and hardware. The bookstore's number is (805) 756-5311. Prices are also published on the bookstore web site: http://www.elcorralbookstore.com/
Resources
Flowchart
2007-2009 Landscape Curriculum Flowchart (.pdf)
2009-2011 Landscape Curriculum Flowchart (.pdf)
For assistance with using the Curriculum Flowchart, please contact the Landscape Architecture Department.
Career Links
Landscape Architects (.pdf)
A California Occupational Guide
Landscape Architects
An Occupational Outlook by the
Bureau of Labor Statistics