The Department of Landscape Architecture faculty is committed to developing and implementing efficient and effective processes of assessment and evaluation to advance student learning, teaching effectiveness and program quality.  The program’s five broad objectives and student learning outcomes provide the faculty and students with a shared understanding of the goals directing the curriculum. Students are expected to be proficient or above in each of these areas by the time they graduate from the program.

• Design: Students will be able to formulate questions and arguments about landscape and landscape’s role as a significant cultural medium; determine processes and practices that lead to conceptual, analytical and formative actions that transform existing situations into preferred alternatives based on ethical, communicative and content knowledge criteria.

• Ethics: Students will be able to critically evaluate local and global ramifications of social issues, diverse cultures, economic systems, ecological systems and professional practice as guiding principles for design thinking and implementation.

• Communication and Representation: Students will be able to speak, write, create and employ appropriate representational media to effectively convey ideas on subject matter contained in the professional curriculum to a variety of audiences.
  
• Content Knowledge: Students will be able to develop a critical understanding and application of the histories, theories, ethics and practices of landscape architecture, and its role in reflecting and shaping culture and environments.
  
• Research: Students will be able to understand and apply appropriate research methods for design and scholarship in landscape architecture.

The graduate thesis in landscape architecture provides an opportunity for students to conduct independent research and design investigations that demonstrate their capacity for rigorous original thinking.

The thesis is not required for graduation and not all students are approved to write a thesis. Choosing to pursue a thesis project constitutes a significant commitment to the endeavor; the topic must be chosen with care and thoughtfully and critically developed. Topics can explore material that has been previously unstudied, reinterpret existing material in a new light, or engage research and design practices in ways that strengthen and define a final design project. For all theses, the research and products must meet the highest standards of academic excellence and contribute significantly to the discipline and/or profession. The thesis can be a traditional written and research-based thesis or a design thesis.

Pursuing a thesis requires students to enroll in a three-course sequence for a maximum total of 12 semester hours. Students are required to formulate their research proposals two full semesters prior to their enrollment for the 6-semester-hour thesis, typically taken in lieu of the final studio. To proceed through the sequence, students must have completed and passed the research tools and methods class (LDAR 6940) and have secured departmental approval of the thesis proposal.

The completion of the thesis is dependent on acceptance of the student’s work by the faculty member acting as the thesis chair and by the committee. For work to be accepted it must meet the standards established by the University of Colorado Denver for graduate thesis projects. For more information on the thesis process and examples of theses click here (forthcoming).

*Items in bold will be needed in the first two weeks.

Architectural Supplies:

• T-square Stainless Steel Edge 36” (optional but highly encouraged)
• 24” Cork-backed Stainless Steel Ruler
• 12” or 6” Cork-backed Stainless Steel Ruler
• 12” 6-sided Architect's Scale
• 12” 6-sided Engineer's Scale
• Stainless Steel Erasing Shield
• Dusting Brush
• 24" x 36" Self-Healing Cutting Mat
• Box of Drafting Dots
• Box of Push Pins #2P or Metal T-Pins

Cutting Tools:

• X-Acto Knife (#11 Blade)
• X-Acto Classic Blades #11 size
• X-Acto Utility Knife Heavy Duty

Paper/Pads:

• Strathmore Bristol 300 Series Vellum Finish Pad 19” x 24”
• Strathmore Bristol 300 Series Vellum Finish Pad 9” x 12”
• Strathmore Watercolor 300 Series Pad 11” x 15”
• Tracing Paper (like Bienfang) Roll White or Buff 12” x 50yd  (2 of)

Paint/Brushes:

• KOI Watercolor Field Box 12-pan (or similar)
• Princeton Snap White Long Round 12
• Princeton Snap White Long Round 6

Pencils/Pens/Erasers:

• 3 of Generals No. 314 Draughting Pencil
• 6B Pencil Staedtler or similar
• Derwent Coloursoft 12-pencil Tin Set (optional but encouraged)
• Conte Crayons Black, White, Sanguine (pack of 6)
• Sharpener (Generals or Brass)
• Sakura Micron Pigma Black 6-pen Set
• Pink Pearl Eraser
• Design Kneaded Eraser XLG
• Factis Pen-Style Eraser with refills
• Derwent Coloursoft 12-pencil Set (optional but highly encouraged)
• Derwent Graphitint 12-pencil Set (optional but encouraged)

Other:

• Aleene’s All Purpose Quick Dry Tacky Glue 4oz
• Tote Board Standard Clipboard 23” x 26” and large clipboard eraser
• Krylon Workable Fixatif Spray
• Modeling Pulp Board 40 x30 x 1/32

You are able to purchase your studio supplies from wherever you prefer. This is a guide to some options. Some of these items you will use immediately (the ones in bold above), other items you will need but can purchase at the end of August or as needed. It is strongly encouraged that you purchase everything as soon as you can so that you are not delayed when it is time to start your assignments.

As you progress through the degree you will use various supplies. The essentials you will need to have are pencils, markers, pens, and tracing paper. We do not require many textbooks (almost none), so you should consider supplies as your main equipment expense.

• Meininger Art Supplies: CAP has a partnership with Meininger’s Art Supplies, which is located at 5th and Broadway, about 10min from campus. At the beginning of each semester, they sell studio kits to CAP students that include the supplies required for your program. Kits are delivered to the CAP building for free. They usually offer 20% coupons to CAP students at the beginning of the school year.
• Dickblick.com: This is a great option for good prices, and they have everything you need. This is my go-to for drawing supplies.
• Guiry’s: General art supplies, basswood, paper, markers, pens, graphite, paint
• Michael’s: General art supplies, basswood, paper, markers, pens, graphite, paint, they keep the good stuff behind the register and you can often get coupons.
• Plasticare: Plexiglas and acrylic products
• Austin Hardwoods: Wood products and tools
• Hobby Lobby: General art supplies, basswood, paper, markers, pens, graphite, paint
• Home Depot: General homebuilding/construction supplies
• Lowe’s: General homebuilding/construction supplies
• ReCreative: Non-profit art supply thrift store
• Charlie’s 2nd Hand Store: Used and new tools
• Art Parts Creative Reuse Center: Creative reuse center in Boulder