Master of Landscape Architecture

The Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA) at CU Denver is a STEM-designated and fully accredited degree program for students who have a bachelor’s degree in an unrelated field as well as for those who already hold a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture or a Bachelor of Architecture degree. 

The mission of the MLA program is to create health, well-being, and environmental resilience through holistic design in the public realm. We work across all scales of landscape practice, taking advantage of the wide range of highly dynamic landscapes, opportunities, and issues in our immediate vicinity of the Rocky Mountains as well as engaging across the country and beyond. Our educational engagements range from urban cores to wilderness areas and from suburban sprawl to ranching and farming communities. Many of our studios and other classes engage directly with community groups, non-profit organizations, or local governments, taking on real-world challenges and providing direct support to proposals for positive change in our landscapes.

Student Work

Nucla Main Street Beautification

Date: 5/1/2019 - 5/1/2019
Location: Nucla, CO

The town of Nucla requested design concepts for specific parts of downtown. Nucla is a Statutory Town with a population around 700 residents in Montrose County situated in the high desert of the counties west end and south of Grand Junction. Its history is rooted in ranching and mining. While coal mining is still operational, the outdoor recreation industry is on the rise. 

This downtown improvement project included the following work: Define the use and circulation of main street and identify needs/gaps, propose programs for improvements, create a plan for a unified downtown main street design, determine the opportunity for community and pedestrian gathering space, present sustainability concepts for main street, explore architectural ideas for façade improvements, deliver preliminary assessment and programmatic documents to strengthen grant applications and other funding opportunities. 

The project benefited greatly from the input and guidance provided by community members, local businesses and interested citizens through a series of public meetings. The community of Nucla wanted design concepts for a downtown that celebrate its character and history, is inviting to travelers and functional for residents. The final designs were influenced by the public's desire for unique details such as repurposed planters, brick with stucco front façades and structured awnings as well as street art.

Field Supervisor: Chris Endreson
CCCD Team: 
Brittany Bona,  Thomas Cooke, Alex Martin, Julia Dullien, Kortney Harris, Tatum Moorer, Gaelen Means, Kevin Small, Nick Patin
DOLA Regional Manager: 
Kimberly Bulla
Local Collaborators: 
Sherri Farmer, Town Clerk; Paula Brown, Parks & Recreation Department

News | Landscape Architecture at CAP

Curriculum

Program Objectives:

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.

Travel Study Opportunities


Tuition & Fees


The University of Colorado Denver has one of the most affordable tuition rates in Colorado.  Our tuition and fees are set by the Board of Regents, the governing body of the University of Colorado.  Tuition is based on student classification (undergraduate, graduate, academic program, resident or nonresident) and you can find out what rates will apply to your situation here.

 All CAP Graduate Programs have WICHE-WRGP (Western Regional Graduate Program) status, which grants in-state resident tuition to students from 15 western states including California, Washington, Oregon and Arizona.

Program Stats

 

Program Stats2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202020/212021/22
Retention Through Graduation Rate90%90%64%82%87%TBDTBD
Degrees granted per year222718141412 
4-Year Graduation Rate100%100%100%100%100%92%TBD
Post-Graduation Employment RateNo Data18/2222/2715/1811/1411/1412/12

Path to Licensure

The completion of your Master of Landscape Architecture degree is your first step toward licensure. In order to legally practice landscape architecture, you will need to obtain your landscape architecture license. After earning your degree and practicing under a licensed landscape architect for two years, you will be eligible to complete the Landscape Architecture Registration Exam.

For More Information

Living in Denver


Landscape Architecture Contacts


Jody Beck's headshot

Jody Beck PhD

Associate Professor and Chair of the Landscape Architecture Department
Roxy New's headshot

Roxy New

Senior Course Coordinator & Graduate Academic Advisor for MURP, MUD, MLA, MSHP, & PhD
Jodi Stock's headshot

Jodi Stock

Manager of Graduate Admissions and Recruitment

College of Architecture and Planning

CU Denver

CU Denver Building

1250 14th Street

2000

Denver, CO 80202


303-315-1000

CMS Login