American Society of Landscape Architects

Career Discovery

So what's it like to work as landscape architect and how do you become one? This Career Discovery page answers those questions, and more. It contains stories about and interviews with landscape architects; videos, illustrations and text showcasing brilliant landscape architecture projects; links to Bureau of Labor Statistics data on the profession; results of ASLA’s annual graduating student surveys; information on educational programs and schools; plus introductory materials such as a PowerPoint presentation on the profession, a downloadable brochure, a graphic-novel-like telling of the landscape architecture story, and even a coloring book for the younger set. Begin the journey!

U.S. News & World Report named landscape architecture among the best career choices for 2010. Check out Career Discovery activities that teach about the profession. Also visit the Landscape Architecture pages on CollegeMajors101. Facts, figures, info, and video. It's FREE! And here's what Iowa Public Television has to say about the professsion.

And this just in! Matt Busa, a graduate student in landscape architecture at the University of Maryland, hosted a one-hour presentation and question-and-answer webinar March 25 on CollegeWeekLive. Some 150 students attended...now you can, too. Watch the stream of his talk and learn more about landscape architecture.

Landscape Architecture – It's All Around You

Look at your community. How did the parks, residential developments, campuses, shopping centers, gardens, transportation facilities, corporate and institutional take shape? Planning, designing, and land-use management is the work of landscape architects. Interested in the environment and art? Landscape architecture is a profession that blends creativity and science. Maybe it’s the career for you.

Landscape Architecture Education & Career Development

Want to be a landscape architect? This article explains the necessary educational requirements and offers tips on how to choose a school. Photo of Harvard's Tanner Fountain by Alan Ward.

Tapping YouTube

Eddie George, the 1995 Heisman Trophy winner who became a star running back for the Tennessee Titans and Dallas Cowboys, is also an ASLA member, relishing his career as a landscape architect and owner of The EDGE Group. George serves as an official spokesperson on discovering careers in landscape architecture and offers an insightful video about his choice of the profession.

Review all the videos on YouTube highlighting the profession and its projects.

Examples of Great Landscape Architecture

Check out the ASLA Professional Awards and Student Competition winning entries. You can see examples of projects that have been named outstanding projects.

Conversations with Thought Leaders

ASLA conducts an ongoing series of exclusive interviews with prominent landscape architects and others whose work relates to the profession. Meet the personalities, hear their points of view, and learn about the issues.

Read All About It

Becoming a Landscape Architect: A Guide to Careers in Design, written by Kelleann Foster, ASLA, associate professor and assistant department head, Department of Landscape Architecture, Pennsylvania State University, features more than 35 interviews with leading landscape architects and more than 250 illustrations. Published in October 2009 and available for $39.95, it provides a comprehensive survey of the field as it is practiced today, and explains how to get started and how to succeed. It is available with a list price of $39.95 through most online book vendors.

Super Sustainable Landscape Architects

While they were students at Michigan State University, Andrew Deer and Joseph James, both now ASLA, won an award for their graphic-novel-like look at the profession, "Super Sustainable Landscape Architects." Follow the adventures of Mass Transit Man and Biking Bandito.

ASLA’s 2009 Graduating Student Survey

Each year ASLA conducts a survey of students graduating with undergraduate and graduate degrees in landscape architecture. See the 2009 results, or full archive.

Colleges and Universities that Offer Landscape Architecture Programs

The Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board (LAAB) is the organization responsible for accrediting landscape architecture degree programs in the United States. Check out more than 60 accredited and candidacy programs in the U.S.

Survey of the Best Landscape Architecture Schools

DesignIntelligence has released its eleventh annual edition of "America's Best Architecture & Design Schools," including rankings of landscape architecture programs, in its ongoing assessments of programs for prospective students.

U.S. Government Report on Landscape Architecture

The Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes detailed reports on a variety of occupations and sees landscape architecture as one of the fastest growing professions. Read its 2010-2011 findings on landscape architecture.

ACE Mentors Introduce You to the Profession

As a national sponsor of the ACE Mentor Program of America, ASLA and its members introduce high school students to career opportunities in landscape architecture. The ACE program targets young adults and makes a special effort to reach out to minority and underserved populations. ASLA members serve as mentors throughout the school year in local chapters nationwide. In addition to the school-year program, ACE offers internships and scholarships to eligible students.

More information about the ACE program is available at: www.acementor.org.
Click here to view press release.

Design Your Future with the ACE Mentor Program [pdf]
ACE Mentor Yearbook 2009 [ENR]
ACE Mentor Program – A Blueprint for the Future [pdf]
Find Your Local Contact. [xls]

Career Discovery Brochure and Powerpoint

Visit here to download ASLA’s Career Discovery Brochure. The informative brochures are available in English and Spanish, and in printer friendly as well as high-quality printing formats. The brochures make for great resources to use at school career days and other career related events. Members can also access the 2010 Career Discovery Powerpoint.

Landscape Architecture Coloring Book

Landscape Architecture Coloring Book (19 MB pdf) developed by the North Carolina Chapter of ASLA.