MSc Programme in Landscape Architecture
The programme is organised in accordance with Danish Ministerial Order no. 814 of 29 June 2010 on bachelor and master’s programmes (candidatus) at universities (the ministerial order of the study programmes). The programme is offered under the Natural Science Study Board.
Graduation from the programme confers the degree Master of Science (MSc) in Landscape Architecture. In Danish: cand.hort.arch. (candidatus/candidata hortorum architecturae).
Chapter 1. The programme’s objective and competence profile
1. 1 The programme’s objective
The main objective of the Master of Science in Landscape Architecture is to educate graduates who:
- Are capable of programming, planning, projecting and managing of urban areas from local to regional scale; of open landscapes, of gardens, parks and other green areas and structures
- Have in-depth knowledge of the history, theory and methodology of landscape architecture as well as competences within applied biology, technical science, law, economy and organisation in relation to landscape architecture
- Are capable of undertaking the architectural craft, including independently analysing, outlining and presenting landscape architectural solutions to complex problems
- Are capable of organising and carrying through the management of parks and other green areas on the basis of a theoretical, practical scientific and strategic foundation
1.2 The programme’s general profile
The Master of Science in Landscape Architecture is an academic and creative programme which empirically and theoretically qualifies students and provides them with academic and professional competences as landscape architects with specialisation in landscape planning, park management or urban design. In this way, graduates become capable of examining societal phenomena of a landscape architectural nature and of solving both small and large complex landscape architectural problems – both through skilled management and execution of projects of a high architectural quality.
The programme is an extension of the BSc programme in 'landskabsarkitektur' and provides the opportunity of both specialisation and differentiation which means that students can either obtain broad landscape architectural competences or immerse themselves in special subjects.
The core competences of the programme are shaping, planning and management of parks, urbanised areas and landscapes with a view to developing the architectural and environmental values on the basis of a basic knowledge of aesthetic, biological, social, technical and management-related conditions. These core competences are further developed during the programme and result in a large degree of professionalism.
1.3 The programme’s employment prospects
The employment prospects for the graduates primarily lie within programming, planning, projecting and managing urban areas from local to regional scale; open landscapes: gardens, parks and other green areas and structures.
The MSc programme typically qualifies graduates for positions as private practicing landscape architects or as municipal urban planners and landscape architects. In both cases, often as members of the managerial staff. Other typical employment examples include cemetery managers, gardening consultants, or employment within other areas of the public sector other than municipalities, e.g. regions, government institutions and ministries. The programme also qualifies graduates to conduct research and teach within the subject area.
Working as project managers in collaboration with other professional groups, the landscape architects are also able to plan, manage, prepare and carry through urban and landscape changes, e.g. in connection with urban development, urban renewal, transition between urban and rural areas, afforestation, and management of conservation areas as welle as placement of footpaths, roads, buildings, wind turbines etc. in the countryside.
Landscape architects can work at the level of entire cities, at district level or specifically with public and private spaces such as parks and gardens, public spaces related to housing, institutions and commercial buildings. City markets, squares and streets, sports grounds, cemeteries and allotment gardens, and in the countryside natural areas, forests and lakes, leisure grounds and recreational areas.
1.4 The programme’s competence profile
During the master’s programme, the student will acquire the following knowledge, skills and competences within landscape architecture. In addition, the student will acquire a number of individual qualifications through elective courses and writing an MSc thesis. After completion of the programme, a person holding an Master of Science in Landscape Architecture should be able to:
1.4.1 Knowledge
- Understand and take a critical approach to the knowledge within the discipline and identify professional issues
- Recognise and discuss the societal importance of landscape architecture, including its health-related significance in different landscape and urban areas
- Describe the aspects of public administration and strategic planning that are related to landscape and urban planning and/or park management
- Summarise theories, principles and research findings from basic disciplines as well as fields of application
1.4.2 Skills
- Have command of the methodologies and tools of the discipline as well as have the general skills associated with employment within the field
- Evaluate and choose from among the discipline’s theories, methodologies, tools and general skills
- Analyse spaces architectural work; spaces, structure and contexts
- Carry out construction and materials analyses as well as prepare programmes and projects to transform landscape and urban spaces
- Discuss issues associated with people’s use of natural resources and public spaces, including the concept of sustainability in connection with planning and management of private and public green spaces
- Communicate own specialist knowledge clearly and precisely – in writing and orally – to various target groups
- Select and use appropriate information and communications technology in all relevant work processes
1.4.3 Competences
- Propose hypotheses and analyse, programme and plan the development of public green spaces
- Take into account the human dimension in the development of physical environments
- Evaluate the quality of landscape architecture projects – both own and those of others
- See and think spatially, socially and artistically in a variety of contexts
- Reflect on the importance that the practice of the trade has from a historical, societal and ethical perspective
- Respect democratic decision-making processes and the work, knowledge, opinions and cultures of others
- Handle work and development situations that are complex, unpredictable and require new solution models
- Participate in research at a high level of excellence
- Independently implement and carry out mono-disciplinary and interdisciplinary collaboration and assume professional responsibility
- Independently assess and organise own learning processes and assume responsibility for own professional development with a view to life-long learning
Graduates who have completed the specialisation in Landscape Planning must in addition be able to
- Analyse spaces and works as a backdrop for movement and intervals, experiences, memories and recognition. Particular focus is on the transformation of neglected, polluted and otherwise damaged rural and urban spaces like coast, harbour and industrial areas
- Prepare programmes and projects in which terrains, constructions, water cycles and the growing conditions of plants are given a high priority
Graduates who have completed the specialisation in Park Management must in addition be able to
- Manage public, semi-public and private green areas in or in relation to urban environments. The programme has a Danish as well as an international appeal
Graduates who have completed the specialisation in Urban Design must in addition be able to
- Navigate in the theoretical field of urbanism, and know how to use this knowledge in analysing and designing urban environments on various scales
- Identitfy and analyse future urban challenges in relation to a site-specific context, urban ecology and theoretical positions in urbanism an respond to this through an adequate design project
Chapter 2. Degree programme content
Specialisation in Landscape Planning
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Year 2 |
Block 1 |
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| Block 2 |
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| Block 3 |
Thesis (30 or 45 credits) |
| Block 4 |
Specialisation in Park Management
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Year 2 |
Block 1 |
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| Block 2 |
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| Block 3 |
Thesis (30 or 45 credits) |
| Block 4 |
Specialisation in Urban Design
| Year 2 |
Block 1 |
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| Block 2 |
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| Block 3 |
Thesis (30 or 45 credits) |
| Block 4 |
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Compulsory courses and thesis |
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Core courses (the suggested block placement of core courses above is not mandatory. The placement strictly depends on which core courses are chosen - see list below). |
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Elective courses |
Compulsory courses, core courses and the thesis must comprise at least 90 credits
2.1 Content
The programme is set at 120 credits. The following courses are compulsory:
Specialisation either within Landscape Planning
| LNAK10054 |
Theory and Method in Landscape Architecture |
15 credits |
| LNAK10053 |
Thematic Course: Landscape Planning |
15 credits |
Or specialisation within Park Management
| LNAK10027 |
Thematic Course: Urban Forestry and Urban Greening |
15 credits |
| LNAK10062 |
Health Design |
15 credits |
Or specialisation within Urban Design
| LNAK10084 |
Theories of Urban Design |
7.5 credits |
| LNAK10028 |
Urban Ecosystems: Structures, Functions and Designs |
7.5 credits |
| LNAK10082 |
The Urbanism Studio |
15 credits |
The programme is completed with a 30- or 45-credit thesis. In connection with a thesis of 45 credits, experimental work must be included.
Students must choose courses within the group of core courses so that the compulsory course(s) (either Theory and Method in Landscape Architecture and Thematic Course: Landscape Planning (30 credits) or Thematic Course: Urban Forestry and Urban Greening (15 credits), or Theories of Urban Design (7,5 credits), Urban Ecosystems (7,5 credits) Urbanism Studio (15 credits)), and the thesis (30 or 45 credits) as well as core courses total at least 90 credits. Compulsory courses, core courses and the thesis constitute the core subjects of the programme.
The courses below are core courses:
| LFKK10278 |
Project Management |
7.5 credits |
| LNAA10059 |
Advanced Planting Design cancelled in 2010/11 |
7.5 credits |
| LNAK10032 |
Terrain and Technology in Landscape Architecture |
15 credits |
| LNAK10042 |
Urban Woodland Design and Management |
7.5 credits |
| LNAK10028 |
Urban Ecosystems: Structures, Functions and Designs |
7.5 credits |
| LFKK10265 |
Conflict Management |
7.5 credits |
| LOJF10224 |
Forvaltningsret |
7.5 credits |
| LNAK10066 |
Planlægning i det åbne land |
7.5 credits |
| LNAK10054 |
Theory and Method in Landscape Architecture |
15 credits |
| LNAK10053 |
Thematic course: Landscape Planning |
15 credits |
| LNAK10027 |
Thematic Course: Urban Forestry and Urban Greening |
15 credits |
| LNAK10081 |
Nature Perception - Theories and Methods |
7.5 credits |
| LBIK10142 |
Landscape Ecology |
7.5 credits |
| LBIF10204 |
Applied Tree Biology and Arboriculture |
7.5 credits |
| LNAK10062 |
Health Design |
15 credits |
| LNAA10089 |
Theories of Urban Planning and Governance |
7.5 credits |
| LNAK10084 |
Theories of Urban Design |
7.5 credits |
| LNAK10082 |
The Urbanism Studio |
15 credits |
| LFKK10387 |
Erhvervsprojekt/LFKK10387E Project in Practice |
15 credits |
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The Universities’ Joint Course on City Planning |
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SLU/LIFE written assignment |
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one semester at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts,
School of Architecture |
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1 semester at the Aarhus School of Architecture |
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Chapter 3. Admission requirements and admission
3.1 Admission requirements
The BSc Programme in Landscape Architecture (landskabsarkitektur) (both core modules) qualifies graduates directly for admission to the MSc Programme in Landscape Architecture.
Students holding one of the following BSc degrees are admitted to the MSc Programme in Landscape Architecture:
Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources (Naturressourcer) with the core module Nature Management (naturforvaltning)
Bachelor of Science in Forest and Landscape Engineering (skov- og landskabsingeniør)
Bachelor of Arts in Architecture (arkitektur) from either Kunstakademiets Arkitektskole eller Arkitektskolen Aarhus
Bachelors from other faculties under University of Copenhagen or from other national and international universities must have equivalent qualifications and their admission will be assessed on an individual basis.
3.2 Admission
Students from the Faculty of Life Science are admitted to the MSc Programme in Landscape Architecture twice a year (1 September and 1 February). Other students are admitted once a year (in September).
Transfer Agreement 2007-2008
For students admitted before 1 September 2008 the course LNAK10062 Health Design is not compulsory. If the course is taken anyway it can be a part of the group of core courses.
Furthermore, for the above mentionned students it's optional to write in either Danish or English.
Camilla Volden Van, - siden er sidst opdateret d.3. februar 2012