Professional Certificates
Learn more at a free information session.
Certificate Policies and Resources
Substitutions, Waivers and Transfer Credit
Curriculum and Completion Requirements
Courses Available in
- Visual Arts
- Graphic and Interactive Design
- Interior Design and Interior Architecture
- Landscape Architecture
Anastasia Meadors
Interim Program Director
Student Success Story
"Every semester, I would work really hard on learning another technique to make my whole entire game much better." —Alicia Yballa, Certificate Program in Landscape Architecture graduate
Landscape Architecture
View the Brochure
EDP 022186
Successful work in landscape architecture requires a comprehensive, multidisciplinary education in aspects of botany, horticulture, architecture, ecology and more. Without requiring prior background, the Certificate Program in Landscape Architecture prepares you for entry-level positions in the profession and for continued professional achievement and advancement. Taught by industry professionals, the curriculum enables you to develop aesthetic sensitivity and environmental awareness, a thorough knowledge of historical precedent, a definable and defensible design methodology, the technical knowledge and skills necessary to compete effectively for jobs, and a comprehensive portfolio. Designed to comply with the highest standards of the profession, the curriculum encourages individual creativity while emphasizing the practical applications of design solutions. It also helps you qualify to sit for the Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards’ Landscape Architect Registration Exam (LARE). Join our email list to stay informed about this certificate.
Courses
The table contains the required courses for the Certificate Program in Landscape Architecture, as well as the terms they are typically available for enrollment.
20 Required Courses, Minimum 2 Units of Electives
63 Semester Units (945 Hours of Instruction)
| Required Courses (Foundation) | Course Number | Units/ CEU | Classroom | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Landscape Architecture | X457 | 2 | Fall Spring Summer |
|
| Principles and Elements of Design | X412.1 | 4 | Fall Spring |
|
| AutoCAD for Landscape Architecture: Level I | X428 | 2 | Fall | |
| Autumn Plants and Applications | X446 | 3 | Fall | |
| Spring Plants and Applications or Summer Plants and Applications |
X444 |
3 | Spring | |
X445 |
3 | Summer | ||
| Gardens, Parks and Urban Open Spaces I | X416 | 3 | Fall | Spring |
| Gardens, Parks and Urban Open Spaces II | X418 | 3 | Spring | Fall |
| Landscape Graphics I | X458 | 1 | Fall | |
| Landscape Graphics II | X459 | 1 | Spring | |
| Studio L1: Environmental Design | X116 | 2 | Fall |
| Required Courses (Advanced) | Course Number | Units/ CEU | Classroom | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced AutoCAD for Landscape Architecture: Level II | X433 | 2 | Spring Summer |
|
| Construction Technology I | X404 | 4 | Spring | |
| Construction Technology II | X405 | 4 | Summer | |
| Planting Design | X401 | 3 | Spring | |
| Professional Practice in Landscape Architecture | X427 | 2 | Fall | |
| Social Factors in Environmental Design | X402 | 2 | Fall | |
| Studio L2: Project Planning and Design | X406 | 4 | Fall | |
| Studio L3: Advanced Landscape Architectural Design | X408 | 6 | Spring | |
| Studio L4: Environmental Analysis and Design | X407 | 4 | Fall | |
| Studio L5: Site Planning Practicum | X409 | 6 | Spring |
| Electives | Course Number | Units/ CEU | Classroom | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Community Design and Internship | X401.7 | 2 | Spring | |
| The Cultural Landscape: Preservation and Sustainable Practice | X455 | 1 | Summer | |
| Cultural Landscape Studio | X479 | 1 | Fall | |
| Graphics Boot Camp | X456 | 1 | Fall | |
| Landscape and Horticultural Photography | X430 | 2 | Summer | |
| Sustainable Project Development (offered future term) | X411.3 | 1 | ||
| Tools of Preservation: Managing Change in Cultural Landscapes | X451 | 1 | Spring | |
| Urban Dirt: Designing Sustainable Landscapes On-Structure | X411.6 | 2 | Spring |
Course availability is subject to change. Courses offered in both online and classroom environments are interchangeable, and you may choose either format.
To enroll, click on a course title above and choose a section.
You may enroll in individual courses without registering for the Certificate Program in Landscape Architecture.
Who Will Benefit
This certificate is ideal if you are interested in pursuing a career in landscape architecture but have no formal prior training. It's also a fit if you're a practicing landscape architect who desires continued professional development.
Prerequisites for Admission
Introductory courses in the Certificate Program in Landscape Architecture are open to all. However, be aware that most courses have prerequisites. In particular, studio courses (Studios L1–L5) need to be taken in the proper sequence with the required prerequisites. Please read prerequisites for each course carefully. View a flowchart of course prerequisite requirements. (PDF)
Curriculum Requirements
The curriculum comprises 20 required courses and 2 units of electives for a total of 63 semester units (945 hours of instruction). Candidates must pay a nonrefundable certificate registration fee.
All coursework must be completed within five years of registering for the certificate. However, requirements may be updated based on new developments in the field of study; we recommend completing the curriculum in a timely fashion. For more information, please see the completion requirements and the substitutions, waivers and transfer credit policies.
This is a professionally oriented certificate; consequently, standards and expectations of our students are extremely high. All courses are demanding and require an extraordinary commitment of time and energy. Spending 10 hours per week to complete homework in the foundation courses and more than 20 hours per week in the advanced courses is not uncommon.
How to Register for This Professional Certificate
By registering, you declare your intention to complete the curriculum. To register for the Certificate Program in Landscape Architecture, submit the online registration form with your credit card information or complete the mail-in registration form. The registration fee is nonrefundable.
To begin, enroll in one or more of the required foundation courses or electives that do not have any prerequisites. You may begin the professional certificate during any of Extension's three terms. We recommend that you register for the certificate before you complete Studio L1: Environmental Design X116.
Estimated Cost
Each course is priced individually, and you pay the course fee at the time of enrollment. The certificate has an estimated total cost of $23,000 (not including course materials or registration fee). Course fees are subject to change.
Professional Organizations
This professional certificate is certified by the Landscape Architects Technical Committee (LATC) of the California Architects Board. Successful completion of the certificate provides qualification credit and the educational foundation needed for the state licensing examination.
Preparation for the Licensing Exam
The State of California requires a license to practice and be recognized as a landscape architect. LATC, the regulating body of the profession, operates under the aegis of the California Department of Consumer Affairs' Califonia Architects Board. Upon successful completion of the professional certificate, you earn a portion of the qualification credit needed to take the landscape architecture licensing exam. Specifically, if you have an undergraduate degree from an accredited university or college, four of the six qualification credits are issued upon completion of the professional certificate. The remaining qualification credits are earned through employment with a California licensed landscape architect, architect or civil engineer.
Contact Information
To contact the department office, email landarch@unex.berkeley.edu or call (415) 284-1070.
