Students enrolled at the University may declare an environmental design major at any point in their academic career. Students transferring into the University may declare an environmental design major immediately upon admission. To complete the degree, students must complete at least 120 credits, including at least 55 credits in the major. Students must complete all program, college, and University requirements including the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities liberal education requirements. The B.E.D. in landscape architecture provides a broad background in the biological, physical, and social sciences and the liberal arts as they apply to design.
Courses introduce students to the history, theory, and practice of landscape architecture.
Design experiences are supplemented by courses in representation, technology, history, and theory. The B.E.D. program may be used as preparation for professional study in landscape architecture or related fields at the graduate level, or for employment in the environmental design and planning fields that does not require an accredited professional degree. The department also offers an accelerated status option through the B.E.D. program. The accelerated status option admits a limited number of students annually and allows qualified undergraduates to complete the B.E.D. and M.L.A. in six years rather than seven years. Applicants for the accelerated status must complete the first three years of the B.E.D. degree requirements before their senior year.