The sound of a fountain or a waterfall in a city park mutes the noise of cars. Landscape architects use land and natural resources to create accessible outdoor areas that both enhance our cities, parks, and open spaces and preserve the natural landscape. They plan sites for housing, commercial centers, industrial parks, college campuses, zoos, arboreta, theme parks, golf courses, and resorts. They design parks, plazas, pedestrian areas, and facilities for state and national parks. Landscape architects are also involved in the preservation of historic sites, the design of highways and transportation corridors, and large-scale landscape planning for communities and regions.
Landscape architecture is a unique field that is both artful and scientific.
Designers help create, shape, and beautify our built environment while using materials and techniques that help preserve the natural environment. Their planning and design decisions are significant for both the immediate and long-term future. The Landscape Architecture Program provides students with the information, processes, and techniques necessary to design landscape settings. Students also learn how to communicate both verbal and graphic design ideas to other professionals such as engineers, architects, and planners. Landscape Architecture students learn about the cultural determinants of human behavior and the social, political, economic, and legal institutions that influence land use and design decisions.