Program Overview
The Bachelor of Landscape Architecture program at Thomas Jefferson University is a four-year, STEM-designated program that prepares students to become responsible and creative designers who listen, build trust, and advocate for the environment. The program emphasizes a real-world approach, providing students with internships, design projects, and opportunities to address climate change and the health of humans and wildlife. Students benefit from a 9:1 student to teacher ratio and learn from award-winning instructors, working on projects in Philadelphia and Fairmount Park as an outdoor classroom. The program boasts a 100% grad school and job placement rate, with graduates working at top firms and agencies.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
The Bachelor of Landscape Architecture program at Thomas Jefferson University is a four-year, on-campus program that prepares students to become responsible and creative designers who listen, build trust, and advocate for the environment. The program is accredited and STEM-designated (CIP Code 04.0902). The program emphasizes a real-world approach, offering students pathways into the landscape architecture profession through internships at professional offices, research and design projects with faculty, and paid internships during the semester or summer. The program's objectives include:
- Developing students into responsible and creative designers who listen, build trust, and advocate for the environment.
- Equipping students with the skills to design real-world projects that are resilient, sustainable, and beautiful.
- Providing students with opportunities to work on projects that address climate change, natural disasters, and the health of humans and wildlife.
- Preparing students for careers in landscape architecture at top firms, nonprofits, and public agencies.
Teaching:
- The program features a 9:1 student to teacher ratio, providing students with direct access to top professionals.
- Students learn from world-class, award-winning instructors from top firms like OLIN, WRT, Jonathan Alderson, and Groundswell Design Group.
- The program utilizes the city of Philadelphia and Fairmount Park as an outdoor classroom.
- Students gain real-world experience working on projects like Park in a Truck, which involves working with communities to plan, design, and build projects.
- Students can participate in the Park Ambassador program, training high school students to program and maintain Park in a Truck parks.
Careers:
- The program boasts a 100% grad school and job placement rate.
- Students are guaranteed internship opportunities at firms throughout the Philadelphia area.
- Students benefit from the vast networks of the program's faculty.
- Graduates work at top firms, nonprofits, and public agencies, such as OLIN, Jonathon Alderson, Philadelphia Water Department, Aramark, and many others.
Other:
- The program offers a 4+1 program that allows students to earn their MS in Geodesign with just one additional year of study.
- Students can pursue certificates in Geospatial Technology for Geodesign, Geographic Information Systems, and Smart Cities & Urban Analytics.
- The program has been recognized for its excellence, with students receiving job offers and beginning careers at some of the best firms, nonprofits, and public agencies.
- The program emphasizes the importance of equity, inclusion, and creativity in the design process.
- The program's director, Kim Douglas, has been working to disrupt the status quo in Philadelphia by creating more green spaces.
- The program has been featured in the media, with students and faculty sharing their experiences in interviews and articles.
- The program is committed to healing the environment and creating a more sustainable future.
