I. INTRODUCTION

Landscape architecture is the profession providing land planning, design and management services for the purpose of improving the quality and character of the landscape. The profession is the application of cultural and scientific knowledge to institute change in the landscape that brings about the creation of functional, healthful and enjoyable places and for the protection and enhancement of the physical, ecological and aesthetic characteristics of the natural and built environment.

Landscape architecture is one of the few professional fields that integrate both artistic and the scientific skills and knowledge to create meaningful, useful places for people. The serious study of landscape architecture is a life-long exploration of the ever-changing needs of people as they interact with the dynamic features of the natural world. This course is intended to begin that exploration.

II. COURSE DESCRIPTION

LAND 200 reviews the profession of Landscape Architecture, its formal educational preparation and its work. It focuses on a few primary questions:

· What is Landscape Architecture?

· What do Landscape Architects do in their professional practice?

· What does a landscape architectural student need to learn in terms of knowledge, skills and abilities to be successful in a professional career?

The course explores and evaluates the diversity of landscape architectural practice as both a profession and a discipline. It defines traditional practice forms and examines evolving and expanding opportunities for future landscape architects. LAND 200 is intended to be an introduction to the field and is focused on breadth general understanding rather than depth of specific knowledge.

III. COURSE OBJECTIVES

LAND 200 is intended to achieve the following objectives:

To help students better understand the nature of landscape architecture as a profession and the role of landscape architects in shaping our living environment to improve our quality of life.

To provide a comprehensive view of the discipline and the knowledge, skills, abilities and attitudes required for professional success.

To introduce the faculty members on the landscape architecture program and their academic interests or professional specialties.

To provide an overview of the Bachelor of Landscape Architecture Program and the curriculum as well as other information necessary for students to make informed decisions about their academic and professional careers.

IV. METHODS OF INSTRUCTION

The classroom activity for LAND 200 will consist of presentations, films, discussions, discussions by students, and lectures by various guest speakers. Invited guest speakers are landscape architects or researchers of different specialties and experience, including faculty members of the landscape architecture program and invited practicing landscape architects. These will be supplemented by outdoor (often on-campus) tours to clarify the critical design methods and forms imposed to shape the built landscape for improved utility, aesthetic quality and environmental fit.

V. COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND EVALUATION

Attendance: is mandatory and will be recorded for each class period. Please note that for each unexcused absence there will be a reduction of 2 points from your final grade.

Quiz & Assignments: Students are required to read the assigned chapters and take notes during the lectures. You will be tested for these requirements occasionally by random quiz & assignments.

Class folder: LAND 200 allocated storage spaces on new student server, “Xavier”. This space will be used to store student assignments, class syllabi, hard copies of assignment parameters, and etc. Student folders are located at \\xavier\home. Each student folder has three subfolders: Classes, Home, and Pegasus mail. Classes folder will contain subfolder for LAND 200 class in which the student is currently enrolled. The content of this folder will also be reviewed in the final evaluation.

Sketch Book: Students are required to read the assigned chapter of the book, and strongly encouraged to take notes from the material, and to take notes in class to record the content of the lectures. Students are also strongly encouraged to draw free hand sketches. Notes & Drawings are to be kept in a single bound document such as a sketchbook, or hardback notebook. Sketchbooks should be unrolled, minimum 8.5”x11” size. Please use “Architecture: Form, Space & Order” by Ching, Francis D.K as reference to font style and page compositions.

Mid Term Paper: A Mid term paper is required. The term paper should be not less than 700 words nor more than 1000 words (typed, 12 point font with normal side margins and having an additional title page describing the title and author) which may be supplemented by additional pages of graphic material to illustrate the text. Bibliography is required for the Mid Term Paper. Total number of pages cannot exceed 5 pages. The paper is to be on a topic that will be announced minimum of ten days prior to due date. You will find several resource materials in \\LAND200500\resources\. However, you have to find some other additional references for the paper. Commercial Web Sites and its contents will not be accepted as references. You can only use information and data from Educational and Organizational Institutions’ Web sites. Hard copy of the paper has to be submitted in the class & digital copy of the Paper has to be submitted in the assignment folder \\LAND200500\assignment\.

Final Project: A completion of a Final Project mandatory to complete the course. Each student has to choose a Place, or Landscape Architect, or Landscape Architecture Works from a list that will be given by the instructor on a later date. Each student is required to do the research about the given topic, and design a poster. Poster should be 24” by 36” in size that will be composed of graphic material and written information concerning the selected topic by each student. Every student is required to select a different topic (no two poster can have same topic). The Poster should be informative and self-explanatory as well as graphically appealing and readable. Bibliography is required for the Mid Term Paper. Computer resources are encouraged to design, store, and print the Poster. However, methods such as collage, cut & paste can also be used to make your Poster. In both cases students have to submit & present hard copy of the Poster in the presentation day, and submit a digital copy of the Poster to the assignment folder \\LAND200500\assignment\. . If you do prefer collage, or cut & paste techniques for your Poster design you are required to scan, digitize or photograph the hard copy and put it in the assignment folder.

VI. GRADING

The grade for the course will be calculated as follows:

Class attendance and participation 14x2 (each class) 30%

Quiz & Assignments 15%

Mid term paper 15% Due 14 October

Term project 40% Due 06 December

Total 100%

VII. REQUIRED TEXTS

Laurie, Michael. An Introduction to Landscape Architecture. 2^nd ed. New York, NY: Elsivier Publishing Co., 1986 (may be purchased new or used).

Ching, Francis D.K. Architecture: Form, Space & Order. New York, NY: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1979

(Recommended text for the visual & graphic content (no need to be purchased)).

Two copies of both books are available on reserve for LAND 200 in the Technical Reference Center, second floor of the Langford Architecture Center Building A.

VIII. ADA POLICY STATEMENT

The American with Disability Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Department of Student Life, Services for Students with Disabilities in Room 126 of the Koldus Building. The phone number is 845-1637.

Please Notice: All student projects are property of the department according to the university policy. Although most projects will be returned to students after they are graded, some students’ projects will be kept by the department for the purpose of accreditation review and as teaching references for future classes. However, those kept projects will be available for students to take photographs for their portfolios.

IX. RECOMMENDED READING

Booth, Norman K. Basic elements of landscape architectural design. New York, NY: Elsivere Publishing Co., 1985

Capra, Fritjof. The web of life. London: Harper Collins, 1996

Ching, Francis T. Architecture, form, space, order. New York, NY: Van Nostrand Reinhold Publishing Corp., 1979

Church, Thomas D. Gardens are for people: how to plan for outdoor living. 2^nd ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 1983

Eckbo, Garrett. Landscape for living. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 1980

Greenbie, B. B. Spaces, dimensions of the human landscape. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1981

Jackson, John B. Discovering the vernacular landscape. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1984

Lyle, John T. Regenerative design for sustainable development. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1994

Motloch, John L. Introduction to landscape design. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold 1991

Lynch, Kevin. Site planning. 3^rd ed. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 1984

McHarg, Ian L. Design with nature. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, 1992

Simonds, John O. Landscape architecture: a manual of site planning and design. New York, NY: McGaw-Hill. 1983

Spirn, Ann Winston. The granite garden. Basic Books. 1984

Thompson, G. F. and Steiner, F. R. Ecological design and planning. New York: John Wiley & Sons. 1997

Walker, Peter and M. Simo. The invisible garden. Cambridge, MA.: MIT Press. 1994

Whyte, William H. The social life of small urban spaces. Washington, D.C.: Conservation Foundation. 1980

VIII. TENTATIVE LECTURE SCHEDULE

Date Topic *Guest Lecturer

06 September Introduction to LAND200, and Syllabus Review

Film #1: Olmsted and Central Park (30 min)

13 September Overview of the profession, Its scope and conventional Guest Lecturer I

forms of practice, & Landscape Architecture Program Murphy, Michael

Reading assignment due: Laurie, chap’s 1 (p1-14), 3 (61 –73)

20 September Introduction to Final Project,

Film #2: The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces (55 min)

Reading assignment due: Laurie, chap’s 9 (p171- 192)

27 September Landscape Architecture Profession, in class Debate (Articles will be circulated)

Assignment announcement & the Mid Term Paper

Reading assignment due: Laurie, chap’s 4, 5 (p74- 100)

04 October “The State of Landscape Architecture Worldwide” Guest Lecturer II

Reading assignment due: Laurie, chap’s 2 (p15-60) Volkman, Nancy J.

11 October “Landscape Planning” Guest Lecturer III

Reading assignment: Laurie, chap 6, (101-131) Rodiek, John E.

14 October (Hardcopy of the Midterm Paper is due in my Office 318, before 1:00pm)

(MONDAY) (Digital copy of the Midterm Paper is due in Class Folder before 1:00pm)

18 October Final Project Announcement! Guest Lecturer IV

Speaker- TBA** TBA

25 October “Landscape Design” Guest Lecturer V

Reading assignment: Laurie, chap 7, 8 (132-171) (C)Huang, Chang-Shan

01 November “Computers ands Landscape Architecture” Guest Lecturer VI

Reading assignment: Laurie. Chap 10 (192-202) Ellis, Chris

08 November Final Project Review,

Tour of the Landscape of Texas A&M University

Reading assignment: Laurie. Chap 11 (203-218)

15 November Global Symposia Presentations- TBA (No Formal Class) Guest Lecturer VII

Reading assignment: Laurie. Chap 12 (219-233) TBA

22 November International Studies & Guest Lecturer VIII

Study Abroad for Landscape Architecture Woodfin, Thomas

29 November No Class: Happy Thanksgiving!

06 December Presentation, (Final Project are due before the class) Guest Reviewer(s)

09 December Presentation, Redefined Day: Friday classes, Guest Reviewer(s)

* Class schedule and topic may subject to change according to schedule & the attendance of the guest lecturers

** To be announced