22 September 2008 New Minors Offered in Landscape Architecture Programme

Changes Reflect Emerging Specialisation

Lincoln University has confirmed four new Minors for its flagship Bachelor of Landscape Architecture, reflecting increasing levels of specialisation within the profession.

The four new Minors have been introduced for Semester 1 of 2009, allowing students to develop specialisms in Design Critque, Māori Studies, Spatial Planning or Urban Systems.

Neil Challenger, Group Leader of Landscape Architecture, says the Minors acknowledge that the profession is changing and there are new opportunities for specialisation in areas such as urban development, landscape planning and the design of the Māori landscape.

Lincoln University established New Zealand’s first professional programme in Landscape Architecture in 1968 and the first Bachelors degree (BLA) 20 years later.

Challenger says the changes have resulted in an undergraduate programme which is strong and targeted.  It includes special features such as a course on indigenous issues in landscape architecture, the only one of its kind world wide.

The BLA is as four-year, 480 credit degree which also has a graduate-entry option that allows entrants to complete the Graduate Entry BLA in two years. Both programmes are fully accredited with the New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects (NZILA), which has reciprocity with Australia and Hong Kong.   BLA graduates then have the option of completing a one-year Masters programme, which doubles as an accreditation programme for the New Zealand Planning Institute.

Challenger says the outlook for landscape architecture graduates remains bright.  “There’s been very strong demand for graduates these past few years – with really good jobs available for the top students – and in some cases students have three or four offers to consider upon graduation.

“The majority of the career opportunities are currently in the private sector, but many graduates find themselves working on major public sector issues either as contractors, consultants and advisors.  The opportunities to specialise are significant.”  The four Minors are:

Minor in Design Critique – focusing on design critique theory and skills. Requires five papers at 200-400 level including two papers in landscape architecture theory.

Minor in Māori Studies – focusing on indigenous issues.  Requires any five MAST papers, but must include MAST 321- Māori Landscape Design, Hoa Whenua Maori.

Minor in Spatial Planning – focusing on major rural and open space landscape issues. Requires five papers, including 100 level options in psychology, transport planning, valuation and Māori Studies.

Minor in Urban Systems – focusing on site and development issues in the urban environment.  Requires five papers at 200-300 level.

About the Environment, Society and Design Division
The Environment, Society and Design Division provides expertise in Environmental Management and Environmental Design, Natural Resources and Urban Planning, Landscape Architecture; Tourism, Social Sciences, Māori and Indigenous Planning and Development, Recreation Management, Transport Studies and Software & Information Technology. 

It is made up of six groups: Applied Computing;  Environmental Management (includes Transport Studies); Landscape Architecture; the Natural Resources Engineering Group; the Social Science, Parks, Recreation and Tourism Group; and Te Whanake.   The Division also runs two research centres – the Isaac Centre for Nature Conservation, and the Tourism and Recreation Research and Education Centre.

Neil Challenger, Senior Lecturer & Group Leader, Landscape Architecture Group, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand.