Going Green with Landscape Architecture: Tips for Choosing the Right School

by Lisa Tortorello
Online Education Columnist

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As a society, Americans produce more waste than ever before and are increasingly conscious of it and its consequences. From water bottles that use less plastic, to recycled office supplies, to reusable grocery bags, many Americans are taking serious stock of ways to lessen the burden of their carbon footprint. Efforts to protect the earth from overuse of its valuable natural resources have become a key concern for both individuals and corporations, and those in landscape and architecture design have a key role to play in creating more eco-friendly structures.
Greening Our Water Through Architecture and Landscape Design
A little less than two years ago, the Green Infrastructure for Clean Water Act was introduced to Congress by Congresswoman Donna Edwards and Senator Tom Udall. Its purpose, according to the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), is to allow states, localities, and other qualified entities to receive grants to plan, design, and implement green infrastructure projects that address storm water management and other water quality and quantity issues. Green infrastructure uses the environment's system of trees, plants, and soil to clean and store water. It can be a useful and significantly less expensive venture when compared to pipe and sewer systems.
The legislation, which is currently awaiting action by the Senate Committee on the Environmental and Public Works would also:

• Establish three centers of excellence for green infrastructure across the U.S. that would conduct research to enhance water resource management
• Initiate a green infrastructure program with the Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Water

In September, the ASLA testified at a congressional hearing on behalf of the legislation. ASLA reporter David Yocca shared that green infrastructure techniques, such as green roofs, rain gardens, and permeable pavers, can provide significant economic and ecological benefits for committees facing overburdened and crumbling infrastructure. Yocca went on to add that, "integrated green infrastructure strategies combine leading-edge, living technology with local design, craft, and skill to restore our neighborhoods and cities, to be healthier, more beautiful, and ultimately more economically and ecologically sustainable over time."
The Green Infrastructure for Clean Water Act is just one of many initiatives architects employ to make better use of the environment and its resources. If you have a passion for creating greener society and an interest in architecture and landscape design, now may be the perfect time to plant the seeds for a successful career in landscape architecture--a field that the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts should increase by 20 percent by 2018, much faster than the average for all occupations and U.S. News and World Report named among the best career choice for 2010.
Going Green: Landscape Architecture, Choosing the Right School
In 2009, 67 schools in the United Sates offered undergraduate and graduate programs in landscape architecture that were accredited by the Landscape Architecture Accreditation Board of the American Society of Landscape Architects. All but one state require landscape architects be licensed based on the Landscape Architect Registration Examination (LARE). Choosing the school where you want to devote your time to building a career, whether online education or traditional campus-based programs, takes careful thought and consideration. The ASLA suggests you prepare an outline of your goals, which should include:

• Your objectives for the future.
• What attracted you to landscape architecture?
• In what industry do you want to work after graduation? Landscape architects are most often employed in private industry (planning firms or departments), the public sector (government or municipal agencies), or as teachers in an academic setting.

Once you have a clear picture of your personal goals and objectives, you can apply them to the schools you are interested in to find a good fit. When talking to admissions staff, researching online schools, or reading a school's program brochure, the ASLA recommends you ask the following questions:

• How does this school's programs help you reach your goals?
• Can you contact previous graduates for insight into their experiences?
• What courses are offered that allow you to explore your interests?
• What are examples of places where previous students have completed internships and how are internships established?
• Is there an opportunity for you to sit in on one or two landscape architecture classes?

Landscape architects stand to play a critical role in the nation's transition to a more eco-friendly way of life. An online education in landscape architecture offers the tools you need to build a sustainable career.

Lisa Tortorello has been a Director of Public Relations and Marketing within a large East Coast health care system for more than 11 years. She has an associate's degree in Liberal Arts and a bachelor's degree in Public Communication.