Prepare for landscape architecture?

Question

I want to be a landscape architect. I am currently doing my GE's at a Community college. I will transfer to Cal Poly Slo. What should I do to better prepare myself? I heard it is helpful to learn photoshop and auto-cad. Can you suggest some books i can start reading or things i should do to make my time at cal poly a little easier?

Answer 1

Below are some links to give you a general idea as you will see it varies.

It is my understanding that in some states NOT CA though.you can almost buy a degree for $250.

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE COURSES

Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, CA

http://www.calpoly.edu/~wbremer/lacourses.html

http://www.temple.edu/ambler/la-hort/lacourses.htm

http://www.depts.ttu.edu/officialpublications/courses/LARC.html

http://www.msstate.edu/dept/LA/policies.htm

Admissions Requirements

http://www.uta.edu/gradcatalog/2002/landscape.php#admreq

Home Page

http://www.uta.edu/gradcatalog/2002/landscape.php

http://hla.colostate.edu/courses/la_courses.htm

http://www.csupomona.edu/~la/grad/courses.html

FAQ's

http://www.cob.calpoly.edu/gradProgram/faq.html

Good Luck! Former resident SLO

2102 Broad Street.

Answer 2

Plant ID is a must. If you take it at SLO without any pre-recs it will kill you. That was the hardest class that I ever took until I took plant bio. (but it got better after that)



Auto cad is good since most ASLA's use it but you might want to consider a drafting class since Landscape is so visual. A good hand drawn concept might give you an edge.



The landscape texts are all basically the same. The one that I used is still in print with a few color pics thrown in. (and I'm old)



Start a folder of plants and landscapes that you like and could work with. If you're planning on staying in Calif, Sunset magazine is great.



Brush up on sustainable landscapes as that is the way that things are going.



There are a lot of free to the trade mags that might help you. The library usually has copies and those annoying little cards that fall out for free subscriptions. Look into waterscaping and the like.



A great book for general info that they won't teach you is "how to start a Home-Based landscape business' by Owen Dell. As a matter of fact, that book is good for any home-based business.



Good luck and have fun. SLO is a great school and the horticulture business as a whole needs some new educated talent.

Answer 3

It would definitely be a plus to learn photo shop and auto-cad.

The best thing you can do for yourself is familiarize yourself with the different types of plant material that exists. A good general knowledge of trees, shrubs, bulbs, flowers, and perennials would be invaluable. The school will teach you the principles of architecture and the mechanics. Landscape architecture is a professional and an art. The easier you can refer to different types of plant material, the more creative you can be. Go to web sites for botanical gardens and see what they have. Go to web sites for extension services or collegiate hort departments to learn about plant material. If they don't have the information, they will have links. Visit botanical gardens and maybe even take some classes if you have time.

Answer 4

you ought to choose to look on the panorama Instiute, this is the expert physique of panorama architects, look on the region and it will inform you get perfect of get admission to to standards for professional skills, there is a few distance, plenty better to this than gardening! good success!, i do no longer think of of people who inform you which you're too clever have the faintest concept what the 'interest' definitely contains! panorama architects are qualified (degree) panorama designers are no extra (gardeners). i think of of that's an astonishing profession, i think of of the excellent description I heard replaced into 'designing the geared up atmosphere' ie. designing our environment, be that parks, gardens, communal aspects even motor vehicle parks!

Answer 5

I would suggest that you contact L.A.s that have graduated from that collage. who better then they to tell you how to get ahead. The collage should be able to furnish you with a list of the Aluin and degrees issued. also contact the professors that will be teaching the courses.

Answer 6

It is not the books that will help It's getting involve and using the imagination when it comes to design.

Answer 7

More information:



http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos039.htm