Careers in Landscape Architecture

If you are interested in working with nature, have a flair for creativity, and possess researching skills, you can pursue a career in landscape architecture. Let's take a look at the career scope in this field.

Landscape architecture is a demanding profession in the field of environment designing and conservation. It is a multidisciplinary subject encompassing arts and science.

A landscape architect designs gardens, public parks, zoos, residential areas, urban plazas, golf courses, mountain resorts, office buildings, and school and college campuses. He/she has to plan the topography layout of the outdoor spaces, including the walkways, decorative features, and even the vegetation and gardens.

The role of a landscape architect is to increase the functional value and aesthetics of the landscape.

There are many institutes that offer landscape architecture courses for undergraduates and graduates.

Graduate degree programs include first-degree Master of Landscape Architecture (landscape architecture degree with another undergraduate degree), second-degree Master of Landscape (only landscape architecture degree), and MA/MS in Landscape Architecture (for pursuing research in landscape architecture).

There are many domains based on the work profile. Following are some of the career opportunities in this area.

Landscape Planner: A landscape planner's role is to search for locations and analyze them, taking into account the existing ecological aspect and possible environmental issues. He/she plans several project layouts and discusses them with the associated professionals. These layouts are subject to change till the development of the final project layout.

Landscape Assessor: A landscape assessor evaluates the pros and cons of new landscaping projects. He/she studies the existing flora and fauna of the area and the possible impact of the project or long-term effects on them. In this way, a landscape assessor examines whether the project should be continued or not.

Landscape Manager: This job profile includes handling the planning and development of a landscape project, starting from site surveying to cost estimation. A landscape manager may work in agriculture, land management, and nature conservation.

Landscape Scientist: A landscape scientist should have knowledge of soil science, botany, and geology. He/she studies the practical problems associated with landscape development. It includes planning and assessing the project right from its inception till the end. He/she should offer solutions and report the impact of the landscape development on the surroundings.

Garden Designer: A garden designer's job profile is to plan and design exterior spaces like backyards, small gardens, and large public recreational parks. He/she decides the location of the pathways, flower beds, lawns, and decorative features like fountains in the garden. A garden designer can also work with historical garden conservation.

A landscape architect may be engaged in historic preservation and restoring wetlands, mining sites, forests, and other disturbed areas. He/she works in collaboration with environmentalists, surveyors, foresters, and engineers to design the best landscape.

He/she can work in real estate firms, site development projects, and other municipality construction projects like constructing airports. A large number of landscape architects are self-employed, which is not so common in other fields.