About

student drawing

The URI Department of Landscape Architecture offers a four-year Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (B.L.A.) degree that is fully accredited by the American Society of Landscape Architects. We also offer undergraduate minors in Community Planning, Geography and Landscape Architecture, as well as a Graduate Certificate in Community Planning.

Over the past thirty years we have established a community of highly motivated learners, dedicated faculty and successful alumni. Our students gain valuable experience through outreach studios working in collaboration with related disciplines and a client base of non-profit, municipal and state agencies throughout southeastern New England. Students have received awards for their work on sustainable communities, coastal resilience, and transportation design.

Our graduates find professional careers in both the public and private sectors, designing environmentally and culturally sensitive landscapes.

Department Quick facts

  • 50-60 Undergraduate Majors
  • 5 Full-time and 3 Adjunct Faculty

Professional Licensure Disclosure

In accordance with the 2019 Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, URI hereby discloses that the Bachelor of Landscape Architecture curriculum, which is accredited by the American Society of Landscape Architects, meets the educational requirements for licensure as a Landscape Architect in all U.S. States and Territories. The applicable licensing board in your state may impose additional non-educational requirements on candidates prior to granting a license (e.g., passing of an exam; obtaining a certificate; performing supervised clinical/practicum hours; etc.), and we encourage you to investigate those requirements.

Our Mission

The University of Rhode Island’s Landscape Architecture Department (LAR) offers a professional, accredited Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (BLA) degree, preparing the future generation of innovative spatial planners and designers. The LAR program merges a STEM and Fine Arts education into a studio-based and project-based learning environment. The program prioritizes regenerative systems, coastal resiliency, working landscapes, and participatory community planning; working with local communities on real-world issues; and fulfilling the integrative mission of our land- and sea-grant institution. LAR is devoted to inclusive and experiential learning and providing space for students to learn in different ways, develop their individual design voice, and experiment with different modalities of creativity and technical skill building. As a small department dedicated to providing individual attention to students, interdisciplinary problem solving, and community outreach, the University of Rhode Island Landscape Architecture Department is uniquely positioned to prepare students to address pressing challenges of our time.