Bachelor of Landscape Architecture
Overview
Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (B.L.A.) Degree
The University of Rhode Island offers a fully accredited, four-year Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (B.L.A.) degree program, comprising 120 credits and recognized by the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA). This program is carefully designed to prepare you for rewarding professional careers in both public and private sectors of landscape architecture.
Admission to URI’s competitive BLA program is limited to 20 students per year, in accordance with accreditation standards. Throughout your studies, you will undergo two key reviews: the first for admission into the lower-division design sequence, and the second for acceptance into the upper-division B.L.A. major.
To enter the lower-division design sequence, students must receive departmental approval. Approximately half of these spots are reserved for first-year students who maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA and earn no grade below a C in LAR courses. The remaining spots are allocated to URI students transferring from other majors. Admission to the upper-division (junior) design sequence requires submission of a portfolio showcasing your lower-division work, alongside your academic transcript and a written essay.
Career Opportunities
Landscape architecture is a cutting-edge profession that integrates art, science, and advanced technology to envision and shape resilient, adaptive environments. Landscape architects leverage tools like 2D representation, 3D modeling, GIS, data analytics, and sustainable design technologies to create vibrant parks, plazas, and public spaces; design smart residential, institutional, and commercial developments; and plan transportation networks, waterfronts, and innovative urban and campus landscapes. By pioneering green infrastructure and climate-responsive solutions, they drive environmental sustainability and enhance community well-being in an ever-changing world.