Landscape Architecture - Cal Poly vs. UC Berkeley

Daughter got into both Cal Poly and Berkeley programs. In addition, at Berkeley, she received the Regents & Chancellor’s scholarship. She has a great ‘big thinking’ theoretical mind but craves practical application, field work, getting hands dirty.

Hoping someone can speak to the differences in the programs, significance of Cal Poly’s 5 year/licensed approach, as well as any general differences in campus culture. Daughter is left leaning environmental activist. Also wants to have time in her program to do some ‘outside of the college’ studies in performance arts, philosophy, anthropology.

@fallout87, Congratulations on acceptances to two prestigious programs. I would note that I’m not a landscape architect, but parent of an architect with a BA in liberal arts + a Master of Architecture. Over the years, I’ve come to understand that educational choices in both architecture and landscape are variable and that information regarding cost, admissions and career options is hard to come by.

I would suggest that your daughter spend some time analyzing both curriculums to get a clear picture of the amount of flexibility allowed outside of the major. The 5.0 Masters degree offered by CalPoly is a professional degree with a direct path to becoming a licensed landscape architect. This is the fastest route to a specific career. It’s ideal for students who are 99% positive that they want to become landscape architects. The downside is that the curriculum is streamlined and focused and doesn’t allow much leeway for exploration outside of landscape architecture.

In general the 4.0+2.0 path allows for more experimentation across other disciplines and is better for undecideds. I would suggest that your daughter contact the department directly to ask if her goals of exploring “performance arts, philosophy, anthropology” are doable.

With a BA in landscape architecture from Berkeley, she would still be able to work in landscape and adjacent areas of environmental design and architecture, but would need to complete a Master of Landscape Architecture from Berkeley or another institution in order to become a licensed landscape architect. The downside is that 6.0 years may cost more than 5.0 (depending on financial aid and grants) and also, admission to Berkeley’s Master program may not be automatic for their BA students.

Is licensure important? I would say yes because licensure opens career doors and widens income potential. However, plenty of unlicensed people work in landscape, environmental design and architecture in general. It’s also quite common to hold an entry level position in the industry for a year or two before heading back to graduate school. Architecture and Landscape are VERY broad industries with a lot of niches and tangents.

These organizations manage licensure, in California and countrywide. Their websites provide a lot of valuable detailed information.

https://www.clarb.org/

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Im going to admit a bias right off the bat. I’m a landscape architect my wife is an architect. We both are involved in hiring landscape architects, architects etc. We both are Cal Poly alumni. College is a matter of best fit and Berkeley is an excellent school but if someone were to really want to be a practicing architect or landscape architect the answer to your question is Cal Poly. Without linking info and belaboring the point here is why. The practice of landscape architecture is a skill, it combines practical knowledge, art and science. This is exactly the type of schooling that Cal Polys “learn by boing” was meant for. You will graduate from Cal Poly knowing how to be a landscape architect. Masters degrees in these fields are helpful if you want to go into teaching or in the event that you decide you want to be a landscape architect and your undergraduate degree is in different field.

I know many landscape architects who went to Cal and they are completely qualified, some are excellent but if you can say with some certainty that you will be a landscape architect (eg licensed and practicing) then Cal Poly is likely the more direct and better route.

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