Dual DegreE
Master of LANDSCAPE ArchitecturE/ Master of URBAN Planning
Qualified students who are admitted to the Master of Landscape Architecture program in the School of Architecture and to the graduate program in the USC Price School of Public Policy may complete both degrees in a highly integrated five-seven semester program.
Completion of the dual degree requires 26 units of courses in urban planning, 9 units of Advanced Design Research and either 49 units of landscape architecture (for those students admitted with advanced placement); or 71 units of landscape architecture (for those students admitted to the three-year curriculum). Dual degree students, like all other MUP students, must fulfill the internship requirement.
RELATED LINKS: Application Instructions & Requirements, Application Deadlines, Landscape Justice Initiative
“I love teaching landscape architecture at USC because of the complex regional geography we are immersed in, as a laboratory for the exploration of some of the most pressing environmental challenges of today.”
— ALISON HIRSCH, DIRECTOR OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE + URBANISM PROGRAM
MASTER OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE (ADVANCED PLACEMENT)/ MASTER OF URBAN PLANNING
Qualified students who have completed a pre-professional undergraduate degree in landscape architecture or environmental design, or a professional degree in architecture and are admitted to the graduate program in the School of Architecture with advanced placement and to the USC Price School of Public Policy may complete both degrees in a highly integrated six-semester program.
Completion of the dual degree requires 84 units, including 49 units of courses in landscape architecture, 26 units of courses in urban planning, and 9 units of Advanced Design Research.
MASTER OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE (THREE-YEAR CURRICULUM)/ MASTER OF URBAN PLANNING
Qualified students admitted to the Master of Landscape Architecture three-year curriculum in the School of Architecture and to the USC Price School of Public Policy may complete both degrees in a highly integrated seven-semester program.
Completion of the dual degree requires 106 units, including 71 units of courses in landscape architecture, 26 units of courses in urban planning, and 9 units of Advanced Design Research.
Following is the program curriculum for the 2023-2023 Academic Year. For previous years, please consult the online USC Catalogue archive.
- LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE (TOTAL UNITS: 58)
ARCH 439 Landscape Architecture Foundation Workshop (2 units)
ARCH 531 Urban Ecology (3 units)
ARCH 535 Landscape Construction: Performance Approaches (3 units)
ARCH 544 Landscape as Urbanism: Case Studies (3 units)
ARCH 545 Contemporary Theories of Landscape Architecture (3 units)
ARCH 547 Advanced Topics in Urban Ecology (3 units)
ARCH 548 Media for Landscape Architecture: 3D Design (3 units)
ARCH 565 Global History of Designed Landscapes (3 units)
ARCH 571 Community-Based Design, Conservation and Planning (2 units)
SSCI 572 GIS and Landscape Architecture (2 units)
ARCH 698abzL Advanced Design-Research (3-6-0 units)
STUDIOS
ARCH 542ABL Landscape Architecture Design (6-6 units)
ARCH 642L Landscape Architecture Design (6 units)
Electives: 4 units of elective courses taken in the School of Architecture.
*Electives must be 400-level and above.
Note:
Students in this dual degree will be waived out of ARCH 530 in the MLA core as professional practice is obtained in the PPD courses. Students in this dual degree will also be waived out of ARCH 639 as parametric design is not a required skill for planning-oriented landscape architects.
- URBAN PLANNING (TOTAL UNITS: 26)
PPD 522 Planning Theory and History for a Just Society (4 units)
PPD 523 Urban and International Development (4 units)
PPD 529 Planning Law and Legal Frameworks of Planning (2 units)
PPD 534 Data, Evidence, and Communication of the Public Good (4 units)
PPD 629 Capstone in Urban Planning (4 units)
Concentrations:
There are six concentrations available in the Master of Urban Planning program. They are as follows: Arts and Culture, Design of the Built Environment, Environmental Planning and Analysis, Housing and Real Estate Development, Economic Development, and Mobility and Transportation Planning. Students must select a concentration gateway and methodology course (4 units each, 8 units total). Dual degree students do not need to take concentration electives as they will complete elective units in Economics. Please see the Master of Urban Planning section of the catalogue for the concentration descriptions and course lists
Note:
Students in this dual degree will be waived out of PPD 528 in the MUP core as design knowledge is obtained in the ARCH urban landscape courses. Students in this dual degree will also be waived out of the planning studio requirement in the MUP as students take 12 units of ARCH studios in Landscape Architecture.
- LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE (TOTAL UNITS: 80)
ARCH 439 Landscape Architecture Foundation Workshop (2 units)
ARCH 531 Urban Ecology (3 units)
ARCH 534 Landscape Construction: Topographic Design (3 units)
ARCH 535 Landscape Construction: Performance Approaches (3 units)
ARCH 537 Plant Ecology + Identification (3 units)
ARCH 538L Planting Design (2 units)
ARCH 539L Media for Landscape Architecture (3 units)
ARCH 544 Landscape as Urbanism: Case Studies (3 units)
ARCH 545 Contemporary Theories of Landscape Architecture (3 units)
ARCH 547 Advanced Topics in Urban Ecology (3 units)
ARCH 548 Media for Landscape Architecture: 3D Design (3 units)
ARCH 565 Global History of Designed Landscapes (3 units)
ARCH 571 Community-Based Design, Conservation and Planning (2 units)
ARCH 635 Landscape Construction: Assembly and Documentation (3 units)
ARCH 698ABZL Advanced Design-Research (3-6-0 units)
STUDIOS
ARCH 541ABL Landscape Architecture Design (6-6 units)
ARCH 542ABL Landscape Architecture Design (6-6 units)
ARCH 642L Landscape Architecture Design (6 units)
Note:
Students in this dual degree will be waived out of ARCH 530 in the MLA core as professional practice is obtained in the PPD courses. Students in this dual degree will also be waived out of ARCH 639 as parametric design is not a required skill for planning-oriented landscape architects
- URBAN PLANNING (TOTAL UNITS: 26)
PPD 522 Planning Theory and History for a Just Society (4 units)
PPD 523 Urban and International Development (4 units)
PPD 529 Planning Law and Legal Frameworks of Planning (2 units)
PPD 534 Data, Evidence, and Communication of the Public Good (4 units)
PPD 629 Capstone in Urban Planning (4 units)
Concentrations:
There are six concentrations available in the Master of Urban Planning program: Arts and Culture, Design of the Built Environment, Environmental Planning and Analysis, Housing and Real Estate Development, Economic Development, and Mobility and Transportation Planning. Students must select a concentration gateway and methodology course (4 units each, 8 units total). Dual degree students do not need to take concentration electives as they will complete elective units in Economics. Please see the Master of Urban Planning section of the catalogue for the concentration descriptions and course lists.
Note:
Students in this dual degree will be waived out of PPD 528 in the MUP core as design knowledge is obtained in the ARCH urban landscape courses. Students in this dual degree will also be waived out of the planning studio requirement in the MUP as students take 12 units of ARCH studios in Landscape Architecture.
Dual degree students, like all other MUP students, must fulfill the internship requirement.
The USC Catalogue is the document of authority for all students. The program requirements listed in the USC Catalogue supersede any information which may be contained in any bulletin of any school or department. The university reserves the right to change its policies, rules, regulations, requirements for graduation, course offerings and any other contents of this catalogue at any time.