Master of Landscape Architecture

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

The Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA) program at King Abdulaziz University (KAU) was established in 2020. The MLA is a two-year, research project-based program consisting of a total of 44 credit hours. The curriculum focuses on enhancing students' practical skills and knowledge of the art and science of landscape architecture through discipline-specific courses, studios, and elective courses. The foundation of the MLA curriculum is a series of three intensive design studios. The first studio covers the relationship between urban design and landscape architecture by studying and designing urban projects at the neighborhood level or city centers. The second studio is designed to encourage students to engage in research at different scales, types, and methodologies, both in natural and urban areas. The last studio introduces students to design methods and concepts with a focus on the participation of society and its demands on the urban environment at the city level. The studio format involves various teaching techniques, including lectures, demonstrations, field trips, readings, one-on-one instruction, and group discussions. The studio typically consists of a small group of students, providing an engaging and personalized environment for both students and faculty. The MLA curriculum also includes two courses in Landscape Architecture trends and Landscape Ecology, along with several elective courses designed to provide students with the necessary skills and knowledge that will be integrated into the design studios to support the design process and solutions. Research is an important component of the MLA curriculum, and students are required to take two courses where they develop their final research project under the supervision of their instructors.