California Landscape Architecture License for Architects and Engineers
Landscape Architects Technical Committee (LATC) is the state board that regulates Landscape Architects. LATC requires 6 years of qualified education and experience as eligibility to sit for the licensing exams (called LARE).
Please confirm all licensure requirements with LATC.
(916) 575-7230
LATC@dca.ca.gov
https://www.latc.ca.gov/
Architects Seeking Landscape Architecture License
- If you have a NAAB-accredited degree (BArch or MArch), the California state board grants 2 years of education credit.
- If you have work experience as (or under direct supervision of) a Licensed Architect, the California state board grants up to 3 years of experience credit.
Civil Engineers Seeking Landscape Architecture License
- If you have an ABET-accredited Civil Engineering degree, the California state board grants 2 years of education credit.
- If you have work experience as (or under direct supervision of) a registered Civil Engineer, the California state board grants up to 3 years of experience credit.
Course Waivers
Prospective Master of Arts (MA) students with a background in architecture or civil engineering can request course waivers for introductory drafting and imaging courses by submitting a portfolio. Waived courses can be substituted with other courses such as:
- Additional studio courses to strengthen portfolio
- LAN 683 Construction Documents
- GR 700 OS+ Portfolio Seminar
- Courses in other majors to build multi-disciplinary skills
Course Description
Communicating ideas through accurate plans, sections, elevations, and other drawings is a fundamental skill for any designer. Students will develop strong foundations in mechanical and freehand drawing by applying professional graphic conventions to a variety of projects. Connecting information on 2D drawings to 3D spaces will be developed. (Manual drafting and sketching)
Course Learning Outcomes
- GRADUATE STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO: express spatial concepts and solutions graphically and verbally using both mechanical and freehand drawing
- GRADUATE STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO: Describe and analyze basic spatial components and characteristics of both natural and designed places through the use of diagrams
- Develop a greater understanding of the scale and details of landscapes around them through their mechanical drawing projects and site drawing assignments
- Apply professional graphic conventions to both freehand and mechanical drawings
- Describe the relationship between plan, section, elevation and other types of drawings
- Evaluate quality and progress of own work and that of others.
Course Description
Immerse yourself in the world of imaging software. You will develop skills to enhance presentations, create graphic layouts, and integrate various media into your design projects. (SketchUp, Adobe)
Course Learning Outcomes
- Use Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign as part of their digital workflow
- Create diagrams to communicate circulation studies; apply 3-D renderings to photographs and graphic diagrams to plans; and create a series of color studies
- Create advanced texture maps
- Choose best digital options to solve design problems and communicate reasoning behind their decisions
- Create a multipage presentation that effectively conveys design intentions and includes professional quality interior renderings
Course Description
You’ll learn to digitally draft plans, sections, elevations, axonometrics and renderings. You’ll become proficient in the same software that today’s design professionals use to produce legible, accurate, and well organized digital documents. (AutoCAD, Adobe, some SketchUp)
Course Learning Outcomes
- GRADUATE STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO: Create and critique infographics/digital diagrams
- Create, manage and share documents using AutoCAD
- Integrate CAD drawings with Adobe Suite to create illustrative renderings
- Use SketchUp to create 3D studies and massing models
- Distinguish between Raster and Vector
- Apply graphic and artistic conventions to digital drawings and renderings.
Course Description
This course focuses on strategies and calculations for controlling stormwater. Students will create accurate grading plans and models in a variety of scales to test their designs. Students will be challenged to incorporate both functionality and aesthetics. Topics will include stormwater calculations, innovative sustainable technologies, road alignments and construction details.
Course Learning Outcomes
- GRADUATE STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO: Analyze the relationship between land surface and water movement using contour lines and apply this information to make informed design decisions
- GRADUATE STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO: Calculate storm water runoff based on their drafted grading and drainage plans
- GRADUATE STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO: Identify the principles for stormwater management and describe alternative solutions
- Apply skills and processes required to accurately solve basic grading and drainage problems including surface and subsurface issues
- Develop and draft vehicular and pedestrian circulation systems and parking areas using current accessibility standards.
- Test plans and models, and based on analysis, make improvements to their designs and draft refined plans and/or models
For an overview of Landscape Architecture license, please go to this page.
Landscape Architecture Licensure Information