College of Agricultural Sciences

Apply Now

College of
Agricultural Sciences

Apply Now

College of
Agricultural Sciences

Apply Now

  1. Home
  2. /
  3. Landscape Architecture
  4. /
  5. About Landscape Architecture

About Landscape Architecture

We are a professionally accredited Landscape Architecture program. Our program is accredited by Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board.

Learn more about LAAB accreditation. 

Landscape Architecture Accreditation

History

Colorado State University, located 65 miles north of Denver in Fort Collins, was established in 1870 as Colorado’s land-grant college. From its first class in 1879, the University has grown to its present enrollment of approximately 25,000 students. 

Colorado State University has a unique mission in the State of Colorado. The land grant concept of a balanced program of teaching, research, extension, and public service provides the foundation for the University’s teaching and research programs. Colorado State University is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools with a mature status and is on the accepted list of the Colorado State Department of Education and the American Association of University Women. It is also listed by numerous other accrediting agencies. Colorado State University is governed by the State Board of Agriculture, which consists of eight members, appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Colorado Senate for four-year terms. This eight-member committee supervises statewide planning for higher education, and implements the assigned roles, including the appointment of personnel, and the enactment of rules and governing regulations. 

The University has over 150 programs in eight colleges as well as the CSU Graduate School, Cooperative Extension, and numerous research programs. Landscape Architecture’s BSLA degree program resides within the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, College of Agricultural Sciences. 

Chronologic Milestones

From 1975 – 2022

  • 1975: The College of Natural Resources established a full-time equivalent (FTE) faculty position in landscape architecture and an FTE faculty position in park planning was redefined with partial responsibilities in landscape architecture. 
  • 1978: The proposal for a baccalaureate Concentration in Landscape Architecture was approved. 
  • 1980: A third FTE faculty position in landscape architecture was established and filled to replace two part-time faculty positions. 
  • 1981: The proposal for a baccalaureate Major in Landscape Architecture was approved. 
  • 1982: The University received initial accreditation from the ASLA – Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board. 
  • 1983: The Department of Recreation Resources received approval to change its name to the Department of Recreation Resources and Landscape Architecture, and the prefix for landscape architecture courses was changed from Outdoor Recreation (OR) to Landscape Architecture (LA). 
  • 1984: The University received full accreditation for a five-year period from the ASLA – Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board. 
  • 1989: The University received provisional accreditation for a period of three years from the ASLA – Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board. 
  • 1992: The Program in Landscape Architecture was transferred to the Department of Horticulture, College of Agricultural Sciences from the Department of Recreation Resources and Landscape Architecture, College of Natural Resources. 
  • The University received provisional accreditation for a period of two (2) years from the ASLA – Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board. 
  • 1993: The proposal to change the BSLA degree program from four years to five years was approved. 
  • 1994: The Program in Landscape Architecture moved to a new facility, the Natural and Environmental Sciences Building. 
    • The University received full accreditation for a period of five years from the ASLA – Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board. 
  • 1995: The Department of Horticulture received approval to change its name to the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture. 
    • The Program in Landscape Architecture received from the Intergraph Corporation a grant of computing equipment and applications totaling $870,000, and from university funds for Sun SPARC workstations and studio equipment totaling $137,000. 
  • 1996: A fourth FTE faculty position in landscape architecture was established and filled. 
  • 1999: The University received full accreditation for a period of five years from the ASLA – Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board. 
  • 2002: A fifth FTE faculty position in landscape architecture was established and filled. 
  • 2004: The Program received full accreditation for a period of six years from the ASLA – Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board. 
  • 2008: The Colorado Landscape Architects Professional Licensing Act went into effect. 
  • 2010: The University received provisional accreditation for a period of two (2) years from the ASLA – Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board. 
    • The proposal was approved to change the five-year BSLA curriculum to a four-year BSLA curriculum.  
    • A sixth FTE faculty position in landscape architecture was established and filled. 
    • Landscape architecture introduced a Master of Landscape Architecture program of study for a fall semester start. 
  • 2011: The University designated $340,000 for student desks and renovation of the landscape architecture studios and associated spaces (Natural and Environmental Sciences Building, first floor, north wing). 
  • 2012: The Program received full accreditation for a period of six years from the ASLA – Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board (next review expected, 2018). 
    • The highly-regarded School of Global Environmental Sustainability at CSU accepts the landscape architecture program’s Irrigation and Water Conservation course, as an offering in their curriculum for its interdisciplinary GES minor. 
    • Russell L. Butler II Memorial Scholarship is established. This is a fully-endowed scholarship, the first to have been designated solely for the landscape architecture program. 
  • 2013: Amy Rose Brobst Memorial Scholarship is established as a fully-endowed scholarship for the landscape architecture program. 
    • The first issue of Land.mark alumni magazine, the annual e-magazine of the landscape architecture program, is developed. This magazine helped to establish a new work-study position for one LA student and expanded various learning opportunities for the numerous students involved in its production. 
  • 2014: The first online LA elective course that is open to all current students, alumni, and the community was established as part of the new Horticulture Business Online Degree Program. 
  •  2015: The long-running ‘LA Days’ springtime flagship event, a student-organized program bringing the most prominent practitioners and academics to CSU’s campus for an unforgettable lecture series, was expanded to the fall season. Called ‘Fall into Landscape Architecture’, this additional series features leading local practitioners who share topics and disseminate ideas that are critical to our region.  
  • 2016: First female head (Dr. Jessica Davis) in the history of the Horticulture and Landscape Architecture Department is hired.  
    • Faculty from program play a critical role in the planning of the new Richardson Design Center, a collaborative learning center that will house state-of-the-art creative spaces for students and faculty in programs all across campus including interior design, design and merchandising, landscape architecture, art, engineering, product development, entrepreneurship, and construction management.  
    • Two female faculty (Assistant Professors) are promoted to Associate Professors.  
    • The Landscape Architecture Alumni Advisory Board is established (approx. 12 members) 
    • The Landscape Architecture Professional Advisory Board is established (approx. 12 members) 
  • 2017: The Master of Landscape Architecture degree program was placed on administrative hiatus (no new students admitted – last student in program will graduate SP2019).  University resources could not be committed for the long-term viability of the program. 
    • One faculty member (Associate Professor) moved to another institution.  
    • The HLA Experiential and Service Learning Committee is established by the Department. 
    • First annual Landscape Architecture Alumni Advisory Board gathering and Distinguished Alumni Award program.  1st recipient, Dennis Rubba, Principal and Founder of StudioINSITE. 
    • Course LAND 110 – Introduction to Landscape Architecture, is approved as an All-University Core Curriculum (Arts and Humanities) elective course.  
    • Department funds future ‘Portraits of Inclusion’ exhibit, which celebrates the contributions of women from the HLA department and is intended to inspire our students and foster a climate of inclusion and gender equity. This exhibit will be displayed permanently in the main administrative building for the college. 
  • 2018: One faculty member (Professor) retired. 
    • Scheduled accreditation review (spring 2018) – deferred for a period of one year on the basis of unexpected faculty departures (2 FTE, above). 
    • Landscape Architecture (CAS) computing lab reconditioned to include 3 oversize display monitors, large screen projection and a new teaching podium. 
    • Faculty search for two landscape architecture (tenure-track) faculty members was completed.  Two FTE faculty (Associate Professor, Assistant Professor) were identified and joined the BSLA program. 
    • Established the Landscape Architecture Externship Program. Held annually over winter break, students are matched with professional landscape architecture offices and municipal offices. 
  •  2019: The Program received full accreditation for a period of six years from the ASLA – Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board (interim report to be submitted in 2021). 
  •  2021: Program was awarded funds for new tables and chairs for classrooms. 
  • The Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board requires a second interim report for 2023. 
  •  2022: Opening of the Nutrien Agricultural Sciences Building. 

LANDMARK Publications