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Well, it?EUR??,,????'?????<???????????????????????(R)?EUR??,,????'????s that time of year again when various organizations like to make lists of the best this, that and the other.
DesignIntelligence does an annual America?EUR??,,????'?????<???????????????????????(R)?EUR??,,????'????s Best Architecture & Design Schools, in which the schools of architecture, landscape architecture, industrial design and interior design are ranked. The publication does acknowledge the rankings are ?EUR??,,????'?????<?????????????????a flawed system,?EUR??,,????'?????<????????????????? but notes its methodology ?EUR??,,????'?????<?????????????????can be trusted to conduct a solid analysis of quality programs?EUR??,,????'?????<??????????????????????(R)???????+??EUR??,,????'?????<?????????????????
The research was conducted in mid-2008, tapping ?EUR??,,????'?????<?????????????????decision-makers from more than 200 U.S. firms and organization employing tens of thousands of architecture, design and landscape architecture professionals.?EUR??,,????'?????<????????????????? Leading firms were asked what programs they considered best for preparing students for professional success, and to cite the programs best for educating and training for specific skills.
The response rate was more than 85 percent for the landscape architecture firms.
Sixty-seven percent of the professional designers express satisfaction in today?EUR??,,????'?????<???????????????????????(R)?EUR??,,????'????s landscape architecture education; 14 percent expressed dissatisfaction. Asked if graduates had an adequate understanding of biology, biodiversity and environmental degradation to address these issues in real-world applications, 63 percent said ?EUR??,,????'?????<?????????????????adequate understanding,?EUR??,,????'?????<????????????????? but 25 percent opine they had ?EUR??,,????'?????<?????????????????very little understanding.?EUR??,,????'?????<?????????????????
The Top 15 Landscape Architecture Programs for 2009, according to DesignIntelligence
1. University of Georgia
2. Kansas State University
4. Pennsylvania State University
5. Cornell University Texas A&M University
7. Purdue University
8. Ball State University
9. Iowa State University
10. Calif. Poly State University, San Luis Obispo University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
12. Clemson University
13. Ohio State University
14. University of Florida University of Rhode Island
1. Harvard University
2. University of Georgia
3. Louisiana State University
4. Texas A&M University Cornell University University of Virginia
8. Kansas State University University of Calif. at Berkeley University of Michigan
11. University of Pennsylvania University of Texas at Austin
13. University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign
14. Auburn University North Carolina State University Rhode Island School of Design
DesignIntelligence also surveyed more than 100 university deans and chairpersons of landscape architecture academic programs to inquire what significant changes have been made in the past five years. Seventy-seven percent responded there is now more emphasis on sustainable design; forty-six percent say there?EUR??,,????'?????<???????????????????????(R)?EUR??,,????'????s more emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration and integrated practice; thirty-four percent mentioned retention of quality teaching staff; thirty-one percent indicated upgrades in technology, more emphasis on global issues and international practice; only six percent, however, said there was now more emphasis on professional practice.
Sixteen percent of the academics noted LEED certification is now a component of their degree programs.
And what are the biggest concerns for the design profession, according to the academics?
Francisco Uviña, University of New Mexico
Hardscape Oasis in Litchfield Park
Ash Nochian, Ph.D. Landscape Architect
November 12th, 2025
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