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Studies & Degrees in Urban Landscape

Urban landscape is the study and design of the open spaces of towns and cities: parks, squares, streets, waterfronts, campuses and the green networks that connect them. It sits between landscape architecture and urban planning. The International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA) describes landscape architects as professionals who plan, design and manage natural and built environments, applying aesthetic and scientific principles. In the city, that means deciding where a park goes, how a street handles rain and shade, how a historic quarter fits into a growing town, and how residents of every age can use public space.

What students learn

Programmes combine design and science. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), courses in landscape architecture typically include landscape design and construction, landscape ecology and site design, and the design studio is a key component of any curriculum. Students also study plants and soils, the history of landscape and of the city, planning law, and digital drawing and modelling tools. Urban-oriented programmes add land use, mobility, social inequality in cities and the conservation and restoration of natural and cultural systems.

Qualifications and levels

  • Bachelor's degrees. In the United States there are two professional undergraduate degrees, the Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (BLA) and the Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture, which according to the BLS usually require four to five years of study. In Germany, the BSc in Landscape Architecture and Landscape Planning of the Technische Universität München (TUM) has eight semesters and 240 ECTS credits. In Latin America the subject is often taught inside architecture and urbanism degrees: the Universidad Espíritu Santo (UEES) in Ecuador offers a four-year, on-campus degree in Arquitectura y Urbanismo that leads to the title Arquitecto/a Urbanista.
  • Master's degrees. Graduates of other fields in the United States can enter a Master of Landscape Architecture, which typically takes three years of full-time study. At TUM, the MA in Landscape Architecture has three semesters and 90 ECTS credits, and the MSc Urbanism – Urban and Landscape Studies and Design has 120 ECTS credits. In Mexico, the Maestría en Urbanismo y Territorio of the Universidad de Guadalajara lasts four semesters and has landscape, heritage and territory as one of its subject areas.
  • Doctorates and research degrees. Research is done through MS and PhD programmes in landscape architecture and in urban and regional planning.

Where to study

SpainExchange lists five active schools for urban landscape, one each in Spain, the United States, Ecuador, Mexico and Germany.

  • The University of Wisconsin–Madison has a Department of Planning and Landscape Architecture. Its BLA is designed as a four-year programme and is accredited by the Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board through 31 December 2031. The department also offers a BA/BS in Landscape and Urban Studies, an MS in Landscape Architecture and an MS in Urban and Regional Planning.
  • TUM teaches its landscape programmes in Munich and at Weihenstephan in Freising. The bachelor's degree and the urbanism master's require German; the MA in Landscape Architecture lists German and English as required languages.
  • The Universidad de Guadalajara lists a Licenciatura en Urbanística y Medio Ambiente as well as the master's mentioned above, both taught in Spanish.
  • UEES in Guayaquil teaches Arquitectura y Urbanismo in Spanish.
  • The Universidad Camilo José Cela is the school listed in Spain, in the Madrid region. Ask the university which of its current programmes cover landscape and urban design.

Careers

Graduates work in landscape architecture and urban design firms, in the planning and parks departments of city councils, in engineering and architecture practices, and in organisations that restore rivers, coasts and historic sites. The BLS describes the work as designing parks and the outdoor spaces of campuses, recreational facilities, businesses and private homes.

The profession is regulated in some countries. In the United States all states require landscape architects to be licensed. The BLS counted 23,500 landscape architect jobs in 2025 and projects employment to grow 4 percent from 2025 to 2035. Rules differ elsewhere, so check which title and registration you need in the country where you plan to work.

Frequently asked questions

Is urban landscape the same as landscape architecture?

It is the part of landscape architecture and urban design that deals with open space in towns and cities. Most students reach it through a landscape architecture, architecture or urban planning degree.

How long does it take to become a landscape architect?

In the United States a professional bachelor's degree usually takes four to five years, and a Master of Landscape Architecture for graduates of other fields typically takes three. At TUM in Germany the bachelor's degree has eight semesters and the master's three.

Which language will I study in?

It depends on the school. TUM requires German for its bachelor's degree and lists German and English for the MA in Landscape Architecture. The programmes in Guadalajara and Guayaquil are taught in Spanish, and those in Madison in English.

Do I need a licence to work?

In the United States, yes: all states require landscape architects to be licensed. In other countries, ask the national professional body.