Accelerated BED/MLA Admissions
The following admissions policies and procedures change periodically; students should check with their adviser and the Department of Landscape Architecture for current information. Applications for the accelerated status option in the BED program must be submitted by January 15 2009. Admission is for Fall 2009 only.
- Apply to the University of Minnesota if not already a student.
- Complete the first three years of the BED coursework.
- Complete the accelerated status option application available from the Department of Landscape Architecture.
- Submit official transcripts of all coursework at the college, university, or graduate level, including coursework currently being taken. Typically, a student must have a GPA of at least 3.00 for admittance.
- Submit a letter of intent describing the student's interests, strengths, skills, and experiences related to landscape architecture; landscape architecture and the interests, strengths, and skills needed to practice it as understood by the applicant; and why there is a good fit between the applicant's interests, strengths, skills, and experiences and landscape architecture [maximum of two pages].
- Portfolio. We require that applicants to the BED/MLA program submit a portfolio of work showing art or design work, environmental or design reports, photographs of three-dimensional work, slides, or similar examples of creative work. Please follow the Portfolio Information link for more details.
Admission Considerations
The landscape architecture faculty votes on each applicant. The applicant may be admitted to the accelerated status option or continued in the BED program. It is assumed that students who are accepted will complete their BED program in the accelerated status option track and apply to the MLA program. Admission is based on:
- Student's academic standing and GPA
- Student's understanding of landscape architecture
- Fit between the student's interests, strengths, skills, and experiences and landscape architecture
- Student's potential to succeed as a practicing landscape architect as estimated by the faculty
Resource and space availability
Applicants are encouraged to visit the landscape design studios, talk to students who are in the accelerated option track and the M.L.A. program, and find out as much as they can about the profession by talking with landscape architects in their community.
Applicants will be notified of the admission decision by May 15. Successful applicants must notify the department of their intention to enter by June 15 to reserve a position in the program.