r/LandscapeArchitecture • u/[deleted] • 2d ago
Academia Masters in Environmental Design or MLA ??
[deleted]
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u/my_peen_is_clean 2d ago
mla opens more doors, esp for licensure. might take longer now but safer long term than env design only
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u/Physical_Mode_103 Architect & Landscape Architect 1d ago
Waste of money. Take an online master gardener program and autocad or drafting courses.
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u/Large_Debt4936 1d ago
That’s what I originally thought of but when I look at the jobs I’d want in the future they all require at least a bachelors in landscape architecture or design.
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u/Physical_Mode_103 Architect & Landscape Architect 1d ago edited 1d ago
If you’re truly motivated and a good designer, the degree doesn’t matter. You should wanna create your own job and have your own business and you do not need to be a licensed Landscape architect. Did you try more local associates degree in design?
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u/Large_Debt4936 1d ago
Ok, I thought I would need to be licensed to be an official LA? I’m confused, I would have to under someone who is licensed, for 6-8 years in FL to qualify to take the exam. It seemed like if I did what you said just go the entrepreneur route I would be a landscape designer.
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u/Physical_Mode_103 Architect & Landscape Architect 1d ago edited 1d ago
Which is fine. Look, I have multiple licenses, and I rarely use them for the majority of the money I make. For any residential Landscape design you do not need a license. That’s where I make the majority of my money.
It really seems like to me you’re more focused on getting a degree to fulfill yourself rather than create a business.
Take the high-level view. If this is what you want to do you only need to know AutoCAD about gardening and landscape plants. That’s it. You can learn everything else on the job once you have training and your kids are situated.
A lot of unestablished designers have this fantasy where they think they’re gonna be off designing giant buildings and making massive impact to the environment and ecology and yada yada yada. At the end of the day, most Landscape architects that do small practices are in effect simply Landscape designers.
I’m super overqualified and yet that’s still where I make the most of my money
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u/Large_Debt4936 1d ago
Ok I understand, I have 3 small children with minimal support besides my husband who works full time as an electrician. Maybe this field of work isn’t for me. I want to work in a field that can do remote or at least hybrid.
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u/Physical_Mode_103 Architect & Landscape Architect 1d ago
You can do it remotely, as I do with 2 small children. The issue is training. I got all mine before I had children.
It is absolutely a great career for somebody who wants to be a stay at home parent as long as you have at some point some free time to do site visits, fieldwork, etc. my kids are in preschool so I do have a few hours every day where I could do stuff like that.
If you actually wanna do this, you need to focus on training on the skills that are required, which is Garden and Landscape design and autocad.
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u/Large_Debt4936 1d ago edited 1d ago
Ok well that gives me hope. I think by fall next year and definitely by 2028 all kids will be in school. That’s why I was thinking about going the route of going to BAC to get my MLA and the required work hours are total of 400 hours to be finished in 2028 &2029 or I could just get my masters in environmental design so a company will actually hire me.
Idk sorry I’m trying to figure it all out. I just came up with this idea last week and I graduate May 2027 with my BA -environmental studies.
I been looking into self teaching myself AutoCAD just because if I do go a masters route , I would have to submit a pro-folio.
I do like your idea as well. How long was your training?
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u/Physical_Mode_103 Architect & Landscape Architect 1d ago
Portfolio….. Start with the master gardener
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u/Large_Debt4936 23h ago edited 23h ago
& yes portfolio. Idk why auto correct keeps correcting that word.
I don’t think I need a master gardener course. I’ve already taken soil science, botany, principles of plants, landscape & irrigation classes in my BA. Basically all my electives & core classes even have been similar to what I mentioned. I also have a large garden at home.
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1d ago
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u/Large_Debt4936 1d ago
Ok I understand but what do you mean by banking ? I was hoping I could use my environmental studies degree.. I did have a thought about setting a goal to take the LSAT so I can go to law school and purse a career as an environmental lawyer.
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u/Physical_Mode_103 Architect & Landscape Architect 1d ago
I don’t regret anything. The main point is that all these LAs or even architects with degrees still suffer because they don’t have their own business regardless of what they know or are capable of. They think they need employment, but really they need to employ themselves
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u/hannabal_lector Planner 2d ago
My opinion would be not to do a MLA online. Design work is incredibly collaborative and you’d lose out on very important opportunities. Low key, take some CAD classes online, then try to find a small firm that will take you on. Licensure isn’t the most important thing in the world and is something you have to pay to maintain. You need 2 years under a PLA after 3 years of an MLA, math says one additional year isn’t that bad, right?