Overview The Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning offers a professional graduate degree, the Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA), and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning. Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA) The Master of Landscape Architecture degree is a professional degree accredited by the Landscape Architecture Accreditation Board, part of the American Society of Landscape Architects and qualifies graduates for licensure in California and elsewhere. The MLA program is certified as a STEM discipline. The program offers advanced education in landscape architecture and environmental planning from the scale of the site to the region to the ecosystem. The MLA requires a set of core courses for all students emphasizing cross-scaler analysis, representation, design, and planning. This core pedagogy forms the foundation for extended coursework in specialized aspects of landscape design and environmental planning. Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning The Doctor of Philosophy encompasses advanced research in the field of landscape architecture and environmental planning. It requires the development of original research that contributes to the theories, methods, and knowledge in the field. The program particularly emphasizes the development of research which applies social and ecological science methods to illuminate the complexities of decision-making regarding human alteration of the landscape and its outcomes for the local and global environment. The PhD degree in Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning is appropriate for those seeking careers in academia, research institutions, and leadership roles in non-profits, government, and professional consultation.