Landscape Architecture Program celebrates 120th anniversary

The Landscape Architecture Program, the nation’s oldest undergraduate academic program, is marking its 120th anniversary with a celebration and banquet to reflect on the legacy and future of the program.

Old photo of landscape architecture students working in class at Michigan State University, year unknown. Photo courtesy of MSU University Archives & Historical Collections.
Landscape architecture students working in class at Michigan State University, year unknown. Photo courtesy of MSU University Archives & Historical Collections.

The Landscape Architecture Program, the nation’s oldest undergraduate academic program, is marking its 120th anniversary with a celebration and banquet to reflect on the legacy and future of the program.

“120th LAnniversary Ceremony and Banquet” will take place Sept. 13, 2018, at the Wharton Center for Performing Arts’ Jackson Lounge in East Lansing with a schedule featuring distinguished speaker Barbara Deutsch, CEO of the Landscape Architecture Foundation, an open dialogue with a panel of speakers, a dinner and reception.

In 1898, the degree in landscape architecture was offered at Michigan State University as the first undergraduate degree program for this industry in the world. The first graduate, T. Glenn Phillips, conferred his degree in 1902.

Since then, landscape architecture alumni have had a significant influence not only the profession, but also related fields, including urban planning, architecture, construction, recreation and tourism.

“It is a very exciting time for us in many ways, a milestone moment with a number of accomplishments,” said Professor Jun-Hyun Kim, the Landscape Architecture program director.

“If we look back on what we have accomplished this past academic year alone, our students and faculty members continued to strengthen the impact of our scholarship and commitment in Michigan, the United States and across the world by engaging in several scholarship of engagement activities. Our program was reaccredited by the Landscape Architecture Accreditation Board and $173,000 in scholarships were given to 32 students from our program endowments. Additionally, our juniors went on their eight-week study abroad program in Europe, and our annual career fair was another big success.”

According to the university Office of Admissions, there are 25 MSU programs ranked in the top 20 nationally.

The Landscape Architecture Program has been nationally recognized and well-respected by consistently being ranked in the top 15 landscape architecture programs in the U.S. based on the DesignIntelligence Survey. In addition, the 2017 graduates were highly competitive in the job market with 100 percent job placement.

The program resides in the School of Planning, Design and Construction. It maintains a strong partnership with its advisory board, and alumni are continually involved in studio courses and the MSU Student Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects activities.

The student organization has been actively organizing workshops, engaging with service-learning projects, and participating in regional and national professional meetings to represent the program.

More information is available at 120th LAnniversary and the MSU Landscape Architecture Program.

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