Course outline - Educational aims and objectives
The Landscape Institute position statement on Climate Change, Green Infrastructure, and Housing provides clear guidance on the roles of the profession and its duty to respond to the challenge presented by changes in global environmental systems. The course provides a forum to work in a multidisciplinary platform with other cognate disciplines, exploring opportunities for developing ideologies, philosophies and design approaches that extend and inform the climate change debate.
The scope of Landscape Architecture education is extensive ensuring that each programme across the country have an opportunity to provide a distinct philosophy and an identity. The BA (Hons) Landscape Architecture at Birmingham City University has a well defined design identity which sees the the urbanised field of the city a fascinating learning laboratory, where infrastructure, physical geography, time, location, community and culture intersect.The programme is designed to expose and investigate issues surrounding the designed environment, exploring landscape as potential resource in which to deliver biodiversity, habitat, productive landscapes, functional and cultural amenity. Landscape exists within a spatial continuum that connects a diverse range of cognate disciplines and practices.
Year 1
includes series of studioThe first year is a common foundation programme that includes architecture students. This year is designed as a foundation skills programme that aims to deliver a portfolio of skills. These draw upon BIAD’s extensive resource base, including digital studios, three-dimensional design workshops and rapid prototyping. This is underpinned by traditional drawing workshops that include observational and technical drawing, AutoCAD and digital visual communication skills and ensures that a strong portfolio and confidence with design principles and visual communication prepares you well for year two.
Year 2
This is where you develop an appreciation of the scope of the discipline to redefine the quality of our environments. Of particular note are live projects with a school, Edible Eastside, and an Urban Farm.
- There is a mix of conceptual projects which develop the theoretical aspects of design
- Ecopsychology project that explores the opportunity for bringing nature and the community together to improve Health and Well Being.
Visualisationincludes developing your professional level skills and includes animation, InDesign, Photoshop and AutoCAD.
Year 3
Your design philosophy becomes more defined on two studio projects that introduce you to important environmental issues that demonstrate the opportunities for systems scale design interventions.
- Green Energy project at Ironbridge Power Station
- Climate Change project on the River Severn flood plain
The course map provides a relationship with the module structure to the design of the course. ( insert diagramme of the course map )
Professional
The BA Hons Landscape Architecture course is fully accredited by The Landscape Institute and reviewed annually by The Landscape Institute Professional Review Group.This three year, full time course leads to the award of the degree of Bachelor of Arts with Honors in Landscape Architecture.On successful completion of the BA students may apply for the Masters in Landscape Architecture. This is an additional one year course which incorporates the professional diploma and is an essential step in achieving Chartered Membership of Landscape Institute (CMLI), which requires a minimum of two years in employment with a registered practice of The Landscape Institute. More information can be found at The Landscape Institute website.