Master of Landscape Architecture Application Process

Master of Landscape Architecture Application Process

Deadlines

Priority Deadline: January 5
Application Deadline: Rolling

The program only admits students to start in the autumn semester. The autumn application remains open after the priority deadline; please contact Jon Bullock (bullock.151@osu.edu) if you would like to submit a late application.

Admissions Process

The Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions administers the application, and a complete set of instructions can be found on their website.

  1. Begin an application through Graduate and Professional Admissions
  2. Prepare Materials
  3. Complete and submit your application
  4. Monitor Your Application Status Online

Cost of Attendance

For information about the cost of attendance, see the Graduate and Professional Admissions website.

For information about funding, see Funding & Scholarships.

Statement of Purpose

A 1–2 page statement of purpose should indicate your academic and career goals.

Portfolio

Regardless of their previous experience, all applicants must submit a portfolio. Applicants submit a portfolio through Graduate and Professional Admissions' online document submission. There are no prescribed requirements for the portfolio except for restrictions on filesize: a digital file may not exceed 30MB.

It is advised to limit the length of the portfolio to 12-24 pages (quality is better than quantity). Below are suggestions for the portfolio.

  • For applicants with prior design experience: the admissions committee evaluates portfolios for evidence of conceptual reasoning, design ability, and graphic skills. Examples of work may include but are not limited to design documents, sketches, models, digital and hand renderings, free-hand drawing, graphic design, photographs of sculptures, and samples of writing. All work should be personal. In the case of group projects or projects carried out in an office, please clearly indicate your role in the process.
  • For applicants without prior design experience: the admissions committee evaluates portfolios for evidence of the applicant's potential to perform in a design program and interest in the discipline. Applicants can express why they want to study landscape architecture graphically, visually, and in writing. This documentation can be a recording past experiences (personal, related to school, work, or travel) through photographs, drawings and sketches, and/or essays. All work should be personal and original.

CV or Resume

Your resume should be 1-2 pages. Upload the document to your online application.

Transcripts

Official transcripts are required from each institution from which college credit was awarded. Ohio State transcripts are not required. A scan of an official transcript (front and back) may be uploaded to the online application to fulfill this requirement. If admitted, a final official transcript must be submitted. Mailed transcripts should be sent to Ohio State's Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions.

A bachelor’s degree in any discipline from an accredited institution is required to be considered for standard admission to the MLA program. Advanced placement may be granted to some applicants based on an evaluation of all application materials. Applicants who possess a bachelor of science in landscape architecture or bachelor of landscape architecture degree from an ASLA accredited program may be considered for admission into the MLA II program. Applicants with a landscape architecture degree from an institution outside of the U.S. are typically considered for the standard MLA program due to licensure regulations, however advanced placement may be considered. Regardless of which MLA pathway applicants intend to pursue, all application instructions are the same.

GPA
In order to be considered for admission, applicants should have at least a 3.0 cumulative cGPA on a 4.0 scale, or a B average on another scale from the last institution from which they earned a degree.

For cGPAs lower than 3.0, contact the Graduate Programs Coordinator.

Letters of Recommendation

Enter information for three recommenders in the online application including a professional or academic email address for each. Once you have submitted the application, each recommender will receive an email request with a link to submit their letter online.

GRE

The GRE is not required for admission to the Master of Landscape Architecture.

English Proficiency Scores

Official TOEFL, IELTS, or MELAB scores are required for any applicant whose native language is not English, and who has been educated primarily outside of the U.S. Exclusions and details can be found in the application instructions. Target scores are as follows: 100 TOEFL, 86 MELAB, or 7.5 IELTS. Valid test scores must be from within the last two years.

Financial Review

Admitted international applicants are required to show evidence that they have sufficient funding to pay for all tuition and living expenses while at the university. Instructions would be sent if/when the applicant accepts the offer of admission. Please do not send these documents until requested. For more information, see Graduate and Professional Admissions.

Contact

Need more information? Please contact:
 

Jon Bullock
Graduate Programs Coordinator
614-688-1795
bullock.151@osu.edu