UWA Handbook 2026

Major Overview

Description

Landscape Architecture Studies is the design of outdoor spaces that are functional, inspiring, and environmentally responsible. This major takes a creative, design-led approach to land use planning, sustainable development, and environmental restoration, ranging from small-scale residential projects to large regional landscapes. Closely linked with Architecture, it encourages interdisciplinary collaboration and builds strong design, critical thinking, and written, verbal and graphical communication skills. Emphasising cultural landscapes and sustainability, the program prepares graduates for further study or careers in designing places that enrich communities, protect biodiversity, and support resilient ecosystems. While the Landscape Architecture Studies major does not have industry accreditation, it allows students to extend their studies and easily transfer into the industry accredited courses at Honours or Masters level.

Students should be aware that this major does not provide a pathway to an Honours.

Outcomes

Students are able to:

1. develop projects that embed an emerging philosophical and ethical position in regard to the ecological, aesthetic and sociopolitical roles of landscape architecture
2. critically and coherently apply historical, theoretical and technical knowledge to design
3. produce designs that illustrate a well developed knowledge of plants, materials and construction techniques
4. analyse and resolve complex site planning issues and developmental programs
5. demonstrate and implement active engagement with experimental design processes and self-directed research
6. demonstrate productive and collaborative approaches to learning and assessment
7. demonstrate sophisticated verbal, visual and written communication techniques.

Broadening guidelines

All students studying towards a Bachelor's Degree at UWA are required to broaden their studies by completing a minimum of four units (24 points) of study outside their degree specific major. Broadening is your opportunity to explore other areas of interest, investigate new disciplines and knowledge paradigms and to shape your degree to suit your own aspirations and interests. Many of you will be able to undertake more than this minimum amount of broadening study and we encourage you to do so if this suits your aspirations. Over the next few months you will find here some broadening suggestions related to your degree-specific major. While we know that many students value guidance of this sort, these are only suggestions and students should not lose sight of the opportunity to explore that is afforded by your Broadening Choices. Advice can also be sought from your Allocated Student Advising Office.
Suggested Minors to broaden you study area, are:
(1) MNR-CURAT Curatorial Studies
(2) MNR-DCREA Digital Creativity
(3) MNR-ETHFT Earth's Environmental Challenges
(4) MNR-MEHUM Environmental Humanities
(5) MNR-ECOLY Ecology
(6) MNR-GEARL Geological and Archaeological Landscapes
(7) MNR-OCEAN Ocean Innovation
(8) MNR-SPCEU Science and Policy: Climate Change, Environmental Planning and Urban Environments
(9) MNR-ENVST Understanding the Environment

Courses

Landscape Architecture Studies can be taken as a degree-specific major in the following degree courses:

• BH005 Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours)

Units