[jonc]

I graduated with a bachelors degree in sociology, but I am looking into making a career shift. I was wondering if anyone had any insight as to whether or not the UCLA Extension program is a good route to take to becoming a landscape architect. My worry is that this program does not earn you a degree, which seems to be what most employers are looking for. Is the certificate that this 4 year program awards viewed as highly as a bachelors degree or a masters degree? I would love to hear from anyone that has gone through the program.

[agla]

In California, you can get that degree and work four years full time directly under a licensed landscape architect and then you would qualify for the exam. Landscape architecture licensing requires a degree from an accredited program and two years of working full time directly under a licensed landscape architect in most states (some allow several years working full time directly under a licensed landscape architect as an alternative). There is also three days of exams after that. There are only about 70 accredited programs.

These should help:

http://www.asla.org/nonmembers/educa...prog_alpha.htm

http://www.asla.org/Members/govtaffa...fornia2006.pdf

[jonc]

http://www.latc.ca.gov/candinfo/examfaqs.htm
This link says that completion of this program would qualify me to take the LARE . Do I still have to work under the supervision of a liscensed architect for longer than someone who has their bachelors?

This is the requirement that it states:
Hold a degree (Associate, Bachelors, or Masters) or extension certificate (UCB Extension and UCLA Extension) in landscape architecture

http://www.latc.ca.gov/links.htm
This link states that UCLA Extension is fully approved by the LATC, is this different from being an accredited program?

Thanks for the help

[agla]

It appears that the CA requirement of six years of internship allows for two of those years to be knocked of by the program that you are looking at. A bachelors degree from a non accredited landscape architecture program can get you as much as three years knocked off. A Bachelors degree in an accredited program knocks off four years. Everyone needs to intern for at least two years and at least one year of education, but must have a total of six years in combination.

This is the part that explains it:

Requirements: To qualify for the written examination, applicants must
have six years of training and educational experience in actual practice of landscape architecture. A degree from a school of landscape architecture
approved by the board is deemed equivalent to four years of training and
educational experience. [A degree in landscape architecture from a nonapproved
school is deemed equivalent to three years training and
educational experience. An extension certificate in landscape
architecture from an approved school is equivalent to two years training
and educational experience. An associate degree in landscape
architecture from a city/community college (with two-year curriculum) is
deemed equivalent to one year of training and educational experience.
All candidates must have had one year education credit and two years
experience credit to take the exam. Candidates must also pass the
California supplemental exam.]