Here is a pretty nice master for everyone interested in landscape architecture!
Master of Landscape Architecture by coursework degree
Introduction
I am pleased to announce the establishment, and AILA professional accreditation, of a new Master of Landscape Architecture degree by coursework at Deakin University to operate at its Geelong Waterfront Campus. This is first new MLArch in Australia in 15 years.
Course overview
Deakin University’s Master of Landscape Architecture has been developed for people who want to practise as a landscape architect and who have a passion to improve the quality and development of our towns, cityscapes and regional landscapes.
Focused upon sustainability and its economic, social and environmental underpinnings, the course addresses the creation of quality places in response to current and future environmental and lifestyle challenges, and enables opportunities for you to specialise in project management, public art curatorship and management, cultural heritage, urban design, and change management planning.
Distinguishing characteristics of this course include its engagement with ecology, spirit of place, people, Indigenous thought and urban design to inform and craft places of renewal, stimulation, healing and respect.
This course meets the challenges of an ever-changing urban, regional and rural environment. As a graduate, you will be a practice-rich professional equipped with the skills to successfully deliver and lead in the creation and restoration of landscapes and provide leadership by challenging conventional thinking within complex environments.
The Master of Landscape Architecture has been designed in direct consultation with the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects, potential employers, industry, government and professional representatives to ensure it meets the needs of prospective employers.
Course Structure
The Course Structure consists of:
To qualify for the Master of Landscape Architecture, students must successfully complete 16 credit points of study comprising:
• 11 core units (13 credit points) from:
o SRA760 Urban Ecologies
o SRD761 Designing Urban Environments
o SRL731 Landscape Narrating and Meaning
o SRD764 Urban Design Studio
o SRL732 Plants, Design and Ecologies
o SRL733 Indigenous Narratives and Processes
o SRM750 Built Environment Professional Practice
o SRD762 Interdisciplinary Planning and Design
o SRR782 Thesis Preparation
o SRD768 Landscape Design Masterclass (2 credit points)
o SRR716Thesis (Landscape Architecture) (2 credit points)
plus
• 3 credit points of electives that may comprise specialisms in:
o Urban Design
o Architecture
o Planning
o Cultural Heritage
o Public Art
o Project Management
AILA Professional Accreditation
This course now has Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) professional accreditation: http://www.aila.org.au/
Staffing
Key staffing includes:
· Associate Professor David Jones, FAILA, MLArch Melb, PhD Penn
· Dr John Rollo, MArch UCLA, PhD Cambridge, MPIA
· Dr Simone Leao, MSc (Urb&RegPlan) UFRGS [Brazil], PhD Melb
· Yolanda Esteban, MAIA MPIA (Associate), PhD (pending) Deakin
· Dr Anne Bourke, PGrad Dip Land Arch Melb, PhD Melb, recent graduate of the University of Melbourne
· Paul Thompson, FAILA, author of Australian Planning Design (2002), and plants master behind the Cranbourne Botanic Garden
· Gavin Keeney, MLArch Cornell, author of On the nature of things : contemporary American landscape architecture (2000)
· Chris Dance, FAILA, formerly Chris Dance & Associates, designer of the recent Geelong Botanic Gardens front entrance gardens
· with assistance from the Boon Wurrung (Mornington Peninsula), Wathaurung (Geelong) and Gundjitjmara (Lake Condah / south west Victoria) Indigenous communities.
Applications:
Domestic student applicants: http://www.deakin.edu.au/
International student applicants: http://www.deakin.edu.au/
Enrolment Portal:
Enrolments are now open via Deakin’s application portal at:
http://applicantportal.deakin.
Courses commence Semester 1 2012, @25th February 2012.
Commonwealth Supported Places:
Some places are now available.
Scholarships:
Domestic student applicants: http://www.deakin.edu.au/
International student applicants: http://www.deakin.edu.au/
Inquiries:
Some Units Include:
o SRA760 Urban Ecologies T1
Content
The unit will challenge students to rehearse and then apply this understanding to specific urban conditions and sites. The unit will act as a broad critical analysis of the contemporary social, economic and environmental challenges that shape Australia’s built environment and to consider various strategies for forming new or regenerating existing urban territories. This unit will immerse students in analysis of a complex urban project addressing the multiple scales, ecologies, infrastructure conditions, building types and material expressions.
The project-based format will be supplemented with lectures that introduce each exercise and additional talks that address the theoretical bases of urban ecologies. Students are presented with urban conditions that have been selected to introduce an increasing array of physical, social, and environmental complexities as the trimester proceeds. Students will be asked to engender a critical consideration of contemporary urban environments and its relation to differing ecologies.
o SRL731 Landscape Narrating and Meaning T1
Content
This unit seeks to provide a foundational overview of the history, theory and practice of the evolution, exemplars and role of the profession of landscape architecture in Australia and internationally. Part of the unit will address theories inherent in landscape architecture including reviewing their authors, precedent texts, and exemplars arising from these theories. A second part will explore the historical evolution of the profession of landscape architecture internationally, and its foundations in Australia into a profession including its contemporary activities, proponents and key practices. A third part will examine the ethos of the Australian landscape architecture profession including its proponents, key influencers and precedents, and the role and activity of the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects. The last part with examine significant texts and projects that embody the aims and objectives of the Australian profession together with engaging in and appreciating the art of narrating design, constructing designs, and illustrating designs.
o SRD764 Urban Design Studio T2
Content
The subject allows students to work on high profile strategic planning and design issues in three areas critical to the future growth of Australia's urban environment: Metropolitan Urbanism, Urbanism on the periphery and Regional Urbanism. The aim of the subject is to analyse the existing fabric or specific precincts in transition; identify the artificial and natural boundaries which shape or limit their place setting; and develop a range of sustainable generic urban design strategies that resolve areas of discontinuity and open up options for stimulating urban regeneration. On completion of the unit students should be able to: Develop an understanding of the place of architecture and landscape within the context of the city; explore methodologies for evaluating and responding to an urban context; be familiar with the preparation of an 'Urban Design Framework'; develop strategic planning policy and guidelines information to assist in the effective urban design decision making; evaluate the impact of design related decisions on community health and well being; appreciate ecological sustainable development principles within the urban context; and make sensitive design decisions which consider the cost/benefit impact in relation to both physical and cultural heritage issues.
o SRL732 Plants, Design and Ecologies T2
Content
This unit seeks to explore and review the realm of plant science and natural ecology as it pertains to the profession of landscape architecture. Part of the unit seeks to explore nomenclature, plant habitat and needs and plants generally in terms of their scientific and taxonomic use, language and peculiarities. A second part seeks to build an individual appreciation and palette of plant materials pertinent to the practice of landscape architecture. A third part explores basic concepts of ecological science including systems, scientific communities, the role of soils and geology, the links between plants and wildlife, and the food and medicinal properties of plants whether European, scientific and or Indigenous. A fourth part will examine two ecosystem types, for example coastal and riverine, as case studies in indigenous plant and ecological systems and the manner in which such systems have been appropriated and used in landscape architecture design, rehabilitation, planning and or management projects as well as their despoliation, misuse, dilution by exotics and noxious species, fragmentation of corridors and patches, and the impact of human-driven land development activities. And, lastly, the use of plants as a medium in design will be explored and considered.
o SRL733 Indigenous Narratives and Processes T2
Content
This unit considers and explores contemporary engagements and relationships with Australian and international Indigenous communities in design and planning projects. Part of the unit will examine the concept and entity of Indigenous peoples and their cultural and spiritual relationships to land, territory, country, language, name, knowledge transferral, sedentary patterns, custodianship, curatorship, alternate approaches to ‘natural science’, and their symbiotic use and curatorship of natural resources as legitimate land design, planning and management tools and approaches. A second part will examine a set of Australian and International exemplar case studies where Indigenous peoples have served either as client or as consultant in the formulation of design projects that have resulted in international and or highly significant, innovative and creative design outcomes that demonstrate respect and cultural richness. A third part will consider processes of managing cultural-rich projects including consultation, engagement and protocols. A fourth part will draw upon on-site engagement with a place rich in Indigenous meanings, associations, history, myth, and provide a first-hand understanding of Indigenous protocols.
This unit is a direct response to a clear policy shift and reconciliation commitment by the Australian architecture, landscape architecture and planning professions to better engage with, respect, understand, and embrace Indigenous culture in design and planning projects. It is intended as unit to provoke understanding and respect, and processes of engagement within the professional practice of design and planning.
