Master of Landscape Architecture

Purpose

The purpose of this qualification is to enable learners to operate as Landscape Designers and who will be able to conduct research through design. and the Master of Landscape Architecture will equip learners with advanced and specialised skills that will enable them to be employed as professionals in Landscape Architecture. This qualification will develop a learner's research methods and techniques so that the learner will be able to engage with theory.

Rationale

The Master of Landscape Architecture is designed to provide learners with specialist knowledge in landscape architecture and equip them with skills to engage in solving related problems. Landscape Architecture is a designated scarce skill in South Africa and it is also a recognised profession under the South African Council for the Landscape Architectural Profession (SACLAP) Act - Act 45 of 2000. It responds to environmental, infrastructural, cultural and public works priorities at national, provincial and local levels of governance by providing guidance for the planning and design of the South African urban, rural and wilderness landscapes. The Landscape Architecture qualification allows registration with SACLAP (the discipline's professional/statutory body) as candidate in the category entitled Landscape Architectural Professional. This qualification replaces the previous two (2) year Master of Landscape Architecture to align with the HEQSF admission requirements of the new Master's Degree. This qualification satisfies the landscape architectural industry's need for the a professional level qualification for professional registration which is necessary for the practice of professional landscape architecture in South Africa.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Provision is made for selecting learners who can demonstrate that that they have attained a level of competence through other means, which in the opinion of the Senate, on the recommendation of the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment is adequate for the purposes of admission as a candidate for this qualification.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for access to this qualification is

• A four-year cognate Bachelor's Degree at NQF Exit Level 8; or equivalent.

This qualification comprises compulsory modules at NQF level 9 totalling 208 Credits.

Modules

• Advanced Landscape Architecture Studio, 32 Credits.
• Dissertation, 120 Credits.
• Detail Landscape Design and Documentation, 24 Credits.
• Landscape Research Methodology, 20 Credits.
• Contemporary Theories of Landscape Architecture 12 Credits.

1. Critically evaluate landscape architectural challenges and opportunities in order to propose appropriate processes of inquiry (through design) for practice.
2. Combine various advanced methods, techniques and processes (drawing on creative as well as scientific thinking) associated with landscape architectural planning and design, in order to design appropriate methods of inquiry for addressing complex practical and theoretical challenges, and also distil lessons and insights from the above activities for further knowledge production.
3. Undertake research in landscape architecture through the rigorous and critical application of the methods, techniques and processes of landscape architectural planning and design, and undertake independent research through the application of design as inquiry.
4. Make autonomous ethical decisions regarding the practice of landscape architecture within the context of a complex professional environment, and to be able to contribute to the development of ethical standards for the discipline in different cultural contexts.
5. Understand the nature of landscape and the design and implementation of interventions in the landscape as a system with elements and components in different hierarchical relationships, from which intended and unintended consequences arise.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Design landscape architectural interventions at any required scale and in any context through balanced application of creative and scientific methods and processes of inquiry based design (research by design).
• Undertake a critical contextual study identifying and evaluating appropriate design informants in a rigorous and where appropriate creative format.
• Understand a wide variety of landscape architectural planning and design methods, processes and techniques, from which to independently design processes of inquiry for critical application to landscape problems and opportunities.
• Gather, analyse and interpret appropriate objective and subjective contextual information in a critical, rigorous and reflective manner for the creative and strategic translation into generators for determining intervention.
• Understand sustainability in a broad sense with regard to the relation to landscape, and how to develop rigorous and where appropriate creative sustainable solutions.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Demonstrate knowledge of the major paradigms in landscape architectural design and planning approaches through the ages and be able to engage in critical evaluation and reflection thereof.
• Understand and discuss landscape architectural design as a reflection of culture.
• Identify theoretical trends in landscape architecture.
• Formulate an appropriate theoretical position and framework for guiding design interventions.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Study a range of professional and academic discourses and their representation and communication techniques in order to propose and defend various aspects of the landscape architectural planning and design discourse to various audiences.
• Develop the ability to undertake landscape inquiry through various representational techniques.
• Understand the subjectivity of the representation of landscape and be able to critically evaluate various forms of representation acknowledging their objectivity.
• Design a representation of aspects of landscape architecture through the creative application of various digital, model and hand drawn techniques, and in combination.
• Use of various digital techniques and software for the production of professional representations.
• Document a landscape architectural design in a professionally edited document, capturing a design argument (with a balance of text and imagery).

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Operate independently with regard to sustaining independent and effective learning and to take full responsibility for his / her work ethic (sustaining efficiency, productivity).
• Demonstrate proficiency in engaging with the implications of the physical making of the designed landscape throughout the design process.
• Undertake technological inquiry through design.
• Produce a set of construction drawings with associated specifications and bill of quantities for a typical landscape architectural project.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Demonstrate knowledge of the environmental planning policies, procedures and processes governing practice in the environmental planning field (such as EIA's and public participation in environmental governance).
• Understand the landscape architectural regulatory framework governing practice in South Africa (SACLAP) and its implications for the practitioner.
• Understand the various aspects characterising the nature of the practice of landscape architecture (office management, organisation, project management, tender documents, contract administration etc.).

Integrated Assessment

Assessment is based on project products (graphic, written and verbal). The theory courses are concerned with procedural and substantive theory and are continuously assessed.

Various methods of assessment are used to measure and record the progress of leaners through the year. These primarily include the examination of term or minor assignment papers and project documents submitted in response to topics or project briefs specified for each of the courses.

In certain project-based courses, audio-visual presentations are also used to assess learner progress in work undertaken by both groups and individual learners. In general, however, documents are submitted in addition to any such presentations.

Studio work

Regular sessions are undertaken in a group to assess the learners' performance. If concerns are identified, then the learners are immediately notified. The final product is a series of drawings presented verbally by a learner to an examination panel. This forms the final assessment of the learner's performance.

Contemporary theories and Landscape Research Methodology

Leaner's performance is monitored through presentations and seminars they present throughout the semester. These are accompanied by written submissions which the lecturer evaluates and returns to the learners with feedback.

Detail Landscape Design & Documentation

Minor and major assignments are given throughout the semester, which have drawings as the product. These are evaluated immediately if presented verbally or are returned to learners with feedback.