LA 5900

Theoretical Foundations

Course Description

Course information provided by the 2026-2027 Catalog.

This seminar is intended to provide Landscape Architecture Students (as well as Architecture, Planning students) with knowledge of the most relevant histories, theories and critical discourses related to the field from the scope of Landscape Design. We tend to think that theories provide the insight to embitter practice. However, there has been practice that provoked and enhanced disciplinary debate and actually generated a paradigm shift. The course launches a research question: it is only through the examination of influential design works that we can build the multiple dialogues between theory and practice: explore how theory is embedded into disciplinary production and study how pioneer works create specific and innovative disciplinary literature.

Enrollment Information Enrollment limited to: graduate and professional students.

Last 4 Terms Offered 2026SP, 2025SP, 2024SP, 2023SP

Learning Outcomes

• Students will become familiar with relevant histories and theories that preceded and influenced excellence in Landscape Practice.
• Students will have an in depth engagement with influential oeuvres of the Landscape Architecture internationally.
• Through readings, debates, paper writing, designed and performed interviews, visual exercises, and field trips, students will be able to critically engage not only to the theories and practices themselves but also to reflect on their understanding of what constitutes the making of critical design theory.
• Students will gain experience building landscape theory through writing and critiquing the writing of their peers.
• Students will integrate writing, visual representation and oral presentation skills.

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