Landscape Architecture, Master of Landscape Architecture

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Pioneering Landscape Architecture for Justice and Sustainability: only here at ccny

Distinguished as the only accredited MLA program in New York City.

Winner of the International Landscape School’s Prize at the 11th International Biennial of Landscape Architecture in Barcelona, Spain.

Funded research on robotics, urban agriculture, and climate justice through CCNY's College-wide Research Vision.

Our faculty are prolific authors with interests in climate change, politics and the environment, and the entanglement between technology and nature.

Student Info

Our students are prepared to be leaders in the field of landscape architecture through innovative research and practice in urban ecological design, planning, and policymaking. We are a small program (8-14 students per year, 30+ students in total across three years), with high-touch teaching, mentoring, and advising. Graduates of our program go on to work at design firms and public agencies.

Faculty Info

The MLA program features three full-time faculty members known for their prolific authorship, active research, and esteemed scholarship in landscape architecture. We also maintain a rotating roster of approximately 15 adjunct faculty members from public sectors like the NYC Parks Department and private firms engaged in public work. They contribute real-world case studies and valuable connections to enhance your learning experience. Our faculty collectively bridges the gap between academic excellence and professional success, providing you with exposure to a diverse range of perspectives and industry insights.

Curricular Innovation

In our design studios, we harness the dynamic environment of New York City as a living laboratory to experiment with innovative landscape and urban strategies. These studios incorporate diverse and multidisciplinary frameworks into landscape design and planning, drawing from fields like environmental sciences, engineering, and the humanities. Students cultivate landscape expertise by exploring a wide range of topics, such as urban agriculture, coastal engineering, urban ecology, and robotics.

Photo Credit: "Harlem Daisy Chain” by George McCracken MLA '25 & Nada Gatalo MLA '25

Admissions Facts

Total Credits: 90

GRE Required: No

Minimum Language Test Scores: 550 (TOEFL PBT), 79-80 (TOEFL IBT), 6.5 (IELTS), or 105 (Duolingo English Test)

Degree Awarded: M.L.A.

Supporting Documents Required:

Transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended
2 letters of recommendation
Personal Statement
Portfolio: A portfolio of creative work is required for all Spitzer School applicants. The portfolio should reflect your level of creative ability and creative process and can include drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, graphic design, furniture design, garden design, photography, crafts, or other types of work. Your portfolio should be a single file (PDF preferred). There is no maximum or minimum page count or project count. Submit your portfolio file at: https://securetransfer.ccny.cuny.edu/filedrop/SSAGrad.

Program Director:Zihao Zhang, zzhang@ccny.cuny.edu

Admissions Contact: Hannah Borgeson, hborgeson@ccny.cuny.edu

For more information, please visit the Program Website.