December 21, 2005

Purdue landscape architecture ranks second in nation

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue University's undergraduate landscape and architecture design program was ranked No. 2 in the nation in an annual survey of America's best programs.

In the rankings released Monday (Dec. 19) by DesignIntelligence, Purdue's program jumped up five notches from seventh place last year. The study ranks programs accredited by the Landscape Architecture Review Board based on a survey of leading landscape architecture firms and practitioners.

The survey targets individuals with direct experience in hiring and evaluating the performance of landscape architecture graduates. Participants are asked to identify the schools that best prepare their students.

"What sets Purdue's program apart from others is our one-year internship program," said Bernie Dahl, chairman of the program. "Our students have a great level of confidence when they meet with employers because they have already spent a year in a business setting before they graduate."

Dahl said Purdue is the only program that requires the internship year. Most students take the internship during the fourth year of the five-year program.

The landscape architecture and design program is in Purdue's Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture in the College of Agriculture. The program has approximately 170 undergraduate students.

"The internship program also gives our program great visibility," Dahl said. "We have excellent placement for our graduates because when they go out looking for jobs, businesses are already familiar with our program and the excellent experiences our students have had."

DesignIntelligence is a monthly journal published by Greenway Communications for the Design Futures Council. The publication is targeted to design professionals.

The undergraduate curriculum at the University of Georgia was the only landscape architecture program that ranked higher than Purdue. The complete list of the top 15 programs in the country for 2006 is available online.

Writer: Beth Forbes, (765) 494-2722; forbes@purdue.edu

Source: Bernie Dahl, (765) 494-1330; bdahl@purdue.edu

Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722;
Beth Forbes, forbes@purdue.edu
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