Landscape+Architect

__Landscape Architecture__
Landscape architecture is the art and science of creating an aesthetically pleasing, yet functional and practical atmosphere in any outdoor environment. These environments range from the garden of an individual residence to the Victoria memorial in front of Buckingham palace (pictured right).

__Description__
Lanscape architectsmust have have a creative edge, as well as having the ability to think about their projects scientifically. In a way, they are artists who use a blank plot of land as their canvas, and plantlife, sculptures, and many other variables as their medium. Creating something beautiful is only part of the job, the creation must also be functional and compatable with the environment. Working within a budget while taking into account many variables such as climate, sunlight, and soil type make the job much more difficult than just creating a sketch.

__Required Skills__
A career in landscape architecture is not just for anyone. It's a career that combines the strong analytical skills of engineering, with the appreciation of working with nature. A person pursuing this career should enjoy working with their hands, and have not only the dexterity required for artistic talent, but the artistic vision to accompany it. A professional attitude is a must, as you will be working with clients and trying to communicate your ideas to them in a way that they can understand. Good communication and social skills are a must, as well as public speaking, as you will be presenting your ideas in front of your customers and team. Not only will you be drawing, but you will also be required to use computer aided design software which can create 3d renderings to help your customer get a better picture of the design.

To get a better idea of what landscape architecture is all about, [|click here]

__Education Requirements__
Obtaining a degree in landscape architecture is no easy task. A 4-5 year bachelors degree is required with outstanding grades in the fields of art and science. Classes required include:
 * design
 * site engineering
 * plant materials
 * construction methods
 * computer aided design
 * drafting
 * sciences
 * humanities
 * ecology

Aswell as a degree, you must take an exam called the LARE (Landscape Architect Registration Exam), spend one to four years working with an experienced licenced landscape architect, and a well organized portfolio of some of the designs created throughout your college career. The requirements vary by state.

__Salary Information__
Entry level salary, as with all careers, varies between states, place of employment, and level of education. Those with masters degrees can expect to start out with a greater salary than those with just a bachelors degree. Entry level tends to range from $37,000 to $45,000 annually, while experienced landscape architectural earnings can range from $45,000 to $100,000 annually. The median income for this career is somewhere around $61,000 a year. Self employment is very popular with this career, as it is very simple to and not costly to start up a company below is a chart of the average wages for landscape architects in the state of Michigan:
 * |||||| **Michigan Wages ** ||
 * **Occupation ** ||
 * Landscape Architects ||
 * **Level of Experience ** || **Hourly **  ||  **Annual **  ||
 * Entry Wage || $26.82 || $55,790  ||
 * Median Wage || $31.34 || $65,190  ||
 * Experienced Wage || $34.65 || $72,080  ||   ||
 * [|Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics] ||

__Job Outlook__
Unlike many occupations, job openings for landscape architecture is predicted to grow between 2008 to 2018. The prediction is a growth of 20 percent, which is exceptionally larger than the average for most careers at this point in time. This dramatic increase in job opportunities is partly caused by concerns for the environment. We have entered the "green" era, and demands for technology that can help reduce energy, and environmental pollution are nearing the point of necessity in all construction projects. While it may be difficult to grab a job working for a large landscape architecture firm or corporation, there are still many opportunities for self employment, or job openings at smaller firms. Demands for landscape architects also varies by geographic location, era, and the state of the economy. Overall, it is an expanding field with the opportunity for advancement.

__Related Careers__
If landscape architecture sounds like something you might be interested in, take a look and research some of these other careers that share some of the aspects, skills and qualities:
 * Arborist
 * Architect[[image:cns-1150-winter-2012/lnd.jpg width="448" height="322" align="right"]]
 * Botonist
 * Civil engineer
 * Technical drafter
 * Exhibit designer
 * Florist
 * Gardener
 * Horticulturalist
 * Interior designer
 * Landscaper
 * Greenhouse grower
 * Construction manager
 * Engineer
 * Surveyor
 * Cartographer
 * Photogrammatrist
 * Urban and regional planner
 * Geoscientist
 * Hydrolocist

__Additional Information__
The rate of self employment for landscape architects is at 21%, which is almost 3 times as much as most other occupations That 21% is out of the documented 26,700 jobs in 2008. Another 51% worked in arcitectural, engineering, and related fields, and only 6% were employed by state and local governments.

Page by: John Sheehan