Chair’s Message

Welcome to the Department of Landscape Architecture + Environmental and Urban Design at Florida International University!

Nestled amongst the vibrant cityscape of urban Miami and within reach of the Everglades and Biscayne National Parks, our program exists in a unique juxtaposition between urban and natural landscapes, offering our students a dynamic and diverse learning experience. Our curriculum is shaped by our region’s unique ecosystem, climate, hydrology, and culture, and prepares our students to be experts in addressing the design challenges not only of the tropical and subtropical regions, but also of other regions experienced through field trips, fieldwork, study abroad, and studio abroad opportunities.

As part of FIU’s School of Architecture, which includes the disciplines of architecture and interior architecture, our department has opportunities to engage in interdisciplinary collaboration. Through design studios, study abroad courses, and a variety of interdisciplinary electives, our students collaborate across disciplines in classrooms, research labs, and through service activities.

Federally recognized as a STEM discipline, landscape architecture emphasizes rigorous design studio work complemented by research-driven innovation. Our faculty’s nationally and internationally recognized research and creative work embed research into learning and reflect our commitment to excellence.

Our Master of Landscape Architecture degree is accredited by the Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board. Students can obtain their degree through 5-year, 3-year, or 2-year tracks by entering the program as freshmen, with an Associate’s degree, a non-professional undergraduate degree, or a professional Bachelor’s degree in a design field. Our Master of Arts in Urban Design is a post-professional degree for design professionals who hold architecture, landscape architecture, or interior architecture degrees and seek to expand their expertise.

In addition to housing our design studios, our Paul L. Cejas School of Architecture Building includes The Robotics and Digital Fabrication Lab where our students utilize state-of-the-art robotic arms and 3D printing capabilities to bring their designs to fruition. Our Collaboration Hubs in Miami Beach and Wynwood allow our students to learn design by observation of people’s use of space and serve as laboratories in the city.

Also of great benefit to our students is the fact that South Florida is home to many leading landscape architecture design firms. Most of our students undertake part-time internships or full-time jobs during their studies, starting from year one.

The landscape architecture and urban design programs at FIU present unparalleled professional and academic opportunities for those impassioned individuals who aspire to contribute to a better world through the transformative power of creative design and environmental stewardship.

Welcome to a community dedicated to exploring, preserving, designing, and transforming the world around us!

Ebru Ozer, FASLA
Chair and Associate Professor
eozer@fiu.edu