Frequently Asked Questions

You will find a diverse group of progressive people (students, faculty, and staff) who care deeply about social, economic, and environmental justice.

The faculty are experts in their fields, with graduate degrees from many institutions including: Colorado State University, Florida State University, Harvard University, Israel Institute of Technology, Kansas State University, Kansas University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Michigan State University, Oxford Brookes University, Penn State, Seoul National University, SUNY, Texas A&M University, University of California, Berkeley, University of Colorado at Denver, University of Michigan, University of Tennessee, and University of Washington.

The LARCP department is a supportive and close-knit community of faculty and students working on issues impacting the places where people live, work and play.

The department is located in our newly renovated and expanded Regnier/Seaton Complex, with studio space for all students, and close to Weigel Library, Student and Academic Services, many informal gathering spaces, and the new 20,000 square foot fabrication lab.

Kansas State University, with its enrollment of approximately 18,500 students, serves the region through innovation and commitment to its land grant mission of teaching, research, and community outreach.

In 2020 it has been recognized by Princeton Review as No. 2 for great town-gown relations; No. 2 for best quality of life; No. 7 for best athletic facilities; No. 2 for best health services; and No. 3 for happiest students.

For the second year in a row, Campus Pride lists Kansas State University among its 30 Best of the Best LGBTQ-friendly colleges and universities with the highest ranking, five stars. The university is the only school in Kansas and the only Big 12 Conference school to be included in the 2018 and 2017 listings.

We offer two degree programs, all STEM certified for Non-Baccalaureate students:

Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA)
STEM CIP 03.0103 Environmental Studies

The MLA degree is a five-year on-campus first professional degree program that prepares students for employment as a landscape architect.

The highly-ranked Master of Landscape Architecture program is composed of a broad range of activities in the studio, classrooms and field study weaving together design, ecology and technology. Our students progress from foundational coursework to a final, independent project or thesis demonstrating their leadership and professional knowledge and skills.

The Master of Landscape Architecture degree is accredited by the Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board (LAAB).

The LAAB is the accrediting organization for landscape architectural programs. As such, the LAAB develops standards to objectively evaluate landscape architectural programs and judges whether a school’s landscape architectural program is in compliance with the accreditation standards.

The LAAB is comprised of landscape architecture practitioners and academicians, representatives from landscape architecture collateral organizations and public representatives. The collateral organizations are the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards (CLARB) and Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture (CELA).

The next LAAB Site Visit will take place Fall 2021.

Master of Regional and Community Planning (MRCP)
STEM CIP 30.3301 Sustainable Studies

The MRCP degree is a five-year on-campus degree program that prepares students for employment as a city planner.

Study in the program considers the influence of social, economic, cultural and political issues on the physical environment and policies of cities and regions. Regional & Community Planning students and faculty work to understand and improve the quality of life for people in neighborhoods, cities and regions across the world.

The Master of Regional & Community Planning degree is accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board (PAB).

The Planning Accreditation Board (PAB) accredits university programs in North America leading to bachelor’s and master’s degrees in planning. PAB standards are developed with input from the public and our sponsoring organizations: the American Planning Association (APA); APA’s American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP); and the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning (ACSP).

The next PAB Site Visit will take place during the 2021-2022 academic year.

Yes.

The public information related to the Master of Landscape Architecture as required by the Landscape Architecture Accreditation Board (LAAB) is at: https://apdesign.k-state.edu/larcp/public_info/laab/LAABPublicInformation%20as%20of%207.22.19v2.pdf

The public information related to the Master of Regional and Community Planning as required by the Planning Accreditation Board (PAB) is at: https://apdesign.k-state.edu/larcp/public_info/pab/PABPublicInfo2019%201.31.20RR.pdf

K-State University provides one of the most affordable high-quality educational experiences you will find. The cost is comparatively low, and there are many options to make the degree even more affordable, including scholarships, internships, and part-time work during the semester and during winter break and the summer.

Our department offers high value for a high-quality education. For example, the MLA program’s peers include Harvard, University of Pennsylvania, and Cornell. Comparing tuition costs, K-State is 45% lower (almost half of the cost) than the average annual tuition at those three institutions.

For more information on cost, see https://www.k-state.edu/sfa/cost/graduate.html

To qualify for in-state tuition you need to be a Kansas resident.

See the K-State University's Basic Requirements and Residency FAQ: https://www.k-state.edu/undergradadmit/inandoutstatetution.html

See the Kansas Board of Regents’ Residency FAQ: https://www.kansasregents.org/students/residency_faq

Currently both the MLA and MRCP programs are on-campus only.

However, two classes in these programs, PLAN315 Introduction to City Planning and LAR101 Introduction to Landscape Architecture are available online, offering opportunities to explore the disciplines and initiate study at Kansas State.

K-State offers two paths to the same master’s degree.

The non-baccalaureate (NB) program is a 5-year course of study for high school graduates leading to a MLA or MRCP degree. There is no bachelor’s degree.

The post-baccalaureate (PB) program is a 2- or 3-year course of study for traditional graduate students with a bachelor’s degree.

In your first year, you will be admitted into the Environmental Studies Program. It provides an introduction to the design professions and degrees we offer at APDesign. After your first year as an Environmental Design Student, you will be admitted into one of our degree programs.

If you are a highly motivated transfer student who wishes to enter the program in their second year, taking our Accelerated Summer Studio is an option for you. After successful completion, you will be admitted into one of our degree programs for the fall semester.

Landscape Architecture. During the five-year program, you would take 153-credit hours of classes. See the MLA Curriculum Guide for more information. Master’s Report option and Master’s Thesis option.

Regional and Community Planning. During the two-year program, you would take 147-credit hours of classes. See the MRCP Master’s Report Curriculum Guide for more information.

To see the Academic Process for Non-Baccalaureate students, please visit https://apdesign.k-state.edu/future-students/facts/.

All admitted students to the MLA and MRCP programs are required to purchase a computer that meets department specifications. Integration of computer technology is central to our college and is supported by college and university software and network resources. Please see, Purchasing a PC, to view an example of this requirement. Please note that if you are admitted, your requirements will reflect the specifications required when you begin your studies.

Yes! We’d be happy to have you visit. We will arrange conversations with MLA or RCP faculty and students; you can sit in on classes; and we’d love to show you our new building.

Visiting on Monday, Wednesday, or Friday during the semester is best.

We hope you can come. To schedule a visit and learn more about visiting our campus, please see https://apdesign.k-state.edu/future-students/visit/

The application deadline for the 5-year Master's degrees is February 1st. Please see the Application Process for more information.

Each year, Kansas State University awards more than $42 million in scholarships to students. The Office of Student Financial Assistance is a valuable resource that helps students navigate paying for college. There is a wide range of scholarships available to students of all types. See which scholarships and aid you are eligible to receive at https://www.k-state.edu/admission/scholarships/.

College and Departmental Scholarships. There is a wide range of scholarships available for departmental students in the MLA or MRCP programs. Most years between $30,000 and $50,000 are awarded to students in the department, with individual awards ranging from $500 to $9,000. To be eligible for these scholarships, students must complete a scholarship application form due early in the spring semester.

Part-time Work. Work opportunities are available in the College and Department, such as Weigel Library and hourly hire for special projects.

Local institutions such as the Flint Hills Regional Council and Manhattan’s Parks and Recreation and Community Development Departments, as well as nurseries frequently hire our students during the semester and summer.

Congratulations! You can officially accept or decline on CollegeNet, the university’s admission’s site.

Computer Requirements. First year students in APDesign will not need a computer in studio. After your first year, please review the PC requirements for your program at: https://apdesign.k-state.edu/cns/purchasing-a-pc/ You will need this equipment purchased and set up for the first day of class as an MLA or MRCP student.

Housing. Review your housing options on campus at https://housing.k-state.edu/living-options/ or off-campus at https://www.k-state.edu/ochs/

Visas. For international students, complete and submit the financial affidavit to the graduate school. The university cannot complete the I-20 form until they have this. Please start the process of obtaining the visa as quickly as possible because it can be lengthy.

eID. If you haven't already done so, you should register your K-State computing ID (eID) online at http://www.k-state.edu/its/eid/. After this ID is verified with your WID number, it will be your e-mail address (eID@ksu.edu) and the log-in for the K-State Student Information System (KSIS). If you need additional assistance with your eID, you can contact the IT Help Desk at 785-532-7722 or helpdesk@k-state.edu.

Offer Letter. Please read the offer letter of admission. It will tell you if there is anything else you need to provide before enrolling.

Enrollment and Academic Advisor. An academic advisor will be assigned to you your freshman year. They will assist you in planning for your academic plan and enrollment. After your first year, you will receive a new academic advisor for your chosen department and degree. Enrollment information is available at: http://courses.k-state.edu/

Orientation. You will receive information about orientation.

Yes.

Landscape Architecture. Kansas State University's accredited landscape architecture degree qualifies graduates to take the Landscape Architect Registration Examination (LARE). The Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards (CLARB) writes, administers, and grades the LARE. Each state sets its own requirements for licensure and the timing of taking the LARE. Many states now allow applicants to begin taking the exam after graduation - but not all. CLARB provides the latest information on state rules regarding when applicants can begin taking the exam. Many states also have a rolling 5-year clock for taking the exam, meaning that you must pass all sections within 5 years of taking the first section. Be sure to review the information provided by the state licensure board where you intend to earn your first license.

The pass rate of the LARE exam is not made available by CLARB. Anecdotally, we know that our graduates are very successful.

Planning. Kansas State University's accredited Master of Regional and Community Planning degree qualifies graduates to take the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) Examination after completing 2 years of professional planning experience. The AICP writes, administers, and grades the exam. AICP certification is administered at a national level. The AICP Candidate Pilot Program provides students of PAB accredited programs with a path to obtain their certification early. Details are available on the AICP Candidate Pilot Program webpage.

The pass rate of the AICP exam for K-State planning graduates is 100%.

They are excellent. Our LA and RCP students usually have a 100% employment rate within 3 months of graduation. Most students have a job lined up by graduation and they are employed by firms and city governments all over the country.

DesignIntelligence usually ranks the KSU MLA program as #1 in the Most Hired From category

The College provides significant assistance for both internships and entry-level positions for graduating students. For international students, any employment would be dependent on your visa status.

College-Organized Events: The College organizes two major events every year. In the fall, are “Mock Interviews,” where design and planning firms come to our College to meet students and help them practice their interview skills in a low-pressure environment. In the spring is the “Design Expo” which is a one-day event with design/planning firms that come to recruit our students. Last year over 80 design firms attended the event.

Career Center: In addition, there are career development specialists in the K-State Career Center. Andrew Kohls is the liaison to the College of Architecture, Planning & Design and provides individual attention to students.

Preparing a Professional Portfolio: An optional online portfolio-design class is offered in the summer for landscape architecture students.

Alumni: The College and our program has a very strong and active alumni network who are very supportive of our graduates.

Because both landscape architecture and planning are considered STEM disciplines with a CIP designation, international students may apply for the STEM OPT (Optional Practical Training) program, which is a 24-month extension of the F-1 visa status to remain and work in the U.S. However, any employment would depend on your visa status and it is important for you to consult with your advisor in the KSU International Student and Scholar Services office.

Yes.

The college has a robust support system for students seeking internships (see below); however, internships are not provided or pre-arranged. It is the responsibility of the student to find and apply for any internship position. For international students, any employment would depend on your visa status.

Landscape Architecture: An internship is required per your curriculum in your fourth year of study. It may be the summer before, during the fall semester, spring semester, or summer after your fourth year.

Planning: You will spend a semester off campus on an internship, study abroad, or at Kansas City Design Center. Many planning students also find internships during the school year at local government offices or planning organizations, such as the Flint Hills Regional Planning Council.

In our department, student travel is highly-valued and we believe that it is important part of professional education.

Landscape Architecture: In the landscape architecture program, there is a week-long class trip every semester in the first and second years of study, including an extended class trip in the summer of the first year. Advanced studios (3rd year) often have domestic and international travel associated with them. For example, in the past studios have traveled to Texas, northern California, Toronto Canada, and Seoul Korea.

Planning: In the regional and planning program, class field trips are often part of classes. In the spring semester of the first year RCP students join LA students on a week-long trip to a large urban city.

Study abroad is possible and encouraged, but optional. A number of possibilities for education abroad exist. One of the College’s largest programs is located in Orvieto, Italy.