Course Syllabus

Contact Information

Leehu Loon, ASLA, PLA 

Associate Dean of Administration, Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture
Director, Associate Professor and Graduate Liaison of the Division of Landscape Architecture
H. Russell Pitman Professor of Architecture

Office Hours: Tuesday's 9:00 am - 10:30 am, Wednesday's 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm, Thursday's 9:30 am - 10:30 am and by appointment 

Phone: (405) 325-1519

Email: lloon@ou.edu

Live Session: Tuesday's and Thursday's. 11:00 am - 12:15 pm. Kaufman Hall 138

Zoom link: TBD

Meeting ID: TBD 

Password: TBD

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Course Description

Introduction to the multidisciplinary design profession of landscape architecture. This course will highlight the profession of landscape architecture as a leader in today’s sustainable construction and design industry. Information on current leaders in the profession as well as the scope of current landscape architectural practice will also be studied. The course is divided into five sections:

1. Definition of the profession
2. History of the profession
3. Overview of the breadth and depth of expertise exercised within the profession
4. Types of landscape architectural practice (from private to public to non-profit advocacy)
5. Future of the profession

It is expected that guest speakers will provide insight and examples of their practice during the semester. Field trips to landscape architecture projects will occur – students’ availability will be discussed during the first week to determine dates.

 

Course Prerequisites 

Graduate Students: Graduate standing and permission of instructor.

Undergraduate Students: Upper division standing and permission of instructor.  

 

Introduction

This course will introduce the profession of landscape architecture to undergraduate and graduate students. The course will be divided into five main areas of study. First students will be introduced to the profession by defining landscape architecture. A brief history of landscape architecture will also be presented. Secondly, landscape architecture design will be presented as an overview of the different areas of specialty that exist within the profession from green/ sustainable design to roadway/ pavement design. The third unit of the course will introduce to students the various types of practice that are available to landscape architects from design/ build firms to non-profit community organizations. Next, the future of this exciting profession will be discussed as it relates to future trends and opportunities. The last unit of this course will highlight areas of design education including professional licensure. Throughout the semester there may be an opportunity for guest speakers to talk about the profession from a variety of viewpoints. 

 

Required Reading for Purchase

Foster, Kelleann. Becoming a Landscape Architect. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2010. 

 

Required Readings, Reference Texts and Websites

These readings will be provided on the Course Website throughout the semester. The student will be required to read these excerpts as they are assigned and as they relate to the various course projects.

Birnbaum, Charles A. Pioneers of American Landscape Design. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Professional, 2000.

Booth, Norman K. Basic Elements of Landscape Architectural Design. Long Grove, IL: Waveland Press, Inc., 1983/ 1990.

Calkings, Meg. Materials for Sustainable Sites. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2009.

Harris, Charles and Nicholas Dines. Time Saver Standards for Landscape Architects. 2^nd Edition. New York, NY: McGraw Hill, 1998.

Rubenstein, Harvey M. A Guide to Site Planning and Landscape Construction. 4^th Edition. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1996.

Spector, Tom, and Rebecca Damron. How Architects Write. New York, NY: Routledge, Taylor & Francis, 2013. Print.

Tunnard, Christopher. Man-Made America: Chaos or Control? An Inquiry into Selected Problems of Design in the Urbanized Landscape. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1963.

 

Course Goals and Objectives

At the completion of this course, the student earning a passing grade will have demonstrated their ability to perform the following.

• Understand the variety of issues that relate to the profession of landscape architecture.

• Understand principles of design in landscape architecture.

• Understand the importance of connecting humans to the natural processes of their environment.

• Record their observations about landscape architecture through a journal/ sketchbook.

• Understand historic precedents of landscape architecture.

• Understand current trends in the profession.
  

 

Course Requirements

The requirements for the course are the following.

• Fulfillment of general requirements of regular class attendance, completion of course readings, participation in discussions, and realization of course goals and objectives.

• Completion of all projects and assignments in a complete and professional manner.
  

 

Evaluation Procedures and Criteria

Each assignment will be evaluated based on specific evaluation procedures and criteria which will be presented to the student with the problem statement. Each test will be evaluated in a manner common to the Division of Landscape Architecture and the College of Architecture. Students will earn grades, and they will be assigned as per the following:

A = 90%-100% - Excellent or Outstanding
“A” work must be outstanding in design, graphic, written and spoken quality and content. The work must demonstrate an effort to excel beyond simply fulfilling a particular assignment with evidence of having “pushed” to explore, improve personal skills, and to apply and understand essential and finer points of the given subject matter.

B = 80%-89% - Good
“B” work is good to very good but does not demonstrate the extra push to excellence. Earning a B requires going beyond fulfilling of the particular assignment. B level work at the graduate level reflects a respectable effort and achievement.

C = 70%-79% - Satisfactory/Fair
“C” work is that which fulfills the minimum requirements of the course or assignment but shows inadequate evidence of exploration or personal challenging. Note for Graduate Students: To maintain good academic standing as a graduate student, an overall 3.0 or B average must be maintained. This does not mean one cannot get a C in a course.

 

Course Evaluation

Performance will be based upon submitted written work, drawings, maps, analytic products, presentations, attendance, participation and contribution to class activities. Students will be evaluated according to the following:

Activity	Percentage
In-class participation and discussion insights (not attendance)	10%
Exercise #1 - Case Study of Award-Winning Project	20%
Exercise #2 – (Re)Defining Landscape Architecture	10%
Term Paper*	20%
Midterm Examination	20%
Final Examination	20%
Total	100%

*Graduate students and undergraduate students will have different requirements for the paper assignment. 

 

Basic Expectations to Pass this Class

1. Attendance. Students are expected to be in class for all scheduled class sessions. Please see the COVID-19 Attendance Policy updated for FA20.

2. Be prepared. Students are expected to complete assignments by their due and/or review dates.

3. Keeping up with class and meeting the learning objectives of each assignment on time are important for passing the class.

4. Field Trips/ Excursions. One of the most important ways that you can be introduced to the profession by seeing projects, talking with the designers, constructors and maintenance personnel and attending conferences. When opportunities present themselves, we are committed to making these available to you and integrating them into the curriculum. It is hoped that you will take advantage of these opportunities whenever and however possible.
   

 

Professional Work Environment 

A clean and safe working environment is fundamental to learning. Maintenance of a professional work environment is the normal expectation of our program in the College of Architecture. All students and faculty are expected to maintain a reasonably clean and professional work environment and to assume responsibility for the proper maintenance of public areas (corridors, gallery, etc.) associated with their academic activities. All items must be removed from studio by 5 pm on Friday of Finals Week. Any items left will be thrown away.  

 

Headphones and Phones

Headphones and/ or phones cannot be used during class sessions including during examinations. If you feel the need to use a calculator on an examination it must be a stand-alone version and not associated with a cell phone/ tablet/ etc. 

 

University Policies

The University of Oklahoma’s official policies on the below items are available at: http://catalog.ou.edu/current/Policies.htm. 

 

Student Code   

The University of Oklahoma Student Code includes rules that address the responsibilities and conduct required of Norman Campus students, student groups, organizations, and University-approved or operated living units. The Student Code is accessible at http://www.ou.edu/studentcode/OUStudentCode.pdf. 

 

Regular Attendance Policy

Attendance will be taken at every class meeting by the instructor. A student will be marked as absent if they are not present when the instructor reviews the class role at the beginning of the class meeting. 

 

COVID-19 Attendance Policy

A temporary university policy has been established to protect the OU community by ensuring that students who are ill or required to isolate feel encouraged to remain at home. Missing a class session or other class activity due to illness or isolation will not result in a penalty for the absence, and the student will not be asked to provide formal documentation from a healthcare provider to excuse the absence. This policy is based on all students and faculty adhering to the principles of integrity, honesty, and concern for others.

Students who are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, including cough, fever, shortness of breath, muscle pain, headache, chills, sore throat, loss of taste or smell, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, or diarrhea or who have been in close contact with others who have symptoms should:

• Remain at home to protect others

• Ensure that any needed screening has been conducted (COVID-19 Screening and Reporting Tool) and any needed treatment obtained

• Contact the instructor prior to absence or inability to participate, if possible, and provide an honest report of the reason for which you cannot attend class or complete a course activity

• Continue to complete coursework to the extent possible, using Canvas, zoom, and other online tools

• Submit assignments electronically to the extent possible and as directed by the instructor

• Communicate with the instructor to arrange modifications to deadlines or work requirements or reschedule exams or other important course activities, when it is necessary

 

Late Work Policy

Work shall be turned in on time and in a professional and complete manner. Unless prior arrangements have been made with the instructor, assignments will be considered late if not turned in when collected in class. Assignments turned in late will be penalized 10% for every 24-hour period they are late.

 

Retention of Work

All work submitted by students will become property of the Division of Landscape Architecture, the College of Architecture, and the University of Oklahoma. Student work is generally retained for accreditation purposes and then may be returned to students or retained by the Division, College, or University as a permanent record.

 

University E-mail Notifications

In order to assure timely and efficient communication, the University establishes e-mail as an acceptable means of official communication. All University students, faculty, and staff will be assigned an official University email account. Official University communications may be sent to this account. E-mail sent to this account is expected to be read in a timely fashion, except in circumstances where access to e-mail is impracticable.

Faculty and staff may assume that a student’s official University email is a valid mechanism for communicating with that student. Faculty who rely upon electronic communication with or between students in their classes will specify their requirements in the course syllabus (communication for this course outside of class meeting times will be via email). Account holders who choose to have e-mail forwarded to another e-mail address do so at their own risk. An account holder’s failure to receive or read, in a timely manner, official University communications sent to an official e-mail account does not absolve the account holder from knowing and complying with the content of the official communication. 

 

The University of Oklahoma Reasonable Accommodation Policy

The University of Oklahoma will reasonably accommodate otherwise qualified individuals with a disability unless such accommodation would pose an undue hardship, would result in a fundamental alteration in the nature of the service, program or activity, or would create undue financial or administrative burdens. The term “reasonable accommodation” is used in its general sense in this policy to apply to employees, students and visitors. Student requests for reasonable accommodation should be addressed to the Disability Resource Center. A student must self-identify as an individual with a disability and provide appropriate diagnostic information that substantiates the disability.

 

Academic Misconduct

Integrity in all aspects of scholarship is essential to the University’s mission. The Academic Misconduct Code sets forth the rights and responsibilities of all students on the Norman Campus regarding academic integrity and provides the procedures to be followed in cases of suspected misconduct. Academic misconduct is defined as any act which improperly affects the evaluation of a student’s academic performance or achievement. It specifically includes cheating, plagiarism, fabrication, fraud, destruction of property, and bribery or intimidation, as well as assisting others or attempting to engage in such acts. It is the responsibility of each student to be familiar with the definitions, policies and procedures concerning academic misconduct; and unfamiliarity with the code alters none of a student’s rights or responsibilities there under. The Academic Misconduct Code is printed with the Student Code and is also available on the Internet at http://www.ou.edu/provost/integrity/.

 

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the most common form of academic misconduct at OU. There is basically no college-level assignment that can be satisfactorily completed by copying. OU's basic assumption about writing is that all written assignments show the student's own understanding in the student's own words. That means all writing assignments, in class or out, are assumed to be composed entirely of words generated (not simply found) by the student, except where words written by someone else are specifically marked as such with proper citation. Including other people's words in your paper is helpful when you do it honestly and correctly. When you don't, it's plagiarism. 

 

Sexual Harassment

The University of Oklahoma explicitly condemns sexual harassment of students, staff and faculty. Sexual Harassment is unlawful and may subject those who engage in it to University sanctions as well as civil and criminal penalties. Since some members of the university community hold positions of authority that may involve the legitimate exercise of power over others, it is their responsibility to be sensitive to that power. The University is committed to providing an environment of study and work free from sexual harassment and to insuring the accessibility of appropriate grievance procedures for addressing all complaints regarding sexual harassment. 

 

Nondiscrimination Policy and Sexual Assault, Discrimination, and Harassment Policy and Grievance Procedure

The University, in compliance with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, genetic information, age (40 or older), religion, disability, political beliefs, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices, or procedures. This includes but is not limited to admissions, employment, housing, financial aid, and educational services.

 

Adjustments for Pregnancy/Childbirth Related Issues

Should you need modifications or adjustments to your course requirements because of documented pregnancy-related or childbirth-related issues, please contact me as soon as possible to discuss. Generally, modifications will be made where medically necessary and similar in scope to accommodations based on temporary disability. Please see www.ou.edu/content/eoo/faqs/pregnancy-faqs.html for commonly asked questions.

 

Title IX Resources

For any concerns regarding gender-based discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, stalking, or intimate partner violence, the University offers a variety of resources, including advocates on-call 24.7, counseling services, mutual no contact orders, scheduling adjustments and disciplinary sanctions against the perpetrator. Please contact the Sexual Misconduct Office 405-325-2215 (8-5, M-F) or OU Advocates 405-615 0013 (24.7) to learn more or to report an incident.

 

The University of Oklahoma Religious Holiday Policy

It is the policy of the University to excuse the absences of students that result from religious observances and to provide without penalty for the rescheduling of examinations and additional required classwork that may fall on religious holidays.

                                    

Copyright Policy

It is illegal to download, upload, reproduce, or distribute any copyrighted material, in any form and in any fashion, without permission from the copyright holder or his/her authorized agent. The University of Oklahoma expects all members of its community to comply fully with federal copyright laws. If such laws appear to have been violated by any user, the university reserves the right (1) to terminate that user’s access to some or all of the university’s computer systems and information resources and (2) to take additional disciplinary actions as deemed necessary or appropriate. Repeat offenders will be sanctioned and their privileges terminated.

 

Registration and Withdrawal

If you choose to withdraw from this course, you must complete the appropriate University form and turn the form in before the deadline. If you stop attending the course and doing the coursework without doing the required paperwork, your grade will be calculated with missed homework and examination grades entered as zero. This could result in receiving a grade of F in the course. Deadlines are shown in the Academic Calendar, which is available from the Office of the Registrar.

 

The University of Oklahoma Writing Center

Most universities have a writing center, a place for students, faculty, and staff to meet and talk about writing. The Writing Center here at OU is a resource that you are encouraged to use. As a writer you will want to seek feedback from many different readers. The writing consultants at the writing center are able to talk with you about your writing – at any stage in the process and for any course you are taking. 

You can make an appointment (online or by phone) and you can drop in whenever they are open. You are encouraged to visit the web site for more information: www.ou.edu/writingcenter.

 

Final Review Week

A period of seven class days prior to the first day of final examinations in the long sessions shall be designated as Final Review Week. The purpose of this week is to allow students sufficient time to prepare for final examinations. During this week, there shall be no scheduled activities such as required field trips or performances; and no instructor shall assign any themes, research problems or exercises of similar scope that have a completion date during or following this week unless specified in the class syllabi. During Final Review Week, an instructor shall not give any examinations constituting 10% or more of the final grade, except makeup tests and laboratory examinations. In addition, no instructor shall give any portion of the final examination during Final Review Week. This policy does not include laboratory/studio courses.

 

Student Grievance Policy

The University has a policy of internal adjudication of student grievances. There are specific procedures for many grievances (e.g., academic appeals, alleged discrimination, etc.) that are set forth in The Student Code of Responsibilities and Conduct for the Norman Campus and Other University Policies available online at http://www.ou.edu/studentcode/OUStudentCode.pdf. In cases where University policy designates no specific procedure, grievances regarding academic matters, financial aid, educational records, or payment of tuition and fees should be addressed to the Senior Vice President and Provost; grievances regarding other aspects of student life should be addressed to the Vice President for Student Affairs.