I could not agree with him more about university programs failing to update their curriculum to better prepare their students for the current job market. For example, my program is highly theory based with excessive redundancy, but yet not a single relevant software course is required. How is that preparing us for a job in the 21st Century? I feel no sense of “pride” in that.

As for your remark about unlicensed professionals “diminishing the respect of landscape architects,” what is enticing about taking on $100,000 in debt to achieve a Masters in order to get licensed in a struggling field? With high unemployment rates and low average salary rates, it hardly seems worth it. My current boss never got any degree and is running a very successful design-build operation, while my dad, a Senior Landscape Architect in the profession for 30 years, has been out of work since 2008. Explain to me how the work my boss is doing is bringing the profession a bad reputation.

It’s unfortunate that landscape architecture has taken such a hit during the recession and that good design has lost any sort of priority. This country certainly has become a sad place (James Howard Kunstler would agree), and could really use the guidance and insight professionals like my dad have to offer. As much as I love it, I don’t know how practical a career in landscape architecture is anymore. I wish that I could say that current students are getting the education they need to deal with these problems. I was glad to see that some established professionals, like Mr. Lancaster, have a grip on reality and have gained some sympathy for students in my position.

I want to suggest that you go to http://www.dol.gov go to the A-Z link and click on the Occupational Outlook Handbook. Look up landscape architecture. Read about the job growth projections (nicely laid out by region and industry, etc.) and see what you think. The field is projected to grow by 20% – “much faster than average” vis-a-vis all professions. The projected job growth between 2008-2018 in absolute numbers is about 5,300 though (or something like that). Doesn’t seem like many jobs but then again I don’t know how to interpret these numbers. If you look at architects, they’re supposed to grow “faster than average”, but the actual number of new jobs is over 20,000. The current OOH must have been published in 2007 or 2008 (based on data available at the time I presume)… I wonder if it is going to be updated based on current recession-era data (or if the online version has been already – I haven’t checked). Anyway, these numbers would make all the difference to me if I were considering studying LA, which in my fantasy life I am, but for me it’s a non-starter. I am 44, in debt, and not making use of my master’s degree which I am still paying off. I am under-employed and have no retirement savings. Read: not a lot of options for a fulfilling work life or happy retirement. So, my fresh, young landscape architects, be glad that you have your degree, take whatever job you can get to put a roof over your head (like I have had to do), and get ANY LA-related experience you can. Fortunately you are young and more flexible time-wise, financially, etc. (at least I hope you are!) and you can do internships and possibly unpaid work. STAY OUT OF DEBT! And, STAY THE COURSE!!! If you want to work in LA, you might just have to be patient and ride out the recession. Jobs in any profession ebb and flow, recession or no recession, it’s cyclical and to be expected. Get any related experience you can, attend the conferences, etc. You’ve got to commit to it or forget it. And if you don’t have your degree yet, double major. That is not said to be discouraging, just practical. Regardless of your major, I would suggest doubling. It’s just smart. Good luck all! I hope your chosen professional works out. Mine didn’t.

Of course I would like to say don’t worry about the recession, but that’d be silly. Instead, contemplate a minor in horticulture, or like Monica suggested urban planning. If you continue on through college with a major in LA, focus on staying well-rounded in your skills; be able to balance mathematics (grading and such), computer and hand graphics and drafting, as well as attention to detail and how things are actually made/built and know plants! I just started an year long internship at an LA firm and one thing I’m thankful for is that I’m well-rounded.

Two last hints – 1. CONNECTIONS! Sometimes it doesn’t matter how good you are, if you don’t have connections, you’re not going to have much luck getting a job. (I’ve noticed it’s how everyone in my office got their job – they knew someone who knew the principal) (**wink wink** teachers, ASLA conferences & the annual LABash conference **wink wink**) 2. Intern as much as you can!! Experience is crucial in the LA world. I started off in a nursery for the summer after my sophmore year and during the school year was a teaching assistant for a few professors. Having letters of recommendation from a work as well as several from school were huge in getting me my internship.

Best wishes

Even then, people now change careers a few times in their adult lives. Skills transfer. Make sure you pick up skills you enjoy using.

And think about a double major. LAs are fairly interdisciplinary; many are self-employed. So business is a good fit, as well as environmental science, civil engineering, sculpture, MCRP. All these complement the degree while giving you more options. Maybe LA leads you into land-use policy and law school, or you pair it up with Chinese studies and move to Chengdu to work for a multinational firm. Maybe a left-field addition, like a minor in chemistry, will serve you well when you fall back on med school. You can also get majors in other fields and pursue the first-option MLA later.

Just know that everybody’s suffering these days. I just had dinner with a self-employed doctor who’s struggling, and I know a few unemployed lawyers. The economy’s in the tank and no careers are guaranteed. But you’ll do something, so make it something you can live with. Best of luck to you!

Thanks for that post. I just spent well over an hour on different sites reading so many negative posts about the profession that I felt quite hopeless about what I have come to recognize as the work I wish to do for the rest of my life.

We need to put things in perspective. You don’t need to look hard to find articles describing the dreadful state of so many professions. Even law school grads are having trouble finding work (I live with one in that boat) and lawyers with decades of experience and enviable salaries are being laid off from high profile firms. Landscape architecture is far from alone right now, I hope we can all recognize that.