by Arnaldo Cardona, ASLA

K-12 Educational Programs in Landscape Architecture: How to Create Clients and Professionals of the Future
As an ASLA member, you have no doubt heard the phrase “K‐12 educational programs.” Why does this phrase keep resurfacing as an issue in landscape architecture? In this article, I will bring to light why this topic is important and worthy of further development.
First, let’s ask ourselves the following:
- Do people understand what a landscape architect does?
- Are there many positions in government for the recent graduate that recognize and differentiate the role of landscape architect?
- What is the most effective way to promote our profession? Spending unlimited money in advertisement and public relations? Or is there a more effective and economical way to promote our profession?
- Are we creating clients of the future? Are we creating landscape professionals of the future?
- Are college programs in landscape architecture overwhelmed with applicants, or are some in jeopardy?
- What are we doing as a profession to broaden our marketability and diversify our profession in non‐traditional roles?
- How can we work together with other fields or professions to achieve common goals?
How can we expect government agencies to offer more positions in landscape architecture? How can we expect homeowners to hire landscape architects in these times of “do it yourself” TV shows? What can we do to be more effective in the outreach and understanding of the profession?
The answer is education.