2 hours. 1 hours lecture and 2 hours lab per week.
Professional Practice
Course Description
The legal environment of business focusing on public and private law. Professional relations during project management, resolution of disputes, the court system, torts, real property/liens, contract law, specification writing, insurance bonds, business organizations, ethics, and professional registration.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students: Graduate students are expected to serve leading roles within
the class and demonstrate their leadership during group
project assignments. Additional work is expected and will be
assigned to graduate students in addition to the undergraduate
requirements, which will include an in-depth research paper
related to a selected class topic and oral presentation. The
research paper will demonstrate excellence and greater depth
in individual research, synthesis of research findings, and
verbal and visual presentation (e.g., case study research,
illustrative and/or technical drawings, and written
narrative/descriptions).
Athena Title
Professional Practice
Prerequisite
LAND 3030 or LAND 3030S
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student Learning Outcomes
Students will use a version of the BMTI to determine one’s personality type.
Students will develop an understanding of the different types of landscape architecture practice and the opportunities and constraints of each.
Students will determine which types of landscape architecture practice best suits your personality type.
Students will explain the opportunities and challenges your personality type presents when working at the type of practice you have chosen.
Students will transform personality strengths into an “elevator pitch” that can be used during a job search.
Students will learn how to conduct an informational interview.
Students will use professional social media sites (handshake and linked in) to locate UGA CED Alums who are working for firms that align with your chosen career path.
Students will conduct informational interviews with the alumni who work at the firms you are interested in.
Students will conduct informational interviews at a professional networking event attended by landscape architects.
Students will utilize what has been learned from informational interviews and self-discovery exercises to prepare an “elevator pitch” for the CED Career Fair.
Students will participate in the CED Career Fair to locate a summer internship.
Students will work with a team of students to develop initial concepts for a landscape architecture firm.
Students will research demographic projections and public/private sector business opportunities in the firm’s home city.
Students will prepare an initial “pitch” for the firm using market research, demographics, and preliminary company organizational chart.
Students will research median salaries for all the company employees using a job search/salary app (glass door, indeed, salary.com)
Students will use industry standard multipliers to determine payroll costs for the firm.
Students will research the cost of equipment and office space needed for the firm to conduct operations in its home city.
Students will prepare a power point presentation that presents payroll costs and “startup” expenses for office space and equipment.
Students will demonstrate an understanding of the different phases of a landscape architecture project.
Students will use industry standard multipliers and salaries to determine billing rates and projected income for the firm.
Students will prepare a preliminary profit and loss statement for the firm using projected billing rates and expenses.
Students will demonstrate an understanding of the different phases of construction for a landscape architecture project.
Students will prepare a contract proposal for a hypothetical project using the firm’s billing rates.
Students will prepare a three-year income statement for the firm.
Students will develop a “pitch” for potential investors to contribute startup funding to the firm.
Students will present preliminary pitch for the firm to an initial investor, and obtain feedback from the investor for how to improve the presentation. Revise presentation per comments received.
Students will present final pitches to group of alumni investors (aka sharks.)
Topical Outline
1. Students will discover their Briggs-Myers personality type using an online personality testing app.
2. Learn about the 7 different types of landscape architecture practice
3. Utilize personality test results to identify what types of opportunities and constraints for different personalities in landscape architecture.
4. Practice basic networking and informational interview skills by participating in a variety of networking/mentorship events with professionals.
5. Utilize networking skills at the CED career fair to begin the search for an internship.
6. Work with a team of classmates to research and develop an idea for a hypothetical landscape architecture firm.
7. Develop a business plan for the landscape architecture firm.
8. Understand the phases of a landscape architecture design project.
9. Use the design phases to develop a fee proposal for professional services.
10. Understand the phases of a construction project and the landscape architect's role in each phase.
11. Understand how to obtain a professional license and keep that license active through continuing education.
12. Prepare a final pitch and three year financial statement for the hypothetical landscape architecture firm.
13. Present the plan and financial statement to a panel of professional judges.
