When it comes to the field of garden design and landscape design, options for education are wide open. Unlike the field of and schools for landscape architecture, which requires a formal education at an accredited college followed by testing and eventual certification from the ASLA, there is no one governing body overseeing the field of landscape and garden design. That doesn't mean that the programs of study out there are not substantial; just that you have to do more research about the school in question.

Some things to consider when looking for a good garden design or landscape design school:

• Faculty: read the bios of the instructors to see if they are actual working landscape designers or architects or experienced teachers in the field.
• History of program: how long has it been around?
• Degrees or certificates offered: does the program offer a bachelors, masters or certificate program in landscape or garden design?
• How many semesters is the program? Is this a traditional undergraduate program with semesters or quarters? Is it a community college program in which you will earn a certificate?
• Student satisfaction; job placement and resources: find out where graduates work. Do they get hired by local companies or start their own businesses?

Before you enroll in an online course, check out the reputation of the school or university and whether there are prerequisites for the course you are taking. In other words, don't just blindly enroll and give them your credit card information before doing your homework! The schools and associations on this list are not here as an endorsement, nor is this a complete list of all landscape design schools. If you know of a good landscape design school or program that should be included on the list, please contact us.

•L.A. Pierce College

This two-year community college in Los Angeles County's San Fernando Valley offers horticulture and landscape design courses for an AS degree, along with various certificate programs.

Pierce College is located in Woodland Hills, California.More »

•National Garden Clubs

For more than 50 years, the National Garden Clubs has been offering a variety of courses for the home gardener and professionals interested in different aspects of garden design and history. Classes are offered in landscape design, gardening, flower shows and environmental studies.More »

•Otis College of Art and Design

Otis College of Art and Design offers a bachelors degree in Architecture/Landscape/Interiors (A/L/I) seeks to contribute to the emergence of imaginative contemporary practices through a synthetic curriculum of the spatial design fields: architecture (buildings), landscape (spaces between buildings), and interiors (spaces within buildings).
Otis College of Art and Design is located in Los Angeles.More »

•SUNY Delhi

An Associate in Applied Science degree in Landscape Design and Management is offered at the State University of New York at the Delhi campus. Students in the Landscape Design & Management program will gain practical experience in the design, installation and maintenance of residential and commercial landscapes.

SUNY Delhi is located in Delhi, New York.More »

•The George Washington University

The Landscape Design Graduate Certificate or Master's Degree Program is targeted for landscape professionals seeking to upgrade skills, individuals who want to become professional landscape designers, amateurs with an interest in garden design, institutional horticultural staff, nursery employees and garden design writers. The program provides a background in horticulture, nursery and planting standards and the creative process of design. Courses are geared to small-scale landscape design applications with an emphasis on solid design principles, good site engineering methods and creative use of plant materials. This part-time Graduate Certificate program offers classes evenings and weekends in five eight-week terms during the calendar year.

The George Washington University is located in Washington D.C.More »

•University of California at Berkeley Extension Program

While this course of study is landscape architecture, it's included because introductory courses in the Certificate Program in Landscape Architecture are open to all. However, be aware that most courses have prerequisites.

The University of California at Berkeley is located in Berkeley, California, near San Francisco and Oakland.More »

•Boston Architectural College

The Landscape Institute at the Boston Architectural College provides courses, workshops and special programs in landscape design, history, horticulture and preservation. The institute's comprehensive offerings are for design novices as well as seasoned professionals. Courses are open enrollment; some are onsite, online, or a combination of the two.

Boston Architectural College is located in Boston, Massachusetts.More »