ISU

AMES, Iowa - Iowa State University's undergraduate landscape architecture program tied for eighth in the nation, according to a new survey of practitioners by DesignIntelligence.

DesignIntelligence is a bimonthly publication for leaders in design professions. The magazine's annual report, "America's Best Architecture and Design Schools," is the only national college ranking survey that focuses exclusively on design. The report is aimed at design firms and organizations that recruit and hire recent college graduates.

For 2011, Iowa State's undergraduate landscape architecture program tied for eighth place in the survey with California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo; Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y.; Kansas State University, Manhattan; and the University of California at Davis. Last year the program ranked 11th. There are 47 accredited undergraduate landscape architecture programs in the United States.

The DesignIntelligence rankings are based on ratings by practitioners. The publication contacted leaders in 220 professional firms and organizations that have direct experience with the hiring and performance of recent graduates. They were asked to indicate which schools have best prepared students for professional practice, as well as the programs that best educate and train students in specific skills.

Landscape architecture is in Iowa State University's College of Design.