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Information For Prospective
Freshmen Students
Prospective freshmen should review all admission information posted on the Cal Poly Admissions web site. Admission to Cal Poly is handled by the Admissions Office, not by individual academic departments. You can view prospective student information 24/7 through Cal Poly's Admissions Web Site. The site contains all official admission information and most questions regarding the admission process and qualifications are answered on this site.
Course Sequences
It is important to understand the sequential nature of the Landscape Architecture curriculum, especially in the first two years of the program. Many courses are delivered as a series (e.g., LA 202, 203, and 204). Each course in such a series is offered only once a year and is a prerequisite to the next course. These series are arranged to be taken in one academic year. Students who do not follow the recommended sequence of courses may find that it takes them longer to complete the program. Such students also risk disqualification from the University for not making adequate progress toward fulfilling their degree requirements.
First Quarter Classes
In your first (Fall) quarter at Cal Poly, you should take the following courses unless you have received transfer or AP credit for them:
EDES 101 - Intro. to Architecture and Environmental Design (2 units)
LA 101 - Introduction to Landscape Architecture (4 units)
COMS 101 or 102 - Public Speaking/Oral Communication (4 units)
MATH 118 - Pre-Calculus Algebra (4)
Do not take more than 14 units during your first quarter. Taking a slightly lower load your first quarter can help with your transition to and success at Cal Poly.
Advanced Placement (AP)
We highly recommend that students look into taking "Advanced Placement (AP)" tests at their current school. A counselor/advisor should be able to tell you whether there is a testing opportunity at your school or in your geographic area. By passing various AP tests, it is possible for students to obtain college credit for certain support and general education courses needed to fulfill Landscape Architecture degree requirements. If you obtain AP credit, you will find that you can take a reduced unit load for one or more quarters and still complete the program in the prescribed time. Many students find this of great benefit, since landscape architecture is a very demanding program.