all of those MLA programs are very different (some are more different like LSU or Texas) - so it really matters what you're intent and interest in coming over to the green side or where you want to practice. If you just want shiny new hot design, #1 & #2 or RISD will give you that. Want a dash of social justice mixed in? then look at Berkeley. Cornell has a bit of forestry/ecology mixed in. UVA brings environmental restoration as art plus a bit of american history. Heading north to UMN, hydrology is front and center (as appropriate for being the headwaters of the Mississippi) with a mix of poetics and good design [full disclosure, I used to teach at UMN]. The largest MLA program is Georgia - so that's the Las Vegas buffet of programs (and only golf architecture program I know of). North of the border, Toronto and Guelph have very strong programs.

NYC has several emerging powerhouses - Parsons/New School and CCNY are pretty cutting edge without the pretense of pick #1 & #2 - Parsons has a more established faculty when it comes to teaching.

Out on the west coast, UC Davis is hard-core horticulture, UWash is a green powerhouse, Portland State has a really interesting urban focus, Cal Poly Pomona has a really strong regional scale focus plus deep roots in sustainability [full disclosure - I now teach here].

note about Penn: earlier this decade, the 1st year of the MLA program was were most of the magic happened - as a MLA II, you'd miss that action.

the ASLA or the LAAB have full lists of all the programs. If you share what your interest is, archinect can provide more collective wisdom.

Thank you so much for your reply Barry Lehrman. It is extremely helpful and insightful. 

I am looking at a landscape course that is more focused on urbanism. Addressing urban issues from a landscape perspective is the kind of focus I think I want to study. Not so much of the "hard-core horticulture". Any new suggestions? 

I shall check out Cal Poly Pomona, the course sounds interesting. 

Also, if you could, could you please tell me what the course at UTexas is like?! I've heard its pretty good for architecture, but I havnt really been able to find out for Landscape. 

My list is still under a process of refinement. I have begun my applications for a few that I know I most definitely want to apply to, but the others a still a bit tentative and I was hoping to get someone's point of view to help me refine or better my list. Thanks again. 

Urban focus is found in urban regions - so look at schools in the bos-wash corridor, the urban land-grant universities of the rust belt, and the urban schools along the west coast. Of the big ten, Ohio State and UMN are the two that I'd say meet your interest (okay, I'm biased towards them).

Sorry, I don't know much about the landscape architecture program at Texas A&M or LSU. 

Does anyone know anything about the Master's in Landscape Architecture course at the University of Texas at Austin?

What kind of work does the school lay emphasis on? 

Anything about their professors? 

The information on their website is not very specific. Please do let me know. 

UT-Austin published a series of student work, I'd give them a ring and ask for a few volumes - when I asked they were very helpful in getting me info.

Check out Auburn University. Although it isn't in an urban core, it is close enough to Atlanta and Birmingham. 

Semester long studio projects over the last few years have centered around urban design in Nashville and Atlanta particularly pertaining to urban infill and master planning in Nashville and the Beltline project in Atlanta.

Outside of studio, the program is much like Harvard in that it has a strong theory curriculum. 

Hello @Barry Lehrman.. you've been an informative voice for UPenn MLA, so I thought I might ask a few questions. Thanks in advance If you have the time to answer!

Like most people accepted to the program, I'm very excited about the prospect of such a great education, but quite anxious about the inevitable debt. While you were studying did most/any people work? I was planning on a 2night a week bartending gig to soften the blow of my living expenses.. but don't know if it is better to incur the expense in loans so as to ensure 100% focus on studio. I worked through my b.arch (probably way too much).. and there are some projects I know it hurt.

As far as living in Philly, do you have any recommendations or cautionsabout living situations? When I visited, the tour guide stated most students live just west of campus.. didn't know if other neighborhoods are worth investigating..

What professors or lecture courses did you enjoy the most?

Thanks again