The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has designated degrees in landscape architecture as a science, technology, engineering, mathematics (or STEM) discipline upon the advice of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), announced by the organization today (July 12).

The designation helps both academics and practitioners in the expanded field gain recognition for the scientific nature of their work, which increasingly helps both government and private interests mitigate against the impact of climate change while performing other tasks that are critically important to the health and safety of the environment for citizens throughout the country. 

"The STEM designation finally reflects the reality of the discipline of landscape architecture. Our work is fully dependent on science and technology, from understanding soils at the level of microbial interactions and nutrient exchanges, which keep our urban canopy alive, to coastal adaptations informed by continuously evolving climate data," Gary Hilderbrand, Harvard Graduate School of Design’s current Chair of the Department of Landscape Architecture, said at the announcement. "This new designation brings with it greater opportunities for students and graduates throughout the United States and beyond to become leaders in the field."

"We help communities adapt to climate-driven extreme weather and support biodiversity,” ASLA CEO Torey Carter-Conneen explained further. “The infrastructure challenges in municipalities across the country are enormous —landscape architects bring transformative solutions. Today’s decision will advance landscape architecture education and practice, and that is great for America and the global community.”

The increased influence of the profession was evident even further this year with the inclusion of SCAPE founder and Columbia GSAPP Urban Design Program Director Kate Orff in TIME Magazine’s ‘100 Influential People' list. (The magazine commended her for "seeking instead to liberate landscape to do nothing less than repair our warming planet through design.")

“Landscape architects have incredible responsibility for the health, safety and well-being of communities which is why it’s imperative for landscape architects to continue to be licensed to practice. The STEM designation will be an additional tool in helping decision-makers understand the rigor this discipline demands," ASLA President Emily O'Mahoney added finally.

The full trove of the ASLA's formal application materials can be found here.