Welcome
Anne Spafford
Department Head of Landscape Architecture and Environmental DesignDriven by our Mission
Welcome to the Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Design at Mississippi State University!
It is our mission in the Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Design at Mississippi State University to "foster the will and ability to plan, design, build, and manage regenerative communities." We believe that the professions of Landscape Architecture and Landscape Contracting should strive to connect art, culture, and the environment to provide society with places that people love and that are cognizant of a holistic, ecological model of design.
As a student in our department, you’ll explore subjects such as the design process, storm water design, energy flow, native landscapes and plant materials, green infrastructure, sustainability, community planning, and regional planning.
Our Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (BLA) is accredited by the Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board (LAAB), and our Landscape Contracting and Management (LAC) program, with two concentrations, is accredited by the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP). We even offer a dual degree program, which can open more doors to career opportunities and accelerate career advancement.
Our graduate program leading to a Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA) is LAAB-accredited and offers numerous options to customize your experience, including an accelerated program, thesis and non-thesis tracks, and graduate awards and assistantships.
Landscape architects apply an informed scientific approach and an eye for creative design to address community-based challenges, responding with landscape design strategies that support both quality of life for humans and healthy ecosystems. It is the mission of our department to prepare you to make a positive impact on the world, from our backyard to anywhere.
Grounded in our Goals
Our departmental goals are focused on preparing you for a meaningful and successful career in landscape architecture and landscape contracting and management.
Goal 1: Teach students the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to plan, design, build, and manage regenerative communities.
Goal 2: Create new knowledge in landscape planning, design, and management of built and natural environments.
Goal 3: Serve and build relationships with the public, the landscape architecture and landscape contracting professions, and allied professions.
Goal 4: Create a place and culture that advances our mission.
Why Mississippi?
Location, location, location! Mississippi State University is perfectly positioned for learning, exploration, and discovery. Surrounded by pristine ecoregions, public lands, and nature preserves, our students have access to countless opportunities for research, inspiration, and recreation—all within a short drive of the music, shopping, sports, and charm of historic Starkville. Here, students learn directly from the land, gaining firsthand experience in how natural processes inspire effective environmental design and best management practices.
Our students don’t just learn in classrooms—they partner with real communities across the state to design spaces that keep neighborhoods cooler, naturally manage stormwater, improve health and wellbeing, and protect pollinators and other wildlife. From rolling rural hills and urban centers to the Gulf Coast, Mississippi offers a living laboratory to solve real-world challenges that mirror those faced around the globe.
As William Faulkner wrote, “To understand the world, you must first understand a place like Mississippi.” We're proud to be the only program in the nation where Landscape Contracting & Management and Landscape Architecture are housed together in one department with a shared, collaborative curriculum. We also founded the National Collegiate Landscape Competition, now celebrating its 50th anniversary—a milestone that reflects our long-standing leadership and innovation in the field.
Thriving in thoughtfully designed facilities
The Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Design is located on the southwest side of campus, on the corner of Stone Boulevard and Bully Boulevard.
Our facility is a complex of three buildings and surrounding grounds inspired by Mississippi’s abundant natural resources and demonstrating the energy-efficient and environmentally responsible practices that we teach our students. At the heart of our nature-inspired facilities are design studios and laboratories with state-of-the-art technology, giving our students the hands-on experiences they need to learn, explore, and discover.
If you are interested in landscape architecture or landscape contracting and management and would like to learn more about studying at Mississippi State University, we would be happy to give you a tour and discuss your options as a student in our department. Please give us a call or send us an email to schedule your visit.
Contact Us
Mailing Address:
Department of Landscape Architecture
Mail Stop 9725
Mississippi State, MS 39762
Physical Address:
Department of Landscape Architecture
845-3 Stone Blvd.
Mailstop 9725
Mississippi State, MS 39762
Contact Us
Anne Spafford, head
Phone: 662.325.7896
Email: anne.spafford@msstate.edu