Whats the difference between a Landscape Designer and Landscape Architect.?

Question

So I'm curious about the differences between Landscape Architecture and Landscape Design. My university offers a Degree in Landscape Design and Management and a Masters in Landscape Architecture.

I'm only asking this b/c I an Architecture major and we recently did a project in which there was alot of landscape design involved which I really enjoyed. I LOVE Arch. I'm pretty good at it. Its just that I'm sort of undecieded as to whether I should stick to regular Arch. and obtain my B.ARCH degree and wonder what if. Or change my major to landscape design or what have you. Just note that all are very time consuming and I have no time to minor.

How much would one in each profession normally make with and w/o expirience (coming right out of school)? I'm not in this for the money, though I love plants and was born with a green thumb.

How great do your drawing skills need to be? I'm better at technical drawings rather than free hand.

Please, no Wikipedia definitions.

Answer 1

the architect is the only one who can make sweeping changes to a landscape and take into account the ramifications of those changes.... like, for example, designing and building a very tall wall with buttresses,  on a sloped property,  to give the homeowner a flat backyard out of a hillside....or taking a flat yard and creating berms and gullies to carry off excess water in a rainy area without flooding the neighbors!.... they're the guys who get paid the best... plain old landscapers can do plants and small changes, but don't have the know-how to do the big changes right.....

go for the Masters'!!!...

Answer 2

Landscape architects deal with more than plant landscape; many gardens have: bridges, ponds,  pavilions, gazebos, and chapels, for example. Re drafting skills see--http://www.constructionbook.com/color-dr...

Different universities quote different starting salaries for the graduates, check locally. I hope it helps.

Answer 3

Landscape architects have professional registries similar to engineers and structural architects.  You must serve under a registered landscape engineer for a set amount of time before you can take the state board test.  I'm not sure if a degree in landscape design would meet the educational requirement for a RLA.  You may want to contact your state board of RLA's.

All of the landscape plans that I see are CADD (computer aided drafting & design) produced.  The following site will answer most of your questions:

http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos039.htm