The Master of Science in Synthetic Landscapes course at SCI-Arc focuses on addressing ecological challenges through design that blends architecture, landscape, urbanism and ecology.

Master of Science in Synthetic Landscapes is a one-year, three-semester postgraduate degree, confronting climate change and the inseparability of built and natural environments. Students are encouraged to rethink how humans coexist with and shape ecological systems.

Students begin by studying urban landscapes, with a focus on places like the Los Angeles River Basin to understand the intersection of infrastructure, policy and environment. They then explore rural ecologies across California – including fieldwork in Joshua Tree and agricultural regions — to investigate how landscapes function and are managed.

The final semester emphasises technology, prototyping and fabrication, using tools such as robotics, CNC machining and digital modelling to develop tangible design proposals that merge ecological insight with technological innovation.

The curriculum builds skills in ecological systems design, computational research, cross-scalar thinking, climate adaptation strategies, and advanced visualisation, while fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and critical analysis of complex environmental conditions.

Students learn directly from real ecologies through field-based study and engagement with research sites such as the Getty Center and California Botanic Garden.

Graduates go on to work at the forefront of ecological design and environmental practice, redefining relationships between the natural and built world across diverse professional contexts.

School: SCI-Arc
Course: Synthetic Landscapes
Type: Postgraduate
Location: Los Angeles, USA
Course dates: September 2026 to August 2027
Application deadline: 15 March 2026

Find out more about the course and apply ›

What will I learn during this course?

– Ecological and environmental systems design
– Advanced material and computational research
– Theories of landscape, nature and technology

What are the requirements?

– Bachelor's degree

What facilities and resources are available?

– In-person teaching
– Access to SCI-Arc facilities

What career prospects can I expect upon graduating?

Graduates are leading innovation at the intersection of architecture, ecology and technology.

Who teaches this course?

– Florencia Pita, programme coordinator
– Anna Neimark, faculty

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