Academic Units

DEPARTMENT OF  Landscape Design and Eco-system Management (LDEM)

Chairperson: Zurayk, R.
Professors: Talhouk, S.; Zurayk, R.
Associate Professor: Makhzoumi, J.
Assistant Professor: Farajalla, N.; Weltzien, J.
Lecturers: ^PBattikha, G.

Instructors: ^PJarroush Abdouni, N.; ^PShibli, R.; ^PIsa, M.; ^PMarkarian, G.
Departmental R.A.: Modad, N.

The department of Landscape Design and Ecosystem Management adopts a holistic, integrative framework in design and management that equally prioritizes natural and cultural resources through inter-faculty and interdisciplinary teaching and research. It aims to provide students with a liberal education, and to produce good citizens and skilled professionals.

The mission of the department is to graduate students that adopt a holistic view of landscape and the environment; and are equipped with cutting edge scientific knowledge and creative, flexible skills for the design and management of natural and cultural resources. The essence of the department lies in its interdisciplinary nature, in teaching and in research with applications in the Middle East region.

The following courses are offered by the department:

Core Courses for the BS Degree in Landscape Design and Eco-Management

LDEM 200 Landscape Technical Drawing 4 cr.
An introductory introduction to basic graphical skills in landscape design. Students learn to use
different drawing tools and techniques, 2D-orthographic projections and 3D-drawings. Course
material also covers understanding of scale and of shade and shadow.

LDEM 202 Landscape Design I 6 cr.
An introductory studio that guides students through the multi-layered meaning of landscape. Visual, perceptual, and spatial qualities are explored and alternatives for their graphic representation investigated. Prerequisite: ARCH 100.

LDEM 203 The Environment and Sustainable Development 3.0, 3 cr.
An introduction to sustainable development: concepts, goals, and economic and social aspects; environmental issues associated with development: natural resource management, population, food production, and energy; institutional framework; standards and policies; emerging technological applications and their impacts; resolution of environmental conflicts; future trends.

LDEM 204 Ecological Landscape Design I 6 cr.
An introduction to the objectives and methodology of ecological landscape design in arid and semi-arid ecosystems. This course emphasizes the use of native plant resources, biodiversity conservation, and environmental sustainability. Applications are selected from urban public spaces, commercial and recreational projects. Prerequisite: LDEM 246.

LDEM 209 Plant Biology 3.3; 4 cr.
An introduction to botany, introducing as many general principles of biology as possible while concentrating on plant biology. Course material is aimed at developing an understanding and appreciation of the interaction of plants with their environment, and providing applications and insights relevant to landscape students.

LDEM 211 Landscape Horticulture I 2.3; 3 cr.
Principles and practices in the production and management of landscape plants; the identification of landscape plants; introduction to sexual and asexual plant propagation, identification, selection and management of annuals, perennials, trees and shrubs, herbs and vegetables, indoor plants, cut flowers, plants for dry lands, landscape plants and their ecological impact.

LDEM 212 Landscape Horticulture II 2.3; 3 cr.
Survey, identification, landscape characters and management of herbaceous and woody landscape plants. The student will learn about main landscape uses of plants and the management requirements in different site/use situations. Prerequisite: LDEM 211.

LDEM 215 Introduction to Landscape Pests 2.3; 3 cr.
The fundamentals, biology, and ecology of landscape insects, mites, plant pathogens, and weeds.

LDEM 216 Landscape Design II 6 cr.
The process of landscape design is introduced, starting with site appreciation and analysis, through concept development and articulation using building materials, plants, and landscape furniture. The focus is on conceptual thinking and communication both verbally and graphically. This course trains students to explore different computer-aided presentation techniques and to use AutoCAD. Prerequisite: LDEM 202.

LDEM 217 Soils in the Landscape 2.3; 3 cr.
Specifically designed for landscape students, the course aims at developing an understanding of the relationship between geology, landform, soils and landscapes. The course also aims to emphasize the management actions essential in landscaping, such as soil preparation, soil amendments and fertilization.

LDEM 227 Applied Plant Protection in Landscape 2.3; 3 cr.
The diagnosis of landscape pests including diseases, insects, mites, and weeds of major importance and applied measures for their prevention and control.

LDEM 228 Ecological Landscape Design II 6 cr.
A course offered at the Agricultural Research and Educational Center (AREC) in the Beka'a. The concepts and methods introduced in the previous term are applied to rural and agricultural landscapes with a hands-on approach that aims to serve the local communities. Prerequisite: LDEM 204.

LDEM 229 Turfgrass Culture, Machinery, and Management 2.3; 3 cr.
An introduction to turfgrass use, establishment, and management. This course focuses on the environmental impact of turfgrass landscapes in arid regions. Students are introduced to the machinery used in landscape management.

LDEM 230 Water and the Environment 3.0; 3 cr.
Physical hydrological processes, natural environment and the role of human activities and interactions. Topics covered include hydrologic cycle, watershed hydrology, runoff generation, precipitation, evapotranspiration, infiltration, stream processes, groundwater, erosion, and statistical hydrology.

LDEM 241 Final Year Project: Landscape Design 6 cr.
Each student will work on a project of their choice, with the guidance and approval of an appointed faculty committee. The natural, environmental, socio-cultural, and legal constraints, together with the specific requirements of the project, will form the basis for developing the landscape design. Different techniques are used such as GIS and other software to assist in evaluating the site and articulating the proposal. Prerequisite: LDEM 228.

LDEM 242 Final Year Project: Landscape Implementation and Management 6 cr.
Having finalized the landscape design in the previous term, the student dedicates this last term to developing the technical and implementation drawings and the proposed management plan. Working on their individual projects, the students thus have the opportunity to integrate the knowledge and skills gained in the previous years into a comprehensive landscape design proposal. Prerequisite: LDEM 241.

LDEM 245 Irrigation Methods for Landscape Designs 3 cr.
A course that acquaints students with the design and production of economical irrigation systems that keep landscapes green while conserving water.

LDEM 246 Landscape Design III 6 cr.
A continuation of the previous term, the finalized landscape design is developed toward the preparation of implementation drawings. A special emphasis is placed on building materials and construction, technical detailing, landscape furniture, plant selection and their role in articulating the landscape design. Landscape specifications, bills of quantities, and costing are also introduced. Prerequisite: LDEM 216.

LDEM 250 Computer Aided Design 3 cr.
An introduction to computer-aided landscape design and analysis. Students are provided with software tools for landscape drafting and project management that can be applied in design courses and can later be developed in a landscape design project.

LDEM 290 Professional Practice 3.0; 3 cr.
This course discusses the professional practice of the landscape architecture profession. It
introduces basic issues in the practice and the profession of landscape design, challenging the
students to critically examine professional, political, commercial, and other problems in current
practice. Prerequisite: ENGL 203 and junior standing.

LDEM 295 Landscape Seminar 1 cr.
Current issues in landscape design and eco-management.

LDEM 296 Landscape Seminar 1 cr.
Current issues in landscape design and eco-management.

Elective Courses for the BS Degree in Landscape Design and Eco-Management

LDEM 201 Landscape History and Theory 3 cr.
A historical review of garden and landscape design that explores the role of regional resources, environmental, socio-economic, and political factors in shaping garden and landscape design concepts. Current approaches to landscape design, from the gardenesque to the ecological, serve as a basis for exploring meaning and representation in landscape.

LDEM 260 Current Issues of Landscape 3 cr.
A review of the recent developments in landscape design on an international basis. The course emphasizes case studies and a critical review of the contemporary role of the profession.

LDEM 261 Spatial Structure and Movement 3 cr.
The course is concerned with the experience of outdoor and indoor spaces, and the direct influence the placement of any object has on the perception of the latter and the movement within. The course is based on the assumption that the notion of movement and body proportion for mankind has been a primary design tool throughout history and will try to reevaluate this tool for contemporary design.

LDEM 262 Healing Landscapes: Contemporary and Historical Settings 3 cr.
The course is proposed in the context of a changing healthcare system and the need for psychologically beneficial interventions in healthcare settings. It considers various approaches to the design of therapeutic landscapes, the degree to which historical precedents are applied in the present-day medical setting, and the healing potential of these cultural archetypes in terms of environmental psychology.

LDEM 270 Ornamental Plants for Dry Landscapes 2 cr.
A survey of native, wild, and domesticated plants adapted to dry areas with potential use in dry landscapes, with an overview of the different environmental and physiological factors that determine plant growth and developments under such dry conditions.

^1P Part-time

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