Requirements for Completing Master’s Program

1. Basic Requirements

Minimum semesters for registration: 4 semesters (maximum of 8 semesters)
Credits: 33 credits (maximum of 12 credits per semester)
Grade point average: 3.0 or above
Thesis Submission Qualification Exam(TSQE): English score as well as passing grade on TSQE

※ English score follows the criteria below

[For students admitted prior 2023 (Applicable up to students entering the second semester of 2022)]
: New TEPS 298 = TEPS 551 = TOEFL IBT 79 points or above

[For students admitted after 2023(Applicable from students admitted in the first semester of 2023)]
: New TEPS 298 = TEPS 551 = TOEFL IBT 88 points or above

[Thesis submission qualifying examination]

* Thesis submission qualifying examination(TSQE): application after registration for at least 3 semesters as well as completion of 22 credits, and examination in March for the spring semester and September for the fall semester
* Requirements for Waiver of Thesis submission qualifying Examination
*The published paper for TSQE exemption must have a different subject from dissertation

  1. TSQE can be waived in the case of having a published paper at the national-level, as determined by the Academic Committee
    : limited to the main author or first author, and a foreign journal or any journal certified or likely become certified by National Research Foundation
  2. TSQE can be waived in the case of having presented a paper at the national-level academic conference, as determined by the Academic Committee
    : limited to the main author or first author, and verbal presentation at a regular conference hosted by academic associations that publish a foreign journal or any journal certified or likely become certified by National Research Foundation
  3. TSQE can be waived in the case of being awarded in a design competition at the national or international level, as determined by the Academic Committee
    : limited to a team of 3 or fewer participants, to at least a third-place prize, and to design areas related to landscape architecture, urban and architecture in a domestic or foreign design competition
    * Other matters to be determined by the Academic Committee

2. Composition of credit requirement

Common requirements

  1. Reading and Research (3 credits)
  2. Select one of the subjects: [Environmental Planning and Design] or [Sustainability: Current Issues and Challenges]

+ Students admitted after 2022 must take 3 credits for [Subject for Liberal Education] (must include [Research Ethics]), up to 6 credits are recognized.
However, the [subject for liberal education] credits are NOT calculated as LA major credits.

Studio Class

Must complete at least 8 credits
- If you do not complete the studio in the semester, you may be disadvantaged on the scholarship.
- In the case of submitting a statement of reason for non-completion in the studio, 4 credits of studio courses can be exempted through the approval of the advising professor and department chair.

Major Credits

17 credits or more from courses in Dept. LA ( "Reading and Research 3 credits" can be counted in major credits)
(Need 6 credits or more at Environmental Landscape Architecture major or Urban Environmental Design major among 17 credits)
*Major selection will be at the end of 3rd semester

Allowance for credits from other graduate schools: Maximum of 10 credits
Common courses of GSES and classes of IPLA·IPUD·Dept. of Environmental Planning, Subjects for Liberal Education conducted by professors in Dept. of Environmental Design are excluded from the credits earned by other departments. (Article 6, Paragraph 4 of the departments's bylaws)

Allowance for credits from undergraduate: Maximum of 6 credits (3 credits per semester) from undergraduates for entire master’s and doctoral programs
(But, only undergraduate courses related to LA or UD major will be accepted excluding subjects for Liberal Education)
※ Prior guidance and approval from advising professor or department chair is required to take courses within GSES, courses from other departments and undergraduate courses

Category Course Title (Credits)
Common Urban Open Space Planning and Design(4) Environmental Design in History(3) Virtual Landscape Design Techniques(3) Environmental Conservation and Management(2) Landscape History(2) Urban Park Planning and Management(2) Neighborhood and community regeneration(3)
Environmental Landscape Architecture Major Regional Landscape Planning(4) Landscape Form and Space Design Studio(4) Planting Design(4) Leisure and Recreational Space Design(4) Garden Design(4) Environmental Design and Digital Media(3) Workshop for Ecological Process and Design(3) Environmental Monitoring and Assessment(3) Environmental and Ecological Planning(3) Plant Materials(3) The Interpretation of Landscapes(3) Culture and Spatial Behavior(3) Seminar on Landscape System Analysis(3) Landscape Engineering Workshop(3) Seminar in Landscape Architecture(2) Biodiversity and Environmental Planning(2) Community Participatory Design Method(3)
Urban Environmental Design Major Community Planning and Design(4) Urban Regeneration Studio(4) Environmental Design Studio(4) Site Design(4) Urban Space Research Studio(4) Urban Design Living Lab(4) Urban Landscape System Studio(4) Seminar in Cultural Environment(3) Issues and Methods in Urban Design(2) Urban Places and Urban Architecture(2) Understanding Analytical Methods for Urban Environmental Research Design(2) Quantitative Research Methods in the Urban Environment(3)

3. Thesis

English score must be TEPS 298 or higher(TOEFL IBT 88 points(79 points for students admitted prior 2023) or above) to submit the thesis, which must be satisfied before the thesis review proceeds. (in early March in the case of the first semester, and in early September in the case of the second semester)

Waiver of Comprehensive Examination

Students who have completed the following items are exempted from the thesis qualification test after going through the deliveration of the GSES Committee.

- In the case of paper published in a national-level academic journal (lead author or first author)
- In the case of paper presentation at a national-level academic conference (lead author or first author)
- In the case of winning a prize in a national or international level design competition (limited to a team of 3 or fewer participants and to at least a third-place prize)