Graduation Semester and Year
Spring 2025
Language
English
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Landscape Architecture
Department
Landscape Architecture
First Advisor
Letora Anderson
Second Advisor
Taner R. Özdil
Third Advisor
Kona Gray
Abstract
Socio-economic and environmental pressures have created a demand for landscape architecture practitioners that far outweighs the current supply of students and professionals (Hendricks et al., 2019; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024c). This reality has spurred industry representatives to examine education, recruitment, and outreach strategies (Cardona, 2024, 2021; Davis, 2022; American Society of Landscape Architects, n.d.-a). Investigating the factors that influence landscape architecture (and allied industry) education, recruitment, and outreach may inform the refinement of such strategies. The purpose of this thesis is to examine the factors and stakeholder perceptions that influence landscape architecture education, recruitment, and outreach in Texas high schools. One overarching question frames this research:
- How can existing and future Texas high school landscape architecture outreach strategies be adapted to elevate student exposure and engagement?
To answer this primary question, the thesis also addresses two secondary questions:
- What are the factors that influence Texas high school landscape architecture education, recruitment, and outreach?
- What are the opinions of relevant Texas professionals, educators, counselors, and recruiters on the effectiveness of existing high school landscape architecture outreach strategies relative to allied industries, such as architecture?
This thesis employed qualitative research methods to answer the research questions (Spradley, 1979; Gale et al., 2013; Tie et al., 2019). Data from the literature review, seven anonymous interviews, and 21 anonymous online survey responses were analyzed within a framework matrix to synthesize key findings and recommendations.
Findings suggested that the factors influencing Texas high school landscape architecture education, recruitment, and outreach are numerous and interdisciplinary. Stakeholder opinions on current outreach strategies were mixed, with many acknowledging that they have improved over the years but that they still lag in scope and impact. While the findings revealed many potential avenues for calibrating these strategies, data suggested that centralizing efforts at the state and local schools would be the first step in addressing these issues. These findings offer guidance in addressing key issues surrounding Texas high school landscape architecture education, recruitment, and outreach.
Keywords
Landscape architecture, Education, Recruitment, Outreach, Texas high schools, Career discovery
Disciplines
Landscape Architecture
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Hampton, Johnathan A., "CATALYZING ENGAGEMENT: INVESTIGATING FACTORS AND PERCEPTIONS SHAPING TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE EDUCATION, RECRUITMENT, AND OUTREACH" (2025). Landscape Architecture Masters & Design Theses. 314.
https://mavmatrix.uta.edu/landscapearch_theses/314