The Landscape Architecture program at Auburn University granted three Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (4 year) degrees in 1933. Auburn University was then called Alabama Polytechnical Institute and the Landscape Architecture program was in the Department of Horticulture and Forestry, School of Agriculture. In 1941, the program expanded to five years and became part of the School of Architecture and the Allied Arts.

The first five-year BLA degree was awarded in 1947, and Professor Samuel P. Snow was appointed head of the Landscape Architecture program. Unfortunately, the Landscape Architecture program was phased out in 1952 due to low enrollment, having graduated 34 students, including two females, since 1933.

In 1971, licensure legislation was passed regulating the practice of Landscape Architecture in Alabama. In 1973, the Alabama Chapter of ASLA (American Society for Landscape Architecture) requested that Landscape Architecture be re-established at Auburn University within the School of Architecture. In 1976, the proposal to re-establish the program was approved, and a committee of faculty and professionals formulated and designed the curriculum. In 1979, the Student Chapter of ASLA was established, and Professor John F. Robinson was appointed Chairman of the Landscape Architecture Program. The first class to graduate from the re-established program was in 1982. In 1984, the third graduating class qualified the Program for initial accreditation review by LAAB (Landscape Architecture Accreditation Board).

In 1987, the School of Architecture was organized into three departments: Architecture, Building Science and Industrial Design. The Department of Architecture was made up of programs in architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, and community planning. The Landscape Architecture program grew during the 80’s to four full time faculty and fifty students. The program was granted a five-year renewal of its BLA accreditation in 1995. Student numbers grew to 75.

In 1992, Jack Williams, as a Visiting Professor, was appointed Acting Chair of the Landscape Architecture program. In 1993, he was appointed a full professor and became Chair. Discussions began in 1997 to change the Bachelor of Landscape Architecture First Professional Degree to a Professional Master’s of Landscape Architecture. A proposal was made to the Alabama Council on Higher Education and the Trustees of Auburn University and approved in 1998. The first MLA students were admitted into the program in Fall 1998 with advanced standing, and this began the phasing out of the Bachelor of Landscape Architecture.

The first Master of Landscape Architecture students graduated in Spring of 2000, and the Landscape Architecture program was granted initial accreditation as a professional program. In 2003, the program underwent accreditation by the LAAB, and became a full first professional degree graduate program.