Clemson University

Date: Dec 13 2013
Major: Architecture & Urban Planning Department (This Major's Salary over time)
I have not seen any other reviews for landscape architecture here. i find that interesting. A lot of people here complain about the social dynamics at Clemson. I thought the social dynamics were fine. people were friendly. I only did not like 2 students the entire time at Clemson: which is amazing because in other cities I have disliked many people. In cases where they don't like you they will at least friendly. If you recognize people with the same psychology and interests as you, you will find friends. the nightlife is pretty limited, but good enough. greenville is 45 minutes away and if you make a group trip is definitely worth it. I never cared about frats of sorority's and they were never mean to me. maybe a bit snotty and full of themselves but whatever. Overall the social dynamics are fine. if you know how to make friends and don't internalize social rejection to much it should be pretty fun.

On the other hand, i have some warning about the fine arts program, landscape architecture in particular.

There are GREAT teachers in landscape architecture. BUT there are also some people in the faculty that have narcissistic disorders and even perhaps antisocial personality TRAITS.

Some professors in landscape architecture, and many professors in liberal arts in general, are clinical narcissists no doubt:

this means if you don't suck up to them immensely, or in anyway they perceive you as a threat they will give you bad grades. They have very vulnerable egos and even if its just asking questions related to course subject matter that they they don't know the answer to: they will hate you. because thats how clinical narcissists are. its amazing how extreme this phenomenon is. I've heard many similar stories from people in other fine art programs at Clemson and universities in general. The funny thing is, in some cases where work is produced to well, the narcissistic teachers will have the opposite of the appropriate reaction: they will be intimidated and give you bad grades. They don't care about you its all about power for them. They also get really upset when you don't do EverYthinG EXACTLY the way they tell you to. If they don't like you they can grade you however they want. Again, there are some EXCELLENT professors in the landscape architecture department at Clemson.

if you graduate from this program and are not planning to go into academia as a career, realize you will likely not become an actual designer. you will most likely work at an urban planning firm doing other work. the program focuses extensively on urban planning, and there are not a great many jobs in urban planning that are really desirable. Even If you are a designer in this field, creativity will be constrained significantly by developers needing to cut costs as much as possible.

If you interested in designing real estate and residential properties, i would suggest going into a shorter term landscape DESIGN program. Even though landscape design schools are not as prestigious, they will teach design fundamentals, horticulture, business aspects, etc. the reason you don't need Clemson is all that matters at the end of the day when getting clients is PORTFOLIO and having social CONNECTIONS. you don't need 4 years of urban planning to do residential design. there is also more room for creative realization on micro scale projects like residential design.

There is a stereotype that liberal arts won't give you jobs. This is true. BUT realize this: liberal arts programs greatly harbor many clinical narcissists in faculty and administration. Even if your doing it just for the joy of art, these specific professors will ruin the fun for you. Unless and play the game so hardcore your literally restraining your academic growth.

Landscape architecture is definitely not worth it. maybe changes will be made to the program and it will get better. Right now the landscape architecture program at clemson needs lots of work.