SNRE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE JOB SHADOWING PROGRAM: MARCH 4-8, 2013

About

The Landscape Architecture Program at the University of Michigan provides a valuable link between classroom/ studio learning and a real-world experience with a firm, agency, or NGO.  We offer a 3-5 day job shadowing experience during spring break for 2nd and 3rd year MLA students interested in learning more about the practice of landscape architecture.  1st years with design experience may participate with a design firm and 1st years with no design experience can participate with a non design firm host (NGO, agency, etc.).

The host organization is asked to expose the student to the working world of landscape architecture or related field, providing the student with a variety of activities to learn more about his/her intended profession.

Typical Activities that Host Firms/ Organizations Can Schedule for the Student During the Week:

• Shadow a landscape architect or other professional
• Sit in on staff and/ or client meetings
• Go on site visits
• Assist with working drawings or building models
• Meet with various staff to discuss the organization's work and the profession

The student is responsible for travel expenses to and from the internship city, living expenses for the week, and transportation to and from the firm.  Most students request placement in a city where they have relatives or friends to minimize the cost.  The host firm is not under any obligation to compensate the student.

How does the Program Work?

Interested MLA students at SNRE submit an RSVP form to participate which includes a list of firms/ organizations of interest.  SNRE Career Service staff will contact the firms/ organizations on their behalf to see if they are willing to host the student for 3-5 days during the U-M Spring Break.  Host firms/ organizations will receive a copy of the student's resume and information on their career interests.  SNRE will put the student in direct contact with the firm/ organization to make all of the necessary arrangements.  

Info Session: WED November 28th (3-4 PM) in 3038 Dana

SNRE Landscape Architecture students are invited to attend an info session to learn more about the program and how to participate.  The info session will be held in 3038 Dana.  Mark your calendars!

Student Testimonials

"This internship was my first experience ever visiting a landscape architecture office. It was really useful for me to simply understand how an office is run.  I also had the opportunity to get professional feedback on my portfolio."

"My experience gave me hands on experience with the daily organization of a professional firm. I learned how work is divided up between associates, how they organize their work, and how they approach spec and detail standards between projects.  The Job Shadow has given me a better idea of what a career in landscape architecture will really be like!"

"I job shadowed twice during my time at SNRE.  I loved both of my shadowing experiences and one of the firms even gave me an opportunity to interview for a summer internship.  I know that wouldní¢â‚¬â„¢t have happened if I didn't already have contacts at the firm through my job shadowing experience."

Employers

Why participate?  Hosting a landscape architecture student can be a rewarding way to provide a learning opportunity for an emerging leader in the landscape architecture field.  It is a great way to meet students who are interested in your firm/ organization and perhaps lay the groundwork for a future internship or career opportunity.

• About SNRE's Landscape Architecture program
• MLA Career Info

Firms/ Organizations Participating in Past Years

• Conservation Design Forum (Chicago, IL)  
• Design Workshop (Salt Lake City, UT)
• EDAW (NY, NY and San Francisco, CA)
• Hitchcock Design Group (Chicago, IL)
• Landscape Architecture Bureau (D.C.)
• Oehme van Sweden (D.C.)
• Land Architects (Ann Arbor, MI)
• Urban Ecology (San Francisco, CA)
• LaQuatra Bonci Associates (Pittsburgh, PA)           
• GreenWorks (Portland, OR)
• Walker Macy (Portland, OR)
• Hamilton Anderson (Detroit, MI)
• Conger Moss Guillard (San Francisco, CA)
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program (Lakewood, CO)
• Hoerr Schaudt Landscape Architects (Naperville, IL)         
• Gibbs Planning Group (Birmingham, MI)
• Andropogon (Philadelphia, PA)
• Thomas Balsley Associates (NY, NY)
• SmithGroupJJR (Ann Arbor, MI)
• Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates (Cambridge, MA)
• Civitas, Inc. (Denver, CO)
• Neri Landscape Architecture (San Diego, CA)
• WE DESIGN (Brooklyn, NY)