The Garden Design School USA Diploma Course:

1. 9 month course, Mid-August – early May, divided into 8 separate teaching blocks
   
   
2. Each block consists of 4 days, Thursday through Sunday. (Exception: 6 days in the first block)

• Each day runs 8:30 am - 4:30 pm, with breaks. Content includes lectures, studio work, one-to-one tutor/student interface, field trips with on-site practicum, and a series of projects which are assigned to be completed in between blocks.
  
• Projects and independent study are designed to resemble actual projects of the garden design career.
  
• By end of term, students will have a portfolio of four garden design projects, and personal references of materials compiled in hard and soft landscape elements, that acts as an accelerated launch pad for their own careers.

COURSE CONTENT:

The diploma course has been conscientiously constructed to deliver expert, comprehensive, practical, and well organized training in every area of landscape and garden design. Topics covered include:

• Essential design principles
  
  
• Comprehensive drafting, drawing, and rendering techniques
  
  
•  “Hard” landscape elements: thorough inclusion of materials, styles, proper construction techniques, from stone to water features, lighting, drainage and beyond
  
• Use of plants as design elements, basics of botany and horticulture, soil science, successful planting practices
  
  
• Professional business practices, including office organization, working with clients and contractors, and more.

    STUDENTS:

• No prerequisites are required other than a passion for gardening, desire, determination, and commitment to excellence.
  
  
• Students range in age and stage of life from those choosing a career, those changing a career, and those desiring to excel in their current landscape & garden design or design/build careers.

GARDEN DESIGN SCHOOL DIPLOMA PROGRAM
BLOCK SCHEDULE FOR 2010-2011: