Thesis
Choosing a career in landscape architecture: dimensions of fit
Washington State University
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
2010
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/101314
Abstract
The market is demanding more Landscape Architecture (LA) graduates. This puts pressure on stakeholders to fill the demand. Understanding why students choose a major in LA is essential to developing strategies that will encourage more students to enter the growing field. This qualitative research tries to enlighten stakeholders about key variables they need to develop effective strategies by addressing rationale regarding current LA students: (1) who are they, (2) how did they hear about LA, (3) what do they want, (4) when do they want it, (5) how do they want it, and (6) why do they want it? Traditional demographic and psychographic variables are analyzed from the sample of 300+ survey respondents who are currently majoring in LA at 26 different universities in the United States. Based on an integrated theoretical framework of intrinsic motivation, psychographic themes and observations are introduced and defined. This integrated theoretical framework consists of Personality Theory (Kelly, 1955), Self-Determination Theory (Deci and Ryan, 1985), and the Theory of Multiple Intelligences (Gardner, 1983). Four relevant group comparisons are performed considering all demographic and psychographic variables. This data preparation allows thematic findings to be generated. These findings are that LA students: (1) have abilities that align with design, nature, social interaction, and/or (surprisingly) music, (2) are passionate about the following topics: the environment, influencing people, architecture, design, art, music, and/or making the world a better place, (3) are socially connected, (4) are free spirits, (5) are open-minded about career direction, (6) are NOT in it for the money, and (7) tend to study at an institution near where they are already located.
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Details
- Title
- Choosing a career in landscape architecture
- Creators
- Mason Jay Shaffer
- Contributors
- David Wang (Degree Supervisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Horticulture, Department of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University; Pullman, Wash. :
- Identifiers
- 99900525110101842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis