transforming barren spaces into a pictureperfect topography is the job entrusted with landscape architects while in india landscape architecture is often synonymous with just garden designing the profession in its true sense is about everything outside the front door both urban and rural at the interface between people and natural systems landscape architects are involved in planning and managing landscapes such as national parks to designing public spaces that we all use nurturing and making the environment livable in india there is a need for landscape architecture civic bodies must take this up more seriously currently it is restricted to hotels malls and offices but the perceptions are changing fast abroad it is part of town and city planning said landscape architect arun kumar starting out landscape architecture is offered as a masters degree at a few universities and institutes in the country the profession is gaining momentum with people realizing the need for landscape planning hence the number of institutes offering the course is also increasing now earlier one had to study the specialization from universities abroad said kumar masters degrees in landscape architecture and landscape design are offered at the centre for environmental planning and technology university ahmedabad the most popular institute in the country offering a specialized degree in landscape architecture is the school of planning and architecture new delhi the twoyear degree equips students with proficiency in landscape assessment and design techniques by employing ecological principles while keeping in view socioeconomic and cultural considerations bhanuben nanavati college of architecture for women pune also provides a postgraduate degree students must have a bachelors degree in architecture and may be required to appear for an entrance test career prospects it is an interesting line of career and an architect can explore everything from planning and civil work to working with nature and plants the best way to start out in the industry is to get attached to an architect to understand the technicalities and gather handson knowledge said swati dike who has worked on several projects remuneration may not be uniform initially there are no or few corporate setups hence there is no standard salary and may be less once professionals are established and start their own practice they can be assured of an rewarding takehometoi explores alternate career options everyday