Do you want to become a professional designer of dream garden areas and watch your work bring life to outdoor spaces? Pursue a career in the horticulture and gardening industries and become a qualified Landscape Designer.
A landscape design is like a floor plan for an outdoor area, focusing on the specific garden design of landscape elements and plants within it.
In this course you will learn hands-on skills to design residential, public and commercial landscape projects. Be guided by expert professionals on how to prepare landscape drawings and layouts and create well-designed and attractive outdoor spaces to meet client briefs.
You can work completing specialised garden makeovers for homes or renovating new landscapes for companies, managing the layout of grassed areas and choosing plants and flowers as well as stones, decking and water features to best showcase the area.
Become a horticultural expert and plant the seeds for your career in landscape design.
Study in specialist facilities
Murdoch campus has a dedicated Murdoch Student Garden Centre, which is a centre of excellence in horticulture that is pivotal to student's learning for service delivery. Facilities include extensive garden spaces for design practice, computer labs with contemporary design software and dedicated sheltered nursery areas which propagate natives, herbs and some exotic plants suitable to WA’s climate. Students can learn through application of hands-on skills in an environment that reflects current industry practices and simulates a real-life workplace experiences.
- consult with clients to determine project parameters
- assess and analyse landscape sites for landscape design development
- apply information on the history and theory of design to landscape projects
- produce simple landscape drawings, including planting and hard-landscaping plans
- use a range of technical drawing techniques, including 2D and 3D computer-aided drafting
- apply basic construction practices and principles to landscape designs
- interpret irrigation plans and drawings, applying hydro zoning and waterwise principles
- identify and recommend plants for a range of conditions and applications
- identify and recommend soil improvements for garden and turf areas
- cost and schedule landscape projects
In order to make an informed choice about the suitability of this course, you must take into account the essential skills and knowledge required to undertake this study.
- enjoyment of practical work and working in varied weather conditions outdoors
- high stamina and fitness levels
- unaffected by allergies to plants and chemicals
- good team work skills and the ability to work independently
- creative skills and an eye for design
| School Leaver | Non-School Leaver | AQF |
|---|---|---|
| C Grades in Year 11 WACE General English, and OLNA; or NAPLAN 9 Band 8 | C Grades in Year 11 English and Maths or equivalent | Certificate II or Certificate III |
The Certificate IV in Landscape Design suitable for applicants who already have knowledge, experience and/or qualifications in some (or all) of the following areas:
- horticulture
- gardening
- landscape maintenance
- landscape construction
To ensure that students are placed in the appropriate course, we ask that applicants for the Certificate IV of Landscape Design provide evidence that they meet one or more of the following criteria:
- completed a certificate III In Horticulture or Landscaping
and/or
- a minimum 12 months in Horticulture or Landscaping industry with participation planting programs, plant identification skills, and/ or landscape construction
It is also essential that students are proficient with computer use including; the use of Microsoft Word, email, file management and website-browsing.
Attendance in class
This course is equivalent to 4 days per week when studied full time across one semester.
Due to timetabling, you can expect to complete the course in 12 months when studied part-time if commenced in Semester 1 of the year, or 18 months part-time if commenced in Semester 2 of the year.
At-home study
As well as the in-class component, you will need to complete approximately 2 hours of additional study per unit each week outside of class hours, including private study, assignment preparation, and research.
It is a requirement that students provide their own Wifi-enabled laptop (capable of word processing, etc).
You will need to have the basic technical requirements for at-home study. If you don’t have access to a computer and WiFi at home, we recommend using our library computers during library hours. Office 365 is provided to enrolled students. Students completing this course will be required to download and access the SketchUp design software. The course lecturer will advise during your orientation session.
Work placement
Not a requirement of this course.
What you need for your first day of class
On your first day you should bring your SM TAFE confirmation enrolment receipt, your student ID, stationery (pen, pencil, exercise book, eraser, ruler, calculator, highlighter, 2 ring binder/lever-arch file, USB storage device and a clipboard for field work).
Uniform requirements
- Steel-capped safety boots (mandatory within all classrooms)
- Collared long-sleeve shirt and work trousers
- Sun hat
- Australian standard eye protection
- Australian standard hearing protection
- Sunblock
- Gardening gloves
Detailed specifics will be advised by your course lecturer at orientation.
Please note this list should be used as a guide only as job titles and qualification requirements may vary between organisations.
To access free career planning and job search assistance, visit the Jobs and Skills Centres page.
On completion of the Certificate IV Landscape Design course, students can:
- filter into the landscape design industry for domestic/residential design
- become self‐employed or employed within the Landscape Design industry
- continue with further studies in AHC40416 Certificate IV in Horticulture (or its replacement), with credits given for current units completed
- continue with further studies in AHC50416 Diploma of Horticulture (or their replacements)
Select your preferred campus and apply
Click on your preferred campus and study mode below to get started with your application.
Semester 1, 2023
Murdoch - Part time - On Campus
| Duration | 2 Semesters |
| When | Semester 1, 2023 |
| Where | Murdoch |
| How | On Campus |