Landscape Institute
Registration
When registration is open, you can
- register for classes online,
- or download an application and fax (credit card payments only) or mail it to the Landscape Institute office.
Submit your tuition and the $40 application fee on or before the deadlines listed in the calendar.
Symposia and some courses may have different application deadlines. These deadlines are noted in the individual course and symposium descriptions.
Applications sent by fax are acceptable and subject to all deadlines and policies. Credit cards are the only acceptable form of payment for faxed or online applications.
The Landscape Institute is an open-enrollment program. Students may take a course or two at a time for enrichment or, once certificate application requirements have been satisfied (see Certificate Eligibility below), enroll to earn a Certificate in Landscape Design, a Certificate in Landscape Design History, or a Certificate in Landscape Preservation.
Getting Accepted
- Applications are not considered on a first-come, first-served basis. Instead, all applications are reviewed after the application deadline and acceptance into each course is determined by the Landscape Institute director and instructors.
- Students who submit incomplete applications will not be accepted until their application is complete.
- Applicants are notified by mail of their acceptance.
- If a course is oversubscribed, applicants are notified by telephone, a waiting list is established, and applicants are offered alternative courses.
The Landscape Institute reserves the right to cancel under-enrolled courses. Students are notified of cancellations as early as possible so that they can apply to take alternative courses.
Adding a Course after the Registration Deadline
Students may add a course to their schedule before the second class session as long as there is space available in the course. Students should contact the instructor if they have missed the first class in order to obtain handouts from the first class and to discuss missed assignments.
Methods of Payment
- Checks and money orders made payable to the Arnold Arboretum are accepted. A $25 fee is assessed for checks returned because of insufficient funds.
- MasterCard, VISA, and American Express are the only charge payments accepted by the Arnold Arboretum. The card number and expiration date, plus the cardholder's printed name (and, on paper registration forms, signature), must be included on the registration form.
- Students who do not submit full payment may not be accepted.
Financial Aid
A limited amount of financial aid is available each semester. The Landscape Institute provides financial aid resources through these named funds:
- the Landscape Design Scholarship Fund;
- the Patricia McElroy Larkin Landscape Scholarship for Mothers of Minor Children.
Neither the $40 application fee nor any course material fee is included in the financial aid award. Financial aid forms, available from the Landscape Institute office, must be submitted with the course application form, the application fee of $40, the applicable course material fee, and one-half of the total tuition by the following deadlines:
Financial Aid Deadlines
Fall and Winter Semesters: August 24
Spring Semester: December 14
The level of financial assistance is determined by need and does not exceed one-half of the tuition for one course.
Applications are reviewed by the financial aid committee, and students are notified of the committee's decision by mail.
If a student receives financial aid and subsequently transfers into a lower-tuition course, the amount of aid is reduced to reflect the same percentage of tuition as the original amount.
Financial aid may be considered taxable income by the Internal Revenue Service. For further information, consult a tax advisor or IRS Publication 520, “Scholarships and Fellowships.” A copy of this publication can be obtained by calling the IRS at 800.829.3676 or by printing from the IRS website, www.irs.gov.
The Educational Resources Institute (TERI) Loans
Students at the Landscape Institute are eligible to apply for TERI-certified loans via local banks. To find out about TERI educational loans, contact your local bank and/or visit the TERI website at www.teri.org. Students applying for these loans should contact the Landscape Institute office to obtain the school code necessary for the application.
Harvard University Tuition Assistance Plan (TAP)
Harvard staff members who are on the permanent payroll and who have worked at least 17.5 hours per week continuously for three months prior to the first day of class are eligible for the University's Tuition Assistance Plan (TAP).
Eligible employees must be on the permanent payroll by July 1 for fall semester courses and November 1 for spring semester courses. They may enroll in one course per semester for $40. Staff members with one or more years of continuous service at the time of registration may take two courses per semester, paying $40 for each course. After fifteen years of continuous service, staff members may take one course free and a second course for $40. Retired staff members should consult the TAP office at 617.495.9679 regarding their eligibility.
Each TAP applicant must submit:
- a completed course registration form;
- a completed TAP form with the appropriate signatures;
- the TAP administrative fee of $40.
TAP students who do not submit the above documents and fees may not be accepted into courses. The TAP administrative fee is nonrefundable.
Direct all requests for TAP forms and questions about TAP fees, eligibility, and taxes to the Harvard University TAP office at 617.495.9679.
Graduate Tuition Reduction
On a space-available basis, graduates of the certificate program may enroll for tuition of $590 for any semester-length landscape course or $395 for a seven-week module. Graduates who receive tuition reductions will not receive credit for the course nor will their work be graded; however, they are expected to attend each session, participate actively in discussions, and complete all course requirements with the exception of a final exam, paper, or project. Graduates enrolling in landscape courses as noncredit must indicate that choice on the course application form. Recipients of one certificate who are pursuing a second certificate are not eligible for this tuition reduction.
Any graduate taking a course for credit is required to complete all the requirements of the course and pay full tuition, including the application fee.
Cross-Registration with the Boston Architectural Center (BAC)
The Boston Architectural Center (BAC) is a professional college offering bachelor’s and master's degrees in architecture and interior design. Since its founding in 1889, the BAC has maintained close ties to the professional design community and is currently the largest practice-based design school in New England. Through the continuing education program, students can take courses in computer-aided design, architectural history and theory, historic preservation, graphic and web design, and digital photography.
To receive certificate credit for courses taken at the BAC, students must register for courses through the BAC, www.the-bac.edu/ce. Courses must be pre-approved for academic credit with the Landscape Institute prior to registering. Please call 617.495.8632 to make an appointment with the director.
Tax Deductions
Courses and workshops taken to maintain and improve professional skills may be tax-deductible if IRS guidelines for job-relatedness are met. Consult a tax adviser to determine how this affects individual situations.