Information Package / Course Catalogue
Deontology in Landscape Architecture
Course Code: PM323
Course Type: Area Elective
Couse Group: First Cycle (Bachelor's Degree)
Education Language: Turkish
Work Placement: N/A
Theory: 2
Prt.: 0
Credit: 2
Lab: 0
ECTS: 3
Objectives of the Course

In this course, it is aimed to enable students to understand the profession of landscape architecture in line with ethical principles, professional responsibility and the relevant legal and regulatory framework. The course aims to enable students to relate the concepts of morality, ethics, deontology and professional ethics to the professional practice of landscape architecture, and to make evaluations in the context of public interest, professional responsibility, professional organisations, disciplinary processes, and national and international ethical rules. It also aims to support students in developing the ability to recognise, interpret and make decisions in accordance with professional principles regarding ethical issues that may arise in landscape architecture practices.

Course Content

In this course, the concepts of morality, ethics, deontology and professional ethics, their historical development and their relationship with the profession of landscape architecture are addressed. The duties, professional rights and responsibilities of landscape architects, ethical principles in public-private sector relations, the role of professional organisations, and ethical issues that may be encountered in professional practice are examined. At national and international levels, the ethical codes of IFLA and ASLA, the professional conduct principles of TMMOB, and the main regulation of the TMMOB Chamber of Landscape Architects are evaluated, together with members’ duties and responsibilities, honorary board processes and disciplinary provisions. Course assessment is based on written examinations, course participation/performance and assignment studies. In-term assessment accounts for 40% of the total grade and consists of course participation/performance, assignment studies and the mid-term examination. The end-of-term assessment consists of the final examination, accounting for 60% of the total grade. Students retaking the course are responsible for all assessment components defined within the current academic year. Accordingly, they are required to complete the assignment studies, course participation/performance activities, mid-term examination and final examination again.

Name of Lecturer(s)
Prof. Ebru ERSOY TONYALOĞLU
Learning Outcomes
1.To be able to explain the concepts of morality, ethics, deontology and professional ethics within the context of landscape architecture professional practice (Knowledge Level).
2.To be able to relate the historical development of ethical thought to the concepts of morality, ethics, law and professional responsibility (Knowledge and Competence Level).
3.To be able to evaluate landscape architecture practices in terms of professional ethics, public interest, professional responsibility and relationships with colleagues (Knowledge and Competence Level).
4.To be able to evaluate the role of national and international professional organisations, ethical principles and codes of professional conduct in the professional practice of landscape architecture (Knowledge and Competence Level).
5.To be able to interpret rights, duties, responsibilities, ethical violations and disciplinary processes within the framework of TMMOB, the Chamber of Landscape Architects and relevant professional legislation (Knowledge and Competence Level).
Recommended or Required Reading
1.Johnson, B. J. (2014). Codes of ethics, public values, and what public servants offer the bureaucratic compac. International Journal of Organization Theory & Behavior, 17(4), 459-497.
2.Zachariasz, A. (2020). Professional licensing of landscape architects in Poland. World Transactions on Engineering and Technology Education, 18(4), 444-449.
3.Turner, B. S., & Durkheim, E. (2013). Professional ethics and civic morals. Routledge.
4.Hanssen, B. R. L. (2001). Ethics and landscape: values and choices. Ethics, Place & Environment, 4(3), 246-252.
5.Thompson, I. (2000). Sources of values in the environmental design professions: The case of landscape architecture. Ethics, Place and Environment, 3(2), 203-219.
6.Wasserman, B., Sullivan, P. J., & Palermo, G. (2000). Ethics and the Practice of Architecture. John Wiley & Sons.
Weekly Detailed Course Contents
Week 1 - Theoretical
Course introduction: scope, aim, importance, teaching method and assessment criteria.
Week 2 - Theoretical
Deontology, morality, ethics, professional ethics and basic concepts related to the professional practice of landscape architecture.
Week 3 - Theoretical
Historical development of moral and ethical thought; relationships between morality, ethics and law.
Week 4 - Theoretical
Professional ethics, professional responsibility, public interest and principles of ethical conduct in professional relations.
Week 5 - Theoretical
Duties, authority and responsibilities of landscape architects; professional roles in the public sector, private sector and academia.
Week 6 - Theoretical
Professional organisations of landscape architecture in Türkiye and worldwide; duties of professional organisations and their professional supervision functions.
Week 7 - Theoretical
Ethical issue areas in landscape architecture practices: users, environment, public interest, copyright, representation and relationships with colleagues.
Week 8 - Theoretical
International approaches to professional ethics: IFLA ethical principles and their evaluation in terms of landscape architecture professional practice.
Week 9 - Theoretical
International approaches to professional ethics: ASLA code of ethics and examination of international principles of professional conduct through examples.
Week 10 - Theoretical
TMMOB principles of professional conduct and the understanding of professional responsibility.
Week 11 - Theoretical
Main Regulation of the TMMOB Chamber of Landscape Architects: membership, duties, rights and responsibilities.
Week 12 - Theoretical
Main Regulation of the TMMOB Chamber of Landscape Architects: honorary board, professional supervision and ethical evaluation processes.
Week 13 - Theoretical
Disciplinary provisions, disciplinary penalties and evaluation of examples of ethical violations in professional practice.
Week 14 - Theoretical
General evaluation: ethical decision-making, professional responsibility and current ethical debates in landscape architecture.
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Type of AssessmentCountPercent
Attending Lectures1%5
Assignment2%20
Midterm Examination1%15
Final Examination1%60
Workload Calculation
ActivitiesCountPreparationTimeTotal Work Load (hours)
Lecture - Theory141242
Assignment25520
Midterm Examination1314
Final Examination1819
TOTAL WORKLOAD (hours)75
Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes
PÇ-1
PÇ-2
PÇ-3
PÇ-4
PÇ-5
PÇ-6
PÇ-7
PÇ-8
PÇ-9
PÇ-10
PÇ-11
PÇ-12
OÇ-1
5
OÇ-2
5
2
OÇ-3
5
3
OÇ-4
5
3
3
OÇ-5
5
4
3
Adnan Menderes University - Information Package / Course Catalogue
2026