Science and Engineering

Sustainable Horticulture

Associate of Applied Science

Program Information

This degree delivers courses and experiences that help students prepare for exciting green industry careers. Students learn how to grow, schedule, transplant, harvest, and maintain plants in outdoor landscapes and controlled environments (e.g., greenhouses) and will discover how soils, hydrology, climate change, and urban environments affect plants and their ecosystem services. Students will also gain practical skills while designing, implementing, and maintaining horticultural systems (e.g., urban farms, residential and commercial landscapes, and conventional and passive solar greenhouses) that meet customer and stakeholder objectives.

Certificate in Landscape Management: This certificate enables students to acquire the skills necessary to thoughtfully design, install, and maintain landscapes in public and residential settings. Students will become proficient at plant identification, prescribing and practicing plant maintenance (e.g., pruning), selecting, growing, and installing plants, and implementing practices that conserve soil, water, and nutrients. They will also gain experience organizing and assigning tasks, conducting site analyses, and retrofitting existing landscapes to enhance local ecosystem services.

Certificate in Greenhouse Management: This certificate enables students to acquire the skills necessary to thoughtfully design, install, and maintain greenhouse, aqua/hydroponic, and urban garden production systems. Students will become proficient at plant identification, scheduling and marketing crops, growing and harvesting plants, and implementing practices that conserve energy, soil, water, and nutrients. They will also gain experience organizing and assigning tasks, installing and maintaining greenhouse technology (e.g., irrigation and lighting), assessing cost, and designing, installing, and maintaining green infrastructure (e.g., living walls).

Certificate of Achievement, Sustainable Horticulture: This five-course certificate gives students hands-on experience that will prepare them for careers and advancement within multiple sectors of the green industry. Students will acquire valuable skills as they practice horticulture science (e.g., plant morphology and physiology), management (e.g., marketing and logistics) and technology (e.g., greenhouse and landscape equipment operation and maintenance).