Program Requirements

First Semester

Course #Course TitleCreditsPrerequisites/Comments

001-116Landscape Plants2Fall only | Program or pre-program studentStudy of annuals, perennials, and roses. Selection, care, and tips to best utilize flowers and foliage plants effectively in their landscape. Groundcovers and vines will be included. Identification of trees and shrubs and their use in the landscape with emphasis on texture, color, bark, flowers, and fruit will be examined. Students will learn proper planting and maintenance practices along with critical pests and diseases that can affect the health of these landscape plants.

001-120Horticulture Soils3Fall only | Program or pre-program studentExplores soil properties, formation, development, and classification in relation to the horticulture industry. Course topics will include horticulture soils uses as a growing medium and as an engineering base for Landscaping.

001-121Intro to Horticulture2Fall only | Program or pre-program studentThis course provides an overview of the horticulture profession. Its role and importance throughout history, current trends, and career opportunities will be covered.

001-122Horticulture Lab1Fall only | Program or pre-program studentParticipants will experience hands on activities related to horticulture crops and their use, plant classification, plant propagation, and the inter-relationships between the environment, plant growth, and plant development.

801-136English Composition 13This course is designed for learners to develop knowledge and skills in all aspects of the writing process. Planning, organizing, writing, editing, and revising are applied through a variety of activities. Students will analyze audience and purpose, use elements of research and format documents using standard guidelines. Individuals will develop critical reading skills through analysis of various written documents.

804-134Mathematical Reasoning3All college students, regardless of their college major, need to be able to make reasonable decisions about fiscal, environmental, and health issues that require quantitative reasoning skills. An activity based approach is used to explore numerical relationships, graphs, proportional relationships, algebraic reasoning, and problem solving using linear, exponential and other mathematical models. Students will develop conceptual and procedural tools that support the use of key mathematical concepts in a variety of contexts. This course may be used as the first of a two part sequence that ends with Quantitative Reasoning as the capstone general education math requirement.

TOTAL CREDITS:14 

Second Semester

Course #Course TitleCreditsPrerequisites/Comments

001-103Turf Management2Spring only, 14 weeks | Program or pre-program studentExamines how to effectively establish and maintain professional lawn/turf. Covers identification and selection of turf grasses, establishment and maintenance practices. The course will include nutrient needs, integrated pest management, diagnosing problems, corrective strategies, irrigation principles and irrigation implementation.

001-108Bus Apps for Green Industry2Winter Term | Program or pre-program studentMarketing practices of products and services for the Green Industry ranging from product pricing to distribution of product will be studied. Students will analyze new and established strategies for selling through stores, mail order catalogs and Internet sites. Effective techniques for attracting and keeping customers will be covered.

001-110Integrated Plant/Pest Mgmt2Spring only, 1st 8 weeks | Program or pre-program studentThe course will provide students with the knowledge and skill necessary to diagnose plant problems and control strategies in the landscape. Particular attention is given to insects, diseases, weeds and cultural needs of landscape plants.

001-113Pesticide & Fertilizer App3Spring only, 14 weeks | Program or pre-program studentThis course focuses on the study and application of pesticides and fertilizers used on horticulture crops. Specific areas of study include chemical classification, mode of action in plants, injury symptoms, resistance in plants and pests, mixing and loading concerns, application methods and concerns, recordkeeping and posting requirements. Students will be required to take the Commercial Pesticide Applicator Certification exam as part of this course.

001-125Horticulture Equipmnt & Safety2Spring only, 2nd 8 weeks | Program or pre-program studentFocuses on how to maintain and operate a skid steer loader, forklift, til-handlers, turf mowing equipment and general landscape equipment.

801-196Oral/Interpersonal Comm31st 8 weeksFocuses on developing effective listening techniques and verbal and nonverbal communication skills through oral presentation, group activity, and other projects. The study of self, conflict, and cultural contexts will be explored, as well as their impact on communication.

TOTAL CREDITS:14 

Summer Term

Course #Course TitleCreditsPrerequisites/Comments

001-109Horticulture Internship2Summer only, 192 hours | Program or pre-program student; 001-121 and 001-122Individuals participating in a work experience will have an opportunity to practice acquired skills and knowledge from their program coursework. This course is designed to help the student, instructor, and site supervisor to focus on major outcomes of the training and general readiness for employment in their chosen field.

TOTAL CREDITS:2 

Third Semester

Course #Course TitleCreditsPrerequisites/Comments

001-102Landscape Design/Construction2Fall only | Program or pre-program studentStudents will learn how to compile a landscape design including the base plan, functional, preliminary and master plan. Emphasis will be on the landscape design sequence and implementation of the completed landscape design. Hardscape construction topics will be illustrated.

001-117Advanced Turf Management1Fall only, 1st 8 weeks | 001-103This course will simulate advanced lawn and commercial care, golf course maintenance, and drought simulations. Students will care for their test plots by applying fertilizers, pesticides, lawn grooming techniques, and nutrient management. Students will use lawn and golf course equipment.

001-132Sustainable Land Use Mgmt3Fall only | Program or pre-program studentAnalyze the existing landscape to determine the best management practices for the location. Students will gain practical knowledge on procedures for maintaining established landscapes and the economic return. Benefits on well selected and skillful placement of native plant material for the landscape will be an integral part of the overall approach to sustainable land use in this course.

102-112Principles of Management3This course explores the four key managerial functions: planning, organizing, leading, and controlling. Learners gain personal insights through assessments and feedback, while learning to apply theoretical concepts to their potential managerial practices. The course emphasizes global applicability, preparing learners for diverse leadership roles.

806-342Science for Technical Trades2804-360 or 804-134Provides an introduction to basic physical principles involved in precision measurement, mechanics, hydraulics, thermodynamics, and electronics to students. Practical utilization of these principles in various technologies is analyzed with reinforcement from problem solving and laboratory exercises.

809-198Intro to Psychology3This introductory course in psychology is a survey of the multiple aspects of human behavior. It involves a survey of the theoretical foundations of human functioning in such areas as learning, motivation, emotions, personality, deviance and pathology, physiological factors, and social influences. Additional topics include research methods, biological and environmental impacts, development, sensation and perception, consciousness, intelligence and stress. This course directs the student to an insightful understanding of the complexities of human relationships in personal, social, and vocational settings.

TOTAL CREDITS:14 

Fourth Semester

Course #Course TitleCreditsPrerequisites/Comments

001-104Greenhouse Management3Spring only, 14 weeks | Program or pre-program studentThe course will explore the overall operation of a greenhouse facility including types of structures, heating and cooling options, lighting, insect and disease management, watering methods, and equipment. Student will focus on a particular plant area (flowers, herbs or vegetables) and order plant material for the annual plant sale. Marketing of the crop will be required for the sale.

001-112Interior Plants & Plantscaping2Spring only, 2nd 8 weeks | Program or pre-program studentThis course covers topics in foliage plant characteristics, requirements, and identification. Particular attention is placed upon identification of foliage plant material and the classification of these materials according to cultural and interior site use characteristics. The floral design sequence will be demonstrated.

001-114Entrepreneurship for Green Ind2Winter Term | Program or pre-program studentStudents will investigate businesses utilizing a variety of methods to create a profitable return in the production of goods and services for the Green Industry. Exploring the small business aspects of this industry will be approached through practical learning activities.

001-115Vegetable and Fruit Production3Spring only, 14 weeks | Program or pre-program studentStudents will study the commercial production of vegetables in the Midwest while examining the sustainability of the various crops in the industry. Key components will be site selection, integrated cropping systems, cultural and management practices, profitability and efficiencies.

001-133Advanced Landscape Plants1This course will explore advanced landscape plant techniques. It will include information on planting and pruning of various plant material in the horticulture industry.

802-103Spanish for the Workplace21st 8 weeksIntroductory conversational Spanish for the person whose business works with Spanish-speaking employees and/or customers. Emphasis is on everyday language usage and interaction rather than a formal grammar approach.

809-195Economics31st 8 weeksDesigned to give an overview of how a market-oriented economic system operates, and it surveys the factors which influence national economic policy. Basic concepts and analyses are illustrated by reference to a variety of contemporary problems and public policy issues. Concepts include scarcity, resources, alternative economic systems, growth, supply and demand, monetary and fiscal policy, inflation, unemployment and global economic issues.

TOTAL CREDITS:16