Agriculture – Horticulture and Landscaping AS Degree

Associate in Science | SC Program: AS.1492

The horticulture industry involves growing and caring for plants, working to enhance and beautify the urban environment, and connecting people with the outdoors. The landscaping and home garden industry generates more than $78 billion annually in the USA, employing many professionals in tree and landscape care, landscape design and construction, and nursery production. This degree will prepare students for a career in both the landscape and nursery areas. Job opportunities continue to outnumber the number of graduates in our local area. Career choices include working for state and federal organizations, garden centers, nurseries, golf courses, landscape maintenance businesses, landscape design and installation, and landscape management companies. Courses include directed practical experience with landscape care and construction, irrigation, and nursery production.

Students should contact their counselor or environmental horticulture faculty advisor to choose electives for the particular career they are planning to enter. Particular attention should be paid to course prerequisites. Students planning to transfer to a college or university should consult a counselor or Horticulture Faculty Advisor regarding transfer requirements.

Transfer Requirements May Be Different From A.S. Degree Requirements.

This degree is approved through the California Community College Chancellor’s Office. Upon satisfactory completion of all degree requirements and filing an application for graduation with Admissions and Records, the student’s transcript will reflect completion of this degree.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this certificate, the student should be able to:

• Demonstrate safe and efficient use of both nursery and landscape tools, equipment and supplies.
• Demonstrate the ability to communicate with clients, assess landscape for ecological and economic sustainability, measure and analyze a property, draft a landscape and a residential irrigation design, develop management schedules, and implement practices based on client needs.
• Design and implement a nursery operation, select and make production schedules for greenhouse crops, and propagate, grow and market nursery crops.
• Identify 150 landscape trees, shrubs and ground covers and select species suitable for different landscape situations.
• Demonstrate skills to assess site or plant cultural issues and make recommendations for enhancing the health of the landscape planting or nursery plants using integrated pest management.
• Describe and implement both conventional and sustainable methods for use in the landscape relating to cultural practices, weed control, soil amendments, plant selection and care.
• Be prepared to take the California Pesticide Applicators Certificate Exam with the California Department of Pesticide Regulation.
• Explain and apply basic principles of botany to horticulture practices.
• Safely conduct landscape construction activities in the correct construction sequence; Including the proper installation of: a landscape sprinkler system, a low-volume (drip) irrigation system, concrete and brick pavers and landscape plants and sod.
• Explain and apply the concepts of job estimating and laws as they pertain to landscape construction and maintenance.
• Demonstrate landscape maintenance activities and equipment operation in a safe manner. Including the ability to test and evaluate soil fertility, select and apply fertilizers at the proper rate. Recognize common turf grass species and select proper maintenance techniques for each type of turf grass and to prune landscape trees and shrubs.
• Demonstrate a strong work and personal ethic.
• Demonstrate skills needed to take the Landscape Industries Certified Technician Exam.

Degree Requirements

Some of these classes require math skills. Students are encouraged to begin taking math classes early in the program.

Core Courses:

• AG 6 Career Placement – Ag and Natural Resources 1
• AGEH 10 Plant Identification and Usage 3
• AGEH 22 Nursery Practices and Plant Propagation 2
• AGEH 23 Nursery Practices and Management (2) OR AGEH 50 Introduction to Tree Care and Urban Forestry (3)
• AGEH 26 Integrated Pest Management in Environmental Horticulture 3
• AGEH 31 Landscape Irrigation 3
• AGEH 33* Environmental Horticulture 3
• AGEH 35 Landscape Design 3
• AGEH 38 Landscape and Turf Management 3
• AGEH 52 Landscape Construction 3 OR AGMA 44 Intro to Const. Skills for Ag and Nat. Res.
• AGEH 94 Horticulture Worksite Learning 3
• AGNR 52 Computers in Agriculture/Natural Resources 3
• AGNR 66A Watershed Restoration Practicum I 1 OR AGNR 66B Watershed Restoration Practicum II
• AGPS 24* Soils 3

*May be used to fulfill General Education requirements. See a counselor.

Associate in Science Degree Requirements:

Major: 36-37

Additional General Education: 18

General Electives: 5-6

Degree Total: 60*

*Note: Calculation assumes a student will double-count the Multicultural graduation requirement with either a social science or humanities G.E. requirement and that the student will fulfill computer literacy through a test. If students plan well and see a counselor, they may be able to double count the Multicultural and Computer Literacy units. If these graduation requirements are added, the number of units is increased by 6 units.

For reference only as of 2019/2020