Plant Science and Agricultural Technology
Plant Science and Agricultural Technology with Specializations in:
- Horticulture
- Landscape
- Sustainable Agriculture
Associate in Science Degree CIP# 1101060502)
This program is designed to prepare students for careers in the landscape and horticulture industries. Students may choose to specialize in two areas: landscape or horticulture. The Landscape Specialization provides for skills in landscape design, construction, and maintenance, which include instruction in constructing and landscaping parks, airports, communities, resorts, etc. Students are trained to supervise, manage, and design exterior and interior landscapes. The Horticulture Specialization is designed to prepare students for careers in both greenhouse and nursery operations and includes instruction in greenhouse foliage, flower and woody nursery production. Students are specially trained to operate and manage all types of plant productions, programs and facilities.
Students are strongly encouraged to consult a Career Program Advisor in the department office for assistance in determining the best education plan for their career goals.
Although scheduling may not always provide for the following progression of courses, students should use the foundation, intermediate and specialization course sequence as a guide in program planning.
All degree-seeking students must satisfy entry testing requirements and satisfactorily complete all mandatory courses in reading, student success, mathematics, English, and English for Academic Purposes in which the student is placed.
Alternative Ways to Earn Credit
You may be eligible to receive credit toward this degree if you have earned an approved industry certification or Career Pathways credit. For more information and requirements, go to valenciacollege.edu/asdegrees/transferagreements.cfm to view the award of credit options. Eligible students should contact the related academic department and/or Career Program Advisor at Valencia for the award of credit.
Technical Certificates
The Plant Science and Agricultural A.S. degree also offers the following college credit certificate programs. These certificate programs can put you on the fast-track to reaching your career goals. They are designed to equip you with a specialized skill set for entry-level employment or to upgrade your skills for job advancement. Most can be completed in one year or less, and all of the courses in the certificate programs are embedded in the A.S. degree. Click on the Certificate tab at the top of the page for more information about the course requirements.
- Plant Science Specialist (12 credits) (CIP # 0101060503)
- Plant Science Professional (18 credits) (CIP # 0101060504)
- Plant Science Technician (30 credits) (CIP # 0101060505)
Start Right
Degree-seeking students enrolling at Valencia for the first time will have a limited range of courses from which to choose for their first 18 college-level credits. Within the first 18 college credit hours, you will be required to take ENC1101 (3 credits), and if applicable, SLS 1122 (3 credits) and a mathematics course appropriate to your selected meta-major (3 credits). The remaining courses will be chosen from the General Education Core Courses in humanities (3 credits), science (3 credits), or social science (3 credits), and/or the introductory courses within the A.S. degree programs. For specific courses see the Foundation Courses on the “Program Requirements” tab. For course sequencing recommendations, see your Career Program Advisor or create an education plan by logging into Atlas, clicking on the LifeMap tab and clicking My Education Plan.
Potential Careers
- Nursery Supervisor/Manager
- Supervisor, Parks
- Production Superintendent
- Landscape & Groundskeeping Manager
- Landscape Gardener/Designer/Contractor
- Supervisor/Manager of Landscaping and Horticulture Services
- Landscape & Horticulture Specialist
- Landscape & Horticulture Professional
Salary & Earnings Information
For career information related to this program, please visit O*Net OnLine.
Contacts
Future Students
Contact Enrollment Services at enrollment@valenciacollege.edu or call 407-582-1507.
Current Students
Javier Garces, Program Chair, West Campus: 407-582-1820
jgarces3@valenciacollege.edu
Beverly Johnson, Career Program Advisor, West Campus: 407-582-1890
bjohnson@valenciacollege.edu
Internship and Workforce Services
If you need assistance with job resources or in locating an internship, please visit: valenciacollege.edu/internship.
Program Outcomes
- Differentiate the mechanisms involved in plant physiology and growth.
- Categorize plants based on growth, morphological, and taxonomic characteristics.
- Design a pest management program.
- Demonstrate employability skills in the field of horticulture.
- Develop solutions for a wide variety of plant health issues.
| Foundation Courses | ||
| ENC 1101 | FRESHMAN COMPOSITION I +*~ | 3 |
| SLS 1122 | NEW STUDENT EXPERIENCE ~ | 3 |
| EVR 1001 | INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE +*~ | 3 |
| or MAC 1105 | COLLEGE ALGEBRA | |
| PLS 1010C | INTRODUCTION TO PLANT SCIENCE | 3 |
| ENY 1002C | PRINCIPLES OF ENTOMOLOGY * | 3 |
| BOT 2010C | BOTANY ~ | 4 |
| CHM 1025C | INTRODUCTION TO GENERAL CHEMISTRY *~ | 4 |
| or CHM 1045C | GENERAL CHEMISTRY WITH QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS I | |
| Intermediate Courses | ||
| AOM 2012C | TYPES & SYSTEMS OF AGRICULTURE OPERATIONS | 3 |
| ECO 2013 | PRINCIPLES OF ECONOMICS-MACRO ~ | 3 |
| PLP 2001C | PLANT PATHOLOGY * | 4 |
| SWS 2102C | SOILS AND FERTILIZERS * | 3 |
| Humanities | See Gen. Ed. Core or Institutional Requirement ~ | 3 |
| Specialization (See below) | 21 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 60 | |
| + | This course must be completed with a grade of C or better. |
| * | This course has a prerequisite; check description in Valencia catalog. |
| ~ | This is a general education course. |
| (GR) | Denotes a Gordon Rule course. |
Horticulture Specialization
Designed for students wishing to specialize in nursery and greenhouse operations.
Program Outcomes
- Categorize plants based on growth, morphological, and taxonomic characteristics.
- Design a greenhouse, nursery, or crop management program.
| ORH 1510C | ORNAMENTAL PLANT MATERIALS * | 3 |
| or AOM 1461C | INTRODUCTION TO SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE | |
| ORH 2251C | NURSERY OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT * | 3 |
| or ORH 2260C | GREENHOUSE OPERATIONS AND MANAGEMENT | |
| PLS 2220C | PLANT PROPAGATION * | 3 |
| Plant Science and Agricultural Technology Degree Electives | 12 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 21 | |
| * | This course has a prerequisite; check description in Valencia catalog. |
Landscape Specialization
Designed for students wishing to specialize in landscape design, construction, and maintenance.
Program Outcomes
- Design a landscape or interiorscape project.
- Schedule a landscape or interiorscape maintenance program.
| LDE 1000C | LANDSCAPE DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION * | 3 |
| ORH 1234C | ORNAMENTAL PLANT MAINTENANCE * | 4 |
| ORH 1510C | ORNAMENTAL PLANT MATERIALS * | 3 |
| ORH 2840C | LANDSCAPE CONSTRUCTION * | 4 |
| Plant Science and Agricultural Technology Degree Electives | 7 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 21 | |
| * | This course has a prerequisite; check description in Valencia catalog. |
Sustainable Agriculture Specialization
Designed for students wishing to specialize in edible crop production.
Program Outcomes
- Develop and use tools to assess the sustainability of agricultural operations.
- Design a crop management program.
Program Requirements
| AOM 1461C | INTRODUCTION TO SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE | 3 |
| Electives | Plant Science and Agriculture Technology Degree Electives | 18 |
| Total Credit Hours | 21 | |
| Plant Science and Agricultural Technology Degree Electives | ||
| These courses may be used for Landscape and Horticulture Technology Degree Electives credit if not a requirement of the Specialization. | ||
| AOM 1461C | INTRODUCTION TO SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE | 3 |
| BOT 2501C | PLANT PHYSIOLOGY | 4 |
| CGS 2100C | COMPUTER FUNDAMENTALS AND APPLICATIONS | 3 |
| FAS 2010C | PRINCIPLES OF AQUACULTURE | 3 |
| GEB 1011 | INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS | 3 |
| HOS 2005C | PRINCIPLES OF HYDROPONICS | 3 |
| HOS 2932 | SELECTED TOPICS IN HORTICULTURE & LANDSCAPE TECHNOLOGY * | 1-4 |
| HOS 2941 | INTERNSHIP EXPLORATION IN LANDSCAPE/HORTICULTURE * | 1-4 |
| HOS 2942 | INTERNSHIP IN LANDSCAPE/HORTICULTURE * | 1-4 |
| IPM 1301C | SURVEY OF PEST CONTROL | 3 |
| IPM 2011C | DIAGNOSTICS TECHNIQUES FOR PLANT PROBLEMS | 4 |
| LDE 1000C | LANDSCAPE DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION * | 3 |
| ORH 1234C | ORNAMENTAL PLANT MAINTENANCE * | 4 |
| ORH 1873C | INTERIORSCAPING- DESIGN AND MAINTENANCE * | 3 |
| ORH 2251C | NURSERY OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT * | 3 |
| ORH 2260C | GREENHOUSE OPERATIONS AND MANAGEMENT * | 3 |
| ORH 2840C | LANDSCAPE CONSTRUCTION * | 4 |
| PLS 2220C | PLANT PROPAGATION * | 3 |
| PLS 2402C | PRINCIPLES OF AQUAPONICS | 3 |
| SBM 1000 | SMALL BUSINESS MANAGEMENT | 3 |
| VEC 1201C | INTRODUCTION TO VEGETABLE GARDENING | 3 |
| * | This course has a prerequisite; check description in Valencia catalog. |
Notes:
Specialized program courses are offered on the West Campus and some off-site locations, and may not be offered every session.
Expand your career opportunities with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business and Organizational Leadership (BASBOL) from Valencia. This degree builds on your skills, and prepares you for a supervisory or management role within your respective field. For more information, go to: Bachelor's Degree in Business & Organizational Leadership. Students who wish to continue their education should consult with a Career Program Advisor to determine the best education plan for their career goals.
Students wishing to transfer credits from this program to another institution must accept responsibility for securing approval from the transfer institution for acceptance of this degree.
Plant Science Specialist
Technical Certificate
This program is designed to prepare students for entry-level employment in the landscape and horticulture industries as nursery workers, landscape and horticulture workers and specialists. Areas of study include an understanding of plant physiology, growth, plant classification and plant identification.
Program Outcomes
- Categorize plants based on growth, morphological, and taxonomic characteristics.
- Design a pest management program.
- Demonstrate employability skills in the landscape field.
| PLS 1010C | INTRODUCTION TO PLANT SCIENCE | 3 |
| ORH 1510C | ORNAMENTAL PLANT MATERIALS * | 3 |
| or AOM 1461C | INTRODUCTION TO SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE | |
| ENY 1002C | PRINCIPLES OF ENTOMOLOGY | 3 |
| Plant Science and Agricultural Technology Electives | 3 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 12 | |
| * | This course has a prerequisite; check description in Valencia catalog. |
Notes:
All certificate courses are offered on the West Campus.
Specialized courses may not be offered every session or on every campus.
Plant Science Professional
Technical Certificate
This program is designed to prepare students for immediate employment in the landscape and horticulture industries as landscape gardeners, park workers, gardener specialists and landscape or horticulture professionals. Students focus on the maintenance of landscape plants, including nutrition, fertilization and pest control.
Program Outcomes
- Categorize plants based on growth, morphological, and taxonomic characteristics.
- Demonstrate employability skills in the field or horticulture.
- Design a pest management program.
- Schedule a fertilization program.
| PLS 1010C | INTRODUCTION TO PLANT SCIENCE | 3 |
| ORH 1510C | ORNAMENTAL PLANT MATERIALS * | 3 |
| or AOM 1461C | INTRODUCTION TO SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE | |
| ENY 1002C | PRINCIPLES OF ENTOMOLOGY | 3 |
| SWS 2102C | SOILS AND FERTILIZERS * | 3 |
| or AOM 2012C | TYPES & SYSTEMS OF AGRICULTURE OPERATIONS | |
| Plant Science and Agricultural Technology Elective(s) | 6 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 18 | |
| * | This course has a prerequisite; check description in Valencia catalog. |
Note:
All certificate courses are offered on the West Campus.
Specialized courses may not be offered every session or on every campus.
Plant Science Technician with Specializations in
- Horticulture
- Landscape
Technical Certificate
This program is designed to prepare students for immediate employment in the landscape and horticulture industries as supervisors of landscaping and horticulture, production and nursery supervisors, and horticulture technicians. Areas of study include managing culture of plant materials and installing and constructing landscape projects. Students should select the Horticulture or Landscape Specialization.
Program Outcomes
- Categorize plants based on growth, morphological, and taxonomic characteristics.
- Design a pest management program.
- Schedule a fertilizer program.
| Foundation Courses | ||
| PLS 1010C | INTRODUCTION TO PLANT SCIENCE | 3 |
| ORH 1510C | ORNAMENTAL PLANT MATERIALS * | 3 |
| or AOM 1461C | INTRODUCTION TO SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE | |
| ENY 1002C | PRINCIPLES OF ENTOMOLOGY | 3 |
| SWS 2102C | SOILS AND FERTILIZERS * | 3 |
| or AOM 2012C | TYPES & SYSTEMS OF AGRICULTURE OPERATIONS | |
| Specialization (See below) | 18 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 30 | |
| * | This course has a prerequisite; check description in Valencia catalog. |
Horticulture Specialization
Program Outcomes
- Design a greenhouse, nursery or crop management program.
| ORH 2251C | NURSERY OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT * | 3 |
| or ORH 2260C | GREENHOUSE OPERATIONS AND MANAGEMENT | |
| Plant Science and Agricultural Technology Elective(s) | 15 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 18 | |
Landscape Specialization
Program Outcomes
- Design a landscape or interiorscape project.
- Schedule a landscape or interiorscape maintenance program.
| LDE 1000C | LANDSCAPE DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION | 3 |
| ORH 1234C | ORNAMENTAL PLANT MAINTENANCE * | 4 |
| ORH 2840C | LANDSCAPE CONSTRUCTION * | 4 |
| Plant Science and Agricultural Technology Elective(s) | 7 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 18 | |
| * | This course has a prerequisite; check description in Valencia catalog. |
Plant Science Technician Certificate Electives
These courses may be used for Landscape and Horticulture Technology Certificate Electives credit if not being used as a certificate requirement.
| AOM 2012C | TYPES & SYSTEMS OF AGRICULTURE OPERATIONS | 3 |
| BOT 2010C | BOTANY * | 4 |
| BOT 2501C | PLANT PHYSIOLOGY | 4 |
| CGS 2100C | COMPUTER FUNDAMENTALS AND APPLICATIONS | 3 |
| CHM 1025C | INTRODUCTION TO GENERAL CHEMISTRY * | 4 |
| ENY 1002C | PRINCIPLES OF ENTOMOLOGY * | 3 |
| EVR 1001 | Intro to Environ Science | 3 |
| GEB 1011 | Introduction To Business | 3 |
| HOS 2932 | Selected Topics Horti/Lndscap * | 1-4 |
| HOS 2941 | INTERNSHIP EXPLORATION IN LANDSCAPE/HORTICULTURE * | 1-4 |
| HOS 2942 | INTERNSHIP IN LANDSCAPE/HORTICULTURE * | 1-4 |
| IPM 1301C | SURVEY OF PEST CONTROL | 3 |
| IPM 2011C | DIAGNOSTICS TECHNIQUES FOR PLANT PROBLEMS | 4 |
| LDE 1000C | LANDSCAPE DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION | 3 |
| ORH 1234C | ORNAMENTAL PLANT MAINTENANCE * | 4 |
| ORH 1873C | INTERIORSCAPING- DESIGN AND MAINTENANCE * | 3 |
| ORH 2251C | NURSERY OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT * | 3 |
| ORH 2260C | GREENHOUSE OPERATIONS AND MANAGEMENT * | 3 |
| ORH 2840C | LANDSCAPE CONSTRUCTION * | 4 |
| OST 1755C | MICROSOFT WORD - INTRODUCTION | 1 |
| PLP 2001C | PLANT PATHOLOGY * | 4 |
| PLS 2220C | PLANT PROPAGATION * | 3 |
| SBM 1000 | Small Business Management | 3 |
| SWS 2102C | SOILS AND FERTILIZERS * | 3 |
| VEC 1201C | INTRODUCTION TO VEGETABLE GARDENING | 3 |
| * | This course has a prerequisite; check description in Valencia catalog. |
Note
All certificate courses are offered on the West Campus.
Specialized courses may not be offered every session or on every campus.
This certificate program is eligible for Financial Aid.