Program Overview

Introduction to the Horticulture Program

The Horticulture Certificate provides students with the foundational science behind maintaining plants and their environment. This program may be completed 100% online and is perfect for aspiring horticulturists or entrepreneurs with a passion for plants and the environment.

Program Details

• The program is designed to provide foundational horticulture science principles with a focus on plants, insects, and soils commonly found in Southern California.
• Students can complete their studies at their own pace and can enroll in as many or as few courses to meet their needs.
• The certificate can be completed in as little as four quarters (one year).
• Courses are open enrollment, and each course is paid for individually.

Required Courses

• BIOLGY X 496.2: General Botany for Gardeners
• BIOLGY X 499.97: Introduction to Irrigation Practices
• BIOLGY X 498.2: Horticultural Pest Management
• BIOLGY X 493.2: Soil and Plant Nutrition
• BIOLGY X 499: Plant Materials for Landscape Use
• BIOLGY X 424.41: Plant Taxonomy and Identification

Elective Courses

• ARCH X 472: Introduction to the Landscape Design Professions
• ARCH X 472.6A: History of the Designed Landscape
• ARCH X 494.65: Sketching and Plant Identification
• ARCH X 495.32: Sponge Cities: How Green Infrastructure Can Save Urbanization
• BIOLGY X 465.33: Indoor Plants: Care and Maintenance
• BIOLGY X 465.5: Regenerating Essential Goods and Services in America's Urban Landscapes
• BIOLGY X 465.6: Firescaping: Protecting Communities With Fire-Resistant Landscapes
• BIOLGY X 466.1: Foundations of Horticultural Therapy
• BIOLGY X 466.2: Horticultural Therapy Techniques
• BIOLGY X 466.3: Horticultural Therapy Program Management
• BIOLGY X 467.1: The Business of Horticulture
• BIOLGY X 492.67: The Study of Trees
• BIOLGY X 492.68: Management of Urban Trees
• BIOLGY X 494: Introduction to Horticulture
• BIOLGY X 497.19: Planting Design for the Home Gardener
• BIOLGY X 497.35: Plant Propagation for Gardeners
• BIOLGY X 497.5: Gardening Practices and Techniques
• BIOLGY X 498.10: Greener Gardens: Sustainable Garden Practice
• BIOLGY X 499.22: California Natives
• BIOLGY X 499.999: Horticulture Internship (4-unit)

Cost and Fees

• Application and Candidacy Fee: $200
• Estimated Textbooks and Materials: $600
• Estimated Program Tuition: $4981

Benefits

• Access to Handshake, UCLA Career Center's online job board, with access to thousands of job and internship postings.
• Become a member of the UCLA Alumni Association (upon completing your certificate) and a nationwide network of Bruin family.
• Join us for the annual UCLA Extension Graduation Ceremony on campus to celebrate all your hard work.
• Get access to UCLA Recreation facilities as a student affiliate.
• Open an affiliate/Guest UCLA Bruin ID Card for a number of student-related benefits.
• Access to UCLA Extension's Career Resources including online career coaching, workshops and networking events.

Advisory Board

The Horticulture Advisory Board advises the Horticulture Program on the latest trends and scientific developments within the horticulture and landscape fields. Members include:

• Carol Bornstein, Director of the Nature Gardens (Retired), Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
• Allison Keeney, UCLA Assistant Director, Mathias Botanical Garden
• Katie Tilford, Interim Executive Director, Theodore Payne Foundation, UCLA Extension Horticulture Certificate graduate
• James Minnich, Regional Manager, Ewing Irrigation
• Jill Morganelli, Horticulture Supervisor (Retired), Los Angeles County Arboretum, Instructor, UCLA Extension Horticulture and Gardening
• Darlene Pickell, UCLA Extension Horticulture Program instructor (retired)
• Dr. Lawren Sack, Professor, UCLA Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Dept.
• Dr. Victoria Sork, Director, UCLA Mildred E Mathias Botanical Garden
• Brian Sullivan, Director of Agronomy, Wilshire Country Club

Related Programs

• Landscape Architecture certificate
• Arboriculture specialization
• Gardening specialization
• Plants for the Landscape specialization