Horticulture Technology - A.A.S.

Program Overview

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Horticulture Technology - A.A.S.

Overview

The Associate of Applied Science degree in Horticulture Technology focuses on the practical skills needed to succeed in the horticulture industry. With flexible scheduling, state-of-the-art facilities, and experienced faculty, you'll be prepared for a variety of career opportunities.

About This Program

The Associate of Applied Science degree in Horticulture Technology prepares students for diverse careers in horticulture-related professions. This program focuses on providing a strong educational foundation that enables graduates to excel in landscape management, turf management, urban forestry, nursery and greenhouse operations. Students develop a knowledge of plant characteristics, safety procedures in the workplace, agroecology, sustainable horticultural practices, pest management, advanced technology integration for precision farming, landscape design and maintenance, soil science, and tree care.

Admission Requirements

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents, and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.

Kent State campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull, and Tuscarawas, and the Twinsburg Academic Center, have open enrollment admission for students who hold a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent.

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

• BSCI 16001: HORTICULTURAL BOTANY (3)
• BSCI 26002: ECOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES OF PEST MANAGEMENT (3)
• BSCI 26003: PLANT IDENTIFICATION AND SELECTION I (3)
• or BSCI 26004: PLANT IDENTIFICATION AND SELECTION II (3)
• GEOG 16001: SOIL AND HORTICULTURAL MANAGEMENT (3)
• HORT 16002: INTRODUCTION TO AGROECOLOGY (3)
• HORT 16003: INTRODUCTION TO HORTICULTURE TECHNOLOGIES AND SENSORS (1)
• HORT 26001: OCCUPATIONAL REGULATIONS AND SAFETY (2)
• HORT 35092: HORTICULTURE PRACTICUM (ELR) (3)
• Technical Electives (15)

Additional Requirements

• BSCI 10110: BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY (ELR) (KBS) (KLAB) (4)
• or CHEM 10030 and CHEM 10031: CHEMISTRY IN OUR WORLD (KBS) and CHEMISTRY IN OUR WORLD LABORATORY (KBS) (KLAB) (4)
• COMM 15000: INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN COMMUNICATION (KADL) (3)
• ESCI 21062: ENVIRONMENTAL EARTH SCIENCE (KBS) (3)
• UC 10001: FLASHES 101 (1)
• Kent Core Composition (3)
• Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning (3)
• Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts (3)
• Kent Core Social Sciences (3)
• General Electives (1)

Graduation Requirements

• Minimum Major GPA: 2.000
• Minimum Overall GPA: 2.000

Roadmap

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this program. Students will work with their advisor to develop a sequence based on their academic goals and history.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. List and define plant characteristics, use, identification, and taxonomy, and differentiate between a wide range of horticulturally important plant species, including both woody and herbaceous species.
2. Apply proper safety procedures and their application in the workplace.
3. Apply principles of agroecology and sustainable horticultural practices that reduce the environmental footprint of horticultural production and contribute to long-term sustainability.
4. Articulate pest identification, taxonomy, integrated pest management (IPM), and control strategies that use ecologically sustainable approaches.
5. Discuss the integration and utilization of advanced technologies (e.g., sensors, drones, and artificial intelligence applications) to enhance precision farming practices in horticulture, for optimizing crop yields, resource efficiency, and environmental sustainability.
6. Design and maintain landscapes using a range of plant materials, hardscape features, and sustainable practices.
7. Discuss soil science's role in horticultural production; and interpret soil test results, analyze soil conditions, and implement corrective measures for optimal plant growth.
8. Explain concepts of tree biology, identification, planting, and maintenance practices, including pruning, tree risk assessment, and disease management.

Full Description

The Associate of Applied Science degree in Horticulture Technology prepares students for diverse careers in horticulture-related professions. This program focuses on providing a strong educational foundation that enables graduates to excel in landscape management, turf management, urban forestry, nursery and greenhouse operations. Students develop a knowledge of plant characteristics, safety procedures in the workplace, agroecology, sustainable horticultural practices, pest management, advanced technology integration for precision farming, landscape design and maintenance, soil science, and tree care.

The Horticulture Technology major emphasizes practical experience through hands-on training in outdoor labs. Students are required to complete an internship.

The degree program articulates with Kent State's Bachelor of Applied Horticulture degree.

Why Kent State University

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Program Outline

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Degree Overview:

The Associate of Applied Science degree in Horticulture Technology prepares students for diverse careers in horticulture-related professions. This program focuses on providing a strong educational foundation that enables graduates to excel in landscape management, turf management, urban forestry, nursery and greenhouse operations. Students develop a knowledge of plant characteristics, safety procedures in the workplace, agroecology, sustainable horticultural practices, pest management, advanced technology integration for precision farming, landscape design and maintenance, soil science and tree care. The Horticulture Technology major emphasizes practical experience through hands-on training in outdoor labs. Students are required to complete an internship. The degree program articulates with Kent State's Bachelor of Applied Horticulture degree.

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Outline:

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Program Requirements:

• Major Requirements:
• BSCI 16001 HORTICULTURAL BOTANY (3 credit hours)
• HORT 16002 INTRODUCTION TO AGROECOLOGY (3 credit hours)
• HORT 16003 INTRODUCTION TO HORTICULTURE TECHNOLOGIES AND SENSORS (1 credit hour)
• BSCI 26003 PLANT IDENTIFICATION AND SELECTION I or BSCI 26004 PLANT IDENTIFICATION AND SELECTION II (3 credit hours)
• HORT 35092 HORTICULTURE PRACTICUM (ELR) (3 credit hours)
• Technical Electives (15 credit hours) - Choose from the following:
• BSCI 26003 PLANT IDENTIFICATION AND SELECTION I or BSCI 26004 PLANT IDENTIFICATION AND SELECTION II
• HORT 16004 DRONE TECHNOLOGY FOR HORTICULTURE
• HORT 26002 EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES IN HORTICULTURE AND PLANT SYSTEMS
• HORT 26046 LANDSCAPE DESIGN I
• Additional Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA):
• BSCI 10110 BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY (ELR) (KBS) (KLAB) or CHEM 10030 & CHEM 10031 CHEMISTRY IN OUR WORLD (KBS) and CHEMISTRY IN OUR WORLD LABORATORY (KBS) (KLAB) (4 credit hours)
• COMM 15000 INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN COMMUNICATION (KADL) (3 credit hours)
• ESCI 21062 ENVIRONMENTAL EARTH SCIENCE (KBS) (3 credit hours)
• UC 10001 FLASHES 101 (1 credit hour)
• Kent Core Composition (3 credit hours)
• Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning (3 credit hours)
• Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts (3 credit hours)
• Kent Core Social Sciences (3 credit hours)
• General Electives (total credit hours depends on earning 60 credits hour) (1 credit hour)
• Minimum Total Credit Hours: 60

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Graduation Requirements:

• Minimum Major GPA: 2.000
• Minimum Overall GPA: 2.000

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Roadmap:

• Semester One:
• BSCI 16001 HORTICULTURAL BOTANY (3 credit hours)
• HORT 16002 INTRODUCTION TO AGROECOLOGY (3 credit hours)
• HORT 16003 INTRODUCTION TO HORTICULTURE TECHNOLOGIES AND SENSORS (1 credit hour)
• UC 10001 FLASHES 101 (1 credit hour)
• Kent Core Requirement (3 credit hours)
• Total Credit Hours: 13
• Semester Two:
• BSCI 10110 or CHEM 10030 and CHEM 10031 BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY (ELR) (KBS) (KLAB) or CHEMISTRY IN OUR WORLD (KBS) and CHEMISTRY IN OUR WORLD LABORATORY (KBS) (KLAB) (4 credit hours)
• BSCI 26003 or BSCI 26004 PLANT IDENTIFICATION AND SELECTION I or PLANT IDENTIFICATION AND SELECTION II (3 credit hours)
• Technical Electives (6 credit hours)
• Kent Core Requirement (3 credit hours)
• Total Credit Hours: 16
• First Summer Term:
• HORT 35092 HORTICULTURE PRACTICUM (ELR) (3 credit hours)
• Total Credit Hours: 3
• Semester Three:
• COMM 15000 INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN COMMUNICATION (KADL) (3 credit hours)
• Technical Electives (6 credit hours)
• Kent Core Requirement (3 credit hours)
• Total Credit Hours: 15
• Semester Four:
• ESCI 21062 ENVIRONMENTAL EARTH SCIENCE (KBS) (3 credit hours)
• Technical Elective (3 credit hours)
• Kent Core Requirement (3 credit hours)
• General Elective (1 credit hour)
• Total Credit Hours: 13
• Minimum Total Credit Hours: 60

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University Requirements:

• Flashes 101 (UC 10001): 1 credit hour (not required for students with 30+ transfer credits or age 21+ at time of admission)
• Kent Core: 15 credit hours (see table below)
• Total Credit Hour Requirement: 60 (some associate degrees require more than 60 credit hours)

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Kent Core Requirements:

• Kent Core Composition (KCMP): 3 credit hours
• Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning (KMCR): 3 credit hours
• Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts (KHUM/KFA): 3 credit hours
• Kent Core Social Sciences (KSS): 3 credit hours
• Kent Core Basic Sciences (KBS/KLAB): 3 credit hours
• Total Credit Hours: 15

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Careers:

• Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries:
• Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers
• 6.5% decline in employment over the next 10 years
• 952,300 number of jobs
• $68,090 potential earnings
• First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers
• 11.4% much faster than the average growth in employment over the next 10 years
• 170,700 number of jobs
• $51,010 potential earnings
• Landscaping and groundskeeping workers
• 10.1% much faster than the average growth in employment over the next 10 years
• 1,188,000 number of jobs
• $31,730 potential earnings

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Other:

• Program Delivery: In person
• Location: Salem Campus
• Source of occupation titles and labor data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook
• Program Learning Outcomes:
• Graduates will be able to:
• List and define plant characteristics, use, identification and taxonomy and differentiate between a wide range of horticulturally important plant species, including both woody and herbaceous species.
• Apply proper safety procedures and their application in the workplace.
• Apply principles of agroecology and sustainable horticultural practices that reduce the environmental footprint of horticultural production and contribute to long-term sustainability.
• Articulate pest identification, taxonomy, integrated pest management (IPM) and control strategies that use ecologically sustainable approaches.
• Discuss the integration and utilization of advanced technologies (e.g., sensors, drones and artificial intelligence applications) to enhance precision farming practices in horticulture, for optimizing crop yields, resource efficiency and environmental sustainability.
• Design and maintain landscapes using a range of plant materials, hardscape features and sustainable practices.
• Discuss soil science's role in horticultural production; and interpret soil test results, analyze soil conditions and implement corrective measures for optimal plant growth.
• Explain concepts of tree biology, identification, planting and maintenance practices, including pruning, tree risk assessment and disease management.