Landscape and Horticulture Technology - Associate Degree
Are you someone who loves the fresh air and sunshine, preferring the great outdoors over the confines of an indoor office? If so, Eastern Florida's Landscape and Horticulture Technology A.S. degree program is the perfect opportunity for you! This program opens doors to a fulfilling career in various green industry professions.
With the increasing demand for farming and greenhouse experts, landscape designers, grounds maintenance supervisors, golf course turf managers, beekeepers, and other industry specialists, Florida presents a particularly promising environment for year-round employment. Its tropical and subtropical climates make this line of work essential throughout the year.
As you pursue this degree, you'll have the option to specialize in either Horticulture Technology or Landscape Technology. Each specialization offers career-specific elective courses that allow you to delve deeper into your chosen track, gaining expertise and skills tailored to your desired profession.
Moreover, as you progress through the program, you'll have the opportunity to earn a series of associated College Credit Certificates (CCCs), along with your State of Florida fertilizer applicator license. This license comes with valuable training in Green Industries Best Management Practices (GI-BMP), a state-coordinated program that focuses on environmentally safe landscaping practices to conserve and protect Florida's ground and surface waters, as well as its natural resources.
Landscape and Horticulture Technology - Associate Degree
Program Overview
- Degree Type
- Associate in Science (A.S.)
- Delivery Method
- On-Campus, Hybrid
- Locations
- Melbourne, Titusville
- Total Credit Hours
- 60
- Academic Community
- Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics
- Contact Information
-
Email Program Advisor
321-632-1111Advising Appointments
Amanda Rose Newton, M.S.
Program Manager
newtona@easternflorida.edu
321-433-5750
To enhance your learning experience, the program has established local partnerships that provide networking opportunities and hands-on learning through free or reduced-cost attendance at events coordinated by esteemed organizations, such as the Florida Association of Native Nurseries, Florida Nursery Growers and Landscape Association, and the Florida Native Plant Society.
Landscape and Horticulture Technology A.S. - Course Curriculum
The coursework associated with each specialization is designed to equip you with occupation-specific skills, scientific and industry knowledge, and the technical and professional aptitude required to excel in various green industry jobs. Classes take place on campus, with a few courses such as Botany, Landscape Design, and Irrigation Design offered online. You get outdoors with a hands-on hydroponics class at EFSC's Titusville Campus greenhouse and beekeeping and other coursework at the Rockledge Gardens greenhouses through an agreement with the college.
As a student, you'll have the opportunity to choose the track that best aligns with your interests and goals:
Landscape and Horticulture Technology A.S. - Admissions Information
If you're interested in the Landscape and Horticulture Technology A.S. degree, you can apply through the regular admissions process at Eastern Florida. The program offers ongoing enrollment, allowing you to start classes in any term. If you have any questions about the program, feel free to reach out the program's advisor or manager for guidance.
To ensure your success and safety in the program, we recommend that applicants meet certain requirements. These include the ability to lift 25 pounds, understand different labels related to horticulture chemicals, identify color codes, access plants and soil comfortably, use various horticulture tools proficiently, and work outdoors in different weather conditions for extended periods of time.
Brief Costs and Financial Aid Eligibility
If you're a Florida resident, the in-state tuition for EFSC's Landscape and Horticulture Technology A.S. degree amounts to $6,240. Keep in mind that this doesn't cover course materials or lab fees. However, there are opportunities for financial aid and scholarships that can assist in reducing the overall cost of earning this degree.
One such scholarship option is funded by the Garden Club by the Sea. To be eligible, you need to be a Brevard County resident and enrolled as a full-time student in an accredited undergraduate college program, specifically pursuing a degree in environmental sciences or horticulture.
College Courses You Would Take
Landscaping and horticulture courses at EFSC offer flexibility, including weekend, evening, online, and hybrid classes. This allows you to balance your studies with your work schedule, whether you work full-time or part-time.
Here are some of the classes you might take:
Surveys the major plant taxa with regard to representatives, structures, physiology, morphology, life histories, classification, ecology, and economic importance.
Required for both specializations, these courses provide a foundation in plant science, plus the maintenance and management aspects of the horticultural business.
Explores the fundamentals of insects including beneficial plant insects, pests, interactions, morphology, identification, damage, control measures, and more.
Teaches the processes and functions of plants and how they're affected by damaging organisms and viruses. Includes diagnosis, treatment, and issue prevention.
Why Study Landscape and Horticulture Technology at EFSC?
Learn From the Pros
Faculty members have more than 10 years of experience in the green industry. Their expertise in areas like small space growing, greenhouse management, beekeeping, pest management, plant propagation, and niche crop production brings valuable knowledge to students. You'll also have opportunities for research and service-learning including working at Rockledge Gardens, a well-established local business, to gain practical experience in the field.
A Degree With Many Career Paths
The growing use of new technologies and industries like hydroponics, cannabis, and organic farming creates a consistent demand for employees, researchers, and students. According to the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics, there's projected growth of 8-10% in the need for professionals with horticulture-related degrees in the coming years. The increasing reliance on plants, along with the trend of incorporating local produce, hemp products, and green spaces, has boosted the demand for graduates with a strong background in horticulture or landscaping.
With a degree in this field, you can explore various career paths, such as fruit and vegetable production, landscape design, hydroponic farming, integrated pest management, botanical gardening, estate gardening, interiorscapes, greenhouse growing, irrigation, floristry, nursery management, turf management, and more.
grow your education with a bachelor's degree
If you want to add management skills after earning your degree, EFSC's Organizational Management Bachelor of Applied Science degree is designed for seamless transfer with an A.S. degree and has 12 specializations. You can also explore horticulture-related bachelor programs at colleges and universities such as the University of Florida's Environmental Horticulture B.S. degree. Because A.S. degrees lack all of the general education courses and other prerequisites that may be required for university transfer, talk with the program manager as well as advisors at the institution where you intend to transfer to ensure you will meet transfer requirements.Related Certificate Programs
As part of this program, you also have the option to earn up to three embedded certificates. These certificates offer shorter-term options that can stand alone or be used to progress toward the A.S. degree. To learn more about these options, we recommended contacting the program advisor or manager for additional information.