College Catalog

One College Avenue, Williamsport PA 17701-5799 · (570) 326-3761 or (800) 367-9222

Ornamental Horticulture
Landscape Technology Emphasis (OD)
Academic School: Natural Resources Management
(Effective Fall 2007)

Associate of Applied Science Degree (A.A.S.)

Landscape Technology offers rewarding careers to students who enjoy working with plant materials in an innovative and constructive environment. Students study landscape design, landscape construction, installation and maintenance of landscape materials, turf management, plant insects and diseases, and plant information and identification. Classroom and laboratory activities include operation of landscape equipment and landscape construction, including retaining walls, walkways, patios, decks, and general landscape operations.

Career Opportunities:  Depending on the student's academic emphasis, careers in the following segments of the ornamental horticulture industry are available to the graduate: landscape design and installation, floral shop and garden center manager, both in traditional and mass market retailing; horticultural product marketing and merchandising; floral designer; plant propagator, greenhouse and nursery production of trees, shrubs, tropical, annual and perennial plants; arborist/tree care specialist; interiorscaper; landscape foreman/supervisor; landscape management; estate gardener; horticulture product buyer; horticulturist with an institutional or government agency; transfer student into advanced degree colleges or universities.

Recommended High School Subjects:  Four years of English, two years of algebra, and two years of science.

Remediation Strategies:  All students must remediate by the end of the first year. The order of remediation will be math, reading, and English.

Transfer Procedures:  This major is subject to the transfer standards established by the College (see http://www.pct.edu/catalog/TransferringCredits.htm ). Exceptions must be approved by the school dean.

Program Goals:  A graduate of this major should be able to:

• demonstrate the safe and effective use of hand tools, small power equipment, and other equipment common to the ornamental horticulture industry.
• summarize and apply knowledge in the use of plant growth media, soil amendments, and fertilizers.
• demonstrate a responsible and professional attitude in relationships with employers, colleagues, and clients through various courses, labs, and on-the-job work experience.
• summarize and apply a basic knowledge of various careers within the ornamental horticulture industry.
• apply basic knowledge of botany to ornamental horticulture products and services.
• identify various trees, shrubs, tropicals, and herbaceous plants and summarize their functional horticultural use and maintenance.
• identify and evaluate horticultural problems caused by insects, diseases, and physiopaths; plan for proper control of these problems by developing a plant health care/integrated pest management plan.
• apply skills in pruning, fertilizing, and spraying for managing landscapes and ornamental plants in commercial production.
• develop production schedules and outline production of commercial plants in nursery and/or greenhouse operations.
• use computers and the Internet as business/project management tools and information resources.

Specifically, graduates of the Landscape Technology Emphasis should be able to:

• appraise, plan, and design for functional and aesthetically pleasing use of landscape plant material and accessories in developing public, commercial, and residential landscape areas.
• design, develop, and install landscape features such as waterfalls, pools, steps, lighting, walks, walls, patios, and other hardscaping features using materials such as flagstone, brick, landscape timbers and pressure treated wood, mountain stone, interlocking pavers and retaining walls, and other landscape construction materials.
• demonstrate the skills necessary to professionally install and maintain high quality landscapes.
• identify various trees, shrubs, ground covers, herbaceous plants, and their important cultivars; summarize their landscape uses and the cultural requirements.
• identify turf grass varieties and their uses in the landscape; demonstrate an understanding of the establishment and maintenance of turf areas.
• develop contracts, materials, and cost estimations for a landscape design and installation using a pen and ink technique or computer software programs.
• develop a landscape design using computer-based software programs.
• use a computer as a record keeping and business management tool.
• develop a plan to manage a landscape installation or maintenance job.

Accreditation:  Recognized and accredited by the Professional Landcare Network (PLANET).

Pennsylvania College of Technology · One College Avenue · Williamsport, PA 17701 · (570) 326-3761 or (800) 367-9222

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