College Catalog

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

Ornamental Horticulture
Horticulture Retail Management Emphasis (OR)
Academic School: Natural Resources Management
(Effective Fall 2007)

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

This unique career emphasis in Horticulture Retail Management combines art, science, and business in the dynamic and diverse field of horticulture retailing. The student, through elective choices, will gain skills in retail management and sales of horticultural products, basic and advanced floral design, and basic landscape and interiorscape design and installation. Career opportunities in this field include positions of management in home improvement stores such as Lowes and Home Depot, floral shop and garden center owner or manager, event and floral designers, as well as career opportunities in the interiorscape industry and in public tropical conservatories and gardens.

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 Horticulture Retail Management Emphasis should be able to:

• summarize the various types and uses of horticultural growing structures, materials, and equipment common to the retail horticulture industry.
• use a computer to manage the growing environment and as a record keeping and business management tool.
• outline the management requirements of a garden center/floral shop, including record keeping and employee-employer-client relations.
• prepare salable floral designs of fresh and silk flowers using design job specific guidelines, working within the time and cost requirements of the retail floral and garden center industry.
• demonstrate skills in designing and selling the types of floral designs and accessories used for special occasions and event work.
• identify hardy and tropical trees, shrubs, ground covers and herbaceous plants; summarize their cultural requirements and uses in landscapes, garden centers/floral shops, greenhouses, and interiorscapes.
• demonstrate the basic principles of interior and outdoor plantscape design and installation and develop basic sketching and drawing skills to develop an interiorscape/outdoor design presentation.

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

Contents © 1995-Present · Privacy Statement

Contents © 1995-Present