Facilities
Virtual Tour
Join Assistant Professor Carl Bower on a tour of the extensive facilities for Penn College's Landscape/Plant Production program.
Landscape/Plant Production Technology
Associate of Applied Science Degree (A.A.S.)
About this program
You have a passion for plants. Love the great outdoors. And picture yourself actively immersed in a green career. Major in Landscape/Plant Production Technology at Penn College and you’ll learn what it takes thrive in a sustainable field. Choose from a variety of specialized landscape and plant production electives and cultivate a skillset that aligns with your career goals.
Next steps...
You're on your way to becoming a tomorrow maker.
Careers
- Landscape crew leader/supervisor
- Horticultural product marketing and merchandising
- Landscape, field, and production manager
- Arborist/tree care specialist
- Plant propagator
- Lead grower
- Greenhouse and nursery production
- Floral shop and garden center manager
- Irrigation technician
- Additional landscape career paths
- Additional plant production career paths
Courses
At Penn College, we believe your educational experience should go beyond specialized skills. Real-world ready means taking a broader approach that builds communication skills, inspires collaboration, and encourages exploration of arts, history, and science.
Specialization requires in-depth knowledge and high-level proficiency. Students learn and apply major-specific concepts, skills, and methods.
- Introduction to Ornamental Horticulture (HRT101)
- Horticulture Equipment Operation and Safety (HRT102)
- Soils and Fertilizers (HRT110)
- Herbaceous Plants (HRT141)
- Introduction to Plant Propagation (HRT142)
- Woody Plants (HRT144)
- Emerging Trends in Horticulture (HRT145)
- Horticulture Accessories (HRT234)
- Controlled Environment Agriculture (HRT123)
- Internship (HRT150)
- Containerized Plant Production (HRT208) or
- Plant Management Practices (HRT237)
- Insects and Diseases of Ornamental Plants (HRT241)
- Computer Design Applications/Advanced Plants (HRT251)
- Landscape Construction (HRT224) or
- Advanced Plant Production Hemp and Hydro (HRT236)
- Horticulture Operations and Strategies (HRT238)
- Arboriculture (URF201) or
- The Art of Floral Design (HRT260)
- Sustainable Horticulture (HRT252)
- Landscape Design (HRT225)
Perspectives are points of view, offering a variety of ways of understanding, interacting, and influencing the world. Students identify, explain, and utilize the approaches used by academics and professionals to study, analyze, or understand problems, and offer solutions.
- Basic Botany (BIO111)
Foundations are the practical, intellectual, and social skills: communication, collaboration, critical and ethical thinking, quantitative thinking, and technological literacy that are crucial to every student at every stage of education and at every stage of life.
- English Composition I (ENL111)
- Business Mathematics (MTH113) or
- Technical Algebra and Trigonometry I (MTH124) or
- College Algebra and Trigonometry I (MTH180)
- Technical and Professional Communication (ENL201) or
- Fundamentals of Speech (SPC101) or
- Interpersonal Communication (SPC201)
- Information, Technology, and Society (CSC124)
Facilities
Earth Science Center
Gain real-world experience in our five-acre arboretum and 6,500 square feet of greenhouses.
Facilities
Learning via Virtual Reality
Design a landscape. Then, use virtual reality software to take a 'step' inside your creation. This advanced learning aid is a real-world tool designers use to present concepts to clients.
Tour Schedule
Seeing is believing.
Think Penn College might be a good fit for you? Make plans to visit and discover what hands-on learning is all about. Academic Tours allow you to explore labs and get to the core of your future program. If you’re looking for a deeper dive into your academic area of interest, opt for a Self-Scheduled Personal Tour. Comprehensive COVID-19 safety protocols are in place.
Apr 25
Spring Visit Day - Landscape/Plant Production
Sunday, April 259:00 AM - 1:00 PM Eastern Time (U.S.)
Apr 29
Self-Scheduled Personal Tour - Landscape/Plant Production
Thursday, April 299:30 AM - 1:00 PM Eastern Time (U.S.)
Upcoming Events
Explore Penn College
Alumni Video
Alums Help Longwood Gardens Bloom
Known as one of the premier public gardens in the world, Longwood Gardens features more than 1,077 acres of natural beauty. Two landscape/horticulture graduates help shape that magnificent scenery by serving as senior gardeners, using art and science -- "tools" gained at Penn College -- to craft fulfilling careers at the renowned attraction.
Internship
Your knowledge in practice
Internships are key for career preparation. Apply your knowledge to the workplace and learn about the industry first-hand.
Industry Partners
Work with experts to become an expert
Penn College's strong partnerships impact every step of your journey – from your first day in the classroom and labs, to career placement (oftentimes before graduation) and beyond.
Related Programs
Follow your passion
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Associate of Applied Science Degree (A.A.S.)
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Bachelor of Science Degree (B.S.) Online
Architecture & Sustainable Design
Bachelor of Science Degree (B.S.)
Student Life
Lead and put your skills to the test
Horticulture Club
Promoting and advancing the field of horticulture, this club lends practical experience in the field along with industry exposure beyond classroom learning.
Student Organizations at Penn College
Your college experience is about more than the classroom. Join one of 65+ clubs and organizations, or create your own.
News
04.21.2021
ESC greenhouse sale to begin Monday
Starting Monday, a sure sign of spring – the popular bedding plant sale – returns to the Schneebeli Earth Science Center ...
03.30.2021
April showers bring revealing hours – register today!
Four virtual workshops in April, continuing Penn College’s series of free community presentations, will provide expert ...
03.30.2021
Penn College horticulture students awarded $1,000 scholarships
The National Association of Landscape Professionals Foundation has awarded $1,000 scholarships to each of four Pennsylvania ...
Study Abroad
Gain global experience
See the world via Williamsport. Take your education abroad and get hands-on experience learning about your industry on a global scale.
Student Experience
The community as their classroom
Standout student featured in Lawn & Landscape Magazine
Landscape student, Kendra Snyder, was recently showcased in Lawn & Landscape, a popular industry publication among landscaping contractors and lawn care professionals.
More Information
This major is subject to the transfer standards established by the College (see https://www.pct.edu/admissions/transfer/transferring-credits). Exceptions must be approved by the school dean.
Alternative Credit refers to academic credits earned through means other than traditional college course completion, including: credit by exam, articulation, proof of competency gained in high school, work/life experience, and advanced placement.
Visit the Alternative Credit Options page for requirements and procedures and for information on credit through Advanced Placement.
Tools should not be purchased until you have consulted with your faculty adviser or have attended HRT101 the first week of classes.
View the Landscape/Horticulture Technology Required Tools
Uniform/Safety Protection (required for all labs)
- Hard hat
- Safety glasses
- Hearing protection (ear plugs)
- Work gloves
- Thick sole leather steel-toe safety boots for work labs
Uniforms and tools are available for purchase through The College Store.
Whether you're a student, parent, or counselor, find out if the green industry is right for you.
Landscape Industry Careers is powered by the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP), an organization of industry experts who love the outdoors, relish the opportunity to enhance the environment through their daily work, and have a passion for bringing their customers’ outdoor visions to life.
Seed Your Future is the movement to promote horticulture and inspire people to pursue careers working with plants.
Landlovers is a website sponsored by the AmericanHort, the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS), and the National Association of Landscape Professionals (formerly PLANET).
- Mr. Scott A Burk, Owner, Scott's Landscaping, Inc.
- Ms. Melissa Cramer, '08, Landscape Designer, Scott's Landscaping, Inc.
- Mr. Michael Derk, President, Creative Plantscapes Inc.
- Mr. Todd Grace, Lawn Care Technician, Good's Tree & Lawn Care
- Mr. Ian Groy, '01, Arborist Representative, The F. A. Bartlett Experts
- Mr. Adrian S Karver, Area Manager/Branch Safety Coordinator, Ruppert Landscape
- Mr. Todd Mason, '91, Key Account Manager - Turf and Ornamental, Turf Trade
- Mr. Steven Nagy, Foreman, Consulting Arborist, Recruiting/Trainer, Davey Tree Expert Company
- Ms. Alyssa Richner, '10, Gardener, M. S. Hershey Foundations/Hershey Gardens
- Mr. Justin Rinehimer, '17, '18, Owner, Stubbs Landscaping
- Mr. Brett T Runkle, '94, Roadside Specialist, PA Department of Transportation
- Mr. Aaron M Shippling, '82, Turf Care Specialist, Central Penn Turf
- Mr. Gerrit Strathmeyer, Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Strathmeyer Landscape Development Corp.
- Mr. Jeff Walizer, '93, Design/Sales, Creative Plantscapes, Inc.