Undergraduate Course Catalog 2008-2009

Thompson School of Applied Science

» http://www.thompsonschool.unh.edu/

Horticultural Technology (HT)

Professor: John L. Hart
Associate Professor: Rene J. Gingras, Dana M. Sansom

Horticultural Technology students study the art and science of applied plant science, preparing for environmentally attuned careers in the Green Industry. Rigorous first-year foundation courses in plant materials, plant growth and development, and soils support second-year specializations in ornamental horticulture or landscape operations. Employment opportunities in these areas continue to be excellent. Graduates enter a rapidly expanding job market in ornamental plant production, floral design, nursery and garden center management, fruit and vegetable production, parks and grounds management, and landscape design, construction, and maintenance. Many recent graduates have established their own horticulture enterprises, and others continue their education toward a four-year degree in areas such as environmental horticulture, floriculture/greenhouse management, or business management. Another option that is available to Thompson School students is to continue for a third year to complete the requirements for the specialization in Business Management offered through the Applied Business Management Program.

Admissions Requirements
Applicants to the Horticultural Technology specialization must present at least two years of satisfactory work in college preparatory mathematics and sciences (one of these being biology, with a lab).

Curriculum Fee
Horticultural technology: both specializations, $639.00*

*This one-time, nonrefundable curriculum fee is required to cover lab materials, specialized equipment maintenance, and transportation that is unique to the applied nature of the specialization. The curriculum fee covers the entire two-year course of study for one specialization. Any non-TSAS student may be assessed specific course fees, details of which are included in each semester's Time and Room Schedule. All fees are subject to change.

Ornamental Horticulture
Students who prefer to be generalists in horticultural technology may opt for the ornamental horticulture specialization. Students gain the broadest possible background in horticultural technology, a background attractive to employers in all specialty areas. To succeed in ornamental horticulture, students require a degree of technical and scientific expertise, as well as creativity and problem-solving skills. They first complete core requirements in the fundamentals of plant growth and development, soils, plant propagation, plant identification, and plant health care. Then students work closely with a faculty adviser to choose approved elective coursework to round out their own program of study. In their classes, students meld theory and practice then apply what they learn in weekly lab periods and on-site visits to area operations.

Career Opportunities: Owner/manager of a garden center, nursery, flower shop, or fruit and vegetable business; wholesale/retail plant production; research/botanical garden technician; floral designer.

Ornamental Horticulture Program of Study
First year, Fall Semester
HT 201, Freshman Seminar, 1 cr.
HT 205, Plants, People and Place, 2 cr.
HT 207, Plant Structure and Function, 4 cr.
HT 215, Soils and Land Use (Half-term I), 2 cr.
HT 219, Computers in Horticulture, 1 cr.
HT 227A, Horticultural Facilities Management, 2 cr.
COM 209, Expository Writing and Reading, 4 cr.

First Year, Spring Semester
HT 204, Plant Propagation, 4 cr.
HT 217, Soils and Plant Nutrition (Half-term I), 2 cr.
HT 227B, Horticultural Facilities Management, 2 cr.
MTH, Mathematics course, 3 cr.
SSCI 203, Environmental Issues and Society, 2 cr.
HT 234, Pest Management, 4 cr.

Second Year, Fall Semester
HT 227C, Horticultural Facilities Management, 1 cr.
HT 240, Introduction to Floral Design, 2 cr.
HT 275, Floriculture Crop Production, 2 cr.
HT 286, Fruit and Vegetable Production, 3 cr.
HT 297, Horticultural Work Experience, 2 cr.
COM 210, Public Speaking, 2 cr.
or
COM 211, Critical Reading, 2 cr.
or
COM 212, Technical Writing, 2 cr.
Approved Electives 4-8 cr.

Second Year, Spring Semester
HT 227D, Horticultural Facilities Management, 1 cr.
HT 258, Herbaceous Ornamental Plants, 2 cr.
HT 276, Bedding Plant Production, 2 cr.
HT 288, Horticultural Business Management, 4 cr.
HT Electives 3-7 cr.
SSCI 201, Human Relations, 4 cr. or
SSCI 202, Social Issues, 4 cr.
Approved Electives 3-7 cr.

Total: 66-72 credits

Landscape Operations
Landscape horticulture has been projected to be one of the fastest growing service industries of the coming decade. It is a field that also offers unparalleled aesthetic satisfaction and meaningful reward. To succeed in landscaping increasingly requires a degree of technical and scientific expertise, as well as creativity, artistry, and problem-solving skills. Students in the landscape operation specialization gain a solid foundation by completing core requirements in the fundamentals of plant growth and development, soils, plant identification, pruning and plant health care. They then complete a series of landscape maintenance, construction, design, and business courses. This combination prepares them to become successful members of the landscape industry. In their classes, students meld theory and practice, then apply what they learn in weekly lab periods and on-site visits to area operations.

Career Opportunities: Landscape design, landscape construction, garden centers, nurseries, golf courses, schools and parks, private and public grounds maintenance/management.

Landscape Operations Program of Study
First Year, Fall Semester
HT 201, Freshman Seminar, 1 cr.
HT 205, Plants, People and Place, 2 cr.
HT 207, Plant Structure and Function, 4 cr.
HT 215, Soils and Land Use (Half-term I), 2 cr.
HT 219, Computers in Horticulture, 1 cr.
COM 209, Expository Writing and Reading, 4 cr.
SSCI 203, Environmental Issues and Society, 2 cr.

First Year, Spring Semester
HT 217, Soils and Plant Nutrition (Half term I), 2 cr.
HT 234, Pest Management, 4 cr.
HT 256, Horticultural Pruning, 2 cr.
MTH, Mathematics course, 3 cr.
SSCI 201, Human Relations, 4 cr.
or
SSCI 202, Social Issues, 4 cr.
Approved Electives 1-5 cr.

Second Year, Fall Semester
HT 251, Introduction to Design Communication, 2 cr.
HT 257, Woody Landscape Plants, 3 cr.
HT 260, Grounds Maintenance, 2 cr.
HT 263, Landscape Construction , 4 cr.
HT 297, Horticultural Work Experience, 2 cr.
COM 210, Public Speaking, 2 cr.
or
COM 211, Critical Reading, 2 cr.
or
COM 212, Technical Writing, 2 cr.
Approved Electives 1-5 cr.

Second Year, Spring Semester
HT 258, Herbaceous Ornamental Plants, 2 cr.
HT 270, Grounds Management (Half-term II), 2cr.
HT 272, Landscape Design Studio, 4 cr.
HT 288, Horticultural Business Management, 4 cr.
Approved Electives 4-8 cr.

Total: 66-72 credits

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