Undergraduate Course Catalog 2010-2011
Thompson School of Applied Science
» http://www.thompsonschool.unh.edu/
Horticultural Technology (HT)
» http://www.thompsonschool.unh.edu/ht
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Professor: John L. Hart
Associate Professor: Rene J. Gingras, Dana M. Sansom
Horticultural Technology students study 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 landscape operations or ornamental horticulture. 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, business management, or landscape architecture. 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 both college preparatory mathematics and science (one science being biology, with a lab).
Curriculum Fee
Horticultural technology: both specializations, $697*
*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.
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 the landscape industry 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 designer; landscape construction specialist; garden center/ nursery sales; maintenance/management for golf courses, schools and parks, private and public grounds.
Landscape Operations Program of Study
First Year, Fall Semester
Abbreviation | Course Number | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|---|
HT | 201 | Freshman Seminar | 1 |
HT | 205 | Plants, People and Place | 2 |
HT | 207 | Plant Structure and Function | 4 |
HT | 215 | Soils and Land Use (Half-term I) | 2 |
COM | 209 | Expository Writing and Reading | 4 |
SSCI | 203 | Environment and Society | 2 |
TSAS | 205 | Computers in the Workplace | 2 |
First Year, Spring Semester
Abbreviation | Course Number | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|---|
HT | 217 | Soils and Plant Nutrition (1/2 term) | 2 |
HT | 234 | Pest Management | 4 |
HT | 256 | Horticultural Pruning | 2 |
MTH | 20__ | Math I or II (determined by assessment) | 3 |
SSCI | 201 | Human Relations OR | 4 |
SSCI | 202 | Social Issues | 4 |
Approved Elective Courses | 1 - 5 |
Second Year, Fall Semester
Abbreviation | Course Number | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|---|
HT | 251 | Introduction to Design Communication | 2 |
HT | 257 | Woody Landscape Plants | 3 |
HT | 260 | Grounds Maintenance | 2 |
HT | 263 | Landscape Construction | 4 |
HT | 297 | Horticultural Work Experience | 2 |
COM | 210 | Public Speaking | 2 |
Approved Elective Credits | 1 - 5 |
Second Year, Spring Semester
Abbreviation | Course Number | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|---|
HT | 258 | Herbaceous Ornamental Plants | 2 |
HT | 270 | Grounds Management | 2 |
HT | 272 | Landscape Design Studio | 4 |
HT | 288 | Horticultural Business Management | 4 |
Approved elective credits | 4 - 8 |
Total: 66 - 72 credits
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, which is 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 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 producer; research/botanical garden technician; floral designer.
Ornamental Horticulture Program of Study
First Year, Fall Semester
Abbreviation | Course Number | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|---|
HT | 201 | Freshman Seminar | 1 |
HT | 205 | Plants, People and Place | 2 |
HT | 207 | Plant Structure and Function | 4 |
HT | 215 | Soils and Land Use (1/2 term) | 2 |
HT | 227A | Horticulture Facilities Management | 2 |
COM | 209 | Expository Writing and Reading | 4 |
TSAS | 205 | Computers in the Workplace | 2 |
First Year, Spring Semester
Abbreviation | Course Number | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|---|
HT | 204 | Plant Propagation | 4 |
HT | 217 | Soils and Plant Nutrition (1/2 semester) | 2 |
HT | 227B | Horticulture Facilities Management | 2 |
HT | 234 | Pest Management | 4 |
MTH | 20__ | Math I or II (determined by assessment) | 3 |
SSCI | 203 | Environment and Society | 2 |
Second Year, Fall Semester
Abbreviation | Course Number | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|---|
HT | 227C | Horticulture Facilities Management | 1 |
HT | 240 | Introduction to Floral Design | 2 |
HT | 275 | Floral Crop Production | 2 |
HT | 286 | Fruit and Vegetable Production | 3 |
HT | 297 | Horticultural Work Experience | 2 |
Approved Elective Credits | 4 - 8 |
Second Year, Spring Semester
Abbreviation | Course Number | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|---|
HT | 227D | Horticulture Facilities Management | 1 |
HT | 258 | Herbaceous Ornamental Plants | 2 |
HT | 276 | Bedding Plant Production | 2 |
HT | 288 | Horticulture Business Management | 4 |
SSCI | 201 | Human Relations OR | 4 |
SSCI | 202 | Social Issues | 4 |
Approved Elective Credits | 3 - 7 |
Total: 66 - 72 credits