Undergraduate Course Catalog 2014-2015

Thompson School of Applied Science

» http://www.thompsonschool.unh.edu/

Horticultural Technology (HT)

» http://www.thompsonschool.unh.edu/hort

Associate Professor: Rene J. Gingras, Dana M. Sansom

Horticultural technology (HT) 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 concentrations in landscape operations or ornamental horticulture. Courses unique to our program include "pond-less" water features and lighting design and installation. 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 remain at the Thompson School for a third year to complete the requirements for the business management concentration offered through the applied business management program.

Admissions Requirements

Applicants to the horticultural technology program area must present college preparatory English and 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 concentrations: $784*

*This one-time curriculum fee is required to cover lab materials, specialized equipment maintenance, and transportation that are unique to the applied nature of the concentration. The curriculum fee covers the entire two-year course of study for one concentration. 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 concentration 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, or 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
COM	209	Expository Writing and Reading	4
HT	201	Freshman Seminar	1
HT	205	Plants, People and Place	2
HT	207	Plant Structure and Function	4
HT	415	Soils and Land Use (Half-term I)	2
SSCI	203	Environment and Society	2
TSAS	205	Computers in the Workplace	2

First Year, Spring Semester

Abbreviation	Course Number	Title	Credits
HT	234	Pest Management	4
HT	256	Horticultural Pruning	2
HT	417	Soils and Plant Nutrition (1/2 term)	2
MTH	202	College Algebra	3
SSCI	201	Human Relations OR SSCI 202 (below)	4
SSCI	202	Social Issues	4
		Approved Elective Courses	1 - 5

Second Year, Fall Semester

Abbreviation	Course Number	Title	Credits
COM	2__	Public Speaking OR Writing in the Workplace	2
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
		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	488	Horticultural Business Management	4
		Approved elective credits	4 - 8

Total: 66 - 72 credits

Recommended Landscape HT Electives (when offered)

Abbreviation	Course Number	Title	Credits	Fall	Spring
AM	451	Welding/Fabrication Technology	4		X
AM	461	Internal Combustion Engines I	4	X
AM	462	Internal Combustion Engines II	4		X
FORT	464	Arboriculture	3	X
HT	250	Flower Show Design and Construction	1	X	X
HT	252	Landscape Lighting Design and Installation	2	X
HT	253	"Pond-less" Water Feature Design and Installation	2	X
HT	254	Irrigation Design	3		X
HT	266	Garden Deisgn and Culture	2		X
HT	286	Fruit and Vegetable Production	3	X
TSAS	295	Studies in Sustainable Irrigation & Rain Harvesting	3		X

Students may also propose an independent study or field operation project to focus on a topic not included in the above list.

Ornamental Horticulture

Students who prefer to be generalists in horticultural technology may opt for the ornamental horticulture concentration. 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; or floral designer.

Ornamental Horticulture Program of Study

First Year, Fall Semester

Abbreviation	Course Number	Title	Credits
COM	209	Expository Writing and Reading	4
HT	201	Freshman Seminar	1
HT	205	Plants, People and Place	2
HT	207	Plant Structure and Function	4
HT	227A	Horticulture Facilities Management	2
HT	415	Soils and Land Use (1/2 term)	2
TSAS	205	Computers in the Workplace	2

First Year, Spring Semester

Abbreviation	Course Number	Title	Credits
HT	227B	Horticulture Facilities Management	2
HT	234	Pest Management	4
HT	404	Plant Propagation	4
HT	417	Soils and Plant Nutrition (1/2 semester)	2
MTH	202	College Algebra	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
COM	2__	Public Speaking OR Critical Reading	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	488	Horticultural Business Management	4
SSCI	2__	Human Relations OR Social Issues	4
		Approved Elective Credits	3 - 7

Total: 66 - 72 credits

Recommended Ornamental HT Electives (when offered)

Abbreviation	Course Number	Title	Credits	Fall	Spring
AM	451	Welding/Fabrication Technology	4		X
AM	461	Internal Combustion Engines I	4	X
AM	462	Internal Combustion Engines II	4		X
FORT	464	Arboriculture	3	X
HT	244	Advanced Floral Design	2		X
HT	250	Flower Show Design and Construction	1	X	X
HT	251	Introduction to Design Communication	2	X
HT	254	Irrigation Design	3		X
HT	256	Horticultural Pruning	2		X
HT	257	Woody Landscape Plants	3	X
HT	260	Grounds Maintenance	2	X
HT	263	Landscape Construction	4	X
HT	266	Garden Design and Culture	2		X
HT	270	Grounds Management	2		X
HT	272	Landscape Design Studio	4		X

Students may also propose an independent study or field operation project to focus on a topic not included in the above list.

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