Undergraduate Course Catalog 2015-2016
Thompson School of Applied Science
» http://www.thompsonschool.unh.edu/
Horticultural Technology (HT)
» http://www.thompsonschool.unh.edu/hort
» Click to view course offerings
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 the program include "pond-less" water features and lighting design/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: $807*
*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, and 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 | 401 | Freshman Seminar | 1 |
| HT | 405 | Plants, People and Place | 2 |
| HT | 407 | Plant Structure and Function | 4 |
| HT | 415 | Soils and Land Use (Half-term I) | 2 |
| SSCI | 403 | Environment and Society | 2 |
| TSAS | 405 | Computers in the Workplace | 2 |
First Year, Spring Semester
| Abbreviation | Course Number | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| FORT | 578 | Forest Insects and Diseases | 2 |
| HT | 416 | Soils and Plant Nutrition (1/2 term) | 2 |
| HT | 456 | Horticultural Pruning | 2 |
| MTH | 202 | College Algebra | 3 |
| SSCI | 201 | Human Relations OR SSCI 202 (below) | 4 |
| SSCI | 202 | Social Issues | 4 |
| Approved Elective Courses | 2 - 5 |
Second Year, Fall Semester
| Abbreviation | Course Number | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| COM | 210 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| HT | 551 | Introduction to Design Communication | 2 |
| HT | 557 | Woody Landscape Plants | 3 |
| HT | 561 | Grounds Maintenance | 2 |
| HT | 563 | Landscape Construction | 4 |
| HT | 597 | Horticultural Work Experience | 0 |
| Approved Elective Credits | 2 - 4 |
Second Year, Spring Semester
| Abbreviation | Course Number | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| HT | 458 | Herbaceous Ornamental Plants | 2 |
| HT | 570 | Grounds Management | 2 |
| HT | 572 | Landscape Design Studio | 4 |
| HT | 588 | 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 | 564 | Arboriculture | 3 | X | |
| HT | 450 | Flower Show Design and Construction | 1 | X | X |
| HT | 454 | Irrigation Design | 3 | X | |
| HT | 553 | "Pond-less" Water Feature Design and Installation | 2 | X | |
| HT | 555 | Landscape Lighting Design and Installation | 2 | X | |
| HT | 566 | Sustainable Planting Design | 2 | X | |
| HT | 585 | Fruit and Vegetable Production | 3 | X | |
| TSAS | 495 | 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, and 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 | 401 | Freshman Seminar | 1 |
| HT | 405 | Plants, People and Place | 2 |
| HT | 407 | Plant Structure and Function | 4 |
| HT | 415 | Soils and Land Use (1/2 term) | 2 |
| HT | 427 | Horticulture Facilities Management | 2 |
| TSAS | 405 | Computers in the Workplace | 2 |
First Year, Spring Semester
| Abbreviation | Course Number | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| FORT | 578 | Forest Insects and Diseases | 2 |
| HT | 428 | Horticulture Facilities Management | 2 |
| HT | 404 | Plant Propagation | 4 |
| HT | 416 | Soils and Plant Nutrition (1/2 semester) | 2 |
| MTH | 202 | College Algebra | 3 |
| SSCI | 403 | Environment and Society | 2 |
Second Year, Fall Semester
| Abbreviation | Course Number | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| HT | 440 | Introduction to Floral Design | 2 |
| HT | 529 | Horticulture Facilities Management | 1 |
| HT | 575 | Floral Crop Production | 2 |
| HT | 585 | Fruit and Vegetable Production | 3 |
| HT | 597 | Horticultural Work Experience | 0 |
| COM | 210 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| Approved Elective Credits | 4 - 8 |
Second Year, Spring Semester
| Abbreviation | Course Number | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| HT | 458 | Herbaceous Ornamental Plants | 2 |
| HT | 530 | Horticulture Facilities Management | 1 |
| HT | 576 | Bedding Plant Production | 2 |
| HT | 588 | Horticultural Business Management | 4 |
| SSCI | 201 | Human Relations OR | 4 |
| SSCI | 202 | 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 | 564 | Arboriculture | 3 | X | |
| HT | 450 | Flower Show Design and Construction | 1 | X | X |
| HT | 454 | Irrigation Design | 3 | X | |
| HT | 456 | Horticultural Pruning | 2 | X | |
| HT | 544 | Advanced Floral Design | 2 | X | |
| HT | 551 | Introduction to Design Communication | 2 | X | |
| HT | 557 | Woody Landscape Plants | 3 | X | |
| HT | 561 | Grounds Maintenance | 2 | X | |
| HT | 563 | Landscape Construction | 4 | X | |
| HT | 566 | Garden Design and Culture | 2 | X | |
| HT | 570 | Grounds Management | 2 | X | |
| HT | 572 | 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.
