Environmental Horticulture and Design
Program Description
Environmental Horticulture and Design is a broad field encompassing the functional, aesthetic, and environmentally sound creation and care of our landscapes. Students learn to combine principles of environmental design, construction, and maintenance practices for urban, rural, and natural landscapes. The green industry is one of the largest employers in the United States.
The Environmental Horticulture and Design department offers an Associate in Science degree and two Certificates of Achievement. Students may also take courses in preparation for transfer to four-year institutions where they may continue their studies in horticulture, landscape architecture, and other related disciplines. We also encourage people currently working in the field to attend classes to supplement or update their knowledge and to work toward certification in the field. Short courses from two to four weeks are available for the homeowner or the landscape professional.
Learn more about the program on the Environmental Horticulture and Design website.
Program Learning Outcomes
- Students will be able to demonstrate skills necessary to design residential landscapes.
- Students will be able to identify plant material.
Career Opportunities
Examples of career opportunities include: arboriculture, environmental management, historic garden and estate management, horticultural consulting and fine gardening, horticultural therapy, interiorscaping, landscape construction, landscape design, and park and golf course management.
Award Type(s)
- AS = Associate in Science Degree
- CA = Certificate of Achievement
Units Required
- Major: 65
- Certificate(s): 18-65
Additional Information
Note: Partial or full general education waivers may be possible for people possessing an existing degree from an accredited institution or having existing college credits.
Associate Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| English Proficiency | ||
| Select one of the following: | ||
| ENGL 1A | COMPOSITION & READING | 5 |
| ENGL 1AH | HONORS COMPOSITION & READING | 5 |
| ESLL 26 | ADVANCED COMPOSITION & READING | 5 |
| or equivalent | ||
| Ethnic Studies | ||
| Any course in the ETHN (Ethnic Studies) subject code, currently approved for Area F of CSU GE and Area 7 of IGETC | ||
| Mathematics Proficiency | ||
| College-level math course at or above the level of Intermediate Algebra | ||
A minimum of 90 units is required1 to include:
- Completion of one of the following general education patterns: Foothill General Education, CSU General Education Breadth Requirements or the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC)
- Core courses (38 units)
- Support courses (27 units)
- 1
Additional elective course work may be necessary to meet the 90-unit minimum requirement for the associate degree.
Note: All courses pertaining to the major must be taken for a letter grade. In addition, a grade of "C" or better is required for all core and support courses used for the degree or certificates.
Core and Support Courses
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| HORT 10 | ENVIRONMENTAL HORTICULTURE & THE URBAN LANDSCAPE | 3 |
| HORT 15 | ORIENTATION TO ENVIRONMENTAL HORTICULTURE | 4 |
| HORT 21 | PLANT MATERIALS I | 3 |
| HORT 22 | PLANT MATERIALS II | 3 |
| HORT 30 | HORTICULTURAL PRACTICES: SOILS | 3 |
| HORT 40 | LANDSCAPE DESIGN: GRAPHIC COMMUNICATION | 4 |
| HORT 52C | HORTICULTURE PRACTICES: PLANT INSTALLATION & MAINTENANCE | 4 |
| HORT 54A | LANDSCAPE CONSTRUCTION: GENERAL PRACTICES | 5 |
| HORT 54B | LANDSCAPE CONSTRUCTION: TECHNICAL PRACTICES | 3 |
| HORT 54C | LANDSCAPE CONSTRUCTION: IRRIGATION PRACTICES | 3 |
| HORT 60B | LANDSCAPE DESIGN: THEORY | 3 |
| Support Courses | ||
| Plant Material Specialization | ||
| Select at least two units from the following: | 2 | |
| PLANT MATERIALS: CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANTS | ||
| PLANT MATERIALS: GROUND COVERS & VINES | ||
| PLANT MATERIALS: BAMBOOS & PALMS | ||
| PLANT MATERIALS: PERENNIALS & ANNUALS | ||
| CACTI & SUCCULENTS | ||
| ORNAMENTAL GRASSES | ||
| Plant Production Specialization | ||
| Select at least eight units from the following: | 8 | |
| HORTICULTURAL PRACTICES: PLANT PROPAGATION | ||
| ENVIRONMENTAL HORTICULTURE FALL SKILLS | ||
| ENVIRONMENTAL HORTICULTURE WINTER SKILLS | ||
| ENVIRONMENTAL HORTICULTURE SPRING SKILLS | ||
| ENVIRONMENTAL HORTICULTURE SUMMER SKILLS | ||
| Horticultural Electives | ||
| Select at least 14 units from the following: | 14 | |
| VECTORWORKS FOR LANDSCAPE DESIGNERS | ||
| HORTICULTURAL PRACTICES: TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT | ||
| HORTICULTURE PRACTICES: INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT | ||
| HORTICULTURAL PRACTICES: INSECT IDENTIFICATION & DISORDERS | ||
| HORTICULTURAL PRACTICES: WEED IDENTIFICATION & ECOLOGY | ||
| HORTICULTURAL PRACTICES: DISEASE IDENTIFICATION & PATHOLOGY | ||
| GREEN INDUSTRY MANAGEMENT: BUSINESS PRACTICES | ||
| LANDSCAPE DESIGN: IRRIGATION | ||
| LANDSCAPE DESIGN: PLANTING | ||
| LANDSCAPE DESIGN: PROCESS | ||
| LANDSCAPE DESIGN: INTERMEDIATE COMPUTER APPLICATIONS | ||
| SKETCHUP FOR LANDSCAPE DESIGNERS | ||
| ELEMENTARY SPANISH CONVERSATION I | ||
| Short Course Specialization | ||
| Select at least three units from the following: | 3 | |
| HERBS: IDENTIFICATION, USE & FOLKLORE | ||
| HORTICULTURAL & LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY | ||
| LANDSCAPE DESIGN: BASIC PRINCIPLES | ||
| LANDSCAPE DESIGN FORUM | ||
| LANDSCAPE LIGHTING | ||
| LANDSCAPE SUSTAINABILITY PRACTICES | ||
| LANDSCAPING WITH EDIBLES | ||
| PLANT PROPAGATION: BASIC SKILLS | ||
| PRUNING: BASIC SKILLS | ||
| RESIDENTIAL IRRIGATION SYSTEMS | ||
| LANDSCAPE DESIGN: PERSPECTIVE SKETCHING | ||
| SUSTAINABLE ORGANIC GARDENING | ||
| WATER CONSERVATION IN LANDSCAPE DESIGN | ||
| COMPOSTING THEORY & TECHNIQUES | ||
| CONSTRUCTION COST ESTIMATING | ||
| COMMUNITY GARDENING | ||
| Industry Certification Courses 1 | ||
| LANDSCAPE CERTIFICATION: IRRIGATION INSTALLATION | ||
| LANDSCAPE CERTIFICATION: ORNAMENTAL MAINTENANCE | ||
| Total Units | 65 | |
- 1
No minimum required; these courses may be used as support courses for the degree or certificate with approval of program director.
Certificate Requirements
Certificate of Achievement in Environmental Horticulture and Design
- Units: 65
The certificate of achievement is awarded upon completion of the core and support courses. General education courses are not required.
Certificate of Achievement in Landscape Technician
- Units: 18
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| HORT 80A | ENVIRONMENTAL HORTICULTURE FALL SKILLS | 2 |
| HORT 80B | ENVIRONMENTAL HORTICULTURE WINTER SKILLS | 2 |
| HORT 80C | ENVIRONMENTAL HORTICULTURE SPRING SKILLS | 2 |
| HORT 80D | ENVIRONMENTAL HORTICULTURE SUMMER SKILLS | 2 |
| Support Courses | ||
| Select 10 units from the following: | 10 | |
| ENVIRONMENTAL HORTICULTURE & THE URBAN LANDSCAPE | ||
| ORIENTATION TO ENVIRONMENTAL HORTICULTURE | ||
| PLANT MATERIALS I | ||
| PLANT MATERIALS II | ||
| PLANT MATERIALS: CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANTS | ||
| PLANT MATERIALS: GROUND COVERS & VINES | ||
| PLANT MATERIALS: BAMBOOS & PALMS | ||
| PLANT MATERIALS: PERENNIALS & ANNUALS | ||
| HORTICULTURAL PRACTICES: SOILS | ||
| HORTICULTURAL PRACTICES: PLANT PROPAGATION | ||
| LANDSCAPE DESIGN: GRAPHIC COMMUNICATION | ||
| VECTORWORKS FOR LANDSCAPE DESIGNERS | ||
| HORTICULTURE PRACTICES: PLANT INSTALLATION & MAINTENANCE | ||
| HORTICULTURAL PRACTICES: TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT | ||
| HORTICULTURE PRACTICES: INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT | ||
| LANDSCAPE CONSTRUCTION: GENERAL PRACTICES | ||
| LANDSCAPE CONSTRUCTION: TECHNICAL PRACTICES | ||
| LANDSCAPE CONSTRUCTION: IRRIGATION PRACTICES | ||
| HORTICULTURAL PRACTICES: INSECT IDENTIFICATION & DISORDERS | ||
| HORTICULTURAL PRACTICES: WEED IDENTIFICATION & ECOLOGY | ||
| GREEN INDUSTRY MANAGEMENT: BUSINESS PRACTICES | ||
| LANDSCAPE DESIGN: THEORY | ||
| LANDSCAPE DESIGN: IRRIGATION | ||
| LANDSCAPE DESIGN: PLANTING | ||
| LANDSCAPE DESIGN: PROCESS | ||
| LANDSCAPE DESIGN: INTERMEDIATE COMPUTER APPLICATIONS | ||
| SKETCHUP FOR LANDSCAPE DESIGNERS | ||
| HERBS: IDENTIFICATION, USE & FOLKLORE | ||
| HORTICULTURAL & LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY | ||
| LANDSCAPE DESIGN: BASIC PRINCIPLES | ||
| LANDSCAPE DESIGN FORUM | ||
| LANDSCAPE LIGHTING | ||
| LANDSCAPE SUSTAINABILITY PRACTICES | ||
| LANDSCAPING WITH EDIBLES | ||
| PLANT PROPAGATION: BASIC SKILLS | ||
| PRUNING: BASIC SKILLS | ||
| RESIDENTIAL IRRIGATION SYSTEMS | ||
| LANDSCAPE DESIGN: PERSPECTIVE SKETCHING | ||
| SUSTAINABLE ORGANIC GARDENING | ||
| WATER CONSERVATION IN LANDSCAPE DESIGN | ||
| CACTI & SUCCULENTS | ||
| ORNAMENTAL GRASSES | ||
| COMPOSTING THEORY & TECHNIQUES | ||
| CONSTRUCTION COST ESTIMATING | ||
| COMMUNITY GARDENING | ||
| ELEMENTARY SPANISH CONVERSATION I | ||
| Industry Certification Courses 1 | ||
| LANDSCAPE CERTIFICATION: IRRIGATION INSTALLATION | ||
| LANDSCAPE CERTIFICATION: ORNAMENTAL MAINTENANCE | ||
| Total Units | 18 | |
- 1
No minimum required; these courses may be used for the certificate with approval of program director.