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 a Certificate 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): 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
A minimum of 90 units is required1 to complete the associate degree, including:
- Core and support courses for the major (65 units total)
- Completion of one of the following general education patterns:
- Foothill College General Education
- Summer Session 2025 only–CSU General Education Breadth (CSU GE Breadth)2
- Summer Session 2025 only–Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC)2
- Beginning Fall Quarter 2025–California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC)3
- 1
Additional elective course work may be necessary to meet the 90-unit minimum requirement for the associate degree.
- 2
Summer Session 2025 is the final term during which CSU GE Breadth and IGETC may be used. Please see a counselor for more information.
- 3
Cal-GETC begins in Fall Quarter 2025. Please see a counselor for more information.
Note: A grade of "C" (or "P") or better is required for all core and support courses used for the degree or certificate. In addition, the student must obtain a minimum GPA of 2.0.
Refer to the Associate in Arts & Associate in Science Degree Requirements page for complete information about graduation requirements and catalog rights.
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: PERENNIALS & ANNUALS | ||
| 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: 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| COMPOSTING THEORY & TECHNIQUES | ||
| Total Units | 65 | |
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.