Did you know that online horticulture associate degree programs can help you land that dream job? So, if you have a love for everything green, you can plant yourself in that perfect career.
Horticulture is a very broad industry, which means there are many career paths for any lover of green. So, if you just want to see if horticulture will interest you, an online associate’s degree program is ideal.
In this post, we will share with you all you need to know about getting a horticulture associates degree online, as well as school suggestions that will assist you in pursuing a career tending for mother earth.
Table of contents
- Who is A Horticulturist?
- What is a Horticulturist Job Description?
- What jobs can you get with an Associate’s degree in Horticulture?
- Horticulturists’ Salary and Job Outlook
- Why an Associate Degree in Horticulture?
- Can I Earn a Horticulture Associate’s Degree Online?
- What are the requirements to get a horticulture associate’s degree online?
- Cost of Getting an Associate Degree in Horticulture
- Schools That Offer Associate Degree Programs in Horticulture
- FAQs About Online Horticulture Associate Degree
- Conclusion
- References
- Recommended Posts
Who is A Horticulturist?
A horticulturist is one who uses scientific knowledge to grow and nourish plants. They may not be directly involved in growing plants but then uses this knowledge to provide technical information to farmers.
Sometimes, you can work in the field of landscaping design to create gardens, recreational areas, and parks to appreciate the beauty of mother earth.
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What is a Horticulturist Job Description?
The horticulturist develops pest control initiatives, heritage, and conservation projects or studies certain types of plant populations. So, their work usually takes them from the field to the lab as they perform tests and analyze data.
Most times, their jobs require them to:
- Water, mulch, trim, and care for lawns and plants.
- Create living plant arrangements and displays in designated outdoor areas.
- Operate machinery and use tools to care for soil and plants.
- Train, prune, fertilize, and care for perennials and annuals.
For this reason, an average horticulturist has a variety of duties that revolve around the growing, breeding, and landscaping of plants.
Here are a few of the different kinds of work that a horticulturist may be involved in:
However, while horticulturists tend to keep regular hours, their workload gets busier during the planting and harvesting seasons.
What jobs can you get with an Associate’s degree in Horticulture?
From learning better ways to handle pests to dealing with landscape designs, certified horticulturists have unique skills that they can use to land a job.
Hence, with an associate degree, horticulturists can work in education, government, or private institutions.
Also, major jobs you can land after graduating are:
Other employment positions include growers, sales representatives, garden center managers, ranch managers, and floral designers. Also, in other areas of the green industry, the number of available jobs continues to exceed the number of graduates.
Horticulturists’ Salary and Job Outlook
As the green industry expands, there is a huge demand for horticulturists in various sectors of the economy. According to Glassdoor, the national average salary for a Horticulturist is $41,503 in the United States.
Although Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does not have data on horticulture, they have data for Grounds maintenance workers which is closely related to horticulture.
So, according to BLS, grounds maintenance workers’ average annual pay is $29,400 per year
$14.13 per hour. Also, employment of grounds maintenance workers is projected to grow 9% from 2018 to 2028, faster than the average for all occupations. More workers will be needed to keep up with the increasing demand for lawn care and landscaping services from large institutions and individual homeowners.
So, with an associate degree in horticulture, you are a hot cake.
Why an Associate Degree in Horticulture?
Growing and managing plants as a career requires you to understand both science and business. This degree is one that teaches students the practice of growing plants within the context of a garden or greenhouse. Sometimes, individuals also gain knowledge in soil management, plant conservation, landscape design, garden management, and arboriculture.
So, horticulture students generally take classes such as environmental and horticultural biology, wild plant identification, plant biotechnology, and urban ecology.
Additionally, it gives students better critical thinking skills. And students learn the art of teamwork when planning garden projects.
Can I Earn a Horticulture Associate’s Degree Online?
There are various colleges that also offer associate degrees in horticulture online. Although, most schools offering associate degree programs in horticulture offer them Associate of Applied Science degrees.
However, due to the hands-on nature of horticulture, fully-accredited online associate’s degree programs are rare. Although, hybrid programs that allow some coursework to be completed online are available.
These programs combine online courses with on-campus labs and field trips, as well as an in-person internship.
But, a fully online option for associate-level students in horticulture is an Associate in Natural Sciences and Mathematics degree, which also has courses that cover plant biology and can prepare students for more advanced online horticulture programs in the future.
What are the requirements to get a horticulture associate’s degree online?
Students in an associate’s degree program must also fulfill general education requirements in areas like math, the humanities, as well as biology.
This is a basis for acceptance by colleges that generally offer horticulture degrees. Also, most 2-year horticulture degree programs require students to complete an internship in plant production or landscaping.
Cost of Getting an Associate Degree in Horticulture
Although it’s possible to find fully sponsored programs in horticulture, the cost of getting an associate degree in horticulture differs for different schools. Hence, the average the total cost per year is $25,174, with an average two-year total program cost of $50,348.
Associate Degree Program and Courses
Although the following entry-level core horticulture courses may be offered online, it is rare to offer upper-level courses. This is so because of the hands-on practical aspect of horticulture in areas like planning, installation as well as maintenance of plant beds or landscapes.
Pest Management
Garden pests examined in this course. Students learn to identify pests and choose an appropriate deterrent to fight them, such as a pesticide or other chemical. Also, hybrid online versions of this course that include sufficient study of safety and regulations may help prepare students for pesticide application licensure, depending on the state.
Basic Plant Science
This associate degree course introduces horticulture and botany students to plant structures and their functions. For this reason, online students examine diagrams and images of woody plants and identify their parts, learning to use the appropriate scientific terminology. Often, some discussion of plant taxonomy may be included.
Plant Propagation
Students in this online course study the reproduction of plants, whether sexual or asexual, and learn to control it for horticultural purposes. Hence, this study includes seeds, germination and grafting.
For this reason, online plant propagation courses commonly take a hybrid form, requiring students to attend on-campus labs to practice techniques.
Basic Plant Science
This course introduces horticulture students to plant structures and their functions. Online associate degree students generally examine diagrams and images of woody plants and identify their parts, learning to use the appropriate scientific terminology. Some discussion of plant taxonomy may be included.
Nursery and Greenhouse Production
The basic operations of plant production facilities are outlined in this online horticulture course, which may be offered in a hybrid format; on-site visits to nurseries and greenhouses allow students to see the principles of production in action. Also, topics of study generally include greenhouse construction, irrigation, environmental controls, fertilizers and recordkeeping.
So, online students may complete assignments in which they devise a simulated planting schedule.
Schools That Offer Associate Degree Programs in Horticulture
Are you looking for schools that offer the best online associate degree horticulture program? Although it is rare to find schools that offer online programs for an associate degree in horticulture, there is only one college available to give you the best online experience as an associate-level student.
Triton College
Triton College has an associate program designed to provide students with the necessary skills to acquire entry-level positions in all fields of Horticulture and Sustainable Agriculture Technology.
- Horticulture Degree (Associate in Applied Science – C201A)
- Sustainable Agriculture Technology Degree (Associate in Applied Science – C201E)
However, there are other colleges that offer horticulture degrees
UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY
USU calls agriculture the science of life, and the college’s main focus is on subjects such as disease cures, earth conservation, and biotechnology rather than the traditional ideas of farming and processing products.
Also, students can earn certificates or an associate’s degree in horticulture through the five departments of agricultural systems technology and education.
Century College
Century College offers daytime and hybrid online classes. Also, they have programs for students applying for an associate degree in horticulture.
- Horticulture Science — Associate in Science Degree
- Horticulture Technology — Associate in Applied Science Degree
Parkland College
Parkland College is well known for its small class sizes, state-of-the-art facilities, inclusive learning environment, and personable faculty. Also, they offer an associate degree in horticulture – Landscape Management, Design, & Construction.
SUNY Cobleskill provides a horticulture program that engages you in hands-on learning, whether in our greenhouses or in our campus gardens and farm. Also, they offer one program called Horticulture, Associate in Applied Science (AAS).
FAQs About Online Horticulture Associate Degree
The Associate’s degree in Horticulture or Botany is typically a course that takes about four years to complete.
Of course, there are a number of online courses available for students interested in horticulture which can either be taken as part of a certificate program or as part of an associate degree.
In addition, there are hybrid degree programs available, which means a portion of the courses must be done on-campus while the rest can be completed online. And some programs require students to come for internships.
Definitely worth it. Horticulture will be an important science in the future as demand for horticulturist professionals are on the rise at a fast pace. With few people taking courses on this, you are hot cake.
An associate degree introduces the concepts and gives your hands-on experience. You have great learning about propagation, arboriculture, and landscape design.
Also, it sets a solid foundation for you to transition when you decide to further your studies in horticulture.
On average, the total cost per year for an associate degree program in horticulture is $25,174, with an average two-year total program cost of $50,348.
Of course, you can an associate degree in horticulture online. Although, due to the hands-on practicals require to give a great learning experience, its rare to see schools that offer this program fully online.
The demand for jobs related to horticulture is rising rapidly, estimated to rise by 9% before 2028. You can even start your own nursery with the practical knowledge you get with an associate degree.
Conclusion
From the above article, you can see that opportunities for graduates with an associate degree in horticulture are rising significantly.
For this reason, schools offer hybrid programs that combine both online experience and on-campus hands-on practicals. Also, some schools provide internships for students offering this program.
Hence, an associate degree is necessary if you want to plant yourself in that dream job in horticulture.
References
- Study.com – Online Horticulture Associates Degree Program Overview
- Bureau Of Labor Statistics – Occupational Outlook Handbook
- College Values Online – 5 Jobs With a Degree in Environmental Horticulture
- Academic Info – Turning Your Passion For All Things Green Into A Career: Horticulture Degree
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