Horticulture - AAS

The Field

The demand for technically trained people who can plan, utilize, and care for plant materials used in residential, commercial, and recreational areas is increasing dramatically. Professional organizations estimate that the need for this type of trained technician will increase by 10 to 15 percent each year for the next 10 years. This demand is also reflected in the 98% job-placement rate for graduates of Delhi’s Golf and Plant Sciences programs.

The College offers distinct programs in the golf and plant sciences field which give students the opportunity to specialize. Programs include Horticulture, Landscape Design and Management, Turf Management, and Golf Course Operations.

Career possibilities for those choosing Horticulture include nursery manager, greenhouse manager, horticultural inspector, and garden center manager.

Landscape Design and Management graduates find opportunities in landscape design, landscape contracting, landscape production and sales, landscape equipment sales, or transfer to a B.L.A. program in Landscape Architecture.

Turf Management prepares students for careers as athletic facility managers, turf equipment salespersons, or for transfer to a bachelor-degree program in Turf Management.

The Golf Course Operations program prepares students specifically for career opportunities as golf course superintendents and in related golf course support services.

The Instructional Program

Students study one of four program areas: Horticulture, Landscape Design and Management, Turf Management, or Golf Course Operations. Credit is not lost if a student changes areas after the second semester since each program shares common core courses in the first year. Each area leads to the Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree.

The Horticulture program gives students a broad overview of the horticulture field. Practical experience is gained in growing and nurturing greenhouse crops. This program also gives students the flexibility to transfer upon graduation to a four-year-college program in Horticulture.

Students in the Landscape Design and Management program gain practical experience in the design and installation of residential and commercial landscapes. The program also gives students the bases for transfer to a four-year college offering a bachelor degree in Landscape Architecture.

Turf Management emphasizes the care and maintenance of fine-turf areas. Students are taught the theory and practice of proper turf management, and are given extensive hands-on experience in the laboratory, at the College’s 18-hole golf course, and on the extensive campus athletic fields.

The Golf Course Operations program emphasizes the management of golf course facilities. Students are required to have knowledge of the game of golf and also to intern during the summer between the first and second years at a program-approved golf course. Students gain extensive experience on the College’s 18-hole golf course. The Golf Course Operations program is designed for seamless transfer into Delhi's Golf Course Management B.B.A. program.

All four programs afford students opportunities for extensive hands-on experience. Students are also required, with the assistance of their faculty advisor, to enroll as summer interns at various golf courses, athletic field facilities, arboretums, garden centers, and landscape contracting firms.

During the fourth semester, students can take the exam for the State Pesticide Applicator’s License. This is often a required credential in the job market.

At the end of the second semester, a one-week field experience on Long Island is required of students in the Horticulture and Landscape Design and Management programs. Consequently, some extra expense will be incurred. Also, for these students the semester will end one week later than indicated on the College calendar.

Several industry-supported scholarships are available to assist second-year students in continuing their education at Delhi.

Curriculum

SUNY Curriculum Code:  0610

First Semester

Second Semester

Third Semester

Fourth Semester

Degree Requirement: 64 credit hours

Notes

*A one-week field trip to Planting Fields Arboretum, Oyster Bay, New York is a required component of the curriculum.

Admissions Requirements

Applicants must have a high school diploma and have completed high school Mathematics Course A and one year of biology (preferably Regents level or equivalent).

Electives

Students may choose, with advisement, from the following electives:

Program Electives

Business Electives

Program Objectives

A graduate of the Horticulture A.A.S. program should be able to:

1. Understand how a plant grows and develops.
2. Understand and be able to apply the basic principles of plant care, growth, and propagation.
3. Identify common ornamental and native plants of the Northeast United States, both woody and herbaceous.
4. Understand the principles of two-stroke and four-stroke small engines.
5. Operate and maintain common equipment and tools used in the profession.
6. Demonstrate a thorough knowledge of soils, fertilizers, soil amendments, soil management techniques, and how these are manipulated for plant growth.
7. Survey and plot a site, select appropriate plants, and design a landscape plan for that site that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing.
8. Demonstrate proficiency in working with common landscaping materials and the associated tools.
9. Design and develop landscape features such as steps, decks, walks, patios, and fences using materials such as flagstone, fieldstone, brick, and pressure-treated lumber.
10. Identify common pests, diseases, and other problems of ornamental plants and select the best method of treatment.
11. Understand the proper and safe use and handling of horticultural chemicals.
12. Demonstrate the ability to prune, spray, and maintain existing landscapes and ornamental plants.
13. Understand the fundamentals of greenhouses and commercial greenhouse production.
14. Demonstrate a responsible attitude in relationships with employers, colleagues, and clients.
15. Demonstrate an awareness of how a business is developed and operated in the profession.
16. Demonstrate familiarity with the basic techniques of first aid and handling emergencies.