Plant Science Certificate of Achievement

1.     Catalog Description

The Plant Science Certificate prepares students with the necessary technology and skills to enter plant science and related Agriculture and Natural Resource careers, which include: Agriculture and Conservation Extension Officers, Agricultural Food Inspectors, Ecological Restoration Consultants, Farm and Ranch Managers, Irrigation Designers and Installers,  Golf Course and Turf Grass Managers, Greenhouse and Horticulture Technicians, Integrated Pest Managers, Irrigation and Fertilizer Industry Sales and Representatives, Irrigation Designers,Landscape Architects and Designers, Landscape Construction and MaintenanceContractors, Natural Resource Management Technicians, Nursery Technicians andManagers, Organic Practices Advisor, Park and Wildlife Managers, Pest Advisors,Plant  Propagators and Growers, Water Managementand Conservation Technicians, Soils and Water Analysis Lab Technicians, City, Country Club and Botanic Garden Horticulturists. Emerging technologies in integrated pest management (IPM), natural soil management, geographical information systems, ecological restoration and water management are emphasized. Students receive training andare encouraged to take the Pest Control Advisor (PCA). This certificate also serves as a good crossover for students wishing to enter a natural resourcemanagement career.

The above changes, enhancements and industry relevance, combined with the introduction of an AST degree in Agricultural Sciences/ Plant Science in Fall 2019 is expected to attract 50+ new students into this redesigned programprogram/certificate. It can also be noted that local High School Agriculture programs are healthy and growing- Serrano HS- 280 students; Apple Valley HS-260 students; Lucerne Valley HS- 130 students. A recent Regional Agriculture Advisory(October 2018) with these schools indicates a very high interest in thisprogram.

The Plant ScienceProgram is part of the Agriculture and Natural Resource (AGNR) Department atVictor Valley College and provides preparation for a widevariety of positions in the plants­­ciences, agriculture and natural resource management industry.  The Plant ScienceCertificate is designed to provide the coreknowledge and skills that are common and fundamental to success in a widevariety of AGNR career paths, when students complete the five required classesin Group 1 (AGNR 120, 122, 123 131, 141) and one elective in Group 2 from aselection of related AGNR classes. This certificate is at the top of a“stackable” set of certificates: Floral Design; Irrigation and WaterManagement; Environmental Horticulture and Landscaping; and Plant Science. Theseclasses and stackable certificates prepare students for a wide variety ofrelated careers that are expanding rapidly. Theseworkforce trends and driven by land-use changes and natural resource managementissues that include: 

a) Landuse changes particularly fires and drought have dramatically increased the needfor trained plant science/horticulture and land-use specialists that haveskills in: soils conservation, integrated pest management, water conservation/irrigation,ecological restoration, native plant propagation/maintenance, and seedproduction.

b)  California has continued to increaselegislation and demand improved certification of workers in this fieldspecifically; legislation in water supply (Governors 25% reduction mandate) andthe 2017 Groundwater Sustainability Act have predicted that landscape andhorticulture professionals must have certifications such as: Qualified WaterEfficient Landscaper-EPA(QWEL)and Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditor -Irrigation Association(CLIA; Pesticide Applicator and Pest Control Advisor- CADepartment of Pest Regulation; California's greenhouse gas legislation AB 32,has led to significant changes in solid waste management legislation,specifically for vegetative/green waste (50% of the solid waste stream), mustnow be composted and no longer can be disposed at the solid waste facilities.This has led to a large increase in the need for green waste operators thatunderstand the technical processes of composting and vermiculture (wormcomposting).

c)  The legalization of Industrial Hemp andMarijuana in California and a production focus in the local municipalities ofHesperia and Adelanto have greatly increased the need for specializedpropagation skills and horticulture/greenhouse management expertise.

In this"climate" of significant change and job growth this Certificate of Achievement will address these workforce trends and needs.

Students are required to take all classes in Group 1 and select one from group II

Group I- All of the following must be completed                             21 Units                    

AGNR74 D    Ecological Restoration                                                           1

AGNR120       Integrated Pest Management                                              3

AGNR122       Plant Propagation and Greenhouse Prod.                         3

AGNR123       Plant Science                                                                         4

AGNR131       Introduction to Soil Science                                                 4

AGNR141      Plant Material and Usage II                                                   3

AGNR175       Sustainable Ag, Environment and Society                          3

Group 2- One of thefollowing must be completed:                           1, 3 or 4 Units

AGNR60A   Horticulture Lab                                                                        1

AGNR60B   Horticulture Lab                                                                        1

AGNR60C   Horticulture Lab                                                                        1

AGNR121      Introduction to Environmental Horticulture                        3

AGNR122       Plant Propagation and Greenhouse Production                3

AGNR140      Plant Material and Usage 1                                                    3

AGNR150       Landscape Design                                                                  3

AGNR152      Irrigation and Water Management                                        3

AGNR170       Environmental Science and Sustainability                          4

AGNR171       Introduction to GIS in Natural Resources                            3

AGNR172       Remote Sensing and Geospatial Technology                       3

AGNR173       Watershed Management and Restoration                           3

                                                                                    Total Units:                      22-25

Program LearningOutcomes:

1. Applythe scientific concepts and technological skills that support sustainable planthealth  and natural resource management

2. Implement agriculture and natural resourcebest practice, to solve agriculture and natural resource management issues