Environmental Horticulture and Landscaping Certificate of Achievement

The ­­­­Environmental Horticulture and Landscaping Certificate prepares the studentwith the best management practices, science and technology skills to besuccessful in the horticulture and landscapeindustry. Career opportunities include: landscape design, construction and management;nursery and greenhouse production; hydroponics, soils science consulting; pestcontrol; horticulture and fertilizer industry sales and representatives, irrigation design, installation andmaintenance; country club and botanic garden horticulturists and plant material sales. Pressureon our natural resources and stringent environmental policies, dictates sociallyacceptable and ecological compatible solutions. These solutions include: nativeand drought tolerant plant palettes; natural fertilizers; natural pesticidesand integrated pest management; drip irrigation to reduce water consumption andsoil erosion. Students receive training and are encouraged to take theQualified Water Efficient Landscaper (QWEL), Certified Irrigation Technician(CIT) certifications and the Pesticide Applicator License (PA). Thiscertificate also serves as a good crossover for students wishing to enter anatural resource management career.

         ProgramLearning Outcomes:

1. Applythe scientific concepts and technological skills that support sustainable horticultureand landscape systems.

2. Implementbest practices management practices in Environmental Horticulture and NaturalLandscaping.

Theabove changes, enhancements and industry relevance is expected to double thisprogram over the next two years, as students can be career- ready aftercompletion of this certificate and can continue into the Ag Sciences, Plantscience AST if their career aspirations demand a four-year degree. Currentlyapproximately 16 students achieve the Landscape Specialist and Env. HorticultureSpecialist Certificates of Career Preparation that are combined in this newCertificate of Achievement, this expected to double to at least 30+ studentsp/a.

  The ­­­­Environmental Horticulture and Landscaping program is part of theAgriculture and Natural Resource (AGNR) Department at Victor Valley College andprovides the core knowledgeand skills, common and fundamental for preparation for a wide variety ofpositions in the landscaping and horticulture industry. It is also fundamental to success in a widevariety of AGNR career paths that are expanding rapidly, in an era of increased pressure on our naturalresources and stringent environmental policy. A new breed of horticulture andlandscape professionals must find socially acceptable and ecological compatiblesolutions that include: native and drought tolerant plant palettes that improvehabitats and encourage native pollinators; natural fertilizers to replacesynthetics; natural pesticides and integrated pest management as substitute forpesticides; low pressure/drip irrigation to reduce water wastage and naturalswales and retention basins to reduce soil erosion.  Students complete the five required classes inGroup 1 (AGNR 121,122,140,150, 61/153) and one elective in Group 2, from aselection of related AGNR classes. This certificate is part of a “stackable”set of certificates: Floral Design; Environmental Horticulture and Landscaping;and Plant Science.  Studentsreceive the training needed and are encouraged to take the Qualified WaterEfficient Landscaper (QWEL) - Environmental Protection Administration (EPA).This Certificate has been endorsed by the Irrigation Association as training for CertifiedIrrigation Technician (CIT) and the Pesticide Applicator License administered bythe California Department of Pest Regulation.

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

Group 1- All of the following mustbe completed:                                22  Units

AGNR120       Integrated Pest Management                                                 3

AGNR121      Introduction to EnvironmentalHorticulture                           3

AGNR122       Plant Propagation andGreenhouse Production                   3

AGNR140      Plant Material and Usage 1                                                      3

AGNR150      Landscape Design                                                                      3

AGNR152      Irrigation and WaterManagement                                          3

AGNR61/153 Natural Landscape Maintenance                                            4

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

AGNR60 A, B, C   Horticulture Lab                                                                3

AGNR123       Plant Science                                                                            3

AGNR131       Introduction to SoilScience                                                   4

AGNR141      Plant Material and Usage 2                                                    3

AGNR171       Introduction to GIS in Natural Resources                             3

Total Units                                                                                                   25-26 Units