Landscape Technician

The Certificate of Achievement in Landscape Technician is a low unit certificate to be conducted in partnership with academic organizations seeking credentials for students in a field-based program. The program is designed to provide enrollees engaged in a hands-on learning experience an opportunity to use their field experience combined with classroom instruction to obtain a certificate that will aid in their employment after completion of their school experience. Students may be enrolled in a variety of academic programs in order to qualify for participation in this certificate. Career options for this certificate include grounds and parks maintenance worker, fine gardener, greenskeeper, landscape design assistant, and landscape construction laborer.

It is anticipated that approximately 10 to 15 students will choose the Certificate of Achievement in Landscape Technician when established, with that number significantly higher if relationships with other organizations are established. There are current discussions being undertaken by Foothill College Apprenticeship division to establish a program for CTE based programs and schools in the south bay area. Students who are enrolled in a qualified sponsor organization may qualify to concurrently enroll in the Foothill College program. The program can be administered in cohorts of approximately 30 students, with enrollments being offered each year. Of this number, we anticipate between 25 and 28 of the enrollees will complete the program of study in the first year, with similar success numbers after 5 years of the program. Year 1 Year 2 Course # Course Title Annual Sections Annual Enrollment Annual Sections Annual Enrollment HORT 80A Environmental Horticulture Fall Skills 1 27 1 27 HORT 80B Environmental Horticulture Winter Skills 1 26 1 27 HORT 80C Environmental Horticulture Spring Skills 1 27 1 17 HORT 80D Environmental Horticulture Summer Skills 1 33 1 20 Restricted Electives Varies 25 450 total 25 450 total Short Courses (1 unit) Varies 8 175 total 10 225 total

The goal of the Certificate of Achievement in Landscape Technician is to provide instruction and field practice in the establishment and maintenance of landscapes, particularly landscapes in public areas. Students will receive instruction in identification of soil issues, safe equipment operation, plant problems, pruning, planting, fine gardening, plant fertilization and care and disposal of materials. The program will emphasize sustainable approaches to fine gardening where applicable. The program is consistent with the mission of community colleges in that is prepared to establish entry level career education to the following career choices: • Grounds maintenance • Parks maintenance • Fine gardening • Greens keeper The primary program objective is for students to be able to safely, effectively and esthetically establish and maintain public landscapes. Specific program objectives are as follows: • Develop good work place basic skills • Identify horticultural problems and solutions • Identify, install and care for landscape plant material • Demonstrate knowledge of plant anatomy and physiology • Identify soil characteristics • Demonstrate how to adjust soil characteristics for optimum growth • Arrange elements of the landscape • Practice and achieve proficiency in the safe handling of various landscape maintenance equipment, including hand tools and power equipment. • Practice methods for disposing of landscape waste • Construct landscape elements • Demonstrate an understanding of practices for implementing and maintaining landscapes Program Learning Outcomes: • Maintain, design or build public and private landscapes. • Successfully perform basic horticultural skills.

Item 3. Program Requirements Requirements Crse # Name Units Sequence Core Courses (8 Units) HORT 80A HORT 80B HORT 80C HORT 80D Environmental Horticulture Fall Skills Environmental Horticulture Winter Skills Environmental Horticulture Spring Skills Environmental Horticulture Summer Skills 2 2 2 2 Year 1, Fall Year 1, Winter Year 1, Spring Year 2, Summer Restricted Electives (select 10 Units) HORT 10 HORT 15 HORT 21 HORT 22 HORT 23 HORT 24 HORT 25 HORT 26 HORT 30 HORT 31 HORT 40 HORT 43 HORT 45 HORT 52C HORT 52E HORT 52G HORT 52H HORT 54A HORT 54B HORT 54C HORT 54D HORT 54J HORT 54K HORT 55A HORT 60B HORT 60C HORT 60D HORT 60F HORT 60G HORT 60J HORT 90A HORT 90C HORT 90D HORT 90E HORT 90F HORT 90G HORT 90H HORT 90I HORT 90K HORT 90L HORT 90M HORT 90N HORT 90P HORT 90Q HORT 90S HORT 90U HORT 90V HORT 90X HORT 90Y HORT 90Z HORT 91A HORT 91C SPAN 110 VITI 90B VITI 90C VITI 90D Environmental Horticulture & the Urban Landscape Orientation to Environmental Horticulture Plant Materials I Plant Materials II Plant Materials: California Native Plants Plant Materials: Ground Covers & Vines Plant Materials: Bamboos & Palms Plant Materials: Perennials & Annuals Horticultural Practices: Soils Horticultural Practices: Plant Propagation Landscape Design: Graphic Communication The Timeless Garden Vectorworks for Landscape Designers Horticulture Practices: Plant Installation & Maintenance Horticultural Practices: Greenhouse & Nursery Management Horticultural Practices: Turfgrass Management Horticulture Practices: Integrated Pest Management Landscape Construction: General Practices Landscape Construction: Technical Practices Landscape Construction: Irrigation Practices Landscape Construction: Applied Practices Horticultural Practices: Insect Identification Horticultural Practices: Weed Identification Green Industry Management: Business Practices Landscape Design: Theory Landscape Design: Irrigation Landscape Design: Planting Landscape Design: Process Landscape Design: Intermediate Computer Applications Sketchup for Landscape Designers Container Plantings in the Landscape Garden Ponds & Water Features Herbs: Identification, Use & Folklore Horticultural & Landscape Photography Landscape Design: Basic Principles Landscape Design Forum Landscape Lighting Landscape Sustainability Practices Landscaping with Edibles Plant Propagation: Basic Skills Plant Nutrition & Fertilization Plant Materials: Fall Color Pruning: Basic Skills Residential Irrigation Systems Sustainable Integrated Pest Management (IMP) Landscape Design: Perspective Sketching Sustainable Organic Gardening Water Conservation in Landscape Design Cacti & Succulents Ornamental Grasses Composting Theory & Techniques Construction Cost Estimating Elementary Spanish Conversation I Vineyard Establishment Vineyard Management Vine Pruning 5 4 3 3 2 2 2 2 3 3 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 3 3 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 2 2 1 As scheduled (all courses) TOTAL UNITS 18 units Proposed Sequence: Year 1, Fall = 4 units Year 1, Winter = 6 units Year 1, Spring = 6 units Year 2, Summer = 2 units TOTAL UNITS: 18 units (Sequence of courses repeat every year, students may start and exit at any point)

Foothill College currently has a program in Environmental Horticulture & Design that offers a Certificate of Achievement (65 units) and an Associate in Science degree (90 units).