Landscape Technology Diploma

Why Choose Landscape Technology Diploma at CLC?

• Work outdoors planting, pruning, and maintaining landscape plants

• Learn hands on how to install patios, ponds, walls and more

• Create and draw landscape and garden designs with annuals, perennials, shrubs, and trees

• Our instructors have industry knowledge and a strong passion to help students succeed before and after graduation

About the Program

Would you like to make the world a more beautiful, better place to live? Do you enjoy working independently? Are you creative or artistic? Would like to be your own boss? Do you enjoy being outside in nature and being active? Is your goal to be a successful small business owner? Students in the Landscaping Profession frequently answer yes to many of the questions above, and if you answered yes to any or all of these we would encourage you to consider choosing landscaping for your occupation.

For over 40 years Central Lakes College (CLC) has been training students to become Professional Landscape Designers and installers. CLC students especially appreciate all of the hands-on instruction and practice they receive, actually creating designs, building retaining walls and patios, planting and caring for trees and shrubs, and participating in so many other activities connected with landscaping. In addition, CLC is located in the beautiful Brainerd Lakes Area, where students an enjoy the recreational opportunities the lakes and forests provide. The combination of a thriving landscape industry, a state-of-the-art college campus, relevant instruction from well trained, experienced teachers, and a beautiful setting in the woods and lakes of central Minnesota makes the landscaping program at Central Lakes College a wise choice for your future.

Program Information

Program Course Requirements

LANDSCAPE TECHNOLOGY DIPLOMA
Program Course Requirements

First Year – Fall Semester
HORT 1104 Plant Science (4 cr)
HORT 1106 Applied Plant Science Lab (2cr)
HORT 2165 Landscape Design (4 cr)
NATR 1120 Dendrology (3 cr)

HORT 2150 Retaining Wall Construction (3 cr)
or HORT 2155 Deck, Patio, and Pond Construction (4 cr)
Total 16 Credits

First Year – Spring Semester
HORT 1103* Ornamental Trees and Shrubs (4 cr)
HORT 1180 Sustainable Landscaping (3 cr)
HORT 1196 Sustainable Greenhouse Management (4 cr)
HORT 2180* Computer Assisted Landscape Design (4 cr)
Total 15 Credits

Second Year – Fall Semester
HORT 1113 Annuals and Perennials (4 cr)
HORT 2140 Arboriculture (4 cr)
General Education (4 cr)

HORT 2150 Retaining Wall Construction (3 cr)
or HORT 2155 Deck, Patio, and Pond Construction (4 cr)
Total 16 Credits

Second Year – Spring Semester
HORT 1150 Turf Management (3 cr)
HORT 2116 Integrated Pest Management (4 cr)
HORT 2170* Advanced Landscape Design (4 cr)
General Education (2 cr)
Elective (2 cr)
Total 15 Credits

GRADUATION REQUIREMENT – 62 CREDITS
*Denotes Prerequisites

Program Planning Form

Click here to download the Landscape Technology Diploma Program Planning Form (PDF)

Detailed Program Information

Career Description: Landscape technology graduates find careers in a variety of positions related to landscape design, landscape construction, landscape installation, golf course maintenance, and nursery production. The demand for qualified individuals with good skills and work habits is very high. People who enjoy creating beautiful surroundings, working outside, and improving the environment will benefit from the Landscape Technology Program.

Program Information: This two–year Landscape Technology Diploma Program provides students with a broad knowledge of the landscaping profession through real life situations in a practical, hands-on atmosphere. The courses are designed to provide knowledge for all phases of a landscape project. This knowledge includes in-depth information about the plants and products used in the landscaping industry, proper landscape design principles, up-to-date installation and construction practices, and procedures for estimating and bidding landscape projects.

Special Program Requirements:

Admissions: The Landscape Technology Program is offered as a full-time day program. Because of the sequencing of courses, it is best to begin this program Fall semester.

Career Opportunities: Job opportunities include landscape design, construction, and installation, garden center sales and positions in the greenhouse and nursery industry.

Career Titles: Some common career titles for people in this field are landscape designer, landscape salesperson, landscape installation foreman, landscape business owner/manager, lawn maintenance business owner/manager, ornamental plant pest control, irrigation/sprinkler installation, nursery/garden center sales, wholesale nursery sales and nursery supply sales.

Program Outcomes

Program Outcomes:
Graduates will be able to:

Identify and practice safe use of tools, equipment and supplies used in horticulture careers;
Identify regional and Minnesota plants by common name, genus and species;
Propagate, grow, and maintain plants in horticultural production systems;
Identify and prescribe sustainable options in horticulture which benefit the environment while maintaining productivity and economic viability;
Design, construct and install landscape projects which include plants, patios, retaining walls and ponds;
Apply effective communication and interpersonal skills with co-workers, supervisors, suppliers and customers.

Transfer Opportunities

Transfer Opportunities: Many horticulture courses can be transferred to a variety of four-year colleges and universities. Because each college has its own requirements, always check with an advisor or counselor about transferability of specific courses to other colleges.

Instructors

Theri Wasniewski
My name is Theri Wasniewski, I am one of the landscape instructors at Central Lakes College. I most enjoy the classes I teach about woody plants (especially trees). We plant them, prune them, check them for diseases and learn about ways to make our communities better by having the right plants in the right places.

The Brainerd Lakes area is a great place to live and go to school. There is more to do in the area than there are days in a week. I spend most all of my time outside the classroom hiking, camping, cross country skiing, gardening and checking out the native plant communities. I think it would be great if every property had a few apple trees and some herbs or vegetables in the garden; sustainable by design! Email Theri for more information

Jeff Dirks
My name is Jeff Dirks and I am one of the landscape professionals who teaches at Central Lakes College. My favorite classes to teach are the landscape construction courses in which the students have the opportunity to install retaining walls, water features, patios, trees and shrubs on campus and in the community.

I really enjoy living and teaching in the Brainerd Lakes area because of the great outdoor experiences available here. Some of my hobbies are fishing, hunting, and enjoying all kinds of water sports on any of the 465 lakes within 30 miles of town. And of course, it is a great pleasure to see so many of our students enjoy successful careers after graduating from Central Lakes College. Email Jeff for more information

Employment Statistics

For more information regarding employment statistics, career salary information and estimated job growth, follow the resource links below:

https://apps.deed.state.mn.us/lmi/ces/
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/home.htm
http://www.iseek.org/jobs/jobmarket.html

Gainful Employment – Diploma