Why Choose Sustainable Landscaping 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
Program Information
SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPING 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)
HORT 2150 Retaining Wall Construction (4 cr) OR HORT 2155 Deck, Patio, and Pond Construction (4 cr)
General Education (3 cr)
Total 17 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)
HORT 1122 Local Food Production (3 cr)
HORT 2150 Retaining Wall Construction (4 cr) OR HORT 2155 Deck, Patio, and Pond Construction (4 cr)
Total 15 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)
HORT 1345 Internship (1 cr)
General Education (3 cr)
Total 15 Credits
GRADUATION REQUIREMENT – 62 CREDITS
*Denotes Prerequisites
Career Description: Sustainable landscaping 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 Sustainable Landscaping Program.
Program Information: This two–year Sustainable Landscaping Diploma 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.
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; and
- Apply effective communication and interpersonal skills with co-workers, supervisors, suppliers and customers.
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.
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.
Instructors
Horticulture Instructor
My name is Jeff Dirks and I am one of the horticulture instructors who teaches at Central Lakes College. I enjoy teaching in all areas of horticulture, but particularly enjoy the labs that include active learning such as building retaining walls, patios and ponds, creating floral designs, and growing plants in the greenhouses. 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.
Horticulture Instructor
My name is Theri Wasniewski, I am one of the horticulture instructors. My favorite classes to teach are about woody plants and insects. We plant, prune, check for diseases and learn 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 and explore in the area than there are days in a week. I like to hike, camp, cross country ski, garden and check out the native plant communities in our area. It would be great if every property (home and work) had a few apple trees and some herbs or vegetables; sustainable by design!
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