Sustainable Landscaping Diploma

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

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

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

Program Planning Form

Click here to download the Sustainable Landscaping Diploma Program Planning Form (PDF)

Detailed Program Information

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.