Career Description
An Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Horticulture is the gateway to a wide variety of careers in the huge and ever-growing horticulture industry. Depending on the emphasis chosen by the graduate, ornamental and edible plant production, greenhouse production, landscaping, floriculture and golf course maintenance are all occupations that are available to a graduate in this field.

Program Information
The A.A.S. in Horticulture covers a broad spectrum of the horticulture industry. Most students who receive their A.A.S. in Horticulture also select one (or two) of the diploma programs of interest to them. Students may select topics from landscaping, greenhouse production, and/or floral design to meet the technical elective requirement of this program.

Program Learning Outcomes
Students will identify and properly care for plants in the horticulture field.

Students will demonstrate proper design skills and applications.

Students will demonstrate proper work and management skills.

Admissions
The Horticulture Program is offered as a full-time day program. Because of the sequencing of courses, it is best to begin this program Fall semester. However, many students begin in the spring and successfully complete the degree.

Transfer Opportunities
Articulation agreements are currently in place with the University of Minnesota. You may attend your first two years of college at Central Lakes College and transfer your credits to further your degree in Agricultural Education or Horticulture at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities or Crookston Campuses.  Courses can also be transferred to many other four-year colleges such as North Dakota State University. It is important to check with advisors or counselors about transferability to these or other colleges before your first semester to take full advantage of current agreements.

Employment Opportunities
Employment opportunities can be found in greenhouse production, landscaping, floral design, and sales, as well as horticulture therapy, interior plantscaping, and plant and flower brokering.

Career Titles
Careers available are largely dependent on your goals. It is best to discuss your goals with a counselor for proper course selection. Some common career titles in this field include landscape designer, landscape salesperson, landscape installation foreman, propagator, plant consultant, greenhouse supply representative, pest control coordinator, landscape business owner/manager, and lawn maintenance business owner/manager.  Other career areas include ornamental plant pest control, irrigation/sprinkler installation foreman, nursery/garden center sales, wholesale nursery sales, nursery supply sales, floral design, flower shop sales, wholesale flower sales, flower broker, interior plant rental, interior plant maintenance, and free-lance design.

Horticulture, AAS - Program Planning Form (pdf)