Horticultural Industries (Co-op) at Algonquin College

Transform your appreciation for landscape design into a career in the ever-evolving horticultural industry.

In the two-year Horticultural Industries Ontario College Diploma program you learn how to create landscapes from design to implementation. By offering a condensed format over 16 months, the Horticultural Industries program allows you to fast track your career.

Learn the key aspects of this dynamic industry, including:

• urban and rural landscape design, installation and maintenance
• nursery production and management
• sustainable urban agriculture
• green roof and living wall technology

The program offers a hands-on learning experience during the industry`s prime production period in the spring/summer/fall. Practice skills in Algonquin College`s extensive campus gardens surrounding the Horticulture Centre and within the attached greenhouse complex.

The various plant collections and the vegetable garden provide you with the perfect opportunity to study plant identification, plant selection and ideal growing conditions. You take active part in further developing and maintaining the grounds in smaller work-groups, simulating the industry.

To further your skills and make connections in the industry, you complete a 12-week co-op placement as part of the program. The landscape industry is fast-paced and constantly evolving, with a high-demand for skilled horticultural specialists and landscape designers.

Graduates may find work, either as employees or self-employed, in:

• construction and maintenance firms
• landscape design
• nurseries and garden centres
• urban food production
• tree care industry
• park systems
• consulting or teaching

Most industry jobs are seasonal (April to November), but many nurseries keep employees on in the winter.

You may also choose to continue your education by completing a degree in Landscape Architecture, Horticulture, and Plant Science.

SUCCESS FACTORS

This program is well-suited for students who:

• Place a high personal priority on enhancing the environment.
• Have an affinity for plants.
• Enjoy physical activity and working outdoors.
• Work well in a team environment.
• Are interested in landscape design from conception to implementation.
• Are concerned about the safety of the environment and food source sustainability
• Enjoy problem solving.
• Appreciate working in a professional environment.
• Are able to identify various plants, memorize plant names and ideal growing requirements.

Careers

Graduates may find employment in urban food production; nurseries and garden centres; park systems; landscape design, construction and maintenance firms; the tree care industry; sales and service and consulting.

Learning Outcomes

The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

1. Design, estimate, install and maintain sustainable and ecologically sound green infrastructures in the urban and rural environments.
2. Install and maintain green roofs and living walls.
3. Grow food crops employing the principles of sustainable urban agriculture.
4. Plan and implement personal, site and equipment safety procedures.
5. Complete all work in accordance with professional and industry guidelines.
6. Identify, propagate, produce and market plant material.
7. Participate in applied research that contributes to the advancement of the urban agriculture, nursery and landscape industries field.
8. Manage urban agriculture, nursery and landscape industry projects and small divisions of a business.
9. Handle plant material competently, utilizing knowledge of plant culture, anatomy, physiology and integrated pest management practices.
10. Identify and apply discipline-specific practices that contribute to the local and global community through social responsibility, economic commitment and environmental stewardship.

Program Eligibility

• English, Grade 12 (ENG4C or equivalent).
• Applicants with international transcripts must provide proof of the subject specific requirements noted above and may be required to provide proof of language proficiency. Domestic applicants with international transcripts must be evaluated through the International Credential Assessment Service of Canada (ICAS) or World Education Services (WES).
• IELTS-International English Language Testing Service (Academic) Overall band of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each band; OR TOEFL-Internet-based (iBT) Overall 80, with a minimum of 20 in each component: Reading 20; Listening 20; Speaking 20; Writing 20.

Should the number of qualified applicants exceed the number of available places, applicants will be selected on the basis of their proficiency in English.