Associate in Applied Science in Landscape Horticulture

Landscape Horticulture
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Program Information

Learn more about the Landscape Horticulture program.

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Course Sequence

Field of Interest

Field of Interest: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

With a focus in landscape horticulture, you might design and plant an urban renewal garden. Or install a wedding-ready backyard landscape. Or study the impact that crops cultivated in a downtown area have on a local community. Landscape horticulture focuses on growing outdoor plants with an eye toward their aesthetic appeal.

In MCC’s landscape horticulture program you’ll learn all about the design, planning, and management of landscapes in urban spaces, parks, and private residences. You’ll prepare for a career in wholesale or retail nurseries, landscape design and construction companies, landscape management firms, or government agencies.

Details

Details icon Important information you’ll need when applying for admission:

Field of Interest
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Type
Associate in Applied Science (AAS)
Academic Plan
Landscape Horticulture (DEG)
Academic Plan Code
3030
Total Credits Required
64-72
Catalog Year
2024-2025
Effective Term
Fall 2022
Notes

Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses within the program.
The course SSH111 cannot be used to satisfy both the Humanities, Arts and Design and Social-Behavioral Sciences areas.
Must take three (3) credits from either Humanities, Arts and Design area or Social-Behavioral Sciences area.

What You’ll Learn

This pathway map will help you gain the expertise needed to:

  1. Design and install complete landscapes and irrigation systems using blueprints, specifications, and appropriate landscape equipment.
  2. Design and manage a greenhouse facility.
  3. Apply knowledge of common landscape plants and their use to develop landscape and irrigation plans that meet the environmental, aesthetic, and cultural needs of the customer.
  4. Effectively maintain and assess landscapes by synthesizing principles of plant growth and responses to particular soils, climate, sun exposure, water availability, nutrients, and pests.
  5. Employ environmentally and socially responsible horticultural practices.
  6. Perform a cost analysis to develop competitive bidding for landscapes.
  7. Synthesize multiple sources of information to assist in decision making relative to landscape business operations (e.g. orders, inventory, scheduling).
  8. Utilize computer software program applications relevant to the field for communication skills, production decisions, business management and cost analysis.
  9. Demonstrate professional behaviors and abide by norms and conventions appropriate to the field.
  10. Employ effective oral, written, and visual communication skills to multiple stakeholders in a culturally sensitive and responsive manner.
  11. Operate equipment adhering to proper safety, ethical, and environmental protocols.
  12. Explain the physical and chemical properties of soil as they relate to pH, water, nutrients, and organic matter.

Career Opportunities

Spending on landscape installation and construction is growing. Plus, more and more professional buildings, shopping malls, and homes need new or updated landscaping. So there are a lot of jobs and variety for the people who decide what to grow and for the people who care for those plants. In addition, you might choose to work with government agencies or in research.

Successful completion of this degree may lead to employment in a variety of different occupations and industries. Below are examples of related occupations with associated Maricopa County-based annual median wages* for this degree. Education requirements vary for the occupations listed below, so you may need further education or degrees in order to qualify for some of these jobs and earn the related salaries. Please visit with an academic advisor and/or program director for additional information. You can click on any occupation to view the detail regarding education level, wages, and employment information.

Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers

$44,292

Nursery and Greenhouse Managers

$62,865

* Career and wage information provided by Lightcast using data, reports, and forecasts which are generated using government data sources and Lightcast’s proprietary analytical processes. Lightcast’s data covers multiple classes of workers including QCEW, non-QCEW, and those who are self-employed. Disclaimer

Course Sequence by Term

The following is the suggested course sequence by term. Please keep in mind:

  • Students should meet with an academic advisor to develop an individual education plan that meets their academic and career goals. Use the Degree Progress Report Tool in your Student Center to manage your plan.
  • The course sequence is laid out by suggested term and may be affected when students enter the program at different times of the year.
  • Initial course placement is determined by current district placement measures and/or completion of 100-200 level course and/or program requirements.
  • Degree and transfer seeking students may be required to successfully complete a MCCCD First Year Experience Course (FYE) within the first two semesters at a MCCCD College. Courses include FYE101 and FYE103. Course offerings will vary by college. See an academic, program, or faculty advisor for details.
  • Consult with your faculty mentor or academic advisor to determine educational requirements, including possible university transfer options, for your chosen career field.

When to Start Taking Classes

It is suggested that you begin taking the courses found in this course sequence starting in a Fall Semester.

Full-time Sequence

Full-time status is 12 credits to 18 credits per semester.

Note: Because you are viewing this pathway map on a mobile device, some columns below have been hidden. To view all columns, please rotate your device or view this page on a device with a larger screen.

Fall Semester (Term 1)

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Fall Semester (Term 1)
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
AGL189 Landscape Design I Course offered Fall only 3
AGS164 Plant Growth and Development SQ 4
CHM130 Fundamental Chemistry CHM130 or Permission of Program Director RC 0–3
AGL181 Landscape Construction Techniques Course offered Fall only 3
AGS183 Urban Plant Identification And Use Course offered Fall only 3
FYE101 or
FYE103		 Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success or Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success 1–3

Spring Semester (Term 2)

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Spring Semester (Term 2)
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
AGB130 Establishing And Running An Agribusiness Course offered Spring only 3
First-Year Composition Any approved General Education course in the First-Year Composition area Critical course ENG101 or ENG107 FYC 3
AGB139 Agribusiness Computer Operations Online format only 3
AGS260 Soils AGS260 is offered in the Spring only SQ 4
AGS268 Integrated Pest Management in the Cultivated Environment Course offered Spring only 4

Fall Semester (Term 3)

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Fall Semester (Term 3)
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
AGS284 Lawn And Turf Care Course offered Fall only 3
Math Any approved general education course in the Mathematics area MA 3
COM100 or
COM110 or
COM225 or
COM230		 Introduction to Human Communication or Interpersonal Communication or Public Speaking or Small Group Communication SB or SB or L or SB 3
First-Year Composition Any approved General Education course in the First-Year Composition area ENG102 or ENG108 FYC 3
DFT105AA or
AGS186		 Computer Aided Drafting I: AutoCAD or Greenhouse Management And Construction If Pursuing the Residential Landscape Design Track, Select DFT105AA. If pursuing the Nursery and Greenhouse Operations, select AGS186 CS in combo w/ CSC100 or CSC100AA or CSC100AB or None 3
AGS262 Irrigation Design, Installation, Operation, and Trouble Shooting Course offered Fall only 3

Spring Semester (Term 4)

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Spring Semester (Term 4)
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
SB Social & Behavioral Sciences May be met by SSH111 if not used to meet the Humanities, Arts and Design requirement. SB 0–3
SSH111 Sustainable Cities SSH111 may be used to fulfill either the Humanities, Arts and Design requirement OR the Social-Behavioral Sciences requirement. G, HU, SB 3
AGS192 Urban Plant Care Course offered Spring only 3
AGL269 or
AGS285		 Computer Aided Landscape or Propagation of Horticultural Plants If pursing the Residential Landscape Track, select AGL269. If pursing the Nursery and Greenhouse Operations, select AGS285 3
AGS182AA Gardening Practices and Techniques 3
CRE101 College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking Or equivalent as indicated by assessment 0–3
HU Humanities, Fine Arts & Design May be met by SSH111 if not used to meet the Social-Behavioral Sciences requirement. HU 0–3

Part-time Sequence

Part-time status is 11 credit hours or less.

Note: Because you are viewing this pathway map on a mobile device, some columns below have been hidden. To view all columns, please rotate your device or view this page on a device with a larger screen.

Fall Semester (Term 1)

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Fall Semester (Term 1)
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
AGL181 Landscape Construction Techniques Course offered Fall only 3
AGL189 Landscape Design I Course offered Fall only 3
FYE101 or
FYE103		 Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success or Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success 1–3

Spring Semester (Term 2)

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Spring Semester (Term 2)
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
AGS164 Plant Growth and Development SQ 4
CHM130 Fundamental Chemistry CHM130 or Permission of Program Director 0–3

Fall Semester (Term 3)

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Fall Semester (Term 3)
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
AGS183 Urban Plant Identification And Use Course offered Fall only 3
AGB139 Agribusiness Computer Operations Online format only 3

Spring Semester (Term 4)

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Spring Semester (Term 4)
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
AGB130 Establishing And Running An Agribusiness Course offered Spring only 3
AGS268 Integrated Pest Management in the Cultivated Environment Course offered Spring only 4

Fall Semester (Term 5)

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Fall Semester (Term 5)
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
First-Year Composition Any approved General Education course in the First-Year Composition area Critical course ENG101 or ENG107 FYC 3
AGS284 Lawn And Turf Care Course offered Fall only 3

Spring Semester (Term 6)

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Spring Semester (Term 6)
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
AGS260 Soils AGS260 is offered in the Spring only SQ 4
First-Year Composition Any approved General Education course in the First-Year Composition area ENG102 or ENG108 FYC 3

Fall Semester (Term 7)

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Fall Semester (Term 7)
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
COM100 or
COM110 or
COM225 or
COM230		 Introduction to Human Communication or Interpersonal Communication or Public Speaking or Small Group Communication SB or SB or L or SB 3
Math Any approved general education course in the Mathematics area MA 3

Spring Semester (Term 8)

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Spring Semester (Term 8)
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
SB Social & Behavioral Sciences May be met by SSH111 if not used to meet the Humanities, Arts and Design requirement. SB 0–3
DFT105AA or
AGS186		 Computer Aided Drafting I: AutoCAD or Greenhouse Management And Construction If Pursuing the Residential Landscape Design Track, Select DFT105AA. If pursuing the Nursery and Greenhouse Operations, select AGS186 CS in combo w/ CSC100 or CSC100AA or CSC100AB or None 3

Fall Semester (Term 9)

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Fall Semester (Term 9)
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
AGS262 Irrigation Design, Installation, Operation, and Trouble Shooting Course offered Fall only 3
SSH111 Sustainable Cities SSH111 may be used to fulfill either the Humanities, Arts and Design requirement OR the Social-Behavioral Sciences requirement. G, HU, SB 3

Spring Semester (Term 10)

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Spring Semester (Term 10)
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
AGS192 Urban Plant Care Course offered Spring only 3
AGL269 or
AGS285		 Landscape Computer Aided Design or Propagation of Horticultural Plants If pursing the Residential Landscape Track, select AGL/CAD269. If pursing the Nursery and Greenhouse Operations, select AGS285 3

Fall Semester (Term 11)

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Fall Semester (Term 11)
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
AGS182AA Gardening Practices and Techniques 3
CRE101 College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking Or equivalent as indicated by assessment 0–3
HU Humanities, Fine Arts & Design May be met by SSH111 if not used to meet the Social-Behavioral Sciences requirement. HU 0–3

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Program Information

Learn more about and find contact information for the Landscape Horticulture program.

General Help

Ask general questions over the phone at 480-461-7400 or via online chat.

Course Area Key

Critical Course = A course that is highly predictive of future success in a pathway.

  • FYC = First Year Composition
  • G = Global Awareness
  • HU = Humanities, Fine Arts, and Design
  • L = Literacy & Critical Inquiry
  • MA = Mathematics
  • RC = Required Course
  • SB = Social-Behavioral Sciences
  • SQ = Natural Sciences Quantitative

Disclaimer

Students must earn a grade of C or better for each course listed in the Required Courses area.

Course Sequence total credits may differ from the program information located on the MCCCD curriculum website due to program and system design.

At Maricopa, we strive to provide you with accurate and current information about our degree and certificate offerings. Due to the dynamic nature of the curriculum process, course and program information is subject to change. As a result, the course list associated with this degree or certificate on this site does not represent a contract, nor does it guarantee course availability. If you are interested in pursuing this degree or certificate, meet with an academic advisor to discuss the requirements at your college for the appropriate catalog year.

View MCCCD’s official curriculum documentation for additional details regarding the requirements of this award (https://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MCCCD.woa/wa/freeForm13?id=172885).

Previous Catalog Years

The pathway map presented above is for the current catalog year and is the intended pathway map for new students. All previous catalog years for this pathway map are available at the link below.

Previous catalog years for Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Landscape Horticulture