Horticulture Schools: How to Choose
Before selecting an online horticulture degree program, it's important to consider all your options. You first want to decide whether you'll need a certificate, a bachelor's degree, or a master's degree, and make sure you look at more than one school before deciding which online program is right for you.
Numerous schools and colleges offer programs either entirely or partially online in the field of horticulture. These programs are available at the certificate, bachelor's and master's degree level. Students will want to consider program types and award levels when selecting an online school.
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Program Delivery
Both fully online and hybrid format programs are available. The hybrid programs, particularly at the undergraduate or graduate level, often require students to come to campus and take examinations or complete work in laboratories. Sometimes students can actually complete lab work and internships at a partner school or other facility where they reside.
Award Level
Most employers look for candidates with at least a bachelor's degree, although job seekers who want to be supervisors or managers sometimes need a master's degree. Certificate programs are available for those who want to brush up on their horticulture skills or figure out if horticulture is the right career. Associate's and doctoral degree programs are not typically available online, but students can earn these degrees in a traditional classroom setting.
Online Horticulture Programs: Awards & Courses
Prerequisites for Horticulture School
Before you apply to colleges that offer horticulture degrees online, you'll need to complete the necessary prerequisites to study horticulture at the college level. These include:
- High School Diploma or GED
- Basic courses in math and science
- Standardized testing: SAT and/or ACT
- Personal Statement about why you want to study horticulture
Certificate of Completion in Horticulture Management
Online certificate programs in horticulture management are most often offered through a college's or university's continuing education division, and many have prerequisites. Some programs send gardening kits home for students to use for homework assignments, while others allow students to communicate via online discussion forums. Students learn about:
- Nursery management
- Composting
- Plant nutrients
- Pest management
- Herbicide action mechanisms
Bachelor of Science in Horticulture
Students can complete a majority of the coursework via the internet, but most programs require students to complete lab work on campus or at a facility where the student lives. The online portion is delivered through streaming video, DVDs and interactive media applications. A distance learning bachelor's degree in horticulture includes courses in:
- Viticulture
- Postharvest physiology
- Public garden administration
- Plant propagation
Master of Science in Horticulture
Online master's degree programs in horticulture can be a good alternative for students who are already employed. Hybrid programs allow students to listen to lectures through interactive television and complete coursework online. These programs usually do not have a thesis requirement. Students may be required to visit the school for an exam before graduation. Typical online courses include:
- Applied geostatistics
- Advanced interiorscaping
- Crop production
- Arboriculture
- Quantitative agricultural remote sensing
Horticulture Schools: Sample Programs
Are you wondering, 'where can I find a horticulture degree near me?' Consider these schools that offer online horticulture degrees; in a way, they are 'horticulture schools near me.'
Colorado State University offers a 120-credit online Bachelor of Science in Horticulture program. You can take courses including plant identification, cultivation and pest management. If you are interested in managing your own horticulture business, you can also take courses that focus on finance and marketing through this program.
At Oregon State University, the online bachelor's horticulture program offers courses that deal with real-world issues current horticulturists face, where students work in labs, with diagnostics, and on projects. In addition to online coursework, students must complete a 360-hour internship.
If you hold a bachelor's degree and are interested in getting a horticulture certificate, you can go through the Horticultural Landscape Management Certificate program at Texas Tech University. You can take required courses fully online, earning 12 credit hours, and this program can be completed in conjunction with a related master's program.
North Carolina State University also offers programs in horticulture that can be taken online. If you're interested in studying horticulture as an undergraduate, you can enroll in their Horticulture Undergraduate Certificate. If you're ready to study horticulture at the graduate level, you can consider a Master's of Horticulture Science from NC state and get an online horticulture masters degree.
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Cornell University also offers top-tier horticulture education that can be taken through their distance learning programs. Although you won't earn a degree by taking Cornell's courses in horticulture, you can learn about gardening, fruit and vegetable production, landscaping, sustainable agriculture, and many more topics.
The University of Illinois also offers an online certificate in horticulture through their College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences. Their program in horticulture also allows you to specialize in plants and people, sustainable production, or horticultural science based on your own interests and career goals.
The table below summarizes the options for studying horticulture online.
| School | Award Options | Tuition and Fees (2020-2021) |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado State University | Bachelor's degree | $476 per credit (120 credits required) |
| Oregon State University | Bachelor's degree | $318 per credit (180 credits required) |
| Texas Tech University | Certificate | $15,476 (in state); $30,200 (out of state) |
| North Carolina State University | Certificate, Master's degree | $3,555 (in state), $13,740 (out of state) for certificate; $16,632 (in state), $47,196 (out of state) for master's degree |
| Cornell University | Certificate | varies by class; $325-$675 per class |
| University of Illinois | Certificate | $4,992 |
When deciding on an online horticulture degree, you need to consider several things, such as program level offered. Also find out if the program is fully available online or if there are in-person requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- What are some drawbacks to learning horticulture online? Many skills involved in horticulture require hands-on practice to develop. For this reason, it may be easier to develop these skills in an in-person classroom. However, online degrees offer opportunities for practice as well.
- How much will a plant science degree online cost? Tuition varies across various colleges that offer horticulture degrees online. Depending on your residency (in state or out of state) and the school you choose, you can expect to pay between $8,400 and $58,000 in annual tuition.
- What jobs can I get with a horticulture degree? Once you study horticulture, you can work in a wide variety of occupations ranging from farming to environmental science and resource conservation. You can also search for 'horticulture businesses near me' to locate jobs in your local area.