Program Overview

When you enroll in the Horticulture program, you will attend classes at our horticulture location adjacent to the Idaho Botanical Gardens off Warm Springs Avenue in Boise. The facility includes classrooms in a restored early 1900s home with two state-of-the-art greenhouses and over 20 acres of growing fields. There are also over 1,000 plant species growing in the Botanical Gardens next door.

The American Nursery & Landscape Association predicts that its industry will continue to have attractive openings for graduates. After completing this program, you will be in position to pursue careers working for wholesale nurseries, landscape contractors, floral shops, and more. Potential jobs include working as a grower, nursery crew supervisor, nursery inventory control specialist, and landscaping, among others.

What will you learn to do?

• Identify and classify soils and plants, including flowers, shrubs, and trees
• Design, construct, and maintain landscapes
• Grow, care for, and arrange flowers
• Prune trees and shrubs properly
• Identify and manage plant pests and disease
• Propagate plants
• Manage greenhouses and nurseries
• Market horticulture goods and services
• Use pesticides and fertilizers safely and legally
• Communicate professionally, both in person and in writing
• Use business computer applications
• Conduct effective job searches

What kind of degree(s) can you earn?

• Associate of Applied Science Degree (AAS) – approximately two years
• Advanced Technical Certificate (ATC) – approximately 16 months
• Technical Certificate (TC) – approximately one year

What else should I know?

Our horticulture training involves classroom learning, as well as field trips to local growers and practical outdoor and plant-growing experience in the student greenhouse. Internships with area nurseries, greenhouses or floral shops are also offered.