Horticulture, Plant Production Concentration, AAS

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The DMACC Horticulture program provides students with technical training in the broad horticultural field through the classroom, greenhouse, landscape, turf area, tree nursery, and practical on-the-job employment experiences.

The Horticulture program offers concentrations of Plant Production, and a concentration of Landscape & Turf. Graduates of the program are prepared to take on a diverse range of jobs available in each of these disciplines. Employment may be found at a wholesale operation or at a retail garden center, food crop producer or nursery, where you will find yourself growing and selling plants. If a student loves to work in a greenhouse, there are opportunities in large-scale corporate setting or at smaller production and/or garden center operations that would include working with seasonal flowers and vegetables. Landscape and Turf graduates could find themselves working for municipalities, golf courses, residential design-build firms, lawn maintenance companies or even start their own business. These positions may offer the opportunity to design, install and maintain plantings and hardscapes.

Program Details

Location: Ankeny

Students may start any semester

Program Entry Requirements

Complete an application for admission.
Satisfy the assessment requirement.
Attend any required information/registration session.

Graduation Requirements

To earn a Horticulture AAS degree, a student must complete all coursework as prescribed and maintain a 2.0 grade point average.

Semester 1

AGH 106 - Introduction to Horticulture Credits: 3
AGH 123 - Woody Plant Materials Credits: 3
AGH 142 - Landscape Construction Credits: 3
AGH 146 - Soil Science for Horticulture Credits: 3
AGH 147 - Soil Fertility for Hort. Credits: 1
AGH 159 - Landscape Graphics Credits: 2

Semester 2

AGH 132 - Introduction to Greenhouse Credits: 3
AGH 233 - Plant Propagation I Credits: 3
AAS Core Math Credits: 3
AGH 805 - Horticulture Internship I Credits: 2
Select one course from Option 1 Credits: 3

Option 1 - Select 1 Course

AGH 112 - Intro to Turfgrass Management Credits: 3
AGH 154 - Residential Landscape Design Credits: 3

Semester 3

AGH 120 - Herbaceous Plant Materials Credits: 3
AGH 253 - Insects and Diseases Credits: 3
AGH 262 - Fruit and Vegetable Science Credits: 3
AGH 272 - Nursery Production I Credits: 3

Semester 4

AGH 133 - Greenhouse Production I Credits: 3
AGH 161 - Irrigation Systems Credits: 3
AGH 283 - Pesticide Application Cert Credits: 2
AAS degree Required Communications course Credits: 3
Select One Course from Option 2 Credits 3-4

Option 2 - Select 1 Course

BIO 104 - Introductory Biology w/lab Credits: 3
BIO 112 - General Biology I Credits: 4
CHM 122 - Intro to General Chemistry Credits: 4
CHM 165 - General Chemistry I Credits: 4
PHY 106 - Survey of Physics Credits: 4

Semester 5

AGH 276 - Greenhouse Production II Credits: 3
AGH 281 - Arboriculture Credits: 3
AGH 291 - Hort. Business Operations Credits: 3
AGH 912 - Current Topics in Hort. Credits: 1
AAS degree Core Social and Behavioral Science/Humanities Credits: 3
Select one course from Option 3 Credits: 3

Option 3 - Select 1 Course

ACC 111 - Intro to Accounting Credits: 3
BUS 102 - Introduction to Business Credits: 3
BUS 138 - Small Business Marketing Credits: 3
BUS 141 - Small Business Start-Up Credits: 3
BUS 148 - Small Business Management Credits: 3
MKT 110 - Principles of Marketing Credits: 3
FIN 121 - Personal Finance Credits: 3
MGT 101 - Principles of Management Credits: 3

Total Credits Required to Complete the Plant Production Concentration - 71*

*Total credits are calculated using the least number of credits needed to satisfy the option requirements.

Fixed Costs

Tuition……………………………………………………………………………………..$160.00 per credit

The costs for each program are estimates and subject to change.

Varied Costs

Costs	Semester 1	Semester 2	Semester 3	Semester 4	Semester 5
Books (approximate)	205	300	105	185	375
Supplies	105	15	15	15
Equipment	135
Field Trips (2)	80	55	105

Approximate total for program: $13,095**

**Program entry requirements are not included in the total approximate cost.

What Kind of Work Will You Do?

Care for and maintain grounds, trees, plants, gardens, shrubbery and other greenery.
Pest control for plants.
Production and/or sales of commercial horticultural plants and products.

What Skills and Abilities Will You Need?

Work independently.
Follow directions and accept responsibility for your own work.
Demonstrate your knowledge of plant materials and use of horticulture terminology, skills and equipment.
Deal with people in a pleasant, businesslike way.
Use math in the selling and purchasing of materials and supplies and for calculating chemical/fertilizer applications.
Physical ability to perform horticulture tasks.

What Else Should I Consider about this Degree program?

Need access to transportation for employment experience.
There is much variety in this work due to seasonal changes; may work outdoors in all kinds of weather.
Allergies to plants and pollen can be a problem.
Entry-level positions usually involve some level of physical activity and you are sometimes on your feet long hours.
Average starting salary is $28,110 (BLS.gov).

Nondiscrimination Statement

DMACC offers career and technical programs in the following areas of study:

Agriculture, National & Environmental Services /Architecture, Engineering, and Construction/Arts, Design, and Visual communications/Business, Management, and Marketing/Education, Public, and Human Services/Health Science/Hospitality and Culinary/Information Technology/Manufacturing/Transportation & Logistics

Des Moines Area Community College shall not engage in nor allow discrimination covered by law against any person, group or organization. This includes in its programs, activities, employment practices, hiring practices or the provision of services, and harassment or discrimination based on race, color, national origin, creed, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, age (in employment), disability, genetic information (in employment) and actual or potential parental, family or marital status of a person. Veteran status in educational programs, activities, employment practices, or admission procedures is also included to the extent covered by law.

Individuals who believe they have been discriminated against may file a complaint through the College Discrimination Complaint Procedure. Complaint forms may be obtained from the Campus Provost’s office, the Academic Deans’ office, the Judicial Officer, or the EEO/AA Officer, Human Resources. ADA questions and concerns may be directed to the Section 504/ADA Coordinator at 2006 S. Ankeny Blvd, Bldg 6, Ankeny, IA 50023, phone 515/964-6857, sgbittner@dmacc.edu. Title IX questions and concerns may be directed to the Title IX Coordinator at 2006 S. Ankeny Blvd, Bldg 1, Ankeny, IA 50023, phone 515/964-6216, title9@dmacc.edu. Question or complaints about this policy may be directed to the Director of the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, Citigroup Center, 500 W. Madison, Suite 1475, Chicago, IL 60661, phone 312/730-1560, tax 312/730-1576..

Legal references: Iowa Code §§ 216.6 and 216.9, Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S. C. §§ 2000d and 2000e), the Equal Pay Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. § 206, et seq.), Title IX (Educational Amendments, 20 U.S. C. §§ 1681-1688), Section 504 (Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S. C. § 794), and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. § 12101, et seq.).₍₂₀₁₈₎