Horticulture, Plant Production Concentration, AAS

Location(s): Ankeny

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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

Pathway: Agriculture, Animals, & Natural Resources

More information on this Pathway.

Students may start Fall semester

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 159 - Landscape Graphics Credits: 2
AGC 314 - Leadership in Agriculture Credits: 2

Option 1 - Select 1 Credit

SDV 108 - The College Experience Credits: 1
SDV 129 - Transition to College Credits: 1

Semester 2

AGH 132 - Introduction to Greenhouse Credits: 3
AGH 233 - Plant Propagation I Credits: 3
AGH 805 - Horticulture Internship I Credits: 2
MAT 772 - Applied Math Credits: 3
Select one course from Option 2 Credits: 3

Option 2 - Select 3 Credits

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 283 - Pesticide Application Cert Credits: 2
ENV 115 - Environmental Science Credits: 3
Any AAS degree Required Communications course Credits: 3
Select One Course from Option 3 Credits: 3-4

Option 3 - Select 3-4 Credits

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
Any AAS degree Core Social and Behavioral Science/Humanities Credits: 3
Select one course from Option 4 Credits: 3

Option 4 - Select 3 Credits

ACC 104 - Fundamentals of Bookkeeping 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 - 70*

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

Fixed Costs

Tuition……………………………………………………………………………………..$193.00 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: $15,205**

**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 (Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Nondiscrimination Statement

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, or hiring practices, and harassment or discrimination based on race, color, national origin, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, genetic information (in employment) and actual or potential parental, family or marital status. Veteran status in educational programs, activities, employment practices, or admission procedures is also included to the extent covered by law. Lack of English language proficiency will not be a barrier to admission and participation in career and technical education programs.

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 Executive Campus Dean’s office, the Executive 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, dso@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. Questions or complaints about this policy may be directed to the Director of the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, John C. Kluczysnki Federal Building, 230 S. Dearborn Street, 37th Floor, Chicago, IL 60604-7204, phone 312/730-1560, fax 312/730-1576, TDD 800-877-8339 Email OCR.Chicago@ed.gov.

DMACC offers career and technical programs in the following areas of study:
Agriculture, Natural and Environmental Science
Architecture, Engineering, and Construction
Arts, Design, and Visual Communication
Business, Management, and Marketing
Education, Public, and Human Services
Health Science
Hospitality and Culinary
Information Technology
Manufacturing
Transportation & Logistics

Entrance requirements for specific programs can be found at Academic Pathway website.₍₂₀₂₄₎