Horticultural Science
Plant the seeds of a great future through this program. You'll receive
a broad overview of horticulture, including landscaping, nursery management,
greenhouse production, and turfgrass management. You'll also gain valuable
practical experience working in our five production greenhouses, our
historic conservatory and the OARDC's 85-acre arboretum.
Once you've completed your two-year Associate of Science degree, you
can continue your studies to complete a bachelor's degree in a variety
of areas, including:
• Landscape horticulture
• Turfgrass science
• Crop science
...to name just a few.
Understanding the Associate of Science degree
The Associate of Science degree is sometimes referred to as the "transfer
program." Students who plan to transfer to the Columbus campus
of The Ohio State University upon completion of the associate's degree
may find this degree option at Ohio State ATI to be preferable.
Students who pursue the Associate of Science option complete half of
the requirements for a bachelor's degree in agriculture at Ohio State's
College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. This degree
also includes the "transfer module," a common set of general
courses that apply to other bachelor's degree programs in Ohio.
What is Horticultural Science?
An Associate of Science degree in horticultural science provides students
an overview of horticulture including landscaping, nursery management,
greenhouse production, and turfgrass management. Students can choose
to specialize in one of these areas after completion of the associate's
degree.
As part of the Associate of Science degree, horticultural science majors
complete a combination of technical and general courses that allow them
to gain hands-on experience while completing 50 percent of the curriculum
for a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture degree at The Ohio State University
College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.
Students who are not planning to ultimately pursue a bachelor's degree
might be interested instead in one of the following Associate of Applied
Science programs: Greenhouse Production and
Management, Nursery Management, Landscape
Contracting and Construction, Turfgrass Management,
and/or Floral Design and Marketing.
This degree also includes the transfer module, a common set of courses
which apply to other bachelor's degree programs in Ohio.
Career Opportunities in Horticultural Science
After completing the Associate of Science degree in horticultural science,
many students choose to further their education by pursuing a bachelor's
degree in any number of related majors, including turfgrass science,
landscape horticulture and crop science. Career opportunities will vary
according to graduates' chosen major.
Salary Trends
Beginning salaries for graduates will vary according to each graduate's
major, skills, the position sought, and other factors determined by
employers.
Students who choose not to complete a bachelor's degree program and
instead pursue employment upon graduation with an Associate of Science
degree in horticultural science should refer to the appropriate Associate
of Applied Science program.
High School Preparation
Students pursuing the Associate of Science program must complete the
following high school curriculum in order to be admitted to the program
without conditions: four units of English; three units of mathematics;
two units of natural science; two units of social science; two units
of the same foreign language; one unit of visual or performing arts;
and one additional unit from any of the above categories.
Applicants to the Associate of Science program in horticultural science
who have not followed this curriculum will have conditions placed on
their enrollment. These conditions must be satisfied by earning college
course credits in the high school subject areas in which the students
are deficient.
How to Major in Horticultural Science
Students seeking an Associate of Science degree in horticultural science
at The Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute enter
directly into the program upon completion of their admission requirements.
All applicants are strongly advised to arrange a pre-admission conference
with a faculty member in the program in order to acquaint themselves
with the various aspects of this major.
General Degree Requirements
Students must complete a minimum of 100 quarter credit hours of technical
and general studies courses, with a cumulative point-hour ratio of 2.00
or above, to earn the Associate of Science degree in horticultural science.
A minimum of 45 quarter credit hours must be earned through regular
course work at the institute.
Technical courses introduce students to various areas of horticulture
including landscape plant materials, turf management, greenhouse environmental
control and nursery management.
Science and math courses are prerequisites that prepare students for
plant biology and other coursework required in the bachelor's degree
program. Approximately 33 quarter credit hours are required in technical
courses.
Students also complete a minimum of 55 credit hours of general education
courses which include communications, social sciences, mathematics,
and biological and chemical sciences.
Students in the horticultural science program are not required to complete
an internship while attending Ohio State ATI, although work experience
is required before completing a bachelor's degree. Experience working
in a horticultural business is strongly encouraged.
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