The Horticulture Technician program at Algonquin College provides students with professional training in the greenhouse production of ornamental plants, plant propagation, disease and pest control, soils and fertilizers. As well as learning landscaping design, construction and professional garden maintenance, students learn the basic foundation of ornamental plants, including the native plants that can be found in the outdoor living laboratory of gardens and greenhouses surrounding our school.
- Program Code:
- 0428X01FWO
- Academic Year:
- 2011/2012
Courses
Programs at Algonquin College are delivered using a variety of instruction modes. Courses may be offered in the classroom or lab, entirely online, or in a hybrid mode which combines classroom sessions with online learning activities. Upon registration, each full-time student is provided an Algonquin email account which is used to communicate important information about program or course events.| Level: 01 | Hours | |
| ENL1813M | Communications I Communication remains an essential skill sought by employers, regardless of discipline or field of study. Using a practical, vocation-oriented approach, students focus on meeting the requirements of effective communication. Through a combination of lectures, exercises, and independent learning, students practise writing, speaking, reading, listening, locating and documenting information, and using technology to communicate professionally. Students develop and strengthen communication skills that contribute to success in both educational and workplace environments. | 45.0 |
| HOR1308 | Woody Plants I In this course, conifers are of particular importance. Botanical detail and use in landscaping are stressed. Lectures, for the most part, are outdoors to facilitate the study of materials in their natural habitat. | 45.0 |
| HOR1310 | Botany I This course introduces students to the basics of plant classification and morphology. A combination of lectures and laboratory exercises explains the structural components of plants and their variations. | 45.0 |
| HOR1314 | Applied Horticulture I - Maintenance This course involves the maintenance and installation of plant material in outdoor landscapes. Content learning takes place through theory and practical experience with the main emphasis being on practical skill development. Co-requisites: HOR1308 and HOR1319 | 90.0 |
| HOR1317 | Landscape Graphics This course covers basic drafting skills, such as scaling, lettering, symbols, shadow casting, colour rendering and structural illustrations. The course familiarizes students with drafting equipment and materials. | 30.0 |
| HOR1319 | Herbaceous Plants I This course familiarizes students with the common annuals and perennials. Students learn to use them effectively in landscape design and become aware of individual plant cultivation and maintenance requirements. | 30.0 |
| Level: 02 | Hours | |
| DSN0005 | Design Principles Using thumbnails, rough drawings, and perspective sketching, students explore the elements and principles of design. Through a variety of drawing exercises, they acquire an understanding of proportion, colour, positive and negative space and repetition. They learn how various designers have used visual elements to achieve results over the course of the last 100 years. Prerequisites: HOR1308 or HOR1317 or HOR1319 Co-requisites: HOR1302 | 39.0 |
| ENL1949A | Business Communication for Horticulture Students create a hypothetical horticulture business to serve as a real-life context for a variety of professional communication activities. They learn to write information and promotional materials for both web and print and a variety of job seach materials, as well as standard business documents. They learn how to present their businesses effectively to clients and how to present themselves professionally in job interviews. Group work, role play, in-class experiential activities, and reserch and writing assignments refine students' professional communication skills. Students also have an opportunity to develop strategies for ongoing personal and professional development. Prerequisites: ENL1813M | 39.0 |
| HOR1302 | Landscape Design I The objective of this course is to study and apply all design principles necessary to successfully formulate a simple and functional residential landscape design. Prerequisites: HOR1308 and HOR1317 and HOR1319 Co-requisites: DSN0005 | 26.0 |
| HOR1322 | Plant Propagation Using lectures and hands-on experience, students study asexual and sexual propagation of woody and herbaceous plants. The following methods of propagation are studied in detail: seeds, cuttings, layering, grafting, division and tissue culture. Practical labs provide skills in plant propagation techniques. Prerequisites: HOR1310 | 52.0 |
| HOR1323 | Soils and Fertilizers Students study physical, chemical and biological properties of soils. They also study plant nutrition, and both natural and artificial sources of nutrients. | 39.0 |
| HOR1351 | Entomology This course includes the study of insects and their control. Students learn basic insect morphology, physiology and classification. The emphasis in the course is on practical identification of post insects found in the Ottawa area. An understanding of life cycles and control is integral to this course. | 26.0 |
| HOR1353 | Field Placement I This course consists of a placement in the industry, and a work experience in the horticulture interior and exterior labs. It provides students with a first-hand look at the sectors of the horticulture industry not previously experienced. | 38.0 |
| HOR1357 | Botany II and Pest Management This course introduces the basic physiological processes of plants. It shows how internal structure facilitates these processes and how the external environment influences them. Laboratory exercises include work in microscopy. In the Pest Management component, students learn the principles of "Integrated Pest Management" and how to use the full spectrum of possible controls to manage pest populations. Prerequisites: HOR1310 | 39.0 |
| Level: 03 | Hours | |
| HOR1303 | Woody Plants II In this course, conifers are of particular importance. Botanical detail and use in landscaping are stressed. Lectures, for the most part, are outdoors to facilitate the study of materials in their natural habitat. Prerequisites: HOR1308 | 42.0 |
| HOR1309 | Lanscape Construction This course provides an introduction to the materials used in landscape construction, their working criteria, and construction and design techniques. Students analyze and design construction projects on campus. | 42.0 |
| HOR1329 | Herbaceous Plants II This course familiarizes students with perennials and annuals used in specialty situations and locations. Students learn to use them effectively in landscape design and become aware of individual plant cultivation and maintenance requirements. Prerequisites: HOR1302 and HOR1319 | 42.0 |
| HOR1344 | Applied Horticulture II - Greenhouse In this course, students obtain hands-on, practical experience with greenhouse plants and cultures. Students care for one greenhouse area of specimen plants. Two or more crops are required to bloom from seed by a specified date. This assignment requires critical timing and care. Through this exercise, students realize the time and problems involved in producing a finished product. Prerequisites: HOR1310 and HOR1322 and HOR1323 and HOR1351 and HOR1357 | 70.0 |
| HOR1352 | Applied Horticulture II - Landscape In this course, students apply landscape construction theory by building various projects on campus. They also receive basic training in foreperson skills. Nursery and grounds maintenance are also practised. Prerequisites: HOR1302 and HOR1314 and HOR1317 Co-requisites: HOR1309 | 70.0 |
| HOR1354 | Field Placement II This course consists of a placement in industry. It provides students with a first-hand look at the various sectors of the horticulture industry. | 19.0 |
| Choose one from equivalencies: | Hours | |
| GED0428 | General Education Elective For this course, you will have the opportunity to choose one from a group of general education electives. Your options will include courses which cover the following broad topic areas: Arts in Society, Civic Life, Social and Cultural Understanding, and Personal Understanding. Equivalencies: ARC9001 or DSN2001 or ENL7643 or ENV0002 or FAM1218 or FIN2300 or GED1896 or GED5002 or GED5005 or GED5006 or GED5200 or GED6022 or GEN1001 or GEN1957 or GEN2000 or GEN2007 or HIS0001 or HIS2000 or HOS2228 or LIB1982 or MGT7330 or MVM8800 or PSI1702 or RAD2001 or SOC2003 or PSI0003 | 45.0 |
| Level: 04 | Hours | |
| ENV0004 | Environmentally Responsive Design Human behaviour within the built and natural environment is the focus of this course. Through a review of psychological principles including personality types and environmental psychology, students develop an awareness of the role of the individual in the environment. Exploration of the impact of situating of built and natural environments and of architectural styles on the experience of human beings provides insight for design decisions. Prerequisites: DSN0005 and HOR1302 and HOR1308 and HOR1309 and HOR1317 and HOR1319 and HOR1352 | 42.0 |
| HOR1332 | Turf Management Students learn the principles and techniques for establishing and maintaining turf areas. Residential turf is emphasized. The identification of problem weeds, and their cultural and chemical controls, is also covered. Prerequisites: HOR1314 and HOR1323 | 28.0 |
| HOR1338 | Plant Pathology This course includes the study of ornamental plants' physiological and pathogenic diseases including their symptoms, causal agents and controls. Common disease-causing organisms, their life cycles and characteristics are studied in detail. | 28.0 |
| HOR1343 | Arboriculture This course provides an introduction to the different cultural practices for ornamentals, tree selection, fertilizing, transplanting, pruning, tree surgery and winter twig identification. Prerequisites: HOR1308 and HOR1310 and HOR1323 and HOR1357 | 42.0 |
| HOR1345 | Greenhouse Theory This course acquaints students with greenhouse construction and design. Comparisons are made between traditional glasshouse structures and some new plastic house designs. Energy conservation in greenhouses and the management of internal environments (temperature, humidity, light, moisture, carbon dioxide, soils and fertilizers) are discussed. Prerequisites: HOR1344 Co-requisites: HOR1356 | 28.0 |
| HOR1355 | Field Placement III This course consists of a working experience in the department's interior and exterior labs. The principal emphasis is placed on gaining practical experience in the horticulture field. Prerequisites: HOR1314 and HOR1344 and HOR1352 Co-requisites: HOR1356 | 19.0 |
| HOR1356 | Applied Horticulture III - Greenhouse In this course, cultural techniques for a variety of crops are discussed. Students are responsible also for the maintenance of a selection of tropical plants. Prerequisites: HOR1344 | 70.0 |
| HOR1361 | Landscape Design II This course provides an in-depth look at residential and specialty design techniques, followed by a study of commercial and estate design principles. Prerequisites: HOR1324 and HOR1329 and HOR1333 and HOR1337 and HOR1352 | 28.0 |
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Awards & Bursaries
Commercial Landscape Association of Eastern Ontario (CLAEO) is presented to a graduate for submitting an essay on their career aspirations in the commercial landscaping industry.
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Every attempt is made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this publication. The College reserves the right to modify or cancel any course, program, fee, timetable, or campus location at any time