Horticulture Degree

The horticulture program at Northern Virginia Community College prepares students to be landscape designers, landscape contractors, greenhouse managers, and growers. The program focuses on the general production and processing of plants, shrubs, flowers, foliage, trees, groundcovers, and related plant material. Program courses include: horticulture science and principles, plant identification, proper soil development and management, sustainable landscape and irrigation design, water conservation, turf maintenance practices, integrated pest management, licensing and certification, and business practices. Get more details below including other Virginia colleges that offer horticulture degrees.

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Northern Virginia Community College

Also known as Norfolk State

700 Park Avenue, Norfolk, VA

Commonly referred to as NOVA, the Northern Virginia Community College is the second-largest community college in the country. The main campus alone, located in Annandale, is built over almost 80 acres in addition to 8 other campus sites and educational centers in different localities. NOVA was founded in 1964 as the Northern Virginia Technical College, serving almost 800 students in a single location. At present, there are about 90,000 students enrolled in both credit and non-credit courses across all campuses.

The Annandale campus is home to over 20,000 students enrolled in various courses among the following academic divisions: Math, Science and Engineering; Business and Public Services; Languages and Literature; and Liberal Arts. The campus is also known for offering certificate courses in Human Resource Management and Advanced Forensic Investigation. Programs for skills improvement and organizational learning are handled by the Office of Workforce Development and Continuing Education.

NOVA aims to have its students earn the necessary credits for acceptance into four-year colleges. In line with this goal, the Pathway to the Baccalaureate Program was designed to provide assistance to outstanding high school students in Northern Virginia in transitioning from secondary to higher education. Priority in enrolling at NOVA with financial assistance is granted as well as guidance on seeking placement with other universities. Completion of an associate degree program with a 2.5 GPA guarantees admission to the George Mason University (GMU).

Annandale's Student Services Center also provides special assistance to international students, military service members, and veterans. All students have access to various facilities including the Ernst Community Cultural Center, a facility featuring a theater, art gallery, gymnasium, and several function halls.

Participation in intercollegiate athletic events and other non-academic pursuits is highly encouraged, particularly in basketball, soccer, ice hockey, and volleyball. Tournaments and intramural events are organized by the Student Activities Office, aiming to highlight the importance of recreation and extra-curricular activities in further development of a student's competencies.

Students Enrolled in the Horticulture Program

Get more details below regarding enrollment, academics, and school demographics. Norfolk State offers an associate's degree program in horticulture.

Students by Gender (2019)

Students by Race (2019)

Source: IPEDS Survey 2012-2020: Data obtained from the US Dept. of Education's Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Data may vary depending on school and academic year.

Career Options for Graduates

Nursery and Greenhouse Managers

Description

Plan, organize, direct, control, and coordinate activities of workers engaged in propagating, cultivating, and harvesting horticultural specialties, such as trees, shrubs, flowers, mushrooms, and other plants.

Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary

Description

Teach courses in the agricultural sciences. Includes teachers of agronomy, dairy sciences, fisheries management, horticultural sciences, poultry sciences, range management, and agricultural soil conservation. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers

Description

Directly supervise and coordinate activities of workers engaged in landscaping or groundskeeping activities. Work may involve reviewing contracts to ascertain service, machine, and workforce requirements; answering inquiries from potential customers regarding methods, material, and price ranges; and preparing estimates according to labor, material, and machine costs.

Career Outlook & Projections ()

According to the BLS, first-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers employment is expected to grow at a rate of 5.3% from 2014 to 2024

Source: Job descriptions, estimated salary and wages, and projected job growth are taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).