Horticulture Degree

The horticulture program at Wenatchee Valley 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 Washington colleges that offer horticulture degrees.

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Wenatchee Valley College (WVC)

1400 NE Campus Parkway, Seattle, WA

About

Wenatchee Valley College, located in Wenatchee, Washington, was founded in 1939 and was originally a private institution supported by fifty one local residents. Two years later the school became part of the Washington State public education system.  Soon thereafter the school began a period of movement and expansion, until a permanent campus was formed in 1949.

WVC has since expanded its facilities in subsequent years to meet growing demand. In addition to the main campus, the school operated two more campuses in Omak and downtown Wenatchee (known as the Downtown Learning Center).  The school also offers dual enrollment for high school students through the states Running Start Program.

Academics
As a comprehensive community college, WVC offers a variety of programs that allow for academic transfer or career opportunities. Academic transfer programs allow students to complete the first two years of a four year education, followed by applying for transfer to a four year institution in order to continue their education to complete a bachelor's degree.

Training programs at Wenatchee Valley offer education and training in a high demand field or industry for students who plan to pursue long term employment upon completion. Programs take between one and two years to complete and result in a degree or certificate.

Programs offered include:

• Communications
• Nursing
• Liberal Arts
• Drafting and Design
• Business Administration

Admissions and Financial Aid

Wenatchee Valley College is an open enrollment institution that admits any individuals that pay their fees and have a high school education or are at least eighteen years of age. Students should supply transcripts and standardized test scores if available and may be required to take a placement exam.

Meeting with a counselor and participating in new student orientation are encouraged. Financial aid is given in the form of loans, grants and scholarships, based on need as determined by the information a student provides on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

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

Salary & Wages

• Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA Metropolitan Division
  • Total Employment: 870
  • Average Hourly Rate: $25.14
  • Average Annual Salary: $52290
• Tacoma-Lakewood, WA Metropolitan Division
  • Total Employment: 140
  • Average Hourly Rate: $24.51
  • Average Annual Salary: $50990

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