Horticulture is a very broad industry, which means there are many career paths for any lover of green. So, if you just want to see if horticulture will interest you, an online associate’s degree program is ideal.
In this post, we will share with you all you need to know about getting a horticulture associates degree online as well as, school suggestions will assist you in pursuing career tending for mother earth.

Who is A Horticulturist?

A horticulturist is one who uses scientific knowledge to grow and nourish plants. They may not be directly involved in growing plants but, then uses this knowledge to provide technical information to farmers. Sometimes, you can work in the field of landscaping design to create gardens, recreational areas, and parks to appreciate the beauty of mother earth. RELATED POST: How Can I Get An Online Agriculture Degree In 2021? Schools, Cost, Certifications

What is a Horticulturist Job Description?

The horticulturist develops pest control initiatives, heritage, and conservation projects or studies certain types of plant populations. So, their work usually takes them from the field to the lab as they perform tests and analyze data. Most times, their jobs require them to:

Water, mulch, trim, and care for lawns and plants.Create living plant arrangements and displays in designated outdoor areas.Operate machinery and use tools to care for soil and plants.Train, prune, fertilize, and care for perennials and annuals.

For this reason, an average horticulturist has a variety of duties which revolve around the growing, breeding, and landscaping of plants. Here are a few of the different kinds of work that a horticulturist may be involved in: However, while horticulturists tend to keep regular hours, their workload gets busier during the planting and harvesting seasons.

What jobs can you get with an Associate’s degree in Horticulture?

From learning better ways to handle pests to dealing with landscape designs, certified horticulturists have unique skills that they can use to land a job.  Hence, with an associate degree, horticulturists can work in education, government, or private institutions.
Also, major jobs you can land after graduating are:  Other employment positions include growers, sales representatives, garden center managers, ranch managers, and floral designers. Also in other areas of the green industry, the number of available jobs continues to exceed the number of graduates.

Horticulturists Salary and Job Outlook

As green industry expands, there is a huge demand for horticulturists in various sectors of the economy. According to Glassdoor, the national average salary for a Horticulturist is $41,503 in United States. Although Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does not have data for horticulture, they have data for Grounds maintenance workers which is closely related to horticulture. So, according to BLS, grounds maintenance workers’ average annual pay is $29,400 per year$14.13 per hour Also, employment of grounds maintenance workers is projected to grow 9% from 2018 to 2028, faster than the average for all occupations. More workers will be needed to keep up with increasing demand for lawn care and landscaping services from large institutions and individual homeowners. So, with an associate degree in horticulture, you are a hot cake.

Why an Associate Degree in Horticulture?

Growing and managing plants as a career requires you to understand both science and business. This degree is one that teaches students the practice of growing plants within the context of a garden or greenhouse. Sometimes, individuals also gain knowledge in soil management, plant conservation, landscape design, garden management, and arboriculture. So, horticulture students generally take classes such as environmental and horticultural biology, wild plant identification, plant biotechnology, and urban ecology. Additionally, it gives students better critical thinking skills. And students learn the art of teamwork when planning garden projects.

Can I Earn a Horticulture Associate’s Degree Online?

There are various colleges that also offer associates degrees in horticulture online. Although, most schools offering associate degree programs in horticulture offer them as Associate of Applied Science degrees. However, due to the hands-on nature of horticulture, fully-accredited online associate’s degree programs are rare. Although, hybrid programs that allow some coursework to be completed online are available. These programs combine online courses with on-campus labs and field trips, as well as an in-person internship. But, a fully online option for associate-level students in horticulture is an Associate in Natural Sciences and Mathematics degree, which also has courses that cover plant biology and can prepare students for more advanced online horticulture programs in the future.

What are the requirements to get a horticulture associate’s degree online?

Students in an associate’s degree program must also fulfill general education requirements in areas like math, the humanities, as well as biology. This is a basis for acceptance by colleges that generally offer horticulture degrees. Also, most 2-year horticulture degree programs require students to complete an internship in plant production or landscaping.

Cost of Getting an Associate Degree in Horticulture

Although it’s possible to find fully sponsored programs in horticulture, the cost of getting an associate degree in horticulture differs for different schools. Hence, the average, the total cost per year is $25,174 with an average two-year total program cost of $50,348.

Associate Degree Program and Courses

  Although the following entry-level core horticulture courses may be offered online, it is rare to offer upper-level courses. This is so because of the hands-on practical aspect of horticulture in areas like planning, installation as well as maintenance of plant beds or landscapes.

Schools That Offer Associate Degree Programs in Horticulture

Are you looking for schools that offer the best online associates degree horticulture program? Although it is rare to find schools that offer online programs for an associate degree in horticulture, there is only one college available to give you the best online experience as an associate-level student.

Triton College

Triton College has an associate program designed to provide students with the necessary skills to acquire entry-level positions in all fields of Horticulture and Sustainable Agriculture Technology.

Horticulture Degree (Associate in Applied Science – C201A)Sustainable Agriculture Technology Degree (Associate in Applied Science – C201E)

However, there are other colleges that offer horticulture degrees

UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY

USU calls agriculture the science of life, and the college’s main focus is on subjects such as disease cures, earth conservation and biotechnology rather than the traditional ideas of farming and processing products. Also, students can earn certificates or an associate’s degree in horticulture through the five departments of agricultural systems technology and education. Visit School

Century College

Century College offers daytime and hybrid online classes. Also, they have programs for students applying for an associate degree in horticulture.

Horticulture Science — Associate in Science DegreeHorticulture Technology — Associate in Applied Science Degree

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Parkland College

Parkland College is well known for its small class sizes, state-of-the-art facilities, inclusive learning environment, and personable faculty. Also, they offer an associate degree in horticulture – Landscape Management, Design, & Construction. Visit School SUNY Cobleskill provides a horticulture program that engages you in hands-on learning whether in our greenhouses or in our campus gardens and farm. Also, they offer one program called Horticulture, Associate in Applied Science (AAS). Visit School About two years. The Associates degree in Horticulture or Botany is typically course that takes about four years to complete. Of course, there are a number of online courses available for students interested in horticulture which can either be taken as part of a certificate program or as part of an associate degree. In addition, there are hybrid degree programs available, which means a portion of the courses must be done on-campus while the rest can be completed online. And some programs require students to come for internship. Definitely worth it. Horticulture will be an important science in the future as demand for horticulturist professionals are on the rise at a fast pace. With few people taking courses on this, you are hot cake. An associate degree introduces the concepts and gives your hands on experience. You have a great learning about propagation, arboriculture, and landscape design. Also, it sets a solid foundation for you to transition when you decide to further your studies in horticulture. On the average, the total cost per year for an associate degree program in horticulture is $25,174 with an average two-year total program cost of $50,348. Of course, you can an associate degree in horticulture online. Although, due to the hands-on practicals require to give a great learning experience, its rare to see schools that offer this program fully online. For this reason, schools have developed hybrid programs that combine online learning with on-campus hands-on practicals and sometimes internships. The demand for jobs related to horticulture is rising rapidly, estimated to rise by 9% before 2028. You can even start your own nursery with the practical knowledge you get with an associate degree. It also qualifies you for entry-level jobs like sales representatives, nursery managers, garden centre managers, ranch managers, landscape designers and floral designers among others. With a an associate degree in horticulture, you can earn as much as an average $13/hr and annual average salary of about $41,503 in the U.S, according to Glassdoor. Of course, extra complimentary tips annually is about $2300. Yes, you can make some decent cash with an associate degree in horticulture. It can also give you a solid foundation to step up to further your career in horticulture and earn more, with jobs on high demand. This degree can open up a lot of different career opportunities as the green industry is constantly expanding. In addition, depending on your career path, it is the type of degree that can help you to make a difference in the quality of life for many other people.

Conclusion

From the above article, you can see that opportunities for graduates with an associate degree in horticulture are rising significantly. For this reason, schools offer hybrid programs that combine both online experience and on-campus hands-on practicals. Also, some schools provide internships for students offering this program. Hence, an associate degree is necessary if you want to plant yourself in that dream job in horticulture.

References

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