Ornamental Horticulture: Overview

This dynamic department, with high visibility on the college campus and the outlying community, has a curriculum and advising that prepares students for a variety of careers related to plants and outdoor landscapes. And if your future includes shaping a healthier, more beautiful and livable world, then you should check out our 3 majors:

º Environmental Design
º Floriculture and Nursery Production and Marketing
º Landscape Contracting and Management

The small classes in our professional courses enable us to provide a hands-on learning experience that is the hallmark of our program. Curriculum flexibility is provided so that students can elect additional science, professional or business courses. This flexibility and interdisciplinary approach helps a student develop a balance which best fits his or her personal career objectives.

Our faculty members often provide opportunities for students to learn in real-life situations by having classes conduct projects in the outlying community. In addition, students may become involved in the planning, constructing and hosting the department display at the Philadelphia Flower Show. Growers, educators and students can interact during our Annual Pansy Trials as well as during the PANTS Show and the Eastern Regional Nurseryman’s Seminar.

Each faculty member maintains close contact with the ornamental horticulture industry, so that the information and techniques learned in our program are state-of-the-art. To learn more about the global aspect of ornamental horticulture, some faculty members organize trips to other areas of the world, including Germany, Amsterdam and Beijing.