WHAT is the curriculum for the Plant Sciences & Natural Resources program?

The main areas of study in this program are:

FIRST YEAR

• Horticulture:  An Introduction

     -Exploring the horticulture field

     -Plant Taxonomy:  How plants are         named
• Greenhouse Management & Crops

     -Poinsettias*

     -Easter Lilies*
• Plant Science

     -Parts of the plant and their  

      functions

     -Environmental requirements for good plant growth

     -Growth stimulants, retardants, and rooting hormones
• Plant Propagation

     -Seeds

     -Softwood and semihardwood cuttings

     -Hardwood cuttings

     -Separation and division

     -Grafting

     -Budding

     -Layering
• Integrated Pest Management

     -Integrated pest management

     -Biological control of pests and diseases

     -The safe use of pesticides

     -Insecticides

     -Fungicides, rodenticides and nematocides

      -Herbicides
• Greenhouse Production

     -The floriculture industry

     -Employability in the greenhouse industry

     -The greenhouse business

     -Greenhouse structures, climate control and automation
• Using Plants in the Landscape

     -Annual bedding plants

     -Perennials, ornamentals, vines, bamboo, and gardens

     -Narrowleaf evergreens

     -Broadleaf evergreens

     -Deciduous trees

     -Deciduous shrubs

     -Ground covers

     -Bulbs

     -Techniques of pruning

     -Landscape maintenance, xeriscaping, and water gardens
• Turfgrass Science and Management

     -Growth and development

     -Turfgrass species

     -Turfgrass environment

     -Primary cultural practices

     -Supplementary cultural practices

     -Pest management

     -Propagation

     -Cultural systems

• Employability Skills

    

SECOND YEAR

• Introduction to Biotechnology

     -The phenomena of biotechnology

     -Plant cloning

     -Biotechnology in plant science

     -Biotechnology in medicine and the food industry

     -Consumer concerns and ethical concerns

     -Careers in biotechnology
• Greenhouse Management and Crops

     -Poinsettias*

     -Easter Lilies*
• Earth Science and Technology

     -Applying earth science

     -Applying soil science
• Ecology Basics

     -Principles of ecology

     -Understanding relationships between ecology and agriculture

     -Biomes of North America

     -Our wildlife resources
• Natural Resources Management

     -Maintaining air quality

     -Water and soil conservation

     -Soils and hydroponics management

     -Forestry management

     -Wildlife management

     -Aquaculture
• Conservation and Management

     - Responsible management of wildlife resources

     -Conservation of natural resources

     -Human connection to wildlife and natural resources
• Landscaping Designing

     -Usind drawing instruments

     -Graphic materials and techniques

     -The site

     -The landscaping process

     -The outdoor room concept

     -Plant selection

     -The principles of design

     -Flowers, xeriscaping and hardscape

     -Enrichment

     -Landscaping in the Age of Technology

     -Pricing the proposed design

     -Understanding contracts and contractors

     -Contract documents

     -Installing landscape plants

     -Selecting the proper grass

     -Lawn construction

     -Landscape irrigation

     -Maintaining landscape plants

     -Plant injuries:  identification and care

     -Care of the lawn and winterization

     -Pricing landscape maintenance

• Employability Skills

* FFA Skills Contests--Landscape/Nursery

 

WHAT academic courses should I take?

Recommended courses that will help with your career pathway are:
• Biology
• Natural science
• Chemistry
• Technology
• Communications