Horticulture Sciences

Program Level: Degrees, Certificates

Department: Agricultural Sciences

Institute: Science & Technology

College: PAC

What is the horticulture sciences program?

At Palo Alto College, the horticulture sciences program includes various areas such as plant cultivation, garden center management, floral design, and more. Horticulture sciences is a growing industry, with local job growth projected at 30% over the next five years. In Texas, horticulture sciences is the second-largest industry and offers various career opportunities. Consumers spend over $38 billion yearly on professional landscaping and lawn and tree care services.

There will be 173,200 + new job openings for landscapers in 2023 (US Bureau of Labor)
67% of adults are currently growing edible plants or planning to (Forbes 2/3/2022)

Palo Alto College is the only community college to offer a horticulture sciences program in the San Antonio area and one of a handful of colleges and universities in South Texas.

This program is fully accredited by the National Association of Landscape Professionals.

Our Classroom is Your Backyard

Today’s industry requires people like you. With shrinking college horticulture programs and a decline in qualified applicants for industry job opportunities, only 61% of the annual job openings in the U.S. are likely to be filled. Our curriculum allows you to plan your future based on your interests and career goals. The combination of our curriculum, faculty expertise and instruction, and industry partnerships prepares you for a bright and fruitful career.

Horticulture Sciences Program Highlights

Emphasis is placed on the commercial application of skills learned in the program
Employment for graduating students of this program may be available in landscaping businesses (independent and corporate), residential complexes (apartment and residential organizations), parks and recreational facilities.

Horticulture Sciences Career Areas & Employment Positions

Tree Care - Tree Care Crew Leader, Certified Arborist
Irrigation System Installation and Maintenance - Licensed Irrigator and Irrigation Installer
Interiorscape Maintenance and Management in Wholesale and Retail Nurseries - Retail Nursery Merchandiser
Recreational Facilities - Groundskeeper, Irrigation Technician, Landscape and Lawn Maintenance Foreman

No experience necessary

Learn for your career or as a hobby.

Learn at your own pace

Complete the program at your own pace

Get on the path of high-demand jobs

Connect with our industry partners.

Degrees and Certificates Offered

Landscape Industry Partners

A core part of the horticulture-based programs at Palo Alto College is the Horticultural Sciences major. Horticultural Sciences is a carefully crafted degree program designed to provide students with the skills and experiences they need to be successful in their own companies or to add value to teams as part of existing businesses. We value all of our industry partners.

Industry Partners

VOLT® Lighting has donated a number of LED lighting fixtures to the Life Science Greenhouse hydroponic learning lab for student project use and yield trials. VOLT® is a lighting company marketing landscape lighting.
The equipment VOLT® donated will help students to gain hands-on industry-relevant experience, and better prepare them for careers in this exciting field.

Contact

Information

Dr. Jeffrey Koch
Director

Email:
jkoch2@alamo.edu

Phone:
210-486-3935

Yessica Labay
Faculty Program Lead

Email:
ylabay@alamo.edu

Location:
San Jacinto (SANJAC 200)

Phone:
210-486-3073

Richard De La Garza
Coordinator

Email:
rdelagarza30@alamo.edu

Location:
Sabine Hall (SABINE 106)

Phone:
210-486-3411