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Horticulture student in greenhouse

Horticulture

Earn a Horticulture Associate Degree

Are you interested in working with plants and starting a career in agriculture and related fields? From lawns to gardens and florists to farms, society needs skilled cultivators to grow plants. Aims offers two horticulture associate degree programs that can give you the skills and knowledge to help you succeed in a variety of related industries. Learn from experienced faculty members in Weld County, the heart of Colorado farm country and gain practical skills through labs taught in a state-of-the-art greenhouse facility. 

While earning a horticulture associate degree at Aims, you’ll learn about:

  • Botany
  • Soil science
  • Plant propagation
  • Pest identification
  • Greenhouse management
  • Turf Management

    Choose Between Two Horticulture Associate Degree Programs

    Aims offers two horticulture liberal arts associate degrees, each with a unique focus.

    1. Associate of Science in Environmental Horticulture Landscape Business

    Study the ways in which landscaping skills intersect with business principles and practices. 

    2. Associate of Science in Horticulture Business Management

    This liberal arts associate degree focuses on large-scale crop production. 

    Both horticulture degrees are designed to transfer to a bachelor’s degree program at a four-year school, although you can also choose to enter the workforce upon graduation from Aims.

    "If you love plants and are interested in horticulture, Aims can open doors for you."
    --Lynn Ingegneri, horticulture instructor at Aims

    Learn How Your Passion for Plants Can Blossom Into a Career

    Aims Degree Video - Agricultural Sciences and Technology - Horticulture
    Learn the fundamentals of soil science, plant propagation and management and the business of landscaping. Combine lecture and classwork with hands-on training in a state-of-the-art greenhouse lab to prepare for a career in horticulture.

    Instructor Lynn Ingegneri explains how the Aims horticulture program gives students the skills and opportunities needed to pursue a variety of agriculture industry jobs. 

    Learn Horticultural Principles in a Hands-On Environment

    Gain practical horticulture and professional skills by learning in laboratory settings while working side-by-side with your instructors. 

    While earning a horticulture associate degree, learn the principles and practices of:

    • Growing and nourishing plants
    • Soil management
    • Greenhouse operations
    • Weed and pest management
    • Garden management
    • Data collection
    $51,894 Lanscape Architect median salary w/associate Source: salary.com

    Earn a Horticulture Certificate

    You can earn a horticulture certificate at Aims to explore a specific subject area or to strengthen skills in less time than it takes to earn a two-year degree. Learn the basics of plant and business management with an introductory certificate or dive deeper into food and greenhouse management with a more robust horticulture certificate.

    • Introduction to Horticulture Certificate
    • Horticulture Certificate

    Careers in Horticulture

    Channel a passion for flowers and plants by developing skills to work with a florist or landscaping company. Use an entrepreneurial spirit to start a business or improve the existing business for a family-owned shop or farm. Build on your interest in food crop science to increase food yields and safety by working as a pest advisor. 

    Examples of career focus areas for horticulture graduates include:

    • Florist 
    • Orchard or nursery manager
    • Landscape designer
    • Pest control advisor
    • Greenhouse manager
    • Agricultural sales for seed or horticultural supply companies
    • Public gardener
    • Marketing
    • Research
    • Teaching
    • Industry support
    • Inspection
    • Landscape construction and management
    • Communications

    Horticulture Faculty and Staff

    Aims horticulture program instructors bring a background of diverse industry expertise to your educational experience. Instructors synchronize classroom and lab lessons so you get hands-on practice that supports your coursework. Small class sizes provide many opportunities for personalized attention from instructors who are invested in your success.

    • Headshot of Amy McFarland

      Amy McFarland

      Department Chair, Agriculture
    • Headshot of Cassandra Anderson

      Cassandra Anderson

      Part-Time: Faculty, Agriculture
    • Headshot of Jason French

      Jason French

      Part-Time: Faculty, Agriculture
    • Headshot of Lynn Ingegneri

      Lynn Ingegneri

      Part-Time: Instructional Lab Coordinator I, Agriculture Sciences
    • Headshot of David Swieter

      David Swieter

      Part-Time: Professional Equipment Mechanic, Automotive
    • Megan Blaser

      Megan Blaser

      Program Coordinator II, Agriculture & Technology
    • Linda Richardson headshot

      Linda Richardson

      Staff Associate, Business & Technology