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Permaculture Design
CertificationWhether you are seeking skills for employment or looking to enhance your home landscape, come cultivate your “green” thumb in Gateway’s Horticulture program. Gateway Technical College offers an associate degree in Horticulture with a choice of two program options – Nursery and Landscaping, or Greenhouse and Floral. A Horticulture degree can help you become part of this growing industry that makes a significant contribution to enhancing the natural beauty of Wisconsin and beyond.
10-810-20 Urban Farming ATC Curriculum Sheet 2013-14.pdfThe Urban Farming advanced technical certificate provides students with the training and skills to intensively farm small plots of land and bring their crops to market profitably. The certificate combines intensive farming curriculum with entrepreneurship training.
10-001-1A Horticulture Curriculum Sheet 2013-14.pdfThe Horticulture- Greenhouse and Floral program includes training in floral design, greenhouse operations, flower shop management, garden center operations and interior landscaping. Courses include hands-on experience with flowers, plants, horticulture equipment, computers and horticulture business operations. Students will practice with the most up-to-date horticultural equipment in the newly constructed Pike Creek Horticulture Center on the Kenosha Campus. Business and management skills are a big part of the program in training graduates for advancement in a horticulture career. The program specializes in sustainable horticulture practices, such as urban farming, which give students and businesses a competitive edge in meeting the demands of this growing market.
10-001-1B Horticulture Curriculum Sheet 2013-14.pdfThe Horticulture-Nursery and Landscaping associate degree includes training in outdoor landscaping, grounds maintenance, nursery production, turf management and greenhouse operation. Courses include hands-on experience in plant identification, insect disease control, bedding plant production, plant propagation, pruning and landscape design. In class, students will practice with the most up-to-date horticultural equipment in the newly constructed Pike Creek Horticulture Center on the Kenosha Campus. Business and management skills are emphasized in the program as the goal is to move students from landscaper to manager. The program specializes in sustainable horticulture practices such as urban farming, to give students a competitive edge in meeting the demands of the growing market.
Graduates can find opportunities in landscape design, landscape contracting, floral design and grounds maintenance. Specific jobs can include landscape design sales, greenhouse manager, garden center manager, greenhouse grower, nursery manager, florist and floral merchandiser.
The heart of the Horticulture program is the opportunity to learn first-hand all aspects of growing and nurturing plants. Gateway’s Kenosha Campus is home to the most up-to -date horticultural equipment in the newly constructed Pike Creek Horticulture Center. The facility features a 3,000 square-foot greenhouse, state-of-the-art labs, classroom space and public retail space.
The learning gardens also on the Kenosha Campus provide a rich living lab in which students get the opportunity to test new plant introductions, learn to give quality care and learn to identify all types of flowers, trees and shrubs.
The urban farm gives students, who are interested in local foods and urban farming businesses, the opportunity to practice all aspects of intensive vegetable and fruit growing. In addition, the floral lab provides the opportunity to learn floral design and event planning.
Horticulture students also gain professional experience and networking skills through club involvement. The Horticulture program has two clubs available to students, Alpha Beta Hortus and Students of the American Institute of Floral Designers (SAIFD).
Alpha Beta Hortus (ABH), is open to all Horticulture students. The club organizes several field trips including the Chicago Botanic Gardens, the Mid-Am Trade Show and Haureman’s Orchids. Club members also conduct plant sales providing students with nursery and sales experience.
Students of the American Institute of Floral Designers (SAIFD) is a nationally affiliated club, with the art of floral design as its primary focus. The American Institute of Floral Design (AIFD) certification stands for the highest level of achievement a floral designer can attain. The club is designed to expose students to the art and profession of floral design. Activities include hosting design shows, making floral arrangements and competing in national design competitions.
Salaries vary widely depending on a student’s experience. Students with past professional experience in customer service, project management, sales or computer science often merge these skills with new horticulture training to start at a higher pay rate.
Students without prior employment experience are advised to gain practical horticulture experience working during the summer for a local landscaper, greenhouse or garden center. Students can expect to earn $8-12/hour for summer seasonal work. Five years’ experience puts hard working graduates in the $15-$25/hour range.
Kenosha
Edwardo Vargas
vargase@gtc.edu
Kenosha
Kathleen Jerome
jeromek@gtc.edu
Kathleen Field
fieldk@gtc.edu
Beverly Frazier, Associate Dean
frazierb@gtc.edu
