Following guidelines set forth by the national Sustainable Site's Initiative students will learn how to improve the sustainability of urban landscapes. Identifying soil conditions, capturing storm water, using native plants, composting, waste and energy management are concepts learned in this class. Students have the opportunity to analyze their own property to find ways to improve sustainability while reducing chemical inputs and maintenance needs.

Learn to identify and care for annual and perennial flowering plants. Visit local gardens and professional sites to study plants and view design styles. Graphic skills used to create professional flower bed designs is also taught. Hands on experience propagating annuals and perennials and working with tropical foliage in the Gateway greenhouse is also included.

Students examine the science and profession of horticulture, including its role and importance of throughout history, current trends, and careers. Learners will identify horticulture crops, crop use and interrelationships among the environment, plant growth, and plant development.

In this course, students explore the Gateway Technical College community. They examine college resources and services, investigate skills that lead to academic success, and identify strategies for achieving educational and personal goals.

This course introduces students to some of the major theories and topics of psychology, including the physiological basis of behavior, personality and learning theories, memory, states of consciousness, stress, research methods, intelligence, human development, psychopathology, and social behavior.

This course examines interpersonal relationships of humans and groups and the consequent structure of society. It details the various social processes and concepts which shape human behavior, analyzing such phenomena as organizations, deviance, race and ethnic relations, population, urbanization, social change, and social movements. Religion, education, and the family are studied.

This capstone course will provide horticulture students the opportunity to pull together portfolio elements created in several classes into a cohesive professional portfolio for use when starting the career search. The portfolio will include samples of work, letters of reference, resume, horticultural resources and other pertinent career search and employment information, which can be used during employment interviews. Students will develop a high-quality professional portfolio as the final project.

In this course, learners will take their landscape designs to the next level and bring them to life for clients with the use of 3D modeling software. This course is intended to build on skills gained in Advanced Landscape Design with the use of Dynsacape software. Learners will explore and learn how to analyze, design, and represent landscapes through SketchUp as 3D modeling software. Upon completion of this course, learners will be able to integrate advanced landscape design skills and technologies to communicate an enhanced presentation to a client or clients.

Simulated operation of horticulture industries utilizing principles of marketing, economics and office management. Includes hands-on practice on computers used in each branch of the horticulture industry. Field trips and practice work are involved.

Advanced study of landscaping designed to fine-tune landscape drawing techniques. Course focuses on landscape construction methods, Japanese-style design principles, designing for energy conservation and how to attract wildlife. Labs include drawing plans and blueprinting.