The Greenhouse and Nursery Management Certificate of Achievement prepares students to become good horticulturists through the understanding of the production of landscape ornamental plants, floriculture crops (potted flowering plants), and controlled environment agriculture. Students learn about the process of crop production through hands-on experience growing plants in the on-site Cabrillo College greenhouses and nursery. Students explore controlled environment agriculture practices such as hydroponics, substrate production, aquaponics, and greenhouse environments. Students learn plant propagation, artificial media fertilizers, pest management, greenhouse design and operation, marketing, and sales.
The certificate prepares students for career opportunities in the greenhouse and nursery industries including indoor food producers, landscape and ornamental plant growers, greenhouse managers, plant breeders, irrigation specialists, pest control advisors, county agriculture inspectors, and more.
A total of 25-30 part-time and full-time students are expected to enroll with potential for annual growth. Completion rates of the certificate of achievement are expected to be five to ten per year with a potential for annual growth.
Cabrillo College is seeking approval from the Chancellor’s Office for the new Greenhouse and Nursery Management Certificate of Achievement in Career Technical Education. The horticulture program is designed to train and educate students to work in the fields of general horticulture, sustainable and organic food production, ornamental and decorative plant production agriculture and soil science, arboriculture, permaculture, greenhouse and nursery management, landscape design, landscape installation, and maintenance.
The need for horticulture certificates and degrees has been advocated for by local, regional, and national governments and consortiums and supported by current, regional labor market research (TOP 0109.00). The horticulture program is aligned with Cabrillo’s mission, master plan, and statewide community college work in Guided Pathways. Approval of this program will benefit regional employers, fulfill horticulture and crop production needs of the local community, augment college enrollment, and support non-traditional and underserved minority students in a viable career and academic path. This program would give our students the knowledge and skills they need to work towards additional certificates or a degree and/or excel in the workforce. The goal is for certificate completers to be gainfully employed or continue with an associates degree. Working with employers to identify earning potential is promising, with potential for a starting salary of $39,000-$45,000/yr in jobs such as organic crop producer, ornamental crop producer, horticulturist, landscaper, agriculture laborer, and maintenance worker. A labor market analysis indicates there is a large labor market gap in the Bay region with 1,300 annual openings for the General Horticulture, Crop Production, and Sustainable Agriculture occupational cluster and 71 annual (3-year average) awards for an annual undersupply of 7,200 students. In the SC-Monterey Sub-Region, there is also a gap in annual job openings and few annual (3-year average) awards for an annual undersupply of 1,292 students.
21 units of required coursework in the horticulture deparment.
The certificates and degrees include work experience education allowing students to practically apply what they have learned to work experience and internships locally.
The horticulture department is also partnering with local and state universities to develop degrees that onboard directly into a 4-year degree program. These are currently offered in agricultural plant sciences and an agricultural business program is being developed with the goal of expanding offerings.
Course | Title | Units | Year/Semester (Y1 or S1) |
---|---|---|---|
HORT1A | Basic Horticulture | 4.00 | S1 |
HORT1B | Basic Hort: Crop Production | 4.00 | S2 |
HORT24 | Plant Propagation | 3.00 | S1 |
HORT52 | Greenhouse Design and Operation | 3.00 | S1 |
HORT150 | Pest Management | 4.00 | S2 |
HORT99 | Hort Work Experience | 1.00 | S2 |
HORT143A | Intro to Mushroom Cultivation | 1.00 | S3 |
HORT143B | Intermediate Mushroom Cultivation | 1.00 | S3 |
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