The Arboriculture Certificate of Achievement prepares students to become good arborists through an understanding of tree biology, tree identification, tree planting, pruning, personal safety in tree climbing, soil science, fertilizers, and pest management. Students will incorporate these skills into developing healthy tree canopies within commercial and residential areas.
Prepares students to take the certified arborist examination. The certificate prepares students for career opportunities in arboriculture and/or urban forestry. Self-employment is a popular option as well as employment with city or county government agencies and large private companies.
A total of 15-20 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 around 5 completers per year with a potential for annual growth.
Cabrillo College is seeking approval from the Chancellor’s Office for the new Arboriculture 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, and landscape design, landscape installation, and maintenance.
The need for the Arboriculture Certificate of Achievement has been advocated for by local, regional, and national governments and consortiums and supported by current, regional labor market research (TOP 0109.10). 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 landscaping and agricultural 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 landscaper, groundskeeper, laborer, irrigation technician, gardener, or grounds maintenance worker.
A labor market analysis indicates there is a large labor market gap in the Bay region with 1,007 annual openings for the Landscape Design and Maintenance occupational cluster and 70 annual (3-year average) awards for an annual undersupply of 5,700 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.
19 units of required coursework in horticulture
Course | Title | Units | Year/Semester (Y1 or S1) |
---|---|---|---|
HORT1A | Basic Horticulture | 4.00 | S1 |
HORT62 | Fall Plant Materials and Design | 3.00 | S1 |
HORT63 | Spring Plant Materials and Design | 3.00 | S2 |
HORT99 | Horticulture Work Experience | 1.00 | S3 |
HORT150 | Pest Management | 4.00 | S2 |
HORT172 | Arboriculture | 3.00 | S2 |
HORT173 | Landscaping Pruning | 1.00 | S2 |
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