The Business of Horticulture and Landscape Design Certificate of Achievement

Students who complete this program will gain fundamental knowledge in business aspects, including contracts, time management, as well as soft skills that are critical for successful horticulture and landscape services. Students will have opportunities to apply their understanding of effective and efficient business functions to maintain and expand the business with a focus on being sustainable in horticulture and landscape design, construction and maintenance. Graduates with these skills can gain entry-level employment or start their own businesses in horticulture and landscape professions.

All professions in horticulture and landscape design industries need many different levels of business management, including projects, time, human resources and assets. Also, being able to prepare and manage legal and financial tasks, such as, cost estimates and budgets, schedules, proposals and contracts, is critical for sustaining the business. Some examples of jobs may be Office managers, Cost estimators, Team leaders, Construction supervisors, Maintenance schedulers, etc.

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Understanding business aspects is essential to all industries, and, it is not an exception for Horticulture and Landscape Design professions. Even though students may acquire necessary knowledge of their chosen professions, it may not be sufficient to be fully successful with their work, including managing clients, staff, projects or offices. Understanding and managing “time and money” well, while performing work, is critical for the sustainable businesses.

This certificate is created in collaboration with the Business Department, focusing on the essential aspects of Horticulture and Landscape Design businesses. It provides practical applications of business management for successful professionals, including having their own businesses. Without proper understanding of business aspects, it will be difficult to succeed both financially and professionally in Horticulture and Landscape Design industries.

The goal of The Business of Horticulture and Landscape Design Certificate of Achievement is to prepare students for successful careers in Horticulture and Landscape Design professions by providing critical knowledge on how to successfully manage financial, legal and human resources with efficient and effective professional performances.

The core competencies and the job expectation from the completion of the certificate may include:

Understanding the difference between a proposal and a contract

Preparing a contract from the liability points of view

Estimating proper man-hours and cost

Managing a project or a team per scope of work identified in a contract

Performing core values of team working environment

All professions in horticulture and landscape design industries need many different levels of business management, including projects, time, human resources and assets. Also, being able to prepare and manage legal and financial tasks, such as, cost estimates and budgets, schedules, proposals and contracts, is critical for sustaining the business. Some examples of jobs may be Office managers, Cost estimators, Team leaders, Construction supervisors, Maintenance schedulers, etc.

Students who complete this program will be able to:

Recognize the importance of business aspects of horticulture and landscape design, such as, liabilities, time and finances, client relationships, office and human resources.

Perform proper project management in time and money.

Avoid unnecessary liability risks and negative legal consequences.

COA awarded upon successful completion of the core courses and selection of one course from Group 1 and one course from Group 2.

Program Requirements:

CORE:

BUS 160 Entrepreneurship – 3 units

HORT 138 The Sustainable Landscape – 3 units

HORT 140 Business Aspects in Horticulture and Landscape – 3 units

GROUP 1: (choose one)

BUS 102 Oral Business Communications – 3 units

BUS 196 Workplace Success Skills – 1 unit

HORT 139 Contemporary Landscape Design – 3 units

GROUP 2: (choose one)

BUS 106 Legal Aspects of Entrepreneurship - 2 Units

BUS 125 Human Relations in Business – 3 units

CWE 180 CO-OP-ED-Hort & Landscape - 1 unit

BUS 125The Sustainable LandscapeLicensure for the Landscape ContractorBUS 125