Horticulture Co-op Information for Employers
Adding Value to Your Team
The nursery, landscaping, turf, and floriculture segments of the horticulture industry are areas of sustained growth and development in Ontario and Canada. The Associate Diploma in the Horticulture program provides a basic curriculum in ornamental horticulture and an opportunity to take specialized courses in various components of the industry. Practical experience and training complement the more formal material presented in lectures and provide an opportunity to acquire the practical skills required in greenhouse and landscaping firms. The program prepares students for a variety of career opportunities in landscaping, nursery and greenhouse firms,, municipal parks, garden centers, and private businesses.
University of Guelph Advantage
The Ontario Agrciultural College (OAC) of the University of Guelph is internationally renowned for its research, teaching, and knowledge extension. The Associate Diploma in Horticulture Co-op program offers students the chance to experience working in the industry while accomplishing their studies. The program ensures students develop relevant skills through practical labs and hands-on experiences. Students broaden their knowledge by taking specialized courses including arboriculture, cannabis production, greenhouse management, viticulture and horticultural pest management. They learn to function in a professional environment, work in teams, solve problems, and be knowledgeable about a wide variety of plants and their growing requirements.
The co-op work term is scheduled after the second academic semester, providing a foundation on which to build the work experience.
Student Strengths
Critical Thinking
Skills and knowledge to maintain, adjust and repair equipment used in horticulture. Knowledge of the function, structure, production practices and management techniques of greenhouses.
Deep Understanding
Develop relevant skills to national standards through the use of live horses in practical labs and experiential learning opportunities. Ability to identify exterior and interior landscape plants as well as common weeds.
Application
Applied practical training on campus grounds and in the campus greenhouse.
Horticulture Co-op Work Term Schedule
| YEAR | FALL | WINTER | SUMMER |
|---|---|---|---|
| ONE | Academic | Academic | Work |
| TWO | Academic | Academic |
Horticulture Course Sequencing
Based on the 2023/24 Associate Diploma Calendar. Please see the current Associate Diploma Calendar for more information.
Fall
- Introduction To Co-operative Education
- Communications & Software Applications I
- Applied Plant Science
- Applied Mathematics
- Landscape Management
- Plant Identification I
- Greenhouse Management
Winter
- Communications & Software Applications II
- Introduction to Landscape Construction
- Plant Propagation
- Soil and Water Use In Agroecosystems
- 1.00 Electives or Restricted Electives
Summer
Work Term One
Fall
- Introduction to Business Management
- Plant Identification II
- Horticulture Weed Science
- Certification and Safety
- 1.00 Electives or Restricted Electives
Winter
- Financial Management Marketing
- Human Resource Management
- 2.00 Electives or Restricted Electives
Restricted Electives
A minimum of 3.00 credits from the following list:
A Minimum of 0.50 Credits of the Following:
- Business Project
- Farm Analysis Project
A Minimum of 0.50 Credits of the Following:
- Ornamental Plant Protection
- Greenhouse Vegetable Integrated Pest Management
A Minimum of 0.50 Credits of the Following:
- Greenhouse Control Systems
- Greenhouse Structures and Engineering
- Greenhouse Ornamental Production
- Greenhouse Vegetable Production
- Advanced Greenhouse Management
A Minimum of 0.50 Credits of the Following:
- Landscape Design
- Applied Landscape Construction
- Landscape Construction Project
A Minimum of 0.50 Credits of the Following:
- Viticulture and Oenology
- Marketing
- Horticulture Equipment
- Management
- Nursery Management
- Arboriculture
- Cannabis Production
Students may take a maximum of 1.00 credits from the following Experiential Learning courses as electives:
- Belize Study Tour
- European Landscaped Garden Tour
- Nursery Management
- Special Study Project
About Us
The Experiential Learning Hub is home to experiential learning opportunities on and off-campus, co-op, career education and community engaged learning.