Nursery Management

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Application curriculum code - 0646

Overview

SUNY Cobleskill offers a two year (A.A.S.) program in Nursery Management. Upon completion of this program, students can continue their focus on nursery management by pursuing a Bachelor of Technology Degree in Plant Science. The Nursery Management Program specializes in training individuals interested in careers in the areas of Production of Nursery Crops, Retail Garden Center Sales, and Landscape Plant Management.

The Nursery Industry is a multi-billion dollar industry that is active in every state. The industry employs thousands of individuals throughout the world providing opportunities for careers in the production, care and sale of products for home garden and the natural environment.

Program Options

SUNY Cobleskill's approach to education is to combine modern field and greenhouse production technologies with the latest business management methods. The Nursery Management Program offers a choice of training for three distinct career paths.

Nursery Plant Production Managers

Professional Nursery Managers have the responsibility and challenge to produce trees, shrubs, and flowers needed to plant gardens and landscapes. Students are exposed to the hands-on' activities which are involved in the growth and production of plants. Students will receive training in greenhouse crop production, safe use and care of equipment, field and container production of garden and landscape plants, product marketing, shipping and sales.

Retail Garden Center Sales Manager

Professional Garden Center Managers educational needs include a thorough knowledge of people, plants and products, and finance. The nursery program concentrates primarily on providing students an in-depth knowledge of the products and services offered by the Retail Garden Center. Students will often combine studies of Business Management, Communications Skills, Computing, and Sales Training with the studies of products and services such as indoor and outdoor plants, gardening and landscape supplies, and interior and exterior planting design.

Landscape Plant Management

The nursery and landscape and greenhouse industries consistently need specialists trained in the proper methods of growing and caring for plants. Students interested in these careers are afforded the opportunity for in-depth studies of plants ranging from greenhouse production to planting and pruning and pest control of landscape plants. Careers include nursery plant production, landscape supervisors, private estate grounds managers, or arboretum specialist.

Nursery Management students must complete a minimum of 66 credit hours of academic work with a GPA of not less than 2.00. This includes 34 credits of major field requirements, 22 credits of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and 10 credits of general electives.

Major Field requirements Group I - All courses required (25 Credits)

Course Number Class Name Credits
AGSC 111 Introduction to Soil Science 3
AGSC 186 Entomology 3
AGSC 281 Plant Pathology 3
ORHT 113 Horticultural Field Experience 1
  OR  
ORHT 114 Horticultural Field Experience 1
ORHT 121 Woody Plant Materials 3
ORHT 141 Nursery Management I 3
ORHT 172 Management of Horticulture Businesses 3
ORHT 242 Nursery Management II  
ORHT 282 Arboriculture 3

Group II - Select a minimum of 9 credits from the following:

Course Number Class Name Credits
ORHT 122 Environmental Design I 3
ORHT 215 Interior Plantscapes and Maintenance 3
ORHT 251 Greenhouse Management 3
RECM 222 Turfgrass Management 3
BADM 137 Professional Selling 3

Liberal Arts and Sciences Requirements - (22 Credits)

Course Number Class Name Credits
ENGL 101 Composition 3
ENGL an additional English course (not including ENGL 099)  
PHED PHYSICAL EDUCATION 1
SCIENCE / MATHEMATICS (any BIOL, CHEM, PHYS, PHYS, PSCI; BIOL 116, MATH 111 recommended) 6
SOCIAL SCIENCE (any AAMS, ANTH, ECON, GOVT, HIST, NAMS, PSCY, SOSC) 6
  additional Liberal Arts and Sciences courses totaling 3 credits (AAMS, AGSC, ANTH, ARTS, BIOL, CHEM, ECON, ENGL, FREN, GOVT, HIST, HUMS, MATH, MUSC, NAMS, PHED, PHIL, PHYS, PSCI, PSCY, SOSC, SPAN)

3

 

Students must meet the Mathematics Competency Requirement set by the college.

General Electives - (10 Credits)

Students should check with their advisors to make sure courses are taken in proper sequence and any prerequisites have been met. Some flexibility is available as to when courses must be taken. Students should consult with their advisors during the scheduling process.

  For more specific information on degree requirements for the Nursery Management Associate in Applied Science go to the Registrar's Page.

Some Typical Careers

 Wholesale nursery manager

Garden Center Manager

Propagator

Cooperative Extension

Interior Plantscaper

Grower

Greenhouse Manager

Landscape Maintenance

Grounds Manager

Landscape designer

Re-wholesale Supplier

Pest Management Specialist

Nursery Product Sales

Irrigation Specialist

Arborist

For more specific information on degree requirements for Nursery Management go to the Registrar's Page.

To view the college course catalog go to course catalog.

 

For more information about the Nursery Management degree program contact:
Prof. R. Christian Cash
CASHC@Cobleskill.edu
518-255-5246