Horticulture Technician

Description

The Horticulture Technician program offers an in-depth exploration into the field of horticulture, focusing on both practical and theoretical aspects of plant cultivation, garden and greenhouse management, and landscaping and design. Through hands-on learning in various environments, such as greenhouses and outdoor gardens, students gain essential skills in plant identification, soil management, pest control, and sustainable landscaping practices. Additionally, students acquire essential business skills, preparing them for roles in nursery management, landscaping design, and maintenance. Emphasizing sustainable growing techniques and maintenance practices, students learn how to increase biodiversity in urban and suburban landscapes, especially how it relates to food production. With the inclusion of a summer co-op, students gain real-world experience and develop valuable industry connections, setting them up for success in a competitive and evolving sector.

Career Opportunities

Graduates may seek employment in entry-level positions within horticulture and landscaping as practitioners, technicians, or as entrepreneurs. They are prepared to work in a variety of companies and organizations across the horticultural sector, including:

• Landscape and Gardening Companies
• Municipal Parks and Public Spaces
• Golf Courses, Sports Complexes, and Botanical Gardens
• Garden Centres, Nurseries, and Greenhouses
• Organic, Vertical, and Urban Farming Operations

Program Learning Outcomes

The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

1. prepare soil according to the type of plants, how they interact in a variety of environments, and the maintenance required to ensure the viability of crops;
2. perform maintenance of plant species utilizing economic, social, and environmental horticulture practices;
3. participate in the design, preparation, planting, and maintenance of horticultural displays that meet the project needs;
4. perform installations and constructions according to the horticultural setting and goal;
5. implement proactive and restorative maintenance procedures for plants, property, landscapes, and equipment;
6. identify plants and plant care requirements for a variety of settings and purposes;
7. recognize the potential environmental impacts of projects to prevent environmental damage, promote and maintain healthy interconnected ecosystems;
8. prepare an Integrated Pest Management plan to prevent, monitor and control insect infestation or disease found on the plants;
9. contribute to the effective planning, implementation, and conclusion of horticultural projects and crop production;
10. adhere to Occupational Health and Safety Act and the regulations that apply to this work;
11. manage inventory to ensure products and services are available to meet operational needs;
12. act in a professional manner, maintain professional relationships, and communicate effectively with clients, co-workers, supervisors, and others;
13. develop strategies for ongoing personal and professional development to enhance work performance and career opportunities, and to keep pace with industry changes;
14. act with respect for and reflect on Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing as they relate to horticulture.

Practical Experience

All co-operative education programs at Georgian contain mandatory work term experiences aligned with program learning outcomes.  Co-op work terms are designed to integrate academic learning with work experience, supporting the development of industry specific competencies and employability skills.

Georgian College holds membership with, and endeavours to follow, the co-operative education guidelines set out by the Co-operative Education and Work Integrated Learning Canada (CEWIL) and Experiential and Work-Integrated Ontario (EWO) as supported by the Ministry of Colleges, Universities Research Excellence and Security.

Co-op is facilitated as a supported, competitive job search process. Students are required to complete a Co-op and Career Preparation course scheduled prior to their first co-op work term. Students engage in an active co-op job search that includes applying to positions on the internal job posting site and external job posting sites, accessing their personal network, researching companies of interest, preparing targeted and customized resumes and cover letters, participating in interviews, and using professional communication strategies with employers.

Programs may have additional requirements such as a valid driver’s license, strong communication skills, industry specific certifications, and ability to travel. Under exceptional circumstances, a student may be unable to complete the program progression as shown below. Please refer to Georgian College Academic Regulations for details.   

International co-op work terms are supported and encouraged, when aligned with program requirements.

Further information on co-op services can be found at www.GeorgianCollege.ca/co-op

Program Progression

The following reflects the planned progression for full-time offerings of the program.

Fall Intake

• Sem 1: Fall 2026
• Sem 2: Winter 2027
• Work Term 1: Summer 2027
• Sem 3: Fall 2027
• Sem 4: Winter 2028

Admission Requirements

• Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent, or mature student status
• Grade 12 English (C or U)

Mature students, non-secondary school applicants (19 years or older), and home school applicants may also be considered for admission. Eligibility may be met by applicants who have taken equivalent courses, upgrading, completed their GED, and equivalency testing. For complete details refer to: www.georgiancollege.ca/admissions/academic-regulations/

Applicants who have taken courses from a recognized and accredited post-secondary institution and/or have relevant life/learning experience may also be considered for admission; refer to the Credit for Prior Learning website for details:
www.georgiancollege.ca/admissions/credit-transfer/

Graduation Requirements

17 Program Courses
2 Communications Courses
3 General Education Courses
1 Co-op Work Term

Graduation Eligibility

To graduate from this program, the passing weighted average for promotion through each semester, from year to year, and to graduate is 60%. Additionally, a student must attain a minimum of 50% or a letter grade of P (Pass) or S (Satisfactory) in each course in each semester unless otherwise stated on the course outline.

Program Tracking

The following reflects the planned course sequence for full-time offerings of the Fall intake of the program. Where more  than one intake is offered  contact the program co-ordinator for the program tracking.

Plan of Study Grid

Semester 1		Hours
Program Courses
AGRI 1001	Soil Science and Management	70
HORT 1000	Introduction to Horticulture	42
HORT 1001	Plant Science and Propagation	42
HORT 1002	Safety, Tools, and Equipment	42
Communications Course		42
Select 1 course from the available list during registration.
General Education Course		42
Select 1 course from the available list during registration.
	Hours	280
Semester 2
Program Courses
HORT 1003	Landscape Planning and Design	56
HORT 1004	Greenhouse Operations and Management I	70
HORT 1005	Softscape and Turf Installation and Maintenance	42
HORT 1006	Hardscape Installation and Maintenance	42
Communications Course		42
Select 1 course from the available list during registration.
General Education Course		42
Select 1 course from the available list during registration.
	Hours	294
Semester 3
Program Courses
AGRI 2001	Pest Management and Biosecurity	42
HORT 2000	Advanced Landscape Construction	42
HORT 2001	Native Species and Biodiversity	42
HORT 2002	Greenhouse Operations and Management II: Advanced Practices	70
HORT 2003	Marketing and Sales in Horticulture	42
General Education Course		42
Select 1 course from the available list during registration.
	Hours	280
Semester 4
Program Courses
HORT 2004	Sustainable Food Production and Urban Agriculture	70
HORT 2005	Advanced Plant Production and Management	70
HORT 2006	Green Infrastructure Installation and Maintenance	70
HORT 2007	Horticulture Technician Capstone	70
	Hours	280
	Total Hours	1134

Plan of Study Grid

Co-op Work Term		Hours
COOP 1064	Horticulture Technician Co-op Work Term	560
	Hours	560
	Total Hours	560

Graduation Window

Students unable to adhere to the program duration of two years (as stated above) may take a maximum of four years to complete their credential. After this time, students must be re-admitted into the program, and follow the curriculum in place at the time of re-admission.

Disclaimer: The information in this document is correct at the time of publication. Academic content of programs and courses is revised on an ongoing basis to ensure relevance to changing educational objectives and employment market needs. 

Program outlines may be subject to change in response to emerging situations, in order to facilitate student achievement of the learning outcomes required for graduation. Components such as courses, progression, coop work terms, placements, internships and other requirements may be delivered differently than published.