Skills Competency Award in Sustainable Horticulture
Santa Barbara, USA
DURATION
1 Semesters
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Request the earliest start date
TUITION FEES
USD 419 / per credit
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Introduction
The Skills Competency Award in Sustainable Horticulture Program teaches the basic skills and provides state-of-the-art information required to develop a strong foundation for a variety of career specialties within the landscaping, ornamental horticulture, and regenerative and restoration industry. The program encourages professional standards, a strong work ethic and environmentally sound management practices.
Horticulture industry professionals from throughout the community serve as members of the college’s Environmental Horticulture Advisory Committee. These “hands-on” professionals provide guidance, expertise, and leadership in enhancing the program’s response to community and industry needs. They meet yearly with program staff members, college administrators, and student representatives to review program goals and objectives. Course offerings and content have been determined through this participation and are geared to meet the needs of the landscape, ornamental horticulture, and habitat management trades.
On the college’s East Campus, practical lab classes utilize two outdoor classroom gardens, the SBCC Lifescape and Chumash Point Ethnobotanical Preserve. The gardens are also the site of the nursery/ greenhouse unit. The Environmental Horticulture (EH) Program is designed to provide the student with the necessary skills at the apprentice level to begin work in a wide range of landscape trades. There are three vocational approaches within the Environmental Horticulture program: (1) the one-semester Skills Competency Award approach; (2) the Certificate of Achievement approach, where the certificate is awarded after the one-year (two-semester) format is completed; and (3) the certificate can lead to any one of the four two-year A.S. Degree options in:
a. Landscape Contracting, C-27 License (satisfying one or more years of State requirements)
b. Environmental Landscape Design
c. Nursery & Greenhouse Technology
d. Ecological Restoration and Management
The program cannot guarantee job placement; however, many landscape industry employers, in search of energetic and skilled apprentices, contact the college to request referrals of program graduates. The EH Program Skills Competency Award, EH Certificate and Certified Green Gardener, and Associate Degrees often provide expanding job opportunities.
Environmental Horticulture (EH) teaches students the skills and knowledge required for success in the professions of landscape maintenance, landscape design, permaculture, nursery and greenhouse work, and ecological restoration. The program encourages professional standards, a strong work ethic and environmentally sound practices.
Horticulture industry professionals from the local community serve as members of the EH Department’s Advisory Committee, providing guidance and expertise in enhancing the EH program’s curriculum to ensure students are receiving up-to-date knowledge and skills needed to garner positions in the industry.
Through field trips and professional guest speakers, students have a chance to meet actual horticulture businesses and meet industry professionals. This helps prepare the student for future work and lays the groundwork for student’s professional horticulture contacts--many landscape industry employers, in search of energetic and skilled apprentices, contact the department when looking for new apprentices, interns and employees.
Class lectures are held inside, while the lab portion of classes utilize two outdoor, instructional gardens: the SBCC Lifescape Garden and the Chumash Point Ethnobotanical Preserve. The gardens are also the site of the department’s nursery/greenhouse unit.
There are no prerequisites for EH courses: Each can be taken as a stand alone course for personal enrichment, or as a series working towards a college Certificate or A.S. degree in EH.
SBCC offers a Transfer Agreement Guarantee (TAG). A TAG is a contractual agreement between the student, SBCC, and specific four-year colleges or universities. This includes six University of California ( *UC) institutions, six California State Institutions (CSU), seven California private institutions, nine out-of-state institutions, as well as Honors Transfer Agreements with ten institutions and 8 CSUs without campus impaction. Students must enroll in the TAG program and work with a TAG advisor. Please click here to learn more on the TAG program website.
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
Enrolled students may apply one time per year in February. If awarded, the money is disbursed for the following academic year in two parts: half in the fall semester and half in the spring semester. The amounts range from very small: $100-750 and larger $1000-2500 with some variations in between.
Curriculum
Environmental Horticulture (EH)
EH 101 Plant Identification And Culture (3 Units)
Hours: 90 (36 lectures, 54 lab)
Designed to acquaint the student with woody ornamental plants and selected accent plants used in the Santa Barbara region. Approximately 150 trees, shrubs, vines, and herbaceous ornamentals are presented for identification and scrutiny.
Transfer Information: CSU Transferable, UC Transferable
C-ID: AG - EH 108L
EH 102 Soils And Plant Nutrients (3 Units)
Hours: 90 (36 lectures, 54 lab)
Covers soils as related to sustainable plant care. Emphasis on soil analysis, problem identification, soil remediation, soil enhancement, and the soil food web.
Transfer Information: CSUGE Area B2, IGETC Area 5B, CSU Transferable, UC Transferable
C-ID: AG - PS 128L
EH 103 Irrigation And Garden Waterworks (3 Units)
Hours: 90 (36 lectures, 54 lab)
Introduction to the materials and methods used in landscape irrigation system design, maintenance, and repair. Troubleshooting and retrofitting systems for water conservation are also highlighted including drip and underground systems. Simple plan reading, system scheduling, and controller use are reviewed.
Transfer Information: CSU Transferable
EH 104 Landscape Maintenance (3 Units)
Hours: 90 (36 lectures, 54 lab)
Covers basic landscape maintenance topics emphasizing sustainable methods of enriching soil health, composting, mulching, water-efficient irrigation systems, pruning, fertilization, plant selection, turf management, insect control, and weed control. Personal health and safety are emphasized. Student groups develop and implement sustainable landscape projects.
Transfer Information: CSU Transferable
EH 105 Landscape Construction (3 Units)
Hours: 90 (36 lectures, 54 lab)
Designed to familiarize students with basic landscape construction work, equipment, and materials. Explores plan reading, grading, drainage, concrete, masonry, carpentry, electrical, and plumbing, as well as C-27 landscape contractor's license requirements, business practices, and legalities of this specialty.
Transfer Information: CSU Transferable
EH 106 Greenhouse/Nursery Operations And Practices, Plant Propagation, And Plant Recognition (3 Units)
Hours: 90 (36 lectures, 54 lab)
Introduces students to the greenhouse/nursery. Plant recognition is required for indoor plants, turf/groundcovers, bedding plants, and herbaceous perennials. Greenhouse management includes maintenance, management, and structure development.
Transfer Information: CSU Transferable
C-ID: AG-EH 116.
EH 109 Permaculture Design (5 Units)
Hours: 90 (90 lectures)
Application of ecological and environmental principles to designing human systems that are locally sustainable and require reduced inputs. The successful student receives Permaculture Design certification, recognized worldwide.
Transfer Information: CSU Transferable
EH 109B Advanced Permaculture Design (3 Units)
Hours: 90 (36 lectures, 54 lab)
Provides hands-on opportunities to gain skills in permaculture design, while reviewing and adding depth of knowledge to basic permaculture design concepts.
Transfer Information: CSU Transferable
EH 110 Introduction to Horticulture (3 Units)
Hours: 54 (54 lectures)
Introduction to central concepts of environmental horticulture. Covers horticultural practices and methods, with a focus on long-term sustainability and local ecological issues.
Transfer Information: CSUGE Area B2, IGETC Area 5B, CSU Transferable, UC Transferable
C-ID: AG - PS104
EH 112 Ecological Restoration I (3 Units)
Hours: 90 (36 lectures, 54 lab)
Examines the principles and techniques of regional habitat restoration. Classwork emphasizes the identification, collection, propagation, and care of native plants.
Transfer Information: CSUGE Area B2, IGETC Area 5B, CSU Transferable, UC Transferable
EH 113 Ecological Restoration II (3 Units)
Hours: 90 (36 lectures, 54 lab)
Review of the concepts and implementation of habitat restoration. Santa Barbara region habitats studied include chaparral, coastal sage scrub, oak woodland, and riparian Eco-niches. Emphasis on watersheds and riparian restoration. Principles of ecological recreation and restoration techniques include seed collection, propagation, and project evaluation.
Transfer Information: CSU Transferable, UC Transferable
EH 126 Landscape Drafting I (3 Units)
Same as: DRFT 126
Hours: 72 (45 lectures, 27 lab)
Principles of drafting and plan reading for landscape architecture and ornamental horticulture. Style research, drafting of plans, elevations, and details.
Transfer Information: CSU Transferable, UC Transferable
EH 127 Landscape Drafting II (3 Units)
Same as: DRFT 127
Prerequisites: DRFT 126 or EH 126.
Hours: 72 (45 lectures, 27 lab)
Advanced Drafting and plan reading course using manual and computer drafting tools. For landscape architecture and ornamental horticulture fields. Includes site plans, elevations, and details.
Transfer Information: CSU Transferable, UC Transferable
EH 201 Arboriculture (3 Units)
Hours: 54 (54 lectures)
Introduction to the care of woody plants, including trees, shrubs, vines, and palms. Covers function, structure, taxonomy, anatomy, and physiology of woody plants; the effects of soil, water, and fertilizer, pruning, safety, planting, early care, and diagnostics of pests and disease.
Transfer Information: CSU Transferable, UC Transferable
EH 202 Residential Landscape Design (3 Units)
Hours: 54 (54 lectures)
A foundational course for basic skills in the design and implementation of residential landscaping. Theory and practical development of skills and art forms associated with hardscape and softscape elements and plans examined.
Transfer Information: CSU Transferable
EH 207 Small Scale Food Production (3 Units)
Hours: 90 (36 lectures, 54 lab)
Explores the natural and sustainable techniques and skills used to produce healthy organic produce. Soil development, composting, mulching, suitable vegetables, fruit trees, and herb cultivation are covered.
Transfer Information: CSU Transferable
EH 290 Work Experience In Environmental Horticulture (2-4 Units)
Prerequisites: Any 100-level EH class.
Hours: 300 (300 lab)
Exploration of elements essential to success in the fields of horticulture, including proper work ethic, job searching, and job preparation. Outside of class, students work to earn credit. Timesheets are done monthly, supervisor evaluation is required, and a three-way semester contract is developed between the student, the student's supervisor, and the instructor. Course restricted to 3 repetitions
Transfer Information: CSU Transferable
EH 299 Independent Study In Environmental Horticulture (1-4 Units)
Limitations on Enrollment: Completion of a minimum of 12 units at SBCC, with a 2.5 G.P.A., and a minimum of 6 units, with a 3.0 G.P.A. within the department.
Hours: 192 (192 lab)
For complete information, see "Independent Study" in the Catalog Index.
Transfer Information: CSU Transferable
Program Outcome
Learning Outcomes
- Identify common ornamental plants and appropriate placement within the landscape for sustainability.
- Correctly prune, water, feed, and maintain plants in their landscape environment.
- Properly use and maintain manual and power gardening tools, machinery, and equipment.
- Read an irrigation plan.
- Repair, maintain, retrofit and troubleshoot common irrigation systems.
- Conduct a simple landscape water audit, test sprinkler stations, and calculate precipitation rates.
- Demonstrate familiarity with the regulations and laws regarding irrigation.
- Cope with ordinary pest, disease, and weed problems to promote a safe, sustainable garden ecology.
English Language Requirements
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