Horticulture (HORT) Courses
HORT 100 Integrated Pest Management in the Landscape
- Units:3
- Hours:36 hours LEC; 54 hours LAB
- Prerequisite:None.
- Corequisite:HORT 300
- Catalog Date:January 1, 2025
This course is a study of local plant pests including weeds, diseases, invertebrates, and vertebrates. It includes recognition of symptoms and causes, life cycle of the pests, host and habitat relationships, and methods of control.
HORT 105 Pest Control Licensing or Certification
- Units:2
- Hours:36 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:HORT 300 with a grade of "C" or better
- Advisory:HORT 100
- Catalog Date:January 1, 2025
This course introduces the safe and proper use of horticultural chemicals, laws and regulations, and the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) principles involved. It covers the laws and regulations for operators, applicators, and advisors, including the study of weeds, diseases, insects, and accepted standards for control.
HORT 110 Irrigation Design
- Units:2
- Hours:36 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:HORT 300 with a grade of "C" or better
- Catalog Date:January 1, 2025
This course is a study of water hydraulics and irrigation equipment including drip lines, heads, pipes, irrigation controllers, and valves. Topics include irrigation design, preparing plans, dealing with measurement, head layout, pipe sizing and California's Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance.
HORT 140 Advanced Student Projects
- Units:2
- Hours:108 hours LAB
- Prerequisite:HORT 300 with a grade of "C" or better; A minimum of 5 units completed in coursework related to the students selected project.
- Advisory:HORT 100, 110, 302, 305, 306, 312, 316, 320, 324, or 326 with a grade of "C" or better
- Catalog Date:January 1, 2025
This course provides the student with an opportunity to pursue advanced projects which are selected by the student with required department approval.
HORT 143 Horticulture Skills Development
- Units:1
- Hours:54 hours LAB
- Prerequisite:None.
- Corequisite:Completion or current enrollment in a college level horticulture class.
- Catalog Date:January 1, 2025
This course offers the opportunity to develop technical, creative, and business skills learned in other horticulture courses. Participation in assigned, supervised projects to expand and enhance knowledge of horticulture practices is included.
HORT 200 Introduction to Retail Floristry
- Units:2
- Hours:18 hours LEC; 54 hours LAB
- Prerequisite:None.
- Catalog Date:January 1, 2025
This course presents fundamentals of design techniques and skills practiced in the floral industry. Topics include design mechanics, guides to design, identification of flower and foliage shapes and their use, cut flower care, corsage practice, and containers and designers' aids.
HORT 201 Floral Design
- Units:2
- Hours:18 hours LEC; 54 hours LAB
- Prerequisite:None.
- Catalog Date:January 1, 2025
This course presents the theories and techniques of basic/intermediate floral design. Identification of wholesale sources, origin of product, and seasonal price fluctuations in the industry and market are discussed. This course emphasizes design techniques including line, shape, and form. Field trips may be required.
HORT 202 Corsage and Wedding Floral Design
- Units:2
- Hours:18 hours LEC; 54 hours LAB
- Prerequisite:None.
- Catalog Date:January 1, 2025
This course presents the history and uses of wedding and body flower designs. The principles, methods, and practices used to create wedding bouquets and arrangements are explored and practiced. The techniques for wiring, taping, and gluing corsages, and the tools and materials for creating them and other body flower designs, are taught and practiced. Field trips may be required.
HORT 203 Sympathy Design and the Mass Market
- Units:2
- Hours:18 hours LEC; 54 hours LAB
- Prerequisite:None.
- Catalog Date:January 1, 2025
This course presents the theories of sympathy and tribute floral design. Design applications for standing, flat sprays, set work, and casket covers are included, as well as their delivery and setup. The mass marketplace in floral design is explored.
HORT 208 Interior Plants
- Units:2
- Hours:18 hours LEC; 54 hours LAB
- Prerequisite:None.
- Catalog Date:January 1, 2025
This course examines the indoor plant maintenance business as well as interior plant care for retail use. It includes plant identification and selection, location and design practices, care and maintenance, as well as purchasing and sales aspects. Field trips may be required.
HORT 298 Work Experience in Horticulture
- Units:0.5 - 4
- Hours:27 - 216 hours LAB
- Prerequisite:None.
- Enrollment Limitation:Students must be in a paid or unpaid internship, volunteer position, or job related to the horticulture field with a cooperating site supervisor. Students are advised to consult with the Horticulture Department faculty to review specific certificate and degree work experience requirements.
- Advisory:Eligible for ENGWR 300 or ESLW 340.
- General Education:AA/AS Area III(b)
- Catalog Date:January 1, 2025
This course provides students with opportunities to develop marketable skills in preparation for employment or advancement within the field of horticulture. It is designed for students interested in work experience and/or internships in associate degree level or certificate occupational programs. Course content includes understanding the application of education to the workforce, completion of Title 5 required forms which document the student's progress and hours spent at an approved work site, and developing workplace skills and competencies.
During the semester, the student is required to complete 27 hours of related work experience for 0.5 unit. An additional 27 hours of related work experience is required for each additional 0.5 units. All students are required to attend the first course meeting, a mid-semester meeting, and a final meeting. Additionally, students who have not already successfully completed a Work Experience course will be required to attend weekly orientations while returning participants may meet individually with the instructor as needed. Students may take up to 16 units total across all Work Experience course offerings. This course may be taken up to four times when there are new or expanded learning objectives. Only one Work Experience course may be taken per semester.
HORT 299 Experimental Offering in Horticulture
- Units:0.5 - 4
- Prerequisite:None.
- Catalog Date:January 1, 2025
This is the experimental courses description.
HORT 300 Introduction to Horticulture
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Transferable:CSU
- General Education:AA/AS Area IV
- Catalog Date:January 1, 2025
Designed to inform those seeking a career in horticulture, this course surveys sustainable principles and practices of horticulture. Emphasis is on plant growth, care and appearance, and how those are influenced by plant structure, function, and growing environment. Topics include plant naming, growing conditions and processes, cultural practices, propagation, pruning, careers in horticulture, pest problems and control, and use of references for future learning.
HORT 302 Soils, Soil Management, and Plant Nutrition
- Units:3
- Hours:36 hours LEC; 54 hours LAB
- Prerequisite:None.
- Corequisite:HORT 300
- Transferable:CSU; UC
- Catalog Date:January 1, 2025
This course is a study of the nature and properties of soils and their relationship to plant needs. Topics include soil origins and importance, soil and water conservation, life in the soil, and soil fertility. Soil components, structure, and methods to sustain healthy soils and the populations of organisms within and on it are analyzed.
HORT 305 Plant Identification-Fall Selections
- Units:3
- Hours:36 hours LEC; 54 hours LAB
- Prerequisite:HORT 300 with a grade of "C" or better
- Corequisite:HORT 300
- Transferable:CSU; UC (UC credit limitation: HORT 305 & 306 combined: maximum credit - one course)
- Catalog Date:January 1, 2025
This course is the study of the identification, growth habits, culturally sustainable methods, and uses of ornamental woody and herbaceous plants in the California landscape. Emphasis is on those plants best observed in the fall season and includes both native and non-native species as well as some plants with an edible use component.
HORT 306 Plant Identification-Spring Selections
- Units:3
- Hours:36 hours LEC; 54 hours LAB
- Prerequisite:None.
- Corequisite:HORT 300
- Transferable:CSU; UC (UC credit limitation: HORT 305 & 306 combined: maximum credit - one course)
- Catalog Date:January 1, 2025
This course is the study of the identification, growth habits, culturally sustainable methods, and uses of ornamental woody and herbaceous plants in the California landscape. Emphasis is on those plants best observed in the spring and summer seasons and includes both native and non-native species as well as some plants with an edible use component.
HORT 308 Viticulture-Vineyard Establishment
- Units:1
- Hours:18 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:January 1, 2025
This course is an introduction to grape crops for Sacramento and Placer counties. It covers the history and principles of the grape growing industry in California.
Topics include site preparation, vine and rootstock selection, trellis and irrigation system selection, installation procedures, and vine training. Field trips may be required.
HORT 309 Viticulture - Sustainable Vineyard Management
- Units:1
- Hours:18 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:January 1, 2025
This course covers sustainable management of vineyards, large and small, to serve the needs of owners while maintaining the environment. Topics include vine growth, fruit development, irrigation, pruning systems and canopy management, grapes as a wildlife habitat, management of the vineyard floor, pest identification and control, and vineyard laws and ordinances. Field trips may be required.
HORT 312 Plant Propagation
- Units:3
- Hours:36 hours LEC; 54 hours LAB
- Prerequisite:HORT 300 with a grade of "C" or better
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:January 1, 2025
This course is a study of the fundamental principles involved in propagating plants, with special emphasis on types of propagules and techniques utilized to make more plants. Topics include history of plant propagation, tools and facilities, seed and vegetative propagation, media selection, growing propagules on, and sales of plants produced.
HORT 316 Plant Production, Facilities and Sales
- Units:3
- Hours:36 hours LEC; 54 hours LAB
- Prerequisite:None.
- Corequisite:HORT 300
- Advisory:Eligible for ENGRD 310 or ENGRD 312 AND ENGWR 300; OR ESLW 340.
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:January 1, 2025
This course is an overview of the practices and facilities used in production and sales of plants and related products and services. Topics include design and use of structures for horticultural production and sales, product selection and maintenance, marketing and sales of horticultural crops and services, employee management, vendor selection, sales area design and layout, advertising, merchandising, and customer service.
HORT 320 Sustainable Landscape Construction
- Units:3
- Hours:36 hours LEC; 54 hours LAB
- Prerequisite:HORT 300 with a grade of "C" or better
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:January 1, 2025
This course covers the theory and skills needed in the landscape construction industry. Landscape operations include carpentry, masonry, concrete pavers, water-conserving irrigation, watershed preservation and drainage, low-voltage lighting, sustainable soil preparation and drainage, plant materials/turf, plan reading, and estimating and bidding in the landscape trades.
HORT 321 Sustainable and Ecolandscape Practices
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:January 1, 2025
This course covers the application of ecologically sustainable design, construction, and maintenance practices for urban landscapes. Topics present a holistic approach to landscaping including, but not limited to, water conservation, green waste reduction, reduced chemical and inorganic fertilizer use, and the enhancement of natural ecosystems. Field trips may be required.
HORT 322 Landscape and Irrigation Graphics and Design
- Units:3
- Hours:36 hours LEC; 54 hours LAB
- Prerequisite:HORT 300 with a grade of "C" or better
- Transferable:CSU; UC
- Catalog Date:January 1, 2025
This course is the study of technical drafting skills and freehand graphics, including line quality, lettering, and organization of the design space as it relates to landscape and irrigation design. It includes hand drafting techniques, plant database software, introduction to Computer Aided-Design (CADD) software options for landscape, and the use of a variety of graphics skills and media. Irrigation design for landscapes studies water hydraulics, irrigation equipment, including irrigation heads, pipes, pumps, controllers and valves, and water conservation. The course includes preparing landscape and irrigation plans, plan presentation, and reprographics.
HORT 324 Sustainable Landscape Maintenance
- Units:3
- Hours:36 hours LEC; 54 hours LAB
- Prerequisite:HORT 300 with a grade of "C" or better
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:January 1, 2025
This course is a study of sustainable landscape maintenance and management of exterior and interior residential and commercial landscapes, parks, highways, and public buildings. Topics include planting and transplanting, pruning, water conservation and use, sustainable plant nutrition and soils management, integrated pest management, and the safe operation and maintenance of power equipment for the trade. Field trips may be required.
HORT 326 Landscape Design
- Units:3
- Hours:36 hours LEC; 54 hours LAB
- Prerequisite:HORT 322 with a grade of "C" or better
- Advisory:HORT 110, 305, and 306
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:January 1, 2025
This course is a study of the basic principles and elements of landscape design related to the problem-solving process, design theory and composition, functional and design uses of landscape materials, and client and maintenance criteria.
HORT 327 Advanced Landscape Design
- Units:3
- Hours:36 hours LEC; 54 hours LAB
- Prerequisite:HORT 322 with a grade of "C" or better
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:January 1, 2025
This course is the study of the advanced and in-depth principles of custom residential landscape design related to proposal writing, site analysis, design development and construction document preparation. Further exploration of design composition is studied as well as the development of spaces and the use of materials based upon a client's program desires.
HORT 329 Landscape CAD Design
- Units:3
- Hours:36 hours LEC; 54 hours LAB
- Prerequisite:HORT 322 with a grade of "C" or better
- Advisory:DESGN 301
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:January 1, 2025
This course is an introduction to computer-aided landscape design and drafting utilizing Computer Aided Drafting and Design (CADD) software to produce professional quality landscape designs for residential and commercial sites. It emphasizes site-plan development, landscape planting, irrigation and detail plans, and the generation of materials lists based on the design created for the site.
HORT 330 Small Gas Engines, Outdoor Power Equipment
- Same As:AT 301
- Units:4
- Hours:55 hours LEC; 60 hours LAB
- Prerequisite:None.
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:January 1, 2025
This course covers the basic operational theory, servicing, adjusting, and maintenance of 2-cycle and 4-cycle small gas engines as they pertain to the automotive and horticulture industries. In addition, the small engine repair skill areas included in the regional, state, and national SkillsUSA competitions are covered. AT 301 and/or HORT 330 may be taken two times for credit for a maximum of 8 units, using different equipment.
HORT 495 Independent Studies in Horticulture
- Units:1 - 3
- Hours:54 - 162 hours LAB
- Prerequisite:None.
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:January 1, 2025
Independent Study is an opportunity for the student to extend classroom experience in this subject, while working independently of a formal classroom situation. Independent study is an extension of work offered in a specific class in the college catalog. To be eligible for independent study, students must have completed the basic regular catalog course at American River College. They must also discuss the study with a professor in this subject and secure approval. Only one independent study for each catalog course will be allowed.
HORT 499 Experimental Offering in Horticulture
- Units:0.5 - 4
- Prerequisite:None.
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:January 1, 2025
This is the experimental courses description.
