Degrees & Certificates

Merritt College Landscape Horticulture Certificate & Degree Options

(This page updated 3/23/22)

• The deadline to petition for a degree or certificate falls in mid-October (fall), mid-March (spring), or mid-June (summer). Consult the official academic calendar for exact date.  Still a few classes to go until all requirements are met? Use our projected class scheduling (day/evening, fall,spring) guide.

LANHT CLASS SCHEDULE PLANNER

• Would you like a complete detailed listing of our program’s certificate and degree tracks, all in a single compact PDF? 

LANHT DEGREE & CERTIFICATE OPTIONS 

Want to learn more about our program? Want some help planning ahead, seeking to verify you’re on the right track, or want to confirm that you’ve been on the right track all along? You’re always welcome to drop by the Hort. Dept. office (H107), or contact mbull@peralta.edu (510-436-2418). We’re glad to help you ensure that all’s in order before you make your  appointment with Counseling to file your award petition.

Merritt College Counseling Department: (510) 436-2475

Merritt College Landscape Horticulture now has a new Arboriculture program offering two Certificates of Achievement & an Associate of Science degree. This program was designed with input from local tree industry employers, and those employers are looking to hire our grads! 

Merritt College is home to one of the largest horticulture facilities in northern California. Our 7.5-acre facility includes 10k sq. ft. of greenhouse and lath house space; drafting & floral design labs; and the Emile Labadie Arboretum. Students on an associate degree track will be able to complete   all required coursework within a two-year period, but students are free to work at their own pace. Merritt Landscape Horticulture is a Career Education program, and our programs are designed to equip students with the knowledge and experience needed to be job-ready, and to enhance/refresh the skills of those already working in the field.

One or more certificates or degrees in Landscape Horticulture will be awarded upon satisfactory completion of the program requirements. Graduates and certificate-earners can find employment (including self-employment) in landscape design, landscape construction, parks and garden maintenance, tree care, nurseries, and more. Courses are offered both the day and evening year-round.

A student may petition for a certificate upon satisfactory completion of requirements, or within the semester that final coursework will be completed. To earn an Associate degree, students must satisfactorily complete all units required within Landscape/Horticulture major, and must also complete (or have completed at another institution) all AA/AS General Education requirements. See college catalog for detail.

The following Certificates of Achievement (CA), Associate degrees (AS or AA), and one Certificate of Proficiency (CP) are available:

Landscape Horticulture Basic Certificate of Achievement – (16.5/17.5 credits)

This Basic Cannabis Horticulture Certificate of Achievement prepares workers for careers linked to cannabis horticulture related occupations such as Grower / Horticulturist / Cultivation technician, Propagator, and Trimmer / Post-Harvest Specialist.  This program combines classroom learning and hands-on skill development in labs, fieldwork, and field trips. The curriculum provides a strong foundation in basic horticultural principles, plant biology and physiology, outdoor and greenhouse cannabis cultivation, and cannabis genetics; industry standard skills and practices related to safe work practices and ergonomics, and resume-writing and interview skills. 

Program Learning Outcomes

Students who receive a Certificate will be able to:

1. Apply cannabis biology, physiology, and plant nutrition knowledge to cannabis cultivation practices.
2. Use various horticulture tools safely and properly sterilize tools.
3. Build healthy soil and mix organic container media optimized for cannabis production.
4. Propagate and maintain cannabis plants through vegetative growth and flowering.
5. Apply cannabis Integrated Pest Management (IPM) treatments.
6. Apply harvesting and post-harvest handling best practices.

Required Classes: LH1 – Intro to Landscape Horticulture, LH19 – Soil Sciences +

 

LH230 – Introduction to Cannabis Production (3 credits)

Principles and practical application of commercial cannabis production techniques in the greenhouse and outdoor environment: Overview of the California cannabis industry with emphasis on crop selection and scheduling, market cycles, greenhouse controls and media, watering, basic hydroponics techniques, pest control, post-harvest handling, and marketing

SLOs

• Evaluate and apply cultivation best practices for commercial cannabis production in the greenhouse or outdoor cultivation sites.
  • Assessment Method Text:Exam
• Apply the principles of diagnosing plant problems via Integrated Pest Management along with recognizing the most common disorders in cannabis, both biotic and abiotic.
  • Assessment Method Text:Exam
• Describe best practices of cannabis harvest and storage.
  • Assessment Method Text:Exam

LH233 – Cannabis Careers (1 credits)

Career development strategies and exploration of emerging cannabis industry fields: Exploration of horticulture jobs in cannabis cultivation, nursery and propagation, and harvest and post-harvest sectors, with hands-on training in interviewing and job application preparation.

SLOs

• Research cannabis industry employment opportunities.
  • Assessment Method Text:Written exercise
• Conduct an employment informational interview.
  • Assessment Method Text:Oral presentation
• Analyze one’s own interests and skills in order to identify career goals and opportunities and create a professional resume.
  • Assessment Method Text:Written exercise

LH235 – Cannabis Pruning, Harvesting, and Trimming (0.5 credits)

Principles of cannabis pruning, harvesting, and trimming: Best practices for pruning to increase yield and prevent pests and diseases; harvesting timing and technique; and trimming including post-harvest processing.

• Demonstrate cannabis pruning best practices including timing of pruning, plant growth cycles, and follow-up care.
  • Assessment Method Text:Skill demonstration
• Demonstrate cannabis harvest best practices including timing and flower ripeness.
  • Assessment Method Text:Skill demonstration
• Demonstrate safe tool handling for pruning, harvesting, and trimming cannabis.
  • Assessment Method Text:Skill demonstration

LH237 – Spring Cannabis Lab (2 credits)

Application of Spring cannabis cultivation techniques: Starting plants from seed and clones, preparing growing areas, transplanting to field or greenhouse, pest control, and plant nutrition and watering during vegetative growth.

SLOs

• Demonstrate best practices for cannabis propagation from seeds and “clones”.
  • Assessment Method Text:skill demonstration
• Demonstrate best practices for transplanting to the field or greenhouse and maintaining plant health during vegetative growth.
  • Assessment Method Text:Skill demonstration
• Identify and treat common pest and disease issues during Spring vegetative cannabis growth.
  • Assessment Method Text:Skill demonstration

LH239 – Fall Cannabis Lab (2 credits)

Application of Fall cannabis cultivation techniques: Pest control during flowering, final pruning to increase yield, nutrition and watering during flowering, stress anther identification, harvesting best practices, trimming, drying and curing, and evaluating finished cannabis.

SLOs

• Demonstrate best practices for cannabis cultivation during flowering
  • Assessment Method Text:skill demonstration
• Demonstrate harvest and post-harvest handling best practices
  • Assessment Method Text:skill demonstration
• Evaluate finished cannabis
  • Assessment Method Text:Skill demonstration

Electives – Select 1 of 3

LH235 – Cannabis History & Genetics (3 credits)

History of cannabis use and the effect of prohibition on selective breeding: Overview of world history of cannabis; cannabis drug uses; fiber and food production; and selection for desirable traits including various cannabinoids and terpene profiles.

SLOs

• Explain cannabis species and subspecies
  • Assessment Method Text:Exam and written report
• Explain history of cannabis prohibition and its effects on cannabis selective breeding in terms of cannabinoid profiles.
  • Assessment Method Text:Exam and written report
• Explain differences in terms of genetic traits for hemp cultivars vs. cannabis drug “strains”
  • Assessment Method Text:Exam and written report

LH238 – Summer Cannabis Lab (2 credits)

Application of Summer cannabis cultivation techniques: Sexing plants, taking vegetative cuttings, nutrition and watering during remainder of vegetative growth and transition to flowering, identifying male flowers on female plants, and monoecious tendency

SLOs

• Identify male and female cannabis plants at onset of flowering and male flowers on female plants.
  • Assessment Method Text:skill demonstration
• Demonstrate best practices for propagating cannabis via softwood cuttings
  • Assessment Method Text:skill demonstration
• Demonstrate pruning and training techniques to control for size and increased flower production
  • Assessment Method Text:skill demonstration

LH240 – Personal Use Cannabis Garden Cultivation

Principles and practical application of home-based cannabis cultivation techniques: Organic, environmentally friendly and sustainable methods for outdoor production in soil and containers at home; including basic propagation techniques; organic pest control methods, nutrients, and building healthy soil; and harvest and storage best practices.

SLOs

• Describe the major characteristics that differentiates cannabis from other common summer annuals (dioecious, photoperiod dependent, wind blown pollen)
• Assessment Method Text:Exam
• Understand basic IPM (Integrated Pest Management) strategies for use with cannabis
• Assessment Method Text:Exam and lab report
• Describe cannabis harvest, drying, curing, and storage best practices.

 

Certificate of Achievement Requirements:

Dept/No.	Title	Units
LH 1 OR LH 1E	Introduction to Landscape Horticulture (Day w/lab) OR Introduction to Landscape Horticulture (Eve)	3
LH 1E	Introduction to Landscape Horticulture (Eve)	3
LH 23	Plant Terminology	2.5
LH 26	Pruning	.5
Select one plant ID course from the following:
LH 2 or 2E; 3 or 3E; 4 or 4E; 5A ,5B, 5EA or 5EB; 6A, 6B, 6EA, or 6EB; 7 or 7E; 40 or 40E		3
Select one course from the following:
LH 8 or 8E (soon to be replaced by LH17)	Turf Management with lab (Day) OR Turf Management (Eve) (soon to be replaced by LH17 or 17E Irrigation)	3
OR
LH 13 or 13E	Arboriculture with Lab (Day) or Arboriculture (Eve)	3
Select one course from the following:
LH 10	Insects	3
LH 11	Plant Diseases and Their Control	3
LH 12	Weeds in the Urban Landscape	3
Select one course from the following:
LH 16	Soil Management	3
LH 19	Plant Nutrition	3
Total Required Units:		18

 

Dept/No.	Title	Units
LH1 or LH1E	Introduction to Landscape Horticulture (Day w/lab) OR Introduction to Landscape Horticulture (Eve)	3
LH13 or 13E	Arboriculture	3
LH 23	Plant Terminology	2.5
LH 26	Pruning	.5
LH80	Urban & Community Forestry	2
LH81	Arborist Equipment Fundamentals	2
LH82	Tree Health Care	2
LH84	Pruning for Urban & Community Forestry	1
LH85	Intro to Climbing & Aerial Tree Work	2
Total Required Units:		21

ARBORICULTURE:
Tree Climber Specialist
Certificate of Achievement

Dept/No.	Title	Units
LH1 or LH1E	Introduction to Landscape Horticulture (Day w/lab) OR Introduction to Landscape Horticulture (Eve)	3
LH10	Insects	3
LH11	Plant Diseases	3
LH13 or 13E	Arboriculture	3
LH16	Soil Management	3
LH 23	Plant Terminology	2.5
LH 26	Pruning	.5
LH80	Urban & Community Forestry	2
LH81	Arborist Equipment Fundamentals	2
LH82	Tree Health Care	2
LH83	Large Equipment Operations for Arborists	3
LH84	Pruning for Urban & Community Forestry	1
LH85	Intro to Climbing & Aerial Tree Work	2
LH86	Applied Aerial Tree Work	2
LH87	Advanced Aerial Tree Work	2
LH88	Crew Leadership in Arboriculture	1
LH206	Landscape Business Practices	3
Total Required Units:		41

ARBORICULTURE:
Associate of Science in Arboriculture

The degree major requirements consist of the same 41 units required for the Tree Climber Specialist Certificate. In addition, students must satisfy the 19-22 unit General Education requirements (see college catalog for description) to achieve the Associate Degree in Arboriculture. Students are not required to complete Gen. Ed. at Merritt College, and may receive credit for coursework completed at other institutions. Students may also substitute coursework within the major from other schools.

Degree Major Requirements:

Dept/No.	Title	Units
LH1 or LH1E	Introduction to Landscape Horticulture (Day w/lab) OR Introduction to Landscape Horticulture (Eve)	3
LH10	Insects	3
LH11	Plant Diseases	3
LH13 or 13E	Arboriculture	3
LH16	Soil Management	3
LH 23	Plant Terminology	2.5
LH 26	Pruning	.5
LH80	Urban & Community Forestry	2
LH81	Arborist Equipment Fundamentals	2
LH82	Tree Health Care	2
LH83	Large Equipment Operations for Arborists	3
LH84	Pruning for Urban & Community Forestry	1
LH85	Intro to Climbing & Aerial Tree Work	2
LH86	Applied Aerial Tree Work	2
LH87	Advanced Aerial Tree Work	2
LH88	Crew Leadership in Arboriculture	1
LH206	Landscape Business Practices	3
General Education Requirements (see college catalog for details)		19-22
Total Required Units:		60-62

 

LANDSCAPE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION
Intermediate Landscape Design & Construction
Certificate of Achievement

Dept/No.	Title	Units
LH 1 OR LH 1E	Introduction to Landscape Horticulture (Day w/lab) OR Introduction to Landscape Horticulture (Eve)	3
LH 14 OR 14E	Landscape Construction (Day w/lab) OR Landscape Construction (Eve)	3
LH 18A	Landscape Design*	3
LH 18LA	Landscape Design Lab*	1
LH 18B	Landscape Design*	3
LH 18LB	Landscape Design Lab*	1
* Lecture & Lab must be taken concurrently (4 units)
LH 23	Plant Terminology	2.5
LH 29	Planting Design (Day w/lab)	3
OR
LH 29E	Planting Design (Eve)	4
Select two Plant ID courses from the following:
LH 2 or 2E; 3 or 3E; 4 or 4E; 5A ,5B, 5EA or 5EB; 6A, 6B, 6EA, or 6EB; 7 or 7E; 40 or 40E		3
Select a minimum of 3 units from the following:
LH 8 or 8E	Turf Management with lab (Day) OR Turf Management (Eve)	3
LH 9A	SketchUp Pro I	3
LH 13 or 13E	Arboriculture with Lab (Day) or Arboriculture (Eve)	3
LH 31	Site Operations for Landscape Designers and Builders	3
LH 33A	Design Evaluation of Bay Area Landscapes	3
LH 34A	Computer Assisted Landscape Design	3
LH 35A-B	Advanced Landscape Design	3
Total Required Units:		28.5-29.5

LANDSCAPE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION:
Landscape Design & Construction Specialist
Associate of Science degree

Dept/No.	Title	Units
Intermediate Landscape Design and Construction Required Units:		30
Plus Level C Requirements:
Dept/No.	Title	Units
LH17 or 17E	Irrigation with Lab (Day) OR LH17E Irrigation (Day)	3
Select one additional plant ID course from the following:
*Select course(s) not previously taken.
LH 2 or 2E; 3 or 3E; 4 or 4E; 5A ,5B, 5EA or 5EB; 6A, 6B, 6EA, or 6EB; 7 or 7E; 40 or 40E		3
Select a minimum of 6 units from the following:*
*Select course(s) not previously taken.
LH 8 OR 8E	Turf Management with Lab (Day) OR Turf Management (Eve)	3
LH 13 or LH 13E	Arboriculture with Lab (Day) or Arboriculture (Eve)	3
LH 31	Site Operations for Landscape Designers and Builders	3
LH 33A	Design Evaluation of Bay Area Landscapes	3
LH 34A, B, C	Computer-Assisted Landscape Design	3
LH 35 A, B	Advanced Landscape Design	3
Total Required Units:		40.5- 41.5

Recommended:

LH 9A SketchUp Pro I 3 units
LH 55 History of Gardens and Gardening 3 units
LH 58 CAD Clinic for Landscape Horticulture 1 unit
LH 60ABC Freehand Drawing for Landscape Horticulture 3 units
LH 210 ABC Landscape Design Forum I, II, II  3 units

LANDSCAPE AND PARKS MAINTENANCE
Intermediate Landscape & Parks Maintenance
Certificate of Achievement

Certificate of Achievement Requirements:

Basic Horticulture Required units:		18
Intermediate (CA) Level Requirements:
Dept/No.	Title	Units
LH 201 (soon to be replaced by LH206)	Landscape Maintenance Practices (soon to be replaced by LH206 Landscape Business Practices)	3
Select one additional course from the following*:
*Select course not previously taken.
LH 8 or 8E (soon to be replaced by LH17)	Turf Management with Lab (Day) OR Turf Management (Eve) (soon to be replaced by LH17 or 17E Irrigation)	3
LH 13 or LH 13E	Arboriculture with Lab (Day) or Arboriculture (Eve)	3
Select one additional plant ID course from the following:
*Select course not previously taken.
LH 2 or 2E; 3 or 3E; 4 or 4E; 5A ,5B, 5EA or 5EB; 6A, 6B, 6EA, or 6EB; 7 or 7E; 40 or 40E		3
Select one additional course from the following:
LH 10	Insects	3
LH 11	Plant Diseases & Their Control	3
LH 12	Weeds in the Urban Landscape	3
Total Required Units:		30

LANDSCAPE AND PARKS MAINTENANCE:
Landscape & Parks Maintenance Specialist
Associate of Science degree

The Landscape and Parks Maintenance Specialist degree and certificate program provides additional training for students interested in working in the field of landscape and parks maintenance. The curriculum pro- vides advanced studies in horticulture, plant ID and maintenance practices, and provides foundational training towards working for parks & recrea­tion departments, public works, landscape maintenance companies, or for starting their own landscape maintenance business.
To qualify for the Associate of Science in Landscape and Parks Maintenance Specialist degree, students must satis­factorily complete the Degree Major requirements speci­fied below AND the AA/AS General Education require­ments. See the Associate Degrees and Certificates section of the college catalog for information regarding General Education require­ments.
Note: the parks degree requirements includes all intermediate requirements, but a students may petition for the degree without having first been awarded the intermediate certificate, in fact, students may petition for both the degree and the certificate simultaneously. Although some courses may have recommended preliminary requirements, courses without pre-requisites may be taken independently or when convenient, or as offered. Some courses may be offered infrequently, and students are encouraged to enroll in such infrequently offered courses when they are available. See page six for course offering projections/tentative scheduling. 

Program Learning Outcomes:
Students who complete the degree will be able to:
• Maintain landscapes to maximize for basic human comfort/livability.
• Maintain landscapes to support regional ecology, low water use, and sustainable potential in Bay Area environments.
• Employ maintenance practices that minimize the use of power tools, dumping of green waste, and vehicle use.

 

Degree Major Requirements:

Dept/No.	Title	Units
Intermediate Level Requirements:		30
Additional Requirements for degree:
LH 21 (soon to be replaced by LH81)	Horticultural Equipment (soon to be replaced by LH81 Arboriculture Equipment)	2
Select one additional plant ID course from the following*:
*Select course(s) not previously taken.
LH 2 or 2E; 3 or 3E; 4 or 4E; 5A ,5B, 5EA or 5EB; 6A, 6B, 6EA, or 6EB; 7 or 7E; 40 or 40E		3
Select one additional course from the following*:
*Select course(s) not previously taken.
LH 10	Insects	3
LH 11	Plant Diseases & Their Control	3
LH 12	Weeds in the Urban Landscape	3
Select one additional course from the following:
LH16	Soil Management	3
LH19	Plant Nutrition	3
Total Required Units:		41

NURSERY MANAGEMENT
Intermediate Nursery Management
Certificate of Achievement

The Intermediate Nursery Management certifi­cate program provides basic training for working in the wholesale and retail nursery industry. Students will learn growing and maintenance practices, basic nursery propagation, plant media, watering systems, fertilizers, pest and disease control, and plant evaluation. A Certificate of Achievement will be awarded upon satisfactory completion of the certificate re­quirements specified below.
Note: Completion of the Basic Landscape Horticulture certificate is not required to qualify for the Intermediate Landscape & Parks Maintenance certificate. The intermediate certificate includes some of the same requirements to provide the appropriate foundations for this track.
Program Learning Outcomes:
Students who complete the certificate will be able to:
• Perform basic tasks and state-of-the-art ops. of a pro nursery person.
• Identify plants by botanical name and evaluate their suitability for use in private and public landscapes.
• Evaluate plant stock in terms of its regional origins, water-use requirements, and sustainable potential in Bay Area environments.
• Identify individual organisms and apply biological systems including plants, fungi, microorganisms, animals, and people to local gardens.

Certificate of Achievement Requirements:

Dept/No.	Title	Units
LH 1 OR LH 1E	Introduction to Landscape Horticulture (Day w/lab) OR Introduction to Landscape Horticulture (Eve)	3
LH 16	Soil Management	3
LH 19	Plant Nutrition	3
LH 23	Plant Terminology	2.5
LH 24	Plant Propagation	3
LH25	Nursery Management	3
LH 26	Pruning	.5
Select two plant ID courses from the following:
LH 2 or 2E; 3 or 3E; 4 or 4E; 5A ,5B, 5EA or 5EB; 6A, 6B, 6EA, or 6EB; 7 or 7E; 40 or 40E		3+3=6
Select two courses from the following:
*Select course(s) not previously taken.
LH 10	Insects	3
LH 11	Plant Diseases and Their Control	3
LH 12	Weeds in the Urban Landscape	3
Total Required Units:		30

NURSERY MANAGEMENT
Nursery Management Specialist
Associate of Science degree
The Nursery Management Specialist degree and certificate program provides advanced training for working in the wholesale and retail nursery industry. Students will learn growing and maintenance practices for a wide variety of plant species, advanced propagation techniques, watering systems, basic soil and fertilizer chemistry, pest and disease control, and nursery business operations.
To qualify for the Associ­ate of Science in Nursery Management Specialist degree, students must satis­factorily complete the Degree Major requirements speci­fied below AND the AA/AS General Education require­ments. See the Associate Degrees and Certificates section of the college catalog for information regarding General Education require­ments.

Dept/No.	Title	Units
Intermediate Level Requirements:		30
Select one additional plant ID course from the following*:
*Select course(s) not previously taken.
LH 2 or 2E; 3 or 3E; 4 or 4E; 5A ,5B, 5EA or 5EB; 6A, 6B, 6EA, or 6EB; 7 or 7E; 40 or 40E		3
Select one additional course* from the following:
*Select course(s) not previously taken.
LH 10	Insects	3
LH 11	Plant Diseases & Their Control	3
LH 12	Weeds in the Urban Landscape	3
Plus 6 additional LH Elective units* (note that this page AND college catalog erroneously listed LH52 & LH206 as degree requirements! “6 elective units” is indeed correct!)
*Select course(s) not previously taken.
Total Required Units:		42

 

Landscape Architecture
Associate of the Arts Degree in Landscape Architecture

The Landscape Architecture degree program provides students with the basic foundation and skills to pursue a career or further education in Landscape Architec­ture. Course topics include design process and principles, site analysis, site planning, planting design, construction, topographic form, graphic representation, computer-assisted de­sign, and professional practice. Students with this degree will fulfill three objectives: Meet the minimum educational requirement to take the California Landscape Architects Registration Exam (LARE); obtain basic skills necessary to start work in a professional landscape design or design-build office; and get basic preparation towards transferring to a four-year or graduate program in landscape architecture.

To qualify for the Associate of Arts in Landscape Architecture degree, students must satis­factorily complete the Degree Major requirements speci­fied below AND the AA/AS General Education require­ments. See the Associate Degrees and Certificates section of the college catalog for information regarding General Education require­ments.

Program Learning Outcomes:
Students who complete the degree will be able to:
• Design landscapes that provide basic human comfort and livability.
• Design landscapes that respond to and support regional ecology.
• Communicate landscape design and building concepts to clients, contractors, and public agencies through written reports, drawings, graphic images, and oral presentations.

Degree Major Requirements:

Dept/No.	Title	Units
LH 18A	Landscape Design	3
LH 18B	Landscape Design Laboratory	3
LH 18LA	Landscape Design (continuing)	1
LH 18LB	Landscape Design Laboratory (continuing)	1
* Lecture & Lab must be taken concurrently (4 units)
LH 29 or 29E	Planting Design	LH 29: 3  LH 29E: 4
LH 33A	Design Evaluation of Bay Area Landscapes	3
LH 34A	Computer Assisted Landscape Design	3
or
LH 9A	SketchUp Pro I	3
LH 35A	Advanced Landscape Design	3
LH 57	Form and Composition	3
LH 60A	Freehand Drawing for Landscape Designers	3
LH 210A	Landscape Design Forum	2
LH 2 or  2E	Tree Identification and Culture	3

Select one additional course from the following:*

LH 5A, 5B, 5EA, 5EB OR LH 40 or 40E

Native Plants Identification and Culture Mediterranean Plants Identification and Culture

3

Select one additional course from the following:*

LH 14	Landscape Construction with Lab (Day)	3
LH 14E	Landscape Construction (Evening)	3

Select one additional course from the following:*

LH 17 or 17E

Irrigation with Lab (Day) or Irrigation (Eve)

3

Total Required Units:

40- 41

PERMACULTURE DESIGN CERTIFICATE OF PROFICIENCY

The Permaculture Design certificate program is designed to train students to work on the design, maintenance, and harvesting of a ten-year old, one-acre student farm/food forest. Students will also acquire a firm foundation in horticultural basics as well as have the opportunity to round out their ecological gardening skills by taking related classes in mushroom cultivation, beneficial beasts, and natural building.
A Certificate of Proficiency will be awarded upon satisfactory completion of the requirements specified below. The Certificate of Proficiency is not indicated on the student’s transcript.

Note: Students should see a counselor at least once each semester to plan for their educational goal(s). The Horticulture Dept. staff can also help with planning, including assistance with when classes might be scheduled.

Program Learning Outcomes:
• Students who complete the certificate will be able to:Design gardens that merge landscape design, sustainable agriculture and applied ecology for people and organisms.
• Identify individual organisms and apply biological systems including plants, fungi, microorganisms, animals, and people to local gardens.
• Manage the infrastructure web of social/ecological gardens, including people and plant communities, animal systems, soil generation, solar, and water systems.

Certificate of Proficiency Requirements:

Dept/No.	Title	Units
LH1 or 1E	Intro to Landscape Horticulture with Lab (Day) or Intro to LH (Eve)	3
LH23	Plant Terminology	2.5
LH28A	Permaculture I	3
LH28B	Permaculture II	3
Select six units from the following:
LH18A/LA	Landscape Design & Landscape Design Laboratory (3/1)	4
LH18B/LB	Landscape Design & Landscape Design Laboratory (3/1)	4
LH36ABC	Natural Building	3
LH45ABC	Mushroom Cultivation I, II, III	2
LH46	Cycles of Land Use: East Bay Field Studies & Interpretation	3
LH54	Integrated Pest Management	1
LH76	Edible Landscaping	3
LH208ABC	Growing & Using Healthful Herbs	2
LH211AC	Beneficial Beasts in the Garden and Landscape	2
Total Required Units:		17.5