Landscape Architecture & Horticulture

Founded 1958

Pauline Hurley-Kurtz, R.L.A., A.S.L.A., M.L.A.

Chair
Dixon Hall 201
267-468-8181
la.hort@temple.edu
www.ambler.temple.edu/la-hort

The Department of Landscape Architecture and Horticulture offers four-year baccalaureate degree programs in Landscape Architecture and Horticulture; a two-year Associate in Science degree in Horticulture, with a general or business emphasis; minors in Environmental Horticulture and Landscape Studies; and credit certificates in horticulture. In Fall 2010, a Master of Landscape Architecture degree was added. The undergraduate degree in Landscape Architecture and the first professional master's degree are accredited by the Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board.

With origins that trace back to the Pennsylvania School of Horticulture for Women, founded at Ambler in 1911, the department, throughout its history, has combined theory with practice. Committed to excellence in ecologically-based education, the department provides students with the knowledge and understanding of sustainable environments. Through an ecological approach to planning, design, development, and care of the land, the programs in Landscape Architecture and Horticulture promote the development of skills to improve the quality of urban, suburban, and rural communities. The unique curricula integrate horticulture and landscape architecture. A state-of-the-art greenhouse is available to students. Students and faculty also utilize the 187-acre Temple University Ambler campus as both an arboretum and living laboratory.

Careers in horticulture and landscape architecture are available in both the public and private sector. For landscape architecture graduates, careers in public landscape architecture include positions with regional, county, and city planning commissions, and park, recreation, housing, and transportation agencies. Private practice includes the design of recreational, residential, commercial, institutional, and industrial projects, as well as the overall planning of new communities. Environmental protection, historical restoration, and land reclamation efforts could also be an important part of the role of a landscape architect.

Students with a degree in horticulture could be involved in the production, use, installation, and management of plants. They may:

• Produce plants in greenhouses and nurseries for sale and landscape use.
• Design, install, and/or maintain residential, commercial, or public landscapes.
• Work in arboreta, botanic gardens, parks, or golf courses.
• Teach in a high school, community college, or university.
• Research new technologies and plants in private and public institutions.
• Work toward registration as a horticultural therapist.
• Write about plants and horticulture for articles, books, and copy on web sites.
• Work as an extension agent or specialist helping residential and commercial clients.
• Work in interior landscaping or floral design.
• Work as a sales representative for horticultural or allied industries.
• Own and operate their own business.

Financial Aid

In addition to assistance from the Department of Student Financial Services, there are several scholarships and grants-in-aid that are available only to Landscape Architecture and Horticulture students. Applications for department scholarships are available from the Department of Landscape Architecture and Horticulture office and at www.temple.edu/ambler/ac_services/scholarshipslah.htm. Also see Financial Aid.

Continuing Studies

The Department offers a variety of credit courses and certificate programs in the late afternoon, in the evening, and on weekends. These courses and certificates are available to degree-seeking students as well as others interested in horticulture who are not seeking a degree. It is also possible, over a period of years, to complete all of the requirements for credit certificate programs or Associate in Science in Horticulture degree by attending late afternoon, evening, and weekend classes. For many, these courses are a means of advancing their careers; for others, they are a source of personal enrichment. For more information, contact the Department of Landscape Architecture and Horticulture.

Policies and Regulations

The following departmental policy on Class Scheduling is in addition to the university policies and regulations that apply to all undergraduate students and to the policies that apply to all School of Environmental Design students.

Class Scheduling

The Associate's Degree in Horticulture and some of the credit certificate programs can be completed through daytime classes only or through only late afternoon, evening, and Saturday classes. Students in the bachelor's degree programs in Horticulture and Landscape Architecture will be required to take classes during regular daytime hours, with some courses available in the evening and on weekends.

Horticulture Degree Requirements

Horticulture Bachelor of Science

The degree of Bachelor of Science in Horticulture may be conferred upon a student by recommendation of the faculty and upon the satisfactory completion of a minimum of 124 semester hours of credit with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 overall and in the major. No more than one grade below a C- is allowed in any course in either Landscape Architecture or Horticulture.  Also, a grade of C- or higher is required in all required General Education courses.

Summary of Requirements for the Degree

1.  University requirements

• Mathematics 0701 (4 s.h.) and/or English 0701 (4 s.h.), if required by placement testing.

• All Temple students must take a minimum of two writing-intensive courses as part of the major. See below for a list of the specific courses that are required for Horticulture majors.

• Students must complete the requirements of the university General Education (GenEd) program (29-30 s.h.)

2.  Department of Landscape Architecture and Horticulture bachelor's degree requirements (28 s.h.)

• Nine (9) courses are required:
  Landscape Architecture 1013, 1142 and 2496; Botany 1111 and 1112; Horticulture 1211, 1212, 2114, and 3514.
  

3.  Horticulture major requirements (minimum of 54 s.h.)

• Two (2) Botany courses are required (7 s.h.):  Botany 2121 and 3122.
• Nine (9) Horticulture courses are required (27 s.h.):  Horticulture 2221, 2222, 2323, 2324, 2334, 3423, 3424, 3523, and 4896.
• Three (3) courses from other departments are required (11 s.h.):  Chemistry 1021/1023 and 1022/1024; Strategic Communication 1111 OR Adult and Organizational Development 1166.
• Three (3) Landscape Architecture, Horticulture, or Botany electives are required (minimum 9 s.h.).

4.  Electives (approximately 12 s.h.)

Suggested Semester By Semester Plans

Note: The symbol (F) or (S) after the course number indicates that the class is offered ONLY in the semester indicated: (F) = offered only in fall semester; (S) = offered only in spring semester.

Minor in Environmental Horticulture

Students in the School of Environmental Design as well as students in other colleges, schools, and departments may choose a Minor in Environmental Horticulture. Students complete courses related to horticultural concepts and practices which allow them to develop an understanding of the science and practice of protecting, restoring, and managing existing and natural landscape resources.  This minor provides students with the opportunity to explore the option of graduate level studies in Landscape Architecture or Horticulture. 

The curriculum involves 18 credits, with two required courses and at least four elective courses. The required courses give students a solid basis for understanding the fundamentals of horticulture, botany, and plant identification. The electives allow students to explore their own interests in different facets of horticulture including soils, plantscaping, and food crops.

A student may not double count any course for the Minor in Environmental Horticulture toward any other major, minor, or certificate. At least half of the courses for the minor must be taken at Temple University. Students must complete successfully each of the courses for the minor with a grade of C- or better and all of the minor courses with a cumulative average of 2.0 or higher.

Note: The symbol after the course number indicates that the class is offered ONLY in the semester indicated: F = offered fall only; FE/FO = offered fall of even/odd numbered years; S = offered spring only; SE/SO = offered spring of even/odd numbered years; O = offered occasionally

* This course has a prerequisite(s).  Visit the Course Catalog at https://www.temple.edu/apply/common/catcheck.asp.

Horticulture Associate in Science

The degree of Associate in Science in Horticulture may be conferred upon a student by recommendation of the faculty and upon the satisfactory completion of a minimum of 60 semester hours with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 overall and in the major. No more than one grade below a C- is allowed in any course in either Landscape Architecture or Horticulture.

General Horticulture Option

This option in the Associate's Degree is for students interested in developing a well-rounded background in all areas of horticulture or specializing in a particular area of interest such as floral design, integrated pest management, or arboriculture.

Suggested Semester By Semester Plan

Note: The symbol (F) or (S) after the course number indicates that the class is offered ONLY in the semester indicated: (F) = offered only in fall semester; (S) = offered only in spring semester; (FA)/(SA) = offered only in fall/spring of alternate years.

Horticulture Business Option

This option in the Associate's Degree is for students interested in developing a background in landscape horticulture and in business.

Suggested Semester By Semester Plan

Note: The symbol (F) or (S) after the course number indicates that the class is offered ONLY in the semester indicated: (F) = offered only in fall semester; (S) = offered only in spring semester; (FA)/(SA) = offered only in fall/spring of alternate years.

Credit Certificates in Horticulture

Credit certificates are available to all undergraduate degree students to complete as part of their studies, regardless of their majors.  All certificates are available also to non-degree-seeking students. Consult an academic advisor about how the required classes fit into academic and career plans.

Credit certificates may be conferred upon a student by recommendation of the faculty and upon satisfactory completion of the required credits for the specific topic area with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 overall.  At least one half of the courses required for the certificate must be completed at Temple University.

Note: The symbol (F) or (S) after the course number indicates that the class is offered ONLY in the semester indicated: (F) = offered only in fall semester; (S) = offered only in spring semester; (FA)/(SA) = offered only in fall/spring of alternate years.

Horticultural Therapy

This credit certificate course sequence meets the horticultural therapy course content required by the American Horticultural Therapy Association (AHTA) for registration as a Horticultural Therapist.  View the AHTA web site (www.ahta.org) for ADDITIONAL requirements for the Voluntary Professional Registration program as a Horticultural Therapist, such as supervised experience.  Required courses are:

* This course has a prerequisite(s).  Visit the Course Catalog at https://www.temple.edu/apply/common/catcheck.asp.

Landscape Plants

This credit certificate provides a brief introduction to the areas of horticulture and an intensive learning experience in both woody and herbaceous landscape plants. Learning the names and usage of plants provides a deeper understanding for anyone interested in gardening and landscaping. For the professional, it provides the essential knowledge of plants needed to design high-quality landscapes for clients. For the hobbyist, it provides information that enriches the gardening experience. Required courses are:

* This course has a prerequisite(s).  Visit the Course Catalog at https://www.temple.edu/apply/common/catcheck.asp.

Native Perennial Garden Design

This credit certificate provides information that enriches the residential planting design experience. Certificate courses provide learning experiences with fundamentals of horticulture, herbaceous plants, and planting design. The skills necessary for a well designed and maintained residential perennial garden will be gained from learning plant identification, cultural conditions, and appropriate use of plants and planting design. Required courses are:

* This course has a prerequisite(s).  Visit the Course Catalog at https://www.temple.edu/apply/common/catcheck.asp.

Other credit certificate areas are under consideration. See the Department of Landscape Architecture and Horticulture web site for the latest information.