Horticulture Program

According to recent Gallup survey, more than 45 million U.S households spend $20.6 billion on professional landscaping, lawn care, tree care, and related services. In a growing city and suburban environment such as Nashville, the outlook for opportunities in residential and commercial landscape occupations is excellent.

The horticultural and landscaping industry is diverse in middle Tennessee, and there is an increasing need for trained workers. Garden centers, parks, schools, municipal governments, golf courses, resorts, and landscape design and maintenance companies require knowledgeable employees and skilled labor to service customers and establish and maintain turf, trees, gardens, and grounds. Landscape and property management companies are in need of employees who have enough horticultural education and experience to recognize problems early. The following are among the many opportunities which are available:

Private Estate Grower	Horticultural Consultant
Turf Maintenance Business	Landscape Designer
Retail Florist	Superintendent Golf Course
Landscape Nurseryman	Spray Technician - Landscape
Turf Salesman	Spray Technician - Golf Course
Landscape Maintenance Business	Plant Propagator
Landscape Inspector	Landscape Installation
Wholesale Grower	Interiorscape Maintenance
Arborist	Landscape Construction
Garden Center Sales	Irrigation Technician
Greenhouse Operator	Athletic Field Maintenance
Park Superintendent	Right of Way Maintenance

Nashville State's horticultural program is designed to provide graduates with the technical knowledge and skills needed to provide services which meet the standards of the industry.

A 32 credit Technical Certificate in Horticulture is offered which emphasizes the horticultural sciences and skills needed for employment.

An A.A. and A.S. transfer degree in Horticulture is also available for those students working towards a 4 year degree in horticulture. Five core horticultural courses are included in this program as well as the parallel general education courses.

“I have been employed in the green industry in various roles for over
twelve years. The Horticulture program brought me to NSCC, and I
have not been disappointed with the classes offered. Being nearly finished
with the Associates program in horticulture, I can legitimately say that the
course selection can successfully prepare a student for nearly every
horticultural job available in the middle Tennessee region and build a
strong base for further education. The program exposes students to
multiple aspects of the horticultural world, and provides vision of
avenues not yet fathomed. The passion and genuine enthusiasm expressed
by the instructors and the department head is spread throughout the classes
and unifies the students who are taking courses for various reasons.
Some are arming themselves with knowledge for the workplace, some are
doing it for personal interest, and yet others, such as myself, are preparing
to attend a four year school. Combined with easy payment programs for
tuition, the horticultural program draws students from various walks of life
and levels of horticultural knowledge and experience. All in all, the horticultural
program is a shining star in the lineup here at NSCC.”

I graduated from a top engineering university and worked in the telecommunication industry for five years. Being interested in Horticulture, I decided to take a course at Nashville Tech. The level of education that I received was excellent. The course material was in-depth, the class was small and interactive, and the professor was engaging, capable, and interested in the progress of the students. It ignited my passion for science and plants. Now I am enrolled in the Horticulture program and truly excited about my future.