Horticulture: AAS

Horticulture: AAS

Associate in Applied Science | 61 credit hours minimum

Area of Interest: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM)

Program Website

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Program Description:

The Associate in Applied Science in Horticulture centers on both the science and the art of horticulture through a combination of classroom theory, practical laboratory application, and on-the-job training. Courses in soils, integrated pest management, plant identification, plant culture, and cooperative horticulture are integral parts of the program. Students receive their training in the College’s greenhouses, outdoor garden classroom, and laboratories. Students should enjoy working with plants and observing their culture and growth process.

Graduates may specialize in plant research, landscape design, landscape management, greenhouse management, horticulture retail sales, and urban forestry. Employment opportunities include national, state, and city parks departments, landscape contracting firms, golf courses, retail sales, plant research or biotech companies, greenhouse growing, and retail garden centers.

Location. This program is offered in its entirety at Meramec. 

Related Programs. The Horticulture Department offers certificates in the following areas:

Cannabis and Hemp Production, Certificate of Specialization

Horticulture, Certificate of Proficiency

Cost of Attendance.  For more information on cost of attendance visit MoSCORES

Program Career and Salary Information.  Pursuant to Missouri HB 1606 (2018), information regarding the number of credit hours, program length, employment rate, wage data, and graduates employed in careers related to their program of study at St. Louis Community College can be found at the following URL: https://scorecard.mo.gov/scorecard/. Search using School / Program “St. Louis Community College” and choose the degree or credential type of interest. 

The following limitations to the data apply: Information provided is based on the most recent cohorts available. Typically, most recent cohorts for wage and completion data are six years prior to the current academic year. Time to complete a program of study varies depending on the number of credit hours students earn per semester.

Interested in this program? Start the enrollment process by visiting the Apply to STLCC page.   

At the completion of the program, students are expected to:

  1. identify an array of plant material in a landscape, greenhouse, or garden center setting.
  2. gather accurate information for soil testing.
  3. analyze soil test results for proper plant selection or changes to soil conditions.
  4. manage landscape areas and gardens using proper and professional methods of pruning, planting, and fertilizing.
  5. develop a landscape maintenance schedule that utilizes correct horticulture methods of management.
  6. identify plant pests, insects, diseases, and weeds using sustainable methods.
  7. design a residential or commercial landscape.
  8. develop a business plan for a small business in the green industry.
  9. apply the methods of propagating plant material using the latest technology available as practiced in a laboratory setting.
  10. demonstrate the ability to collaborate with community landscape programs, tending gardens, and developing tree care programs.
  11. maintain turf grass areas using current methods of seeding, installing, watering, fertilizing, and mowing.
  12. operate a greenhouse using current greenhouse management methods.
  13. discuss the advantages to the local ecology offered by native plants.
  14. grow a variety of plants in a greenhouse or field setting.
  15. utilize plants according to their preferred culture and soil requirements.

Missouri Civics Examination.  Students entering college for the very first time in fall 2019 and who intend to complete an associate’s degree must successfully complete a civics examination. Information on who is eligible for a waiver can be found on the STLCC website.

Program of Study 

General Education
ENG 101College Composition I (MOTR ENGL 100)3
MTH 140Intermediate Algebra (or higher)3
COM 201Interpersonal Communication (MOTR COMM 120)3
or COM 101 Oral Communication I (MOTR COMM 100)
or COM 107 Public Speaking (MOTR COMM 110)
XXX xxxSocial & Behavioral Sciences: Civics Requirement3
CHM 109Chemistry and the Environment (MOTR CHEM 100L)4-5
or CHM 101 Fundamentals of Chemistry I (MOTR CHEM 100L)
PHL 112Business Ethics (MOTR PHIL 102P)3
Program Requirements
Select 6 credit hours of the following:6
Applied Accounting
Financial Accounting
Drawing I (MOTR PERF 105D)
Business Law I
Small Business Management
Introduction to Business Administration
Introduction to Economics (MOTR ECON 100)
Introduction to Supervision
Principles of Selling
Horticulture Core Courses
HRT 101Introductory Horticulture4
or BIO 124 General Botany I (MOTR BIOL 100LB)
HRT 102Soils3
HRT 105Workplace Learning2
HRT 206Woody Plants - Trees and Vines3
HRT 207Woody Plants - Shrubs and Evergreens3
HRT 214Landscape Management3
HRT 227Integrated Pest Management3
HRT 230Herbaceous Perennials and Ornamental Grasses3
Horticulture Electives12
Select 12 credit hours of the following:
Plant Propagation
Landscape Graphics
Digital Applications in Landscape Design
Micropropagation of Plants
Introduction to Cannabis
Cannabis and Hemp Cultivation
Laboratory Methods for Cannabis Extraction
Topics in Horticulture
Turfgrass Management
Nursery and Garden Center Practices
Landscape Design I
Landscape Design II
Landscape Irrigation
Annuals and Vegetables
Greenhouse Management
Urban Tree Management
Native Landscaping Practices
Total Credit Hours61-62

Academic Plan

Missouri Civics Examination.  Students entering college for the very first time in fall 2019 and who intend to complete an associate’s degree must successfully complete a civics examination. Information on who is eligible for a waiver can be found on the STLCC website.

PLEASE NOTE:  If you originally enrolled at STLCC prior to Fall 2024, you may need to view an archived catalog for your correct program requirements.  Please speak with an advisor or the program coordinator for more information.

New PlanGrids
First Year
Fall Credit Hours Prerequisites Milestones/Notes
HRT 101 Introductory Horticulture
or General Botany I (MOTR BIOL 100LB)
4Reading Proficiency
XXX xxxProgram Requirement Elective3 Choose from ACC 100 OR ACC 110, ART 109, BLW 101, BUS 101 OR BUS 104, ECO 140, MGT 101, and MKT 104.
CHM 109 Chemistry and the Environment (MOTR CHEM 100L)
or Fundamentals of Chemistry I (MOTR CHEM 100L)
4-5MTH 020 with a minimum grade of "C" or testing into MTH 140 or higher, and Reading ProficiencyCHM 109 is preferred.
XXX xxxHRT Elective3 Choose from HRT 106, HRT 134, HRT 135, HRT 140, HRT 201, HRT 205, HRT 217, HRT 220, HRT 241, HRT 242, and HRT 250. See footnote below.
HRT 206 Woody Plants - Trees and Vines3Concurrent or prior enrollment in HRT 101 or BIO 124 with a minimum grade of "C", and Reading ProficiencyOffered in the Fall semester only.
Credit Hours17-18
Spring Credit Hours Prerequisites Milestones/Notes
HRT 102 Soils3Concurrent or prior enrollment in HRT 101 or BIO 124 with a minimum grade of "C", and Reading Proficiency
HRT 207 Woody Plants - Shrubs and Evergreens3Concurrent or prior enrollment in HRT 101 or BIO 124 with a minimum grade of "C", and Reading ProficiencyOffered in the Spring semester only.
XXX xxxHRT Elective3 Choose from HRT 103, HRT 104, HRT 106, HRT 136, HRT 137, HRT 140, HRT 241, and HRT 242. See footnote below.
MTH 140 Intermediate Algebra (or higher)3Satisfactory placement and Reading Proficiency
COM 101 Oral Communication I (MOTR COMM 100)
or Interpersonal Communication (MOTR COMM 120)
or Public Speaking (MOTR COMM 110)
3Concurrent enrollment in ENG 070 or Reading Proficiency
Credit Hours15
Summer Credit Hours Prerequisites Milestones/Notes
HRT 230 Herbaceous Perennials and Ornamental Grasses3Concurrent or prior enrollment in HRT 101 or BIO 124 with a minimum grade of "C", and Reading ProficiencyOffered in the summer term only.
HRT 214 Landscape Management3Concurrent or prior enrollment in HRT 101 or BIO 124 with a minimum grade of "C", and Reading Proficiency
ENG 101 College Composition I (MOTR ENGL 100)3Placement score or ENG 030 or ENG 070 with a grade of "C" or better or recommendation of department and Reading Proficiency or concurrent enrollment in RDG 079
If a student wishes to take HRT 235, they can take it in the summer semester and adjust their academic plan accordingly. HRT 235 will fulfill 3 hours of the Horticulture Elective requirement. See footnote below.
Credit Hours9
Second Year
Fall Credit Hours Prerequisites Milestones/Notes
HRT 227 Integrated Pest Management3HRT 101 or BIO 124, HRT 206, HRT 207 with minimum grades of "C", and Reading Proficiency
XXX xxxHRT Elective3 Choose from HRT 106, HRT 134, HRT 135, HRT 140, HRT 201, HRT 205, HRT 217, HRT 220, HRT 241, HRT 242, and HRT 250. See footnote below.
XXX xxxSocial & Behavioral Sciences: Civics Requirement3  
PHL 112 Business Ethics (MOTR PHIL 102P)3Reading Proficiency
Credit Hours12
Spring Credit Hours Prerequisites Milestones/Notes
HRT 105 Workplace Learning2HRT 102, HRT 206, HRT 207, HRT 214, and HRT 230 with minimum grades of "C", approval of Horticulture Department Program Coordinator, and Reading Proficiency
XXX xxxHRT Elective3 Choose from HRT 103, HRT 104, HRT 106, HRT 136, HRT 137, HRT 140, HRT 241, and HRT 242. See footnote below.
XXX xxxProgram Requirement Elective3 Choose from ACC 100 OR ACC 110, ART 109, BLW 101, BUS 101 OR BUS 104, ECO 140, MGT 101, and MKT 104.
Credit Hours8
Total Credit Hours61-62
1

Horticulture Electives can be taken in any semester, provided the student has met the prerequisites.  However, the following Horticulture courses that fulfill the Horticulture Elective requirement are only taught in the fall: HRT 134HRT 135HRT 201HRT 205HRT 217HRT 220, and HRT 250.  The following courses, that fulfill the Horticulture Elective requirement, are taught in both the fall and spring semester: HRT 106HRT 140HRT 241, and HRT 242.

2

Horticulture Electives can be taken in any semester, provided the student has met the prerequisites.  However, the following Horticulture courses that fulfill the Horticulture Elective requirement are only taught in the spring: HRT 103HRT 104HRT 136HRT 137, and HRT 218. The following courses, that fulfill the Horticulture Elective requirement, are taught in both the fall and spring semester: HRT 106HRT 140HRT 241, and HRT 242.

3

Horticulture electives can be taken in any semester, provided the student has met the prerequisites. However, HRT 235, which fulfills the Horticulture elective is only taught in the summer.

*Click on the hyperlinked course number to view additional information about the course.

**Students completing a course that has been assigned a MOTR number may transfer that course to any public institution in Missouri. Those who complete CORE 42 requirements will have that verification on their transcript.

*** It is your responsibility to verify that the courses listed above will transfer to the four-year institution of your choice.  Maximize your transfer credits/classes by meeting with an academic advisor.