Level 7 BSc in Horticulture

BSc in Horticulture (Level 7)

This is a 3 year full-time course designed to train you as a professional horticulturist. Horticulturist work in many different areas – managing garden centres, designing gardens, growing fruit and vegetables, maintaining parks, working on golf courses or as horticultural therapists.

What are the aims of the course

This course is based in the College of Amenity Horticulture in the National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, Dublin and Ashtown Horticultural Research Centre. This provides the perfect setting for a horticultural course and is run in collaboration with the State funded National organisation, Teagasc. We train professional horticulturists for the industry.

What subjects will I study?

Year 1

Plant biology, soil science, plant identification, pest control, propagation and horticultural machinery along with introductory modules of computers and communication skills.

Year 2

Biodiversity and plant use along with one major elective in the following categories.

• Landscape design
• Nursery stock production
• Market gardening
• Turfgrass

Along with a minor elective in floristry, protected crops and garden management.

Year 3

Horticultural business subjects, along with extensive research in an area of interest. A choice of a different major elective from year 2 and two of the following minor electives.

• Garden centre operation
• CAD
• Greenkeeping
• Landscape Design Advanced
• Horticulture quality assurance
• Interior Landscaping
• Field Crop Production
• Horticulture Therapy.

These electives are offered subject to adequate class numbers. Please note some electives require prerequisite modules.

What are the unique features of the course?

The collaboration with WIT and Teagasc allows the student to benefit from the skills and expertise of Teagasc staff who have trained horticulturists for over 30 years. There is unique access to the Botanic Gardens Plant collection, opportunities to work on the grounds in a range of plant habitats both indoor and outdoor. If you want to learn about plants and gardening from the experts, then this is the course for you. In year two you will spend a semester on placement with a registered company either in Ireland or abroad. This is an opportunity for students to implement key horticultural skills learnt in college. There are links with Ohio State University and every year students work abroad.

Students who already hold a qualification who wish to upskill may be eligible to fast track into year 2 or 3 of the programme. Please contact us for more information.

www.wit.ie/courses/bsc_in_horticulture_national_botanic_gardens

Application

Please apply through CAO.