female student amongst plants

The Sustainable Urban Agriculture degree offers a hands-on approach to becoming a professional in the field of urban farming and sustainable urban agriculture. The goal of the program is to help society improve the health of its environment, food, and communities. Students gain practical experience working alongside professional urban farmers. Students will critically analyze historical and current food systems to offer more sustainable solutions. Includes sustainable urban agriculture management and marketing techniques for food production systems.

For more information about Horticulture, please visit the program page.

Degree Requirements

Field of Study Code: HORT.AAS.URBAN

Program Requirements
Select one of the following:4-5
Environmental Biology
Principles of Biological Science
Survey of General Chemistry
HORT 1100Introduction to Horticulture3
HORT 1101Soils and Fertilizers3
HORT 1109OSHA 10-Hour Landscape Safety1
HORT 1125Water Use/Conservation in the Landscape1
HORT 1135Introduction to Green Roofs1
HORT 1141Sustainable Landscape Design1
HORT 2253Greenhouse Operations and Procedures3
HORT 2300Introduction to Sustainable Urban Agriculture3
HORT 2301Principles of Agroecology3
HORT 2303Urban Agriculture Issues2
HORT 2304Hydroponic and Aquaponic Production Systems3
HORT 2305Local Foods2
HORT 2307Business Principles for Sustainable Agriculture2
HORT 2308Introduction to Composting1
HORT 2311Cool Season Vegetable and Herb Production2
HORT 2312Warm Season Vegetable and Herb Production2
HORT 2863Internship (Career & Technical Ed)3
MATH 1104Mathematics for Horticulture3
General Education
Select six credits of Communications courses6
Select three credits of Humanities & Fine Arts courses3
Select three credits of Social & Behavioral Sciences courses3
Program Electives
Select 9 credits from the following:9
Ecology
Prairie Ecology
Water Science-Fundamentals of Hydrology
Irrigation & Water Management
Spanish for Horticulture
Landscaping for Pollinators
Plant Propagation
Plant Pathology
Entomology for Horticulture
Introduction to Beekeeping
Fruit and Berry Production
Permaculture Design Certification
Mushroom Production
Principles of Marketing
College Algebra With Applications
Statistics
Total Credits64-65

General Education Requirements

For general education requirements for the A.A.S. degree, please visit the A.A.S. degree catalog page.

Suggested Semester Sequence

Plan of Study Grid
First SemesterCredits
ENGLI 1101
English Composition I
or Workplace Writing
3
HORT 1100 Introduction to Horticulture 3
HORT 1101 Soils and Fertilizers 3
HORT 1125 Water Use/Conservation in the Landscape 1
BIOLO 1110
Environmental Biology 1
or Survey of General Chemistry
4-5
 Credits14-15
Second Semester
Gen EdSocial and Behavioral Sciences 3
MATH 1104 Mathematics for Horticulture 3
HORT 2311 Cool Season Vegetable and Herb Production 2
Select one of the following: 3
Fundamentals of Speech Communication
Small-Group Communication
Introduction to Business Communication
HORT 1141 Sustainable Landscape Design 1
HORT 2305 Local Foods 2
 Credits14
Summer Semester
HORT 1109 OSHA 10-Hour Landscape Safety 1
HORT 2301 Principles of Agroecology 1 3
HORT 2303 Urban Agriculture Issues 2
HORT 2308 Introduction to Composting 1
 Credits7
Third Semester
HORT 2300 Introduction to Sustainable Urban Agriculture 3
HORT 1135 Introduction to Green Roofs 1
HORT 2304 Hydroponic and Aquaponic Production Systems 3
HORT 2307 2
HORT 2312 Warm Season Vegetable and Herb Production 2
HORT 2313 Mushroom Production 2
 Credits13
Fourth Semester
Gen EdHumanities and Fine Arts (Recommend HORT/SPANI 1116) 3
HORT 2253 Greenhouse Operations and Procedures 3
HORT 2221 Plant Propagation 3
HORT 2863 Internship (Career & Technical Ed) 1 3
BOTAN 1320 Prairie Ecology 4
 Credits16
 Total Credits64-65
1

Course has a prerequisite.

Program Milestones

First Semester

  • Consider joining or visiting with a professional, cultural or interest-based Student Club.
  • Meet with Horticulture program advisor
  • Join Horticulture club
  • Participate in industry and community events
  • Begin Horticulture Portfolio

Second Semester

  • If you have not done so yet this semester, it is important to make an appointment with a Faculty or Program Advisor to discuss your future academic progress.
  • Attend Horticulture career fair
  • Visit Career Services
  • Participate in department community service projects
  • Develop/maintain Horticulture portfolio

Third Semester

  • Start researching internship opportunities
  • Participate in department community service and industry events
  • Degree audit with program chair
  • Meet with program advisor for support
  • Develop/maintain portfolio

Fourth Semester

  • Apply for graduation
  • Participate in department community service and industry events
  • Degree audit with advisor