Horticulture Systems Major

Did you know environmental horticulture is one of the fastest growing segments of the nation's agricultural economy? This multi-billion dollar industry is responsible for almost 2 million jobs in landscape design, installation and maintenance, greenhouse production and management, retail nursery management, floral design, city and park management, garden center management, and turf management.

Horticulture has been taught at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture in Curtis for over 30 years and has been a major research focus at the West Central Research and Extension Center at North Platte since the 1940s. NCTA continues this strong tradition by serving the horticulture education needs of western Nebraska.

The Horticulture Systems Major covers areas of landscape horticulture, greenhouse management and sports turf management. From working in the greenhouse to maintaining turf on the Arrowhead Meadows Golf Course or from attending career fairs to touring stadiums, Horticulture at NCTA provides opportunities to learn outside of the traditional classroom. All of the NCTA campus landscaping is completed by students in the horticulture department including the sports turf, lawns, retaining walls, flower beds and ponds. Students take an active role in renovation or reconstruction projects on campus. Financial management, human resource skills, experience and much more have been built into the curriculum, with an over-arching emphasis on entrepreneurship.

NCTA has one of the largest greenhouses of any 2-year institution. That facility, combined with laboratories, Arrowhead Meadows golf course and the campus landscape, provide the perfect tools for learning. NCTA is one of 40 statewide Arboretum sites which allow students to work with a variety of grasses, plants and trees. Most of the nearly 250 trees and shrubs taught in plant identification classes are found on our campus or nearby.

The NCTA horticulture judging team is nationally recognized as one of the best in the country. The team competes yearly in a variety of areas at the PLANET Student Career Days. Members are selected by the horticulture faculty and fundraising by the horticulture club helps cover team travel expenses. Visits to various businesses around the state also provide a way for students to gain valuable insight into the dynamic and exciting field of Horticulture.

There are many job opportunities in Horticulture—not to mention the opportunities to own and operate your own business.

Sports Turf Management:

Graduates of this program manage crews and work on golf courses, baseball, football and soccer fields. The courses in this program cover every topic from turf grasses to design criteria and care of athletic facilities.

Landscape/Nursery:

This program trains students to work in a number of areas in horticulture from the greenhouse to designing and maintaining landscapes.

Certificates:
A 30-credit Certificate program can be tailored to fit the needs of individual students.
 

Transfer Options:

Transfer courses can be taken in both horticulture and sports turf technology.
 

Horticulture Certificate and Degree Programs for Working Adults
 

For more information about Horticulture at NCTA, contact Tee Bush at 1-800-3-CURTIS or tbush@unl.edu