Associate of Science in Sustainable Horticulture (On-Campus)

What's Horticulture?

Plants do a lot to enhance human well-being.  They provide food and medicine, and shape the landscapes and spaces in which we live.  Horticulture is the art and science of growing, maintaining, and selling ornamental plants, flowers, herbs, fruits, and vegetables.  Horticulturists work at the intersection of science, sustainability, and aesthetics—supporting plant health as the climate changes.

The two-year associate degree program at Stockbridge is rooted in plant and soil sciences, and the creative design of green spaces.  You'll learn foundations in plant identification, propagation, innovative cultivation practices, and the management of pests and diseases, as well as the beneficial organisms that assist plant growth.  Flexibly specialize your degree with courses in greenhouse management, agricultural and ornamental production, hydroponics, permaculture and retail floral design, and site design,

The Stockbridge Advantage

Growing since 1867, the Stockbridge School of Agriculture contributes to the university's #1 ranking in the U.S. for agricultural sciences.  We're known throughout the green industries for using science to uncover the best ways to promote sustainable food systems and resilient landscapes, by selecting the right plants for the right environments.

Small class sizes mean hands-on access to the tools of the trade.  Take classes in our Research Greenhouse with climate-controlled misting rooms, a potting classroom, science labs, and controlled environment chambers that enable plant research under simulated growth conditions.  Learn plant identification walking through our campus collection of 8000 plants, and our living collection of rare and tropical plants in Durfee Conservatory.

You'll complete a 3-month summer internship after your first year, learning-and-earning with a professional horticulture business, so that you'll have field experience on your resume before you graduate.  Many internships are provided by our multiple generations of alumni employers, actively seeking to hire Stockbridge students and graduates.

Specialize your degree to fit your interests, by selecting from our broad catalog of courses.  Find work at graduation or transfer to our bachelor degree program in Applied Plant and Soil Sciences, where you can graduate with both the associate and bachelor degrees in four years.

See the course requirements for the two-year associate degree in Sustainable Horticulture

Careers in Sustainable Horticulture

Plant production and sales are the largest part of the Massachusetts green industries.  Jobs are growing, and Massachusetts salaries average $66k—30% higher than the national average.  Lucrative careers are within reach, and Stockbridge is actively fulfilling the need for skilled workers in the horticulture and landscaping industries.

Our graduates are often hired to teams of landscape professionals for their expert knowledge of plants.  Others work in greenhouses, plant nurseries, garden centers, botanical gardens and arboreta, parks, college campuses, and improving private properties.  Several run their own successful companies.

Here are four areas where our graduates find fulfilling skilled work:

Landscape Plant Production and Use – Greenhouse production; outdoor production in fields and container nurseries including woody landscape, wetland, and native plants; plant propagation by tissue culture and other means; landscape and garden design, plant installation, and plant maintenance

Allied Commercial Businesses – Technical and sales representatives are needed for firms specializing in greenhouse and nursery supplies, landscape plant breeding and improvement, production of horticultural substrates and compost, commercial soil testing, production of biological control agents and “biorational” pest control materials; design and marketing of greenhouses and other horticultural equipment

Retail Businesses – Managers and buyers for national retailers, including garden centers, nurseries, roadside and farm markets

Education and Recreation ‐ Horticulturalist or grounds administrator positions at botanical gardens, arboreta, public parks, historical sites, zoos and theme parks; public outreach through state and federal government agencies, education programs at community colleges, adult education programs, and youth education at vocational high schools

New England Tuition Break Program

Students who are residents of Maine or Rhode Island are eligible for reduced tuition through the New England Tuition Break Program.  Learn how to claim your New England Tuition Break if accepted.

Option to Transfer to a Bachelor Degree Program

While most graduates will find skilled employment in the field, you'll also have the option to transfer seamlessly into the Stockbridge Applied Plant & Soil Sciences bachelor degree program, enabling you to earn both the associate and bachelor degrees in just four years.