MCCCD Program Description

Major: 3014 Catalog Year: 2025-2026 Effective Term: 2025 Fall Last Admit Term: 9999 Award: AAS Total Credits: 60-67 CIP Code: 01.0308	Primary College: Initiating College: Mesa Community College Program Availability: Not Found Program Availability: College-Specific Program Availability: College-Specific: MC Field of Interest: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Instructional Council: Agriculture/Equine Science GPA: 2.00
SOC Code: Upon completion of this degree, students may pursue a career as: 11-9013.00 Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers 11-9013.01 Nursery and Greenhouse Managers 37-1012.00 First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers

Description: The Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Sustainable Horticulture and Landscape Technology program helps prepare students for careers as gardeners, technicians, supervisors, managers, or business owners in wholesale or retail nurseries, florists, landscape design and construction operations, landscape management companies, and crop production companies. In addition, the program helps prepare students for careers with local, state, and federal government agencies involved with the technical phases of the landscape horticulture and sustainable agriculture industries. Certificates of Completion (CCLs) in Landscape Horticulture, Sustainable Agriculture, Landscape Technology, and Cannabis Cultivation are also available.

Learning Outcomes
1. Operate equipment safely, ethically, and in an environmentally responsible manner, while demonstrating professional behaviors that align with field norms and conventions. (AGS100) 2. Create landscape or crop production systems that meet environmental, aesthetic, and/or cultural needs. (AGS182AA, AGS212, AGS217, AGS262, AGS265, AGS280, AGS285) 3. Synthesize principles of plant growth responses to particular soils, climate, sun exposure, water availability, nutrients, and pests. (AGS164, AGS182AA, AGS200, AGS210, AGS217, AGS260, AGS262, AGS268, AGS280, AGS285) 4. Synthesize multiple sources of information to assist in decision making relative to agricultural business operations. (AGS210, AGS212, AGS280, MGT253) 5. Utilize computer applications for production decisions, business management, cost analysis, and marketing. (CIS105, MGT253) 6. Employ effective oral, written, and visual communication skills. (AGS100, AGS160, AGS164, AGS210, AGS260, AGS262, AGS268, AGS280, MGT253)

Program Notes
Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses within the program.

Required Courses

AGS100 Safety and Standard Operating Procedures for Sustainable Horticulture 1
AGS164 Plant Growth and Development 4
AGS182AA Gardening Practices and Techniques 3
AGS262 Irrigation Design, Installation, Operation, and Trouble Shooting 3
AGS268 Integrated Pest Management in the Cultivated Environment 4
AGS285 Propagation of Horticultural Plants 3

CIS105 Survey of Computer Information Systems 3

FYE101 Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success (1) OR
FYE103 Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success (3) 1-3

MGT253 Owning and Operating a Small Business 3

Credits: 25-27

Restricted Electives
Restricted Electives Detail : Complete all courses in the specialization below that best aligns with your academic and professional goals. Consult with an academic, faculty, or program advisor. Specialization 1: Sustainable Agriculture Credits: 15 AGS212 Sustainable Livestock Production 3 AGS217 Introduction to Hydroponics and Greenhouse Management 4 AGS260 Soils 4 AGS265 Sustainable Crop Production 4 Specialization 2: Landscape Technology Credits: 16 AGS160 Introduction to Landscape Design 4 AGS200 Southwest Landscape Plants: Identification and Care 4 AGS210 Landscape Construction 4 AGS260 Soils 4 Specialization 3: Cannabis Cultivation Credits: 12 AGS217 Introduction to Hydroponics and Greenhouse Management 4 AGS260 Soils 4 + AGS280 Advanced Cannabis Cultivation 4	Credits: 12-16

General Electives
Select additional courses 100-level or higher to complete the minimum 60 credits required for this degree. Consult with the Program Director or an Academic Advisor.	Credits: 0-5

General Education Requirements

General Education Requirement	Credits: 18-24

General Education Core	Credits: 12-18

First-Year Composition	Credits: 6
+ ENG101 First-Year Composition (3) OR + ENG107 First-Year Composition for ESL (3) AND + ENG102 First-Year Composition (3) OR + ENG108 First-Year Composition for ESL (3) 6

Oral Communication	Credits: 3
Any approved general education course in the Oral Communication area

Critical Reading	Credits: 0-3
+ CRE101 College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking (3) OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment 0-3

Mathematics	Credits: 3-6
Any approved general education course in the Mathematics area 3-6

General Education Distribution	Credits: 6

Humanities, Arts and Design	Credits: 3
Any approved general education course in the Humanities, Arts and Design area. 3

Social-Behavioral Sciences	Credits: 3
Any approved general education course in the Social-Behavioral Sciences area.

Natural Sciences	Credits: 0
Met by AGS164 in Required Courses

+ indicates course has prerequisites and/or corequisites.
++ indicates that any suffixed course may be selected.

MCCCD Governing Board Approval Date: February 25, 2025

All information published is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented, but based on the dynamic nature of the curricular process, course and program information is subject to change in order to reflect the most current information available.