3 answers
Kylie
Student
Salem, Massachusetts
1
Question
Asked
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What college majors are recommended for someone who wants to further their sustainable horticulture education past a tech school?
What college majors are recommended for someone who wants to further their sustainable horticulture education past a tech school? I want to go to college and further my education but I cannot find a Major that appeals to me.
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3 answers
Kate Field
Retired instructor and greenhouse manager
11
Answers
Venice, Florida
Updated
Kate’s Answer
Hello!
I'm going to reccommend this link
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/
This is the US Dept of Labor Occupational Outlook that identifies employment trends and wages.
Make sure you consider the pay and future opportunity before committing to spending money for an advanced degree. You will be way ahead in many cases with a 2 year horticulture degree, a summer internship and 2 years of work experience. You would also earn 2 years of wages instead of spending on more college. Opportunity cost!
I went back to college for a masters degree after working for ten years. I was very clear on my goal at that point as I had experienced a lot of different career paths. I needed the masters degree to teach but increasingly thats not necessary, work experience is it.
I honestly think at this point a BS or advanced degree in horticulture will only benefit you if you go into certain fields and hard sciences such as genetics and plant breeding or controlled atmosphere agriculture (greenhouse and hydroponics). Landscape Architects also need advanced education. Botany requires a degree but not many jobs and low pay.
Everything else is best learned on the job or combines horticulture with something else, a business or computer degree is always useful
Decide what you think you want to do first. What aspect? Sales lead production so if you want to grow plants, study sales and marketing. Do you want to manage or own a sustainable landscape maintenance firm or a garden center? Learn on the job or major in business management, sales and marketing or computer. Greenhouse HVAC, plumbing, irrigation, fertilizers and structural components are all computerized now which falls under agriculture engineering (hydroponic and organic ones producing food)
How will you make money? Where would you like to be ten years after college? What is your dream job? Is the pay enough to live on and/or worth the cost of more college? What can you do to gain the skills needed to earn a living wage in a field that is notoriously low paying? A lot of opportunity in hydroponic greenhouse production. Lots of greenhouse/garden center owners are getting old and want to retire They are desperate to find someone to take over their business. Lots of opportunities for this! Study business and work for one like youvare doing now.
I have never regretted my life as a horticulturist but it was not easy. I made some big sacrifices to earn good money. My first horticulture job was at a florist! I'm still obsessed with plants and so thankful to have this knowledge. Sending you best wishes for your green future! Horticulture needs you!
Interview people doing the kind of job you want to do. People are flattered and will be so helpful. Horticulturists are nice folks!u
Research and define what aspect of sustainable horticulture you are interested in and decide if more school is really needed right now. You can always go back or earn certification in discreet areas
I'm going to reccommend this link
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/
This is the US Dept of Labor Occupational Outlook that identifies employment trends and wages.
Make sure you consider the pay and future opportunity before committing to spending money for an advanced degree. You will be way ahead in many cases with a 2 year horticulture degree, a summer internship and 2 years of work experience. You would also earn 2 years of wages instead of spending on more college. Opportunity cost!
I went back to college for a masters degree after working for ten years. I was very clear on my goal at that point as I had experienced a lot of different career paths. I needed the masters degree to teach but increasingly thats not necessary, work experience is it.
I honestly think at this point a BS or advanced degree in horticulture will only benefit you if you go into certain fields and hard sciences such as genetics and plant breeding or controlled atmosphere agriculture (greenhouse and hydroponics). Landscape Architects also need advanced education. Botany requires a degree but not many jobs and low pay.
Everything else is best learned on the job or combines horticulture with something else, a business or computer degree is always useful
Decide what you think you want to do first. What aspect? Sales lead production so if you want to grow plants, study sales and marketing. Do you want to manage or own a sustainable landscape maintenance firm or a garden center? Learn on the job or major in business management, sales and marketing or computer. Greenhouse HVAC, plumbing, irrigation, fertilizers and structural components are all computerized now which falls under agriculture engineering (hydroponic and organic ones producing food)
How will you make money? Where would you like to be ten years after college? What is your dream job? Is the pay enough to live on and/or worth the cost of more college? What can you do to gain the skills needed to earn a living wage in a field that is notoriously low paying? A lot of opportunity in hydroponic greenhouse production. Lots of greenhouse/garden center owners are getting old and want to retire They are desperate to find someone to take over their business. Lots of opportunities for this! Study business and work for one like youvare doing now.
I have never regretted my life as a horticulturist but it was not easy. I made some big sacrifices to earn good money. My first horticulture job was at a florist! I'm still obsessed with plants and so thankful to have this knowledge. Sending you best wishes for your green future! Horticulture needs you!
Kate recommends the following next steps:
Kate Field
Retired instructor and greenhouse manager
11
Answers
Venice, Florida
Updated
Kate’s Answer
Hello!
I'm going to reccommend this link
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/
This is the US Dept of Labor Occupational Outlook that identifies employment trends and wages.
Make sure you consider the pay and future opportunity before committing to spending money for an advanced degree. You will be way ahead in many cases with a 2 year horticulture degree, a summer internship and 2 years of work experience. You would also earn 2 years of wages instead of spending on more college. Opportunity cost!
I went back to college for a masters degree after working for ten years. I was very clear on my goal at that point as I had experienced a lot of different career paths. I needed the masters degree to teach but increasingly thats not necessary, work experience is it.
I honestly think at this point a BS or advanced degree in horticulture will only benefit you if you go into certain fields and hard sciences such as genetics and plant breeding or controlled atmosphere agriculture (greenhouse and hydroponics). Landscape Architects also need advanced education. Botany requires a degree but not many jobs and low pay.
Everything else is best learned on the job or combines horticulture with something else, a business or computer degree is always useful
Decide what you think you want to do first. What aspect of sustainable horticulture? Sales lead production so if you want to grow plants, youvhave to also sell them, so study marketing. Do you want to manage or own a sustainable landscape maintenance or contracting firm. Study business or business construction Do wantcto manage or own a garden center? Learn on the job or major in business management, marketing ot computer science. Greenhouse HVAC, plumbing, irrigation, fertilizers and structural components are all computerized now which falls under agriculture engineering (hydroponic and organic ones producing food)
Define what part of horticulture youvwant to focus on. Sustainable horticulture is too broad, narrow it down. The handbook link will help. How will you make money? Will you work for someone? Who? where? How much do they pay? Is that pay worth the cost of more college? Do you have land or connections to start your own business? What can you do to gain the skills needed to earn a living wage in a field that is notoriously low paying?
I have never regretted my life as a horticulturist but it was not easy. I made some huge sacrifices to earn good money. I still love it! I wish you the very best.
Interview people doing the kind of job you want to do. People are flattered and will be so helpful. Horticulturists are nice folks!u
Research and define what aspect of sustainable horticulture you are interested in and decide if more school is really needed right now. You can always go back later or earn certification in specific areas
I'm going to reccommend this link
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/
This is the US Dept of Labor Occupational Outlook that identifies employment trends and wages.
Make sure you consider the pay and future opportunity before committing to spending money for an advanced degree. You will be way ahead in many cases with a 2 year horticulture degree, a summer internship and 2 years of work experience. You would also earn 2 years of wages instead of spending on more college. Opportunity cost!
I went back to college for a masters degree after working for ten years. I was very clear on my goal at that point as I had experienced a lot of different career paths. I needed the masters degree to teach but increasingly thats not necessary, work experience is it.
I honestly think at this point a BS or advanced degree in horticulture will only benefit you if you go into certain fields and hard sciences such as genetics and plant breeding or controlled atmosphere agriculture (greenhouse and hydroponics). Landscape Architects also need advanced education. Botany requires a degree but not many jobs and low pay.
Everything else is best learned on the job or combines horticulture with something else, a business or computer degree is always useful
Decide what you think you want to do first. What aspect of sustainable horticulture? Sales lead production so if you want to grow plants, youvhave to also sell them, so study marketing. Do you want to manage or own a sustainable landscape maintenance or contracting firm. Study business or business construction Do wantcto manage or own a garden center? Learn on the job or major in business management, marketing ot computer science. Greenhouse HVAC, plumbing, irrigation, fertilizers and structural components are all computerized now which falls under agriculture engineering (hydroponic and organic ones producing food)
Define what part of horticulture youvwant to focus on. Sustainable horticulture is too broad, narrow it down. The handbook link will help. How will you make money? Will you work for someone? Who? where? How much do they pay? Is that pay worth the cost of more college? Do you have land or connections to start your own business? What can you do to gain the skills needed to earn a living wage in a field that is notoriously low paying?
I have never regretted my life as a horticulturist but it was not easy. I made some huge sacrifices to earn good money. I still love it! I wish you the very best.
Kate recommends the following next steps:
Michelle M.
Entertainment Industry
1180
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Kylie !
You didn't mention which majors you're not interested in or which ones you've already checked out and don't like, so I will go out on a limb to give you some advice. It's wonderful that you want to further your education. I was thinking that you may try majoring in Plant Biology or Botonny. The website, College Factual, has a list of the ten best schools for these majors and I have left a link to this list for you below. You may also consider going for a degree in Horticultural Science.
Your advanced course of study is pretty much straight forward - you want to work with plants. I would also suggest that you explore employment notices specifically to see what employers are asking applicants to have a degree in. The majors I have mentioned will prepare you for a career and will give you hands on work with plants while you are in college.
Even if these majors are ones you've looked into and don't like, explore further and see what people are doing, what jobs with which degree. Ultimately, you will make a good choice as you seem to have started exploring this and I wish you all the best with what you decide.
https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/botany-plant-biology/rankings/top-ranked/bachelors-degrees/
You didn't mention which majors you're not interested in or which ones you've already checked out and don't like, so I will go out on a limb to give you some advice. It's wonderful that you want to further your education. I was thinking that you may try majoring in Plant Biology or Botonny. The website, College Factual, has a list of the ten best schools for these majors and I have left a link to this list for you below. You may also consider going for a degree in Horticultural Science.
Your advanced course of study is pretty much straight forward - you want to work with plants. I would also suggest that you explore employment notices specifically to see what employers are asking applicants to have a degree in. The majors I have mentioned will prepare you for a career and will give you hands on work with plants while you are in college.
Even if these majors are ones you've looked into and don't like, explore further and see what people are doing, what jobs with which degree. Ultimately, you will make a good choice as you seem to have started exploring this and I wish you all the best with what you decide.
Michelle recommends the following next steps:
Thank you so much Michelle! I’m 16 years old and currently working at a floral design/greenhouse store and it’s really fascinating seeing all the behind the scenes greenhouse work. This was really helpful and i’ll look more into what you suggested, thank you again!
Kylie
You are welcome, Kylie !
Michelle M.