How to Become a Horticultural Manager
Some managers are born into the job (eg. They inherit the family business); some build a business from scratch, and others are employed as managers. Whatever path they take, a manager doesn't succeed and stay in a job unless they have the capacity to do the job and do it well.
A course like this is often the first step; and despite being a huge commitment, it will lay a far better foundation than shorter courses, and vastly increase your chances of sustaining a long term career.
This course recognises that knowledge alone is not enough to succeed. It aims to:
- Provide a bank of horticultural knowledge and skills.
- Build your awareness of the horticulture industry, locally, regionally and internationally.
- Develop a network of contacts within the industry.
- Increase your ability to think laterally and solve problems in horticulture.
Horticulture is an industry that is continually moving through peaks and troughs. Changes in seasons, development booms and government policies can all impact on this industry, making one sector (eg. nursery, crop production or landscape) boom while another sector declines. A successful manager will always have a capacity to adapt through these boom and bust periods, moving from a low sector to a high sector as the occasion demands. This diploma has a distinct advantage over some more specialised courses in that it provides the broadest foundation, preparing you to work in any sector of this industry.
Course Structure
Stage 1 Core Studies
The following six modules are undertaken first as a foundation for further studies:
- Horticulture I
- Horticulture II
- Horticulture III
- Plant Selection & Establishment
- Outdoor Plant Production
- Garden Maintenance
Exemption is granted for this stage to anyone who has the following:
- Any Certificate or Advanced Certificate from ACS
- Horticultural studies of 600 hrs or more class contact duration from another approved institution (Approved institutions include universities, IARC recognized institutions, institutions with a teaching approach that have a strong emphasis upon foundation science and plant knowledge)
Note: Modules from either stages II & III may be undertaken after stage I is complete.
Stage II Electives
Ten modules chosen from the following:
- Organic Plant Culture
- Permaculture Systems
- Engineering Applications
- Plant Protection
- Amenity Horticulture I
- Amenity Horticulture II
- Turf Care
- Sports Turf Management
- Turf Repair and Renovation
- Arboriculture I
- Arboriculture II
- Trees for Rehabilitation
- Landscaping I, II, III
- Planning Layout & Construction of Ornamental Gardens
- Restoring Established Ornamental Gardens
- Propagation I
- Cutting Propagation
- Wholesale Nursery Management
- Garden Centre Management
- Cut Flower Production
- Cut Flower Bulbs
- Cut Flower Orchids
- Greenhouse Cut Flowers
- Hydroponics I
- Hydroponic Management
- Commercial Vegetable Production
- Protected Plant Production
- Fruit Production
- Viticulture
- Berry Production
- Herb Culture
Other options may be considered, though the above are generally considered the better options for this particular course.
Stage III Compulsory Modules
The following should all be completed
- Horticultural Resource Management
- Machinery and Equipment (Engineering I)
- Project Management
- Horticultural Marketing
- Operational Business Management I
- Operational Business Management II
- Horticultural Research I
- Horticultural Research II
- Industry Meetings or Workshop I (Note: This can be completed without difficulty anywhere in the world).
OUTLINES OF KEY CORE MODULES
Horticulture I
There are twelve lessons in this course, as follows:
1. Plant Identification
2. Planting
3. Soils
4. Nutrition
5. Water Management
6. Pruning
7. Weeds
8. Pests and Diseases
9. Landscaping
10. Propagation
11. Lawns
12. Arboriculture
Horticulture II
The content of each of the ten lessons is outlined below:
1. The Groups of Plants
2. Use of Plants
3. Australian Native Plants
4. Exotic Ornamental Plants
5. Indoor & Tropical Plants
6. Bedding Plants
7. Vegetables
8. Fruits, Nuts & Berries
9. Herbs
10. Alternative Growing Techniques
Horticulture III (Plant Health)
There are ten lessons in this module, as follows:
- Introduction
- Overview of Preventative Controls
- Insecticides
- Other Pesticides
- Spray Equipment
- Insect Biology
- Fungal Biology
- Environmental Problems
- Viruses
- Nematodes, Molluscs and Crustaceans
Credentials
- Recognised by International Accreditation and Recognition Council
- Highly qualified, experienced and respected staff
- A range of memberships and affiliations in the UK, Australia and elsewhere.
- Affiliations and articulation arrangements with a range of other colleges in the UK and Australia.
Course Manager
This course has been designed, and is managed by John Mason, our principal. Since graduating in horticultural science (1971), John has worked as a landscape designer, nurseryman, parks manager and research officer working with field crops, prior to establishing this school in 1979. Since then, apart from managing this school he has been editor of 4 national gardening magazines, written over 40 books and maintained a small practice as a horticultural consultant.
John has been made a fellow of the Institute of Horticulture (UK) and the Parks and Leisure Institute (Australia).
Tutors
All teaching staff are highly qualified and experienced professional horticulturists. Most hold both degrees an post graduate qualifications. On average, their industry experience exceeds 20 years.
A unique aspect of this course (and others through ACS) is that tutors and course developers come from both northern and southern hemispheres, and from both warm and cool climates. The content and delivery of the course aims to prepare you to work in any climate, country or social situation. We consider this aim to be exceedingly important in a world that is changing so rapidly. We aim to provide a foundation that will serve you wherever you find yourself in the future.
Prerequisites:
Either Year 12 (passed), an acceptable certificate (eg. Completed apprenticeship) or over 21 yrs of age.
OTHER OPTIONS
It is possible to choose any 15 modules (for example), to create an Associate Diploma; provided the combination is sensible and approved by one of our academic staff.
Design your own Associate Diploma, Diploma or Advanced Diploma. Our system is very flexible.
Email the school for assistance with compiling a qualification that is unique, giving you a totally different mix of skills to graduates from other courses!
