ADVANCED DIPLOMA IN HORTICULTURE - LANDSCAPING (VHT009)

HOME STUDY - LANDSCAPE QUALIFICATION

Keep your options wide -learn about both horticulture and landscaping for a unique and exciting career.

This course provides comprehensive training to a professional level for employment as a garden designer, landscape technician, contractor or manager.

This course develops a strong foundation for a career in planing and/or management of landscaping projects. If you have the time and resources to attempt a course of this size, you won't get a much better grounding in landscaping than this. This course is ideal for anyone already in the industry, looking to advance their career, or anyone wanting to enter and fast track a career in landscape (eg: Garden Designer, Landscape Contractor, Landscape Consultant)

Core Modules

The following four modules are compulsory: Biochemistry (Plants), Instructional Skills, Business Studies, and Workplace Health and Safety A.

Stream Modules

800 hours of study in compulsory modules (normally 8 x 100 hour modules): Horticultural Management , Horticultural Marketing , Horticulture I , Landscaping I , Landscape Construction , Soil Management , Engineering I , Botany I .

Stream Elective Subjects

600 hours of study in modules (normally 6 X 100 hour modules), selected from the following:

Landscaping II, Landscaping III, Water Gardening, Playground Design, Turf Care, Permaculture Systems, Advanced Permaculture Design, Irrigation, Horticulture II, Australian Native Plants I, Arboriculture I, Herb Culture, Roses.

Optional Electives

200 hours of study in modules (normally 2 X 100 hour modules), which can be chosen from any advanced diploma level modules, from a wide range of disciplines other than horticulture.

* Students are required to attain a current Senior First Aid Certificate during the course of study.

WORKPLACE ORIENTED RESEARCH

Two projects must be undertaken to satisfy the 200 hour nominal duration. Each project will deal with a distinct aspect of workplace activity, and culminate in a written formal report of a length appropriate to the nature of the project.

This can also be satisfied by completing Research Project I & II or Horticulture & Research I & II.

WORKSHOPS

Two PBL based workshop modules build your practical knowledge and ability to apply what you learn in the real world. (ie. Workshop I and Workshop II)

INDUSTRY CONFERENCE/SEMINARS/MEETINGS

You must attend 100 hours (minimum) of industry seminars within the period of the course.

These may include such things as industry conferences or seminars, or professional society meetings.

COURSE STRUCTURE SUMMARY

OTHER OPTIONS: Diploma in Landscaping is a course with a little less horticulture, and a stronger focus on landscaping; both design and construction. click here for details

ACS was founded by John Mason in 1979 as Australian Horticultural Correspondence School.

Right from these very early times, we've always believed that the best education only comes when the student is learning from the experience of a whole range of industry experts (rather than just a single teacher).

Every ACS course is a work in progress, continually evolving, with new information being added and old information being updated by our team of internationally renowned professional horticulturists.

Over the decades more than 100 horticulture experts from across the world have contributed to these courses, bringing their individual knowledge and experiences from as wide afield as England and Spain to Australia and America.

While may colleges and universities focus on providing courses that relate only to the country where they are based, ACS has always strived to make it's courses relevant to all parts of the world; any climate, economic or cultural situation. This has been achieved by involving a large number of professionals in the course development.

When it comes to tutoring, marking papers and mentoring students, the team approach is just as strong as with our writing. ACS students have the ability to obtain advice and support from staff across the world, with horticulture tutors located in the UK, Australia (both the north and south) and New Zealand.

The ACS team approach and global focus to both course content and student support, ensures our graduates have a unique and "real world" skills set. This unique approach is highly regarded by our colleagues in horticulture.

Contributors to ACS Courses over the years have included:

• John Mason -former parks director (Melton, Essendon and Heidelberg), Landscape Designer (Playgrounds and recreation Association of Victoria), Nurseryman, President Australian Institute of Horticulture (Victoria), Committee International Year of the Child (Australia), Author ove over 40 books, Editor Garden Guide Magazine, Editor Your Backyard Magazine.
• Maggi Brown - Education officer, Henry Doubleday Research Association (UK), gold medal winner Chelsea Flower Show, Garden consultant.
• Adriana Fraser - Horticultural Consultant, TAFE Lecturer, Project Manager - Parks and Gardens, Horticultural writer. 
• Iain Harrison -Garden Manager Fibremakers, Garden Consultant, Lecturer Swinburn TAFE
• Katie Freeth - Manager Commonwealth War Graves (France), Horticultural Consultant (France & UK), Board member Institute of Horticulture, and International Federation Parks & Recreation Administration
• Tony Bundock -Horticulture Businessman, Consultant, Head of Horticulture Dept. TAFE
• Jim Davis -Horticulture Businessman, Lecturer TAFE (NSW), Principal VCAH Burnley College
• Dr Lyn Morgan -author and internationally renowned hydroponics consultant (New Zealand)
• Dr Valeria Astorga -horticultural consultant, lecturer (Spain, Peru, Australia)
• Alison Bundock -Editor (Kangaroo Press; Southern Cross University), Technical Writer (APM), Consultant
• Rosemary Davies -Horticultural concultant, journalist, media personality (Victoria)