Urban Horticulture & Agribusiness
Picture planting the rose garden you helped to design as part of a larger urban renewal project. Or installing a landscape in your client’s backyard in time for her daughter’s upcoming wedding. Imagine working on a team that’s studying the impact crops cultivated in a downtown area have on a local community. This is Urban Horticulture.
The Urban Horticulture program at MCC prepares you for a career in wholesale or retail nurseries, landscape design and construction companies, or landscape management firms. You will also be prepared to work for a government agency involved with the technical phases of the urban horticulture industry. In the program, you’ll learn all about the design, planning, and management of landscapes and how to develop horticulture in urban spaces, parks, and private residential spaces. Design and horticulture awareness are essential components of the program.
Quick Stats
- Example Titles
- Wholesale Nursery Technician
- Retail Nursery Supervisor
- Types of Employers
- Retail Nurseries
- Wholesale Nurseries
- Municipalities
Career Profile
Interest in gardening has increased in recent years and is expected to continue growing. The number of professional buildings, shopping malls, and homes needing new or updated landscaping should also increase.
Skilled nursery workers who have good communication skills may become supervisors. Those who specialize may advance to managing their department. Continuing education in horticulture may also help nursery workers advance.
Urban Horticulture professionals:
- Work with a variety of trees, flowers, and shrubs
- May work alone
- Work outdoors or in greenhouses
- May work long hours (including weekends) during growing seasons
- Train on the job
- May need a license if working with pesticides
Available Associate Degrees and Certificates
| Degree / Certificate | Title | Required Courses |
|---|---|---|
| Associate in Applied Science (AAS) | Urban Horticulture | Required Courses |
| Associate in Applied Science (AAS) | Agribusiness | Required Courses |
| Certificate of Completion (CCL) | Landscape Aide | Required Courses |
| Certificate of Completion (CCL) | Landscape Specialist | Required Courses |
Transfer to a University
| At MCC, get an... | Transfer to... | To get a... |
|---|---|---|
| Associate in Applied Science | Arizona State University | Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness (General Agribusiness) |
Contact the Program Director
Before signing up for classes, you’ll want to contact the program director of the Urban Horticulture program, Peter Conden. Schedule an appointment by email at petoy02201@mesacc.edu or by phone at 480-461-7125. Together you’ll lay out a program or career path that suits you best. This step is essential to your academic success, so don’t skip it, okay?
Get Started
Other resources
- In-depth info at the Urban Horticulture & Agribusiness website
- Programs of Study in Urban Horticulture
- Applied Sciences and Technology Department
