Ornamental Horticulture Minor

The Department of Urban Horticulture and Design offers an undergraduate minor in Ornamental Horticulture to all baccalaureate degree students at Farmingdale State College. The field of Ornamental Horticulture is a diverse array of growers, retailers, designers, installers, and maintenance personnel serving public and private gardens, homeowners, golf courses, parks and recreational facilities.

The minor is designed to give the student a basic core of horticultural skills that can be amplified through a series of elective courses. Students who wish to complete this minor must be matriculated in a baccalaureate program at Farmingdale State College and must apply through the Department of Urban Horticulture and Design.

Student Learning Outcomes:

  • Students will acquire knowledge of plant science, horticulture and landscape design complemented by practical skills. 
  • Students will grow to appreciate the diversity of horticulture and landscape design through exposure to foundation courses and specialized electives. 
  • Students will gain familiarity with horticulture and landscape design to prepare them for further study, entry into the workforce, or personal recreation. 

About Academic Minors

Farmingdale State College students are invited to enhance their studies with an "Academic Minor." A minor is a cluster of thematically related courses drawn from one or more departments. In addition to department based minors (e.g. computer programming & info systems), interdisciplinary minors are also available (e.g. legal studies).

Academic minors are approved by the College-Wide Curriculum Committee and the Provost. Students must make application for an academic minor through the department offering the minor in conjunction with the Registrar's Office Specific course work must be determined in consultation with a faculty member in the department offering the minor. A statement of successful completion of the academic minor will appear on the student's transcript at the time of graduation.

  • A minor is considered to be an optional supplement to a student's major program of study.
  • Completion of a minor is not a graduation requirement and is subject to the availability of the courses selected. However, if the requirements for a minor are not completed prior to certification of graduation in the major, it will be assumed that the minor has been dropped. Consequently, the student will only be certified for graduation in their primary major.
  • Only students in 4 year baccalaureate programs can apply for a minor.
  • A minor should consist of 15 to 21 credits.
  • At least 12 credits must be in courses at the 200 level or higher.
  • At least 9 credits must be residency credits.
  • Specific requirements for each minor are determined by the department granting the minor. 
  • Students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 in their minor.  Some minors may require a higher GPA.
  • Students are prohibited from declaring a minor in the same discipline as their major (e.g. one cannot combine an applied math minor with an applied math major). Academic minors may not apply to all curricula.
  • Students are permitted to double-count courses.
  • Students are only permitted to take more than one minor with appropriate written approval of their department chair or curriculum Dean.

Admission to Farmingdale State College - State University of New York is based on the qualifications of the applicant without regard to age, sex, marital or military status, race, color, creed, religion, national origin, disability or sexual orientation.

Urban Horticulture and Design | Dr. Jonathan Lehrer | horticulture@farmingdale.edu | 934-420-2711

Fall 2024

Subject to revision

Required: credits
HOR 110 Horticulture I 3
HOR 111 Horticulture II - Growth and Development of Cultivated Plants 3
HOR 112 Soils: The Foundation of Life 3

12 credits must be selected from Horticulture courses at the 200-level or higher

Notes:
The selection of electives should be done in consultation with a full-time member of the Department.
Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 in their horticulture courses.
Printed on 12/14/24

2350 Broadhollow Road
Farmingdale, NY 11735-1021

934-420-2000

farmingdale.edu

HOR 110 Horticulture I:Introduction to Plant Science

Cultivated plants are central to life on Earth and understanding their needs fosters an appreciation for the fragility of our natural environment. This survey course provides a broad introduction to the biological, chemical, and physical determinants of plant growth and performance. Topics include nomenclature, plant life cycles, soil and nutrition, plant cultivation and maintenance, and the history of cultivated plants. Throughout the course, students will apply the scientific method during experimentation, data collection, and analysis of exercises conducted in the greenhouse. The Robert F. Ench Teaching Gardens serve as a laboratory to explore various aspects of informed plant cultivation. Corequisite(s): HOR 110L

HOR 111 Horticulture II-Growth and Development of Cultivated Plants

Understanding the performance of cultivated plants reveals our connection to the living environment and our responsibility as stewards. Plant growth is influenced by myriad biological, chemical, and environmental variables that mitigate growth and survival. By understanding the scientific basis for these factors, we are better prepared to customize growing conditions that promote thriving plants and environmental well-being. This course surveys the environmental forces (including global climate change) and physiological processes that affect plant growth, adaptation, senescence, dormancy, flowering, and propagation. During laboratory exercises, students implement the scientific method through experimentation, data collection, and interpretive analysis. Prerequisite(s): HOR 110 Corequisite(s): HOR111L

HOR 112 Soils: The Foundation of Life

This survey course explores the central role of soils as a dynamic living system which influences land use, plant growth, environmental health, and societal well-being. Fundamental soil properties such as its geologic origins and physical, chemical, and biological behavior are addressed comprehensively. Through classroom lecture and investigative laboratory exercises, students survey the functions of soil, understand its classification and management parameters, and appreciate the urgency of global conservation efforts. Corequisite(s): HOR 112L
Last Modified 6/17/24