Major in Environmental Horticulture, Landscape Design and Contracting Concentration

Program Overview

The Landscape Design and Contracting Concentration at Colorado State University equips students with the skills to create, build, and manage landscape projects through a hands-on curriculum and internship opportunities. The program emphasizes environmental solutions, project management, and industry-recognized accreditation, preparing graduates for successful careers in the design-build profession.

Program Outline

Program Details: Major in Environmental Horticulture, Landscape Design and Contracting Concentration

Degree Overview:

The Landscape Design and Contracting concentration at Colorado State University prepares students for careers in the design-build profession for residential, commercial, and public properties. This program focuses on equipping students with the skills to create, build, and manage landscape projects, working closely with other design and contracting professionals.

Key Objectives:

• Environmental Solutions: Students will learn to create projects that minimize environmental impact.
• Project Management: Students will develop skills to manage multifaceted projects of all scales, including site design, cost estimation, construction methods, plant selection and care, and business management.
• Experiential Learning: The program emphasizes hands-on experience through projects that allow students to work with clients and realize built works before graduation.
• Internship: Students are required to complete an internship to further their learning opportunities.

Outline:

The program is structured over eight semesters, with a total of 125-128 credit hours required for completion. The curriculum is divided into four years:

Freshman Year:

• Semester 1:
• AGRI 192 or AGRI 292 (Orientation to Agricultural Systems or Transfer Seminar) - 1 credit
• BUS 150 or CS 110 (Business Computing Concepts and Applications or Personal Computing) - 3-4 credits
• HORT 100 (Horticultural Science) - 3-4 credits
• MATH 117 (College Algebra in Context I) - 1 credit
• MATH 118 (College Algebra in Context II) - 1 credit
• MATH 125 (Numerical Trigonometry) - 1 credit
• Historical Perspectives - 3 credits
• Elective - 3 credits
• Total Credits:
17
• Semester 2:
• CHEM 107 (Fundamentals of Chemistry) - 3-4 credits
• CO 150 (College Composition) - 1-3 credits
• SPCM 200 (Public Speaking) - 3 credits
• Arts and Humanities - 3 credits
• Total Credits:
16

Sophomore Year:

• Semester 3:
• ACT 205 (Fundamentals of Accounting) - 3 credits
• CON 131 (Graphic Communications for Construction) - 2 credits
• HORT 221 (Landscape Plants) - 4 credits
• HORT 231 (Landscape Graphics Studio) - 4 credits
• SOCR 240 (Introductory Soil Science) - 4 credits
• Total Credits:
17
• Semester 4:
• CON 261 (Construction Surveying) - 3 credits
• HORT 232 (Principles of Landscape Design) - 4 credits
• HORT 487 (Internship) - 3-6 credits
• LAND 120 (History of the Designed Landscape) - 3 credits
• Elective - 3 credits
• Total Credits:
16-19

Junior Year:

• Semester 5:
• AREC 202 or ECON 202 (Agricultural and Resource Economics or Principles of Microeconomics) - 3 credits
• HORT 322 (Herbaceous Plants) - 3 credits
• HORT 335 (Landscape Structures) - 4 credits
• HORT 465 (Landscape Estimating) - 3 credits
• Elective - 1 credit
• Total Credits:
14
• Semester 6:
• HORT 336 (Landscape Grading and Drainage Studio) - 4 credits
• HORT 370 (Landscape Irrigation) - 1 credit
• SOCR 370 (Climate-Smart Irrigation Principles) - 2 credits
• Advanced Writing - 2-3 credits
• Spanish - 5 credits
• Total Credits:
15

Senior Year:

• Semester 7:
• BSPM 302 (Applied and General Entomology) - 2 credits
• BSPM 303B (Entomology Laboratory: Horticultural) - 1 credit
• HORT 341 (Turfgrass Management) - 3 credits
• HORT 431 (Planting Design Studio) - 4 credits
• HORT 464A (Arboriculture) - 3 credits
• Electives - 4 credits
• Total Credits:
17
• Semester 8:
• HORT 432 (Intensive Landscape Design Studio) - 4-5 credits
• HORT 479 (Professional Landscape Practices) - 2 credits
• Business Elective - 3 credits
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion - 1-3 credits

Careers:

Graduates of this program are prepared for a variety of careers in the landscape design and contracting industry, including:

• Landscape Designer
• Landscape Architect
• Landscape Contractor
• Project Manager
• Site Supervisor