Plant Science and Agricultural Technology Pathway (part-time) | Horticulture
Associate in Science Degree
Meta-Major: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Specialization: Horticulture
Catalog: 2025 - 2026
Planning Your Degree Pathway
This document outlines the courses needed to complete your Associate in Science (A.S.) degree and prepare you for employment in a specialized career upon degree completion. These courses include general education requirements as well as courses specific to your field. Please connect with your Student Success Coach if you need introductory coursework, have earned college credit, industry certifications, have completed an articulated program at a technical college, or would like to modify when you take certain courses and/or how many courses you take in a term. A Success Coach can also provide guidance on how to transition or transfer to a bachelor's degree program at Valencia or another Florida state college in case you decide to earn a bachelor's degree in the future.
Additional Degree Requirements
- Introductory Coursework: Required courses based on placement tests including developmental education
- Civic Literacy Exam: must satisfy Florida Civic Literacy Exam or appropriate scores in AP or CLEP exams
- Grade Point Average (GPA): Need to maintain 2.0 or higher for both Overall GPA and Valencia GPA
- Valencia Residency: Must complete at Valencia at least 25% of the college-level credits required for a degree
* Class has a prerequisite
+ Class requires “C” grade or higher
^ Course may require a specific grade for transfer institution
GESC General Education Student Choice
- Classes fill quickly, make plans with the Class Schedule Search for early registration
- For registration instructions, review our How-To Videos
- Meet with your Student Success Coach to create an education plan.
Sample Term-by-Term Plan | Part-Time (6-9 credits)
Introductory Coursework
| Courses | Credits |
|---|---|
Term 1
| Courses | Credits |
|---|---|
| ENC 1101 Freshman Composition I*+ | 3 |
| PLS 1010C Intro to Plant Science | 3 |
Term 2
| Courses | Credits |
|---|---|
| MGF 1130 Mathematical Thinking or MAC 1105 College Algebra*+ | 3 |
| ENY 1002C Principles of Entomology∆ | 3 |
Term 3
| Courses | Credits |
|---|---|
| CHM 1020 Chemistry in Everyday Life or CHM 1045C Gen Chem w/Qual Analysis* | 4 |
| ORH 1510C Ornamental Plant Materials∆ or AOM 1465C Intro to Sustainable Agriculture∆ | 4 |
Term 4
| Courses | Credits |
|---|---|
| BOT 2010C Botany | 3 |
| Humanities Gen. Ed. Core requirement | 3 |
| ORH 2251C Nursery Operation & Mgmt.*∆ or ORH 2260C Greenhouse Operation & Mgmt.*∆ | 3 |
Term 5
| Courses | Credits |
|---|---|
| PLS 2220C Plant Propagation*∆ | 3 |
| AOM 2012C Types & Systems of Agri. Ops∆ | 3 |
| POS 2041 - U.S. Government+ or AMH 2010 - U.S. History to 1877+ or AMH 2020 - U.S. History 1877 to Present+ | 3 |
Term 6
| Courses | Credits |
|---|---|
| PLP 2001C Plant Pathology*∆ | 4 |
| Plant Science Elective | 3 |
| Plant Science Elective | 1 or 2 |
Term 7
| Courses | Credits |
|---|---|
| SWS 2102C Soils and Fertilizers∆ | 3 |
| Plant Science Elective | 3 |
| Plant Science Elective | 3 or 4 |
Pathway-Specific Information
- Starting your math sequence higher than MAT 1033C will save time, money, and elective space; prepare and test for math level placement
- Program Electives may be satisfied by selecting from the courses listed below. If a course is already listed within the plan above, you must select another course to satisfy the Program Electives requirement
Program Electives
- AOM 1465C Intro to Sustainable Agriculture∆
- BOT 2501C Plant Physiology∆
- BOT 2011C Plant Diversity
- CGS 2100C Comp Fund and Apps
- FAS 2010C Principles of Aquaculture∆
- GEB 1011 Intro to Business
- HOS 2005C Principles of Hydroponics∆
- HOS 2932 Selected Topics Hort/Landscape*
- HOS 2942 Internship in Landscape/Hort*
- IPM 1301C Survey of Pest Control
- IPM 2011C Diag Techniques for Plant Problems∆
- LDE 1000C Landscape Design and Implement*∆
- ORH 1234C Ornamental Plant Maint*∆
- SWS 1530C Principles of Irrigation
- BOT 2800 Ethnobotany
- ORH 2251C Nursery Operation & Mgmt*∆
- ORH 2260C Greenhouse Ops & Mgmt*∆
- ORH 2840C Landscape Construction*∆
- PLS 2402C Principles of Aquaponics∆
- SBM 1000 Small Business Mgmt
- VEC 1201C Intro to Vegetable Gardening∆
- SLS 2940 Service Learning
General Education Course Requirements
Courses listed below are 3 credit hours each unless otherwise stated.
See key for the meaning of symbols
See pathway-specific information
Communications Requirements
These courses need to be completed with a C or higher.
- ENC 1101 – Freshman Composition I*+
Humanities Core (3 Credits)
Select one of the following Humanities courses.
- ARH 1000 – Art Appreciation
- HUM 1020 – Introduction to Humanities
- LIT 1000 – Introduction to Literature
- MUL 1010 – Music Appreciation
- PHI 2010 – Philosophy
- THE 1000 – Introduction to Theater
Math Core (3 Credits)
These courses need to be completed with a C or higher.
Select one course from core
- MAC 1105 – College Algebra*+
- MGF 1130 – Mathematical Thinking*+
- MAC 2311 – Calculus with Analytic Geometry I*+ (4 Credits)
- STA 2023 – Statistical Methods*+
Science Core (3 Credits)
Select one of the following Science courses.
- AST 1002 – Astronomy
- BSC 1005 – Biological Science
- BSC 1005L – Lab in Applied Biology (1 credit)
- BSC 1005C – Biological Science Combined w/ Lab (4 credits)
- BSC 1010C – General Biology I (4 credits)
- BSC 2085C – Anatomy and Physiology I (4 credits)
- CHM 1020 – Chemistry in Everyday Life
- CHM 1045C – General Chemistry with Qualitative Analysis I* (4 credits)
- ESC 1000 – Earth Science
- EVR 1001 – Introduction to Environmental Science
- GLY 2010C – Physical Geology (4 credits)
- OCE 1001 – Introduction to Oceanography
- PHY 1020 – Conceptual Physics*
- PHY 2048C – General Physics with Calculus I* (4 credits)
- PHY 2053C – College Physics I with Algebra and Trigonometry* (4 credits)
Social Sciences (3 Credits)
Select one of the following Social Science Courses. These courses need to be completed with a C or higher.
- AMH 2010 – U.S. History to 1877+
- AMH 2020 – U.S. History 1877 to Present+
- POS 2041 – U.S. Government+
Financial Aid Notice
Federal Financial Aid will only pay for courses for the required Associate in Science Degree. Work closely with your assigned Student Success Coach to verify the degree on your record and to develop a customized plan that includes the required classes each term.
Career ready? Let's check!
- Resume and Cover Letter
- Employment Readiness
- Practice Interview and Job Shadowing
- Internships