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Landscaping and Groundskeeping


Overview

Landscaping and groundskeeping programs prepare people to manage and maintain indoor and outdoor plants and groundcovers for customers. These programs are sometimes called landscape management, landscape horticulture, or landscape contracting and management.

Landscaping and groundskeeping programs include topics such as:

Schools

Some schools offer landscaping and groundskeeping programs in combination with horticulture, nursery management, or environmental design.

Many community colleges and other two-year schools offer certificate and associate degree programs in landscaping and groundskeeping. A certificate program usually takes a year of full-time study. An associate degree usually takes two years to complete.

A few colleges and universities offer bachelor's degrees in landscaping and groundskeeping. A bachelor's degree usually takes about four years of full-time study.

See schools that offer this program.

Related Educational Programs

Related Careers

Careers Directly Related to this Program of Study

Other Careers Related to this Program of Study

Program Admission

Proprietary schools, colleges, and universities all offer this program. If you want to study at a proprietary school, you can prepare for this program of study by completing your high school diploma or getting a GED. If you want to study at a college or university, you can prepare for this program by taking the following courses: four years of English, three years of math, three years of social studies, and two years of science. Some colleges also require two years of a second language.

Below is a list of high school courses that will help prepare you for this program of study:

Typical Course Work

Program Courses

In this program, you typically take courses such as the following:

Some programs incorporate internships or practicums in their curriculums. This gives you the chance to apply your knowledge in a hands-on, real-world landscaping or groundskeeping setting.

You could help a groundskeeper plant saplings or seedlings. You might work with a landscape contracting company and help research possible plants for use based on a client's resources. These are just a couple of possibilities.

Whatever the setting, you benefit from the direct supervision and guidance of an experienced landscaping and groundskeeping professional.

Things to Know

Some states require landscape contractors to have licenses. Most states also require a license or permit for workers who apply pesticides. Requirements tend to vary but generally include passing an exam.

Various associations and societies offer certification to grounds managers and other landscape professionals. You usually need to have formal schooling in landscaping and groundskeeping and some professional experience. You also typically need to pass an exam. Certification is not usually required to practice. However, it does provide potential employers and clients with standardized proof of your mastery of relevant skills.

Schools

King-Snohomish Area

Bastyr University

Edmonds Community College

Lake Washington Institute of Technology

South Seattle College

Spokane Area

Spokane Community College