Horticulture Technology
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Due to unforeseen circumstances, Horticulture Technology will not be hosting a plant sale this year. Please check back with us next year!
Overview
When you enroll in the Horticulture program, you will attend classes at our horticulture location adjacent to the Idaho Botanical Gardens off Warm Springs Avenue in Boise. The facility includes classrooms in a restored early 1900s home with two state-of-the-art greenhouses and over 20 acres of growing fields. There are also over 1,000 plant species growing in the Botanical Gardens next door.
The American Association of Horticulture Professionals, predicts that its industry will continue to have attractive openings for graduates. After completing this program, you will be in position to pursue careers working for retail and wholesale nurseries, land and park management, government agencies, landscape contractors, turf and golf industries, greenhouses, floral shops, and more. Potential jobs include working as a grower, propagator, nursery supervisor, arborist, landscape manager, landscape maintenance supervisor and urban farmer, among others.
Your horticulture training at CWI involves classroom learning, as well as field trips to local growers and practical outdoor and plant-growing experience in the student greenhouses, and nurseries. Internships with area nurseries, landscape installation and maintenance companies, or greenhouses are also offered.
Opportunities
Horticulture students gain experience by working on real-world projects with community members who submit projects for students, hire students as interns or full employees, and take advantage of student work by participating in the annual plant sale.
Community Involvement & Opportunity
The community is encouraged to engage with Horticulture students in their learning through the following opportunities:
Why This Program
We prepare our horticulture graduates to work for retail and wholesale nurseries, public and private landscape maintenance and installation/construction companies and governmental agencies, greenhouses, urban farms, and community supported agriculture cooperatives. Graduates often start their own small businesses in various horticulture fields.
What You Will Learn to Do
- Identify and classify soils and plants, including flowers, shrubs, and trees
- Design, construct, and maintain landscapes
- Grow, care for, and arrange flowers
- Prune trees and shrubs properly
- Identify and manage plant pests and disease
- Propagate plants
- Manage greenhouses and nurseries
- Market horticulture goods and services
- Use pesticides and fertilizers safely and legally
- Communicate professionally, both in person and in writing
- Use business computer applications
- Conduct effective job searches
Requirements and Costs
Degrees and Certificates
Horticulture Technology - Associate of Applied Science Degree
2
YEARSAAS
Horticulture Technology - Advanced Technical Certificate
2
YEARSATC
Horticulture Technology - Intermediate Technical Certificate
1
YEARITC
Skills, Traits, and Prep Classes
- Computer Literacy Skills
- Drawing and drafting capability
- Artistic ability and appreciation of gardening and landscaping
- Courses in biology, botany, art, design, and math
- Basic business management training
- Outdoor work enjoyment and capability
Advising
Navigating your way through college can be confusing, especially if you try to go it alone. CWI offers advising assistance to help in deciding which courses you need to take to reach your education and career goals. Visit Advising or contact One Stop Student Services for more information.
Connecting With Ideas
Connecting With Ideas (CWI 101) is designed to prepare students with the skills to succeed in college, a career, and life. Completion of CWI 101 is a general education requirement of students seeking to earn an Associate of Arts (AA) or Associate of Science (AS) degree from CWI. Students are encouraged to take CWI 101 during their first semester.
Explore CWI 101 PathwaysTransfer
Individuals admitted to CWI as a degree-seeking student who have earned college credit from another institution may transfer their credits to CWI. Visit Transferring to CWI to learn more.
Plan ahead for your transition to a four-year college or university. Students are encouraged to work closely with their advisor and representatives from the intended transfer school to ensure a smooth transition beyond CWI. Visit Transferring From CWI to explore our transfer partnerships.
Cost & Aid
As a student in this program, you may be eligible for financial aid and scholarships. Visit Cost & Aid to view tuition and fees, explore types of aid, apply for federal financial aid, and more.
Are you a 2024 Idaho high school graduate? Learn how to get up to $8,000 of your tuition and fees covered at CWI through Idaho LAUNCH.
Career Info
Professions
- Landscaping
- Grower
- Nursery Crew Supervisor
- Nursery Inventory Control Specialist
- Horticulturist
The American Nursery & Landscape Association predicts that its industry will continue to have attractive openings for graduates. After completing this program, you will be in position to pursue careers working for wholesale nurseries, landscape contractors, floral shops, and more. Potential jobs include working as a grower, nursery crew supervisor, nursery inventory control specialist, and landscaping, among others.
Professional Licensure & Online Program Disclosure
Requirements for professional licensure in fields, such as health care and other fields, vary from state to state. If you live outside Idaho and are considering enrolling in a College of Western Idaho program that leads to a professional license, we highly recommended you visit the appropriate state licensing agency website in your state, or the state where you intend to work, to find the most up-to-date information about state licensure requirements before beginning the program. Find more information regarding licensure for this program.
Locations
Instructors
Program Department Chair
Instructor(s)
Respectful Community
College of Western Idaho is committed to maintaining a Respectful Community by providing equal opportunity for all individuals and does not discriminate in services, benefits, or activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability status, veteran status, age, or any other legally protected status. More on Title IX
News and Blogs

The panel will provide a unique opportunity for students to engage directly with professionals in agriculture and gain a better understanding of the industry.

Tickets for Farm to Fork, a dinner hosted by College of Western Idaho Agriculture Science faculty and students, are on sale now!

College of Western Idaho has officially been designated as Idaho’s newest Tree Campus Higher Education recipient.

Horticulture Technology student, Elizabeth Serocki, spent the weekend organizing a volunteer event to help restore sections of trails at Diane Moore Nature Center in Boise.

Horticulture Technology students, staff, and faculty held a tree planting event as part of the process to earn the designation of a Tree Campus for Higher Education by the Arbor Day Foundation.

College of Western Idaho students and instructors have begun work to help restore acres of land along the Boise River.
Career & Technical Education
- Administrative Specialist
- Advanced Mechatronics Engineering Technology
- Automotive Technology
- Bookkeeping and Accounting
- Cisco Networking and Security Technologies
- Collision Repair Technology
- Computer Support Specialist
- Cybersecurity
- Dental Assisting
- Drafting Technology
- Education, Early Childhood
- Fire Service Management
- Fire Service Technology
- Heavy Duty Truck Technician
- Heavy Equipment Technician
- Horticulture Technology
- Law Enforcement
- Machine Tool Technology
- Marketing Communications
- Medical Administrative Support
- Medical Assistant - Credit
- Network and System Administration
- Nursing, Practical
- Occupational Therapy Assistant
- Physical Therapist Assistant
- Powersports and Small Engine Repair Technology
- Software Development
- Surgical First Assistant
- Surgical Technology
- Unmanned Aerial Systems
- Welding and Metals Fabrication
- Wildland Fire Management