The Academy of Education and Community Services
Agriculture / Plant Systems Career Pathway

Greenhouse & Garden Operations 1
STEM
Course Code: 4001
Credits: 0.5
Grade: All
Weight: General
Schools: W
This course will explore horticulture through hands-on activities in floral design, landscape design & maintenance, greenhouse growing, and crop production. Growing crops, students will apply science and business through community plant sales. Working in the school and local community, students will design, install, and maintain landscape projects. Additionally, students will create floral arrangements for special events. Exploration of horticulture career opportunities through local business tours and guest speakers will also be a focus.

Greenhouse & Garden Operations 2

STEM
Course Code: 4002
Credits: 0.5
Grade: All
Weight: General
Schools: W
Prerequisite: Greenhouse & Garden Operations 1
Students will further explore floral design, landscape design & maintenance, and crop production through hands-on, real-world projects. Career exploration and business management topics will be included.

Greenhouse and Garden Center Management
STEM
Course Code: 4003
Credits: 1.0
Grade: 10-12
Weight: General
Schools: W
Prerequisite: Greenhouse & Garden Operations 1 & 2
Combining business and science, students will produce and manage the school's greenhouse crops. Through hands-on flower/vegetable production, students will apply knowledge of soils, fertilizers, irrigation systems, and propagation methods. Marketing, employee management, customer service, and merchandising will also be a focus. Students will explore career opportunities in this area through local business tours and guest speakers.

Landscape Design & Maintenance
STEM
Course Code: 4004
Credits: 1.0
Grade: 10-12
Weight: General
Schools: W
Prerequisites: Greenhouse & Garden Operations 1 & 2
Students will design, install, and maintain landscape projects on school grounds and community sites. Topics include site assessment, design principles, irrigation management, fertilizing, mulching, pruning, landscape crew management, and landscape sales/estimates. This course will also focus on the identification of trees, shrubs, perennials, and annuals. Students will explore career opportunities in this area through local business tours and guest speakers.

Vegetable, Fruit, & Flower Crop Production
STEM
Course Code: 4005
Credits: 1.0
Grade: 10-12
Weight: General
Schools: W
Prerequisites: Greenhouse & Garden Operations 1 & 2
Partnering with the culinary classes, students will grow produce and flowers in preparation for school events, including a farm-to-table dinner.  Topics include organic growing methods, nutritional value, harvesting methods, irrigation, insect/disease management, soils/fertilization, and floral design.  Farm sales & marketing strategies will also be a focus. Students will explore career opportunities in this area through local business tours and guest speakers.

Floral Art & Advanced Floral Design: UCONN
STEM
Course Code: 4006
Credits: 1.0
Grade: 11-12
Weight: AP/Post-Secondary
Schools: W
Prerequisites: Greenhouse & Garden Operations 1 & 2
Students will explore floral art through hands-on projects, including personal projects where students will take home their floral arrangements, as well as school event projects which will remain on display. Design principles, post-harvest care, special events/weddings, marketing, and pricing topics will be included. Students will explore career opportunities in this area. Students earn 4 Uconn credits upon successful completion of this course.

Horticulture: UCONN
STEM
Course Code: 4007
Credits: 1.0
Grade: 11-12
Weight: AP/Post-Secondary
Schools: W
Prerequisites: Greenhouse & Garden Operations 1 & 2
Through hands-on projects working in the school greenhouse and landscaping school grounds, students will apply knowledge of plant propagation, crop production, soil management, Integrated Pest Management, and plant structure/growth/function. Technology application in horticulture, as well as the environmental impact of horticultural practices, will also be studied.  Students will explore career opportunities in this area through local business tours and guest speakers. students earn 3 UConn credits upon successful completion of this course.