Horticulture (Undergraduate Certificate)
To see more about what you will learn in this program, visit the Learning Outcomes website!
Regardless of your educational background, the online Undergraduate Certificate in Horticultural Science provides comprehensive education from award-winning faculty. Requiring only 15 credit hours of coursework, the program is designed to increase personal knowledge and skills. Deepen your knowledge and pursue a passion for horticulture through an online program designed for working adults.
The undergraduate certificate is a non-degree, individually-tailored program offered through the Department of Horticultural Science at NC State University. Courses are available both online and campus, so students don’t need to take time off from work or face long commutes to campus.
Tailor your coursework and education based on your interests. Note: Students with a bachelor’s degree in the sciences interested in advancing a career through graduate work will find the Graduate Certificate in Horticultural Science more appropriate.
Eligibility
Participants must hold a high school diploma or equivalent to enroll in this program. Online Horticulture applicants are enrolled, students must receive a minimum grade of C (2.0) in all courses.
Students may begin taking courses for the certificate in Summer, Fall, or Spring.
Cost
Visit NC State’s Undergraduate Online and Distance Education Tuition rates page for detailed information about graduate tuition and fees.
The total Online Undergraduate Certificate in Horticultural Science cost estimate (North Carolina residents) for Fall 2018-2019 is $3,540 for all 15 hours of coursework.
NC State University also offers a monthly payment plan to make paying your education easier.
Advisor
Undergraduate Certificate students are assigned an academic advisor from the department of Horticultural Science. The student and advisor reflect on the student’s personal and professional goals to design an individual course of study.
After starting or completing the Online Horticulture Undergraduate Certificate, students may wish to count their earned credits toward a Bachelor of Horticultural Science degree. To transfer credits from the Undergraduate Certificate program to the Bachelor’s degree, the following conditions must be met:
- The course number must be at the 200 level or higher
- The course must be letter graded
- The student must have earned a C or better in the course
Undergraduate Certificate Program Coordinator
Mr. Issac Lewis
Undergraduate Certificate Coordinator and Lecturer
Department of Horticultural Science
112 Kilgore Hall, Campus Box 7609
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC 27695-7609
919.515.3189
Plan Requirements
Enrollees must complete a total of 15 credit hours. All the course work is available as online and distance education courses. Two foundational horticultural courses are required for the certificate, taking up six of the total fifteen credit hours:
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foundational Courses | |||
| HS 201 | The World of Horticulture: Principles and Practices | 3 | |
| HS 203 | Home Plant Propagation | 3 | |
| Horticultural Science Elective Courses | |||
| Select three of the following: 1 | 9 | ||
| Home Horticulture | |||
| Home Plant Identification | |||
| Home Food Production | |||
| Home Landscape Design: Creating Garden Spaces | |||
| Hands-On-Horticulture | |||
| Introduction to Permaculture | |||
| Plant Nutrition | |||
| Postharvest Physiology | |||
| Approved Classes | |||
Select a maximum of three credit hours from the following: | |||
| Principles of Plant Pathology | |||
| Forest Pathology | |||
| Lawns and Sports Turf | |||
| General Entomology | |||
| Soil Science | |||
| Soil Fertility and Nutrient Management | |||
| Total Hours | 15 | ||
| 1 | The student and his or her advisor will select the remaining nine hours of courses that will constitute the student’s certificate requirements. Students enrolled in the Certificate program may take all 15 hours from the Department of Horticultural Science. Or, they may choose at least 12 hours from Horticultural Science, with remaining credit hours from approved classes in other departments. |
With completion of 15 credit hours and a grade of C (2.0) or better in each course, the student will be award a certificate acknowledging their accomplishments.