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As highly skilled technicians and supervisory personnel, Environmental Horticulture Technology graduates obtain gainful employment in one of these highly specialized ornamental and environmental industries. This program provides the individual with a detailed understanding of the technical requirements of the industry and helps the student develop the skills needed as commercial environmental managers, horticulturalists, and agronomists. Also, the program allows students the opportunity to further develop critical thinking and problem solving skills needed in the work place. Students trained in this program will find employment with golf courses, commercial properties, contract maintenance, garden centers, athletic and recreational areas, production and retail nurseries, schools, colleges, lawn maintenance and landscape companies, and related horticultural and agronomic service and/or production careers. The Golf Clubhouse Management option prepares students to become assistant clubhouse managers at golf courses. To be eligible to receive the Associate of Applied Science degree in Environmental Horticulture, each student must complete the required courses of one specific management area. A grade of C or better is required for graduation in ENGL 1101, MATH 1002, and all classes with AENG, AENT, AGRP, AGRY and HORT prefixes. Many students earn at least two of the above degrees to better prepare them for the work force, and improve their employability. The program is a mix of traditional and nontraditional students. Many nontraditional students enter the program with a previous degree and complete the technical classes within a year. Students lacking sufficient job training are encouraged to participate in a minimum of two internship (on job training) programs. Also students are encouraged to become a student member of the state and/or national professional trade organization (ie. Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, Georgia Golf Course Superintendents Association, Professional Lawn Care Association of America, Club Managers Association of America, American Association of Nurserymen, Southern Nurserymen Association, Georgia Green Industry Association, etc.) as applicable to their chosen major. Scholarships are available to specific majors from industry and professional organizations. Student clubs in the department include The ABAC Student Chapter of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America and The Horticulture Club. The Torbett-Dobrosky Golf Facility on campus provides multiple experiential learning activities. Also, the college has its very own golf course, Forest Lakes Golf Club, which provides multiple experiential learning opportunities through teaching, demonstration, and competency performance for many of our students not only in golf turf and environmental horticulture but also in the many disciplines of agriculture.
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