Prospective Horticulture Students

Considering a career in horticulture?  The following information will help you start your exploration of horticulture. 

According to employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor, the horticulture industry in the Kankakee area is projected to have over 200 yearly job openings and require a total of 2,000 replacement workers between 2009 and 2019.  These data demonstrate a steady demand for horticultural workers in the area.

Start your journey to a rewarding career in horticulture here at KCC!

What is horticulture?

Ever plant a flower garden?  Ever buy a potted plant? 

Most people have some exposure to horticulture and do not realize this fact. 

Horticulture is most generally defined as the practice of growing plants in a relatively intensive manner.  This effort can take many forms—simple flower gardening, outdoor and protected plant production, landscaping, interior landscaping, and turf culture are just a few examples.  Horticulture is both an art and science, requiring practitioners to understand plant physiology, plant growth & development, and plant reproduction while also utilizing skills such as landscape design and layout. 

Horticulture as a profession.

Horticulturalists can be both trained and untrained.  If you are interested in horticulture as a profession, academic and practical training is necessary in order to become established in the professional field. 

Professional horticulturalists are those individuals who possess academic and practical training in the science and art of horticulture, and who propagate and grow plants in an intensive manner.  Trained horticulturalists can be found at all levels of the horticultural trade—from small and large scale nursery operations, landscape installation and maintenance operations, turf management operations, plant retail operations, and small and large specialty crop producers.  The horticulturalist must understand the value of continuing education and teamwork. 

What are the responsibilities of a professional horticulturalist?

Professional horticulturalists are responsible for a number of critical jobs within a horticultural operation.  The trained horticulturalist may be responsible for plant propagation from seeds or cuttings or for nursery or greenhouse propagation of particular horticultural crops.  Horticulturalists are also responsible for the design, installation and construction, and maintenance of landscapes in residential and commercial settings.  The job responsibilities of a professional horticulturalist may also include greenhouse operations and maintenance, equipment maintenance, and basic construction.  Horticulturalists also play an important role in the selection and application of pesticides and herbicides in horticultural settings.  The professional horticulturalist often works as a member of a much larger team, which may include trained and untrained horticultural workers.  

Career path for the professional horticulturalist.

A degree in horticulture from KCC will prepare you for entry-level and higher positions in most professional horticultural operations.  Advancement in the horticultural trade is often tied to increasing experience and proficiency with specific horticultural skills.  Training in the KCC horticulture program will provide you with basic, intermediate, and applied horticultural skills that may be developed further through continuing education and on-the-job training.  Skills in sustainable horticultural practices will be a cornerstone of the KCC horticulture degree program.

Questions?

Interested in pursuing a degree in horticulture from KCC?  Have questions about the horticulture program? 

For answers, contact:

Scott Stewart, Ph.D.
Horticulture & Agriculture Program Director

Office phone: 815-802-8859
E-mail: sstewart@kcc.edu