Folks rely on green industry professionals for everything from the perfect prom corsage to HGTV-worthy curb appeal. In our Applied Horticulture program, students learn how a green thumb paired with technical savvy can lead to a fruitful career in this fertile field.

As they study botany and related sciences, students develop the following skills:

• Produce perennials and annuals in a greenhouse for use in outdoor planting and as cut flowers
• Design, install and maintain landscapes featuring trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, bulbs, etc.
• Create floral arrangements with fresh, silk and dried flowers, as well as houseplants
• Establish and maintain turfgrass through soil amendment, seasonal care and pest control

The program lab is outfitted with floral coolers and other industry-standard equipment. Using computer-aided design software, students plan landscaping projects and bring them to life on LCTI’s 47-acre campus with plants from the school greenhouse. In the process, they learn to operate tractors, skid steers, backhoes and other tools.

Exploring entrepreneurship and business operations are important elements of the program, too. Students oversee the sale of seasonal floral arrangements and are required to develop a horticultural business plan.

Industry Credentials

Applied Horticulture students can earn the following certifications and credentials in high school:

• OSHA Certification – Agriculture CareerSafe®
• Pennsylvania Pesticide Applicator Certification via Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
• Pennsylvania Skills Certificate via NOCTI®

College Credits

The following schools have articulation agreements with LCTI that allow Applied Horticulture students to earn college credit for work they complete in high school:

• Delaware Valley College
• Lehigh Carbon Community College

Career Pathways

with industry credentials:

• Floral Designer
• Groundskeeper
• Nursery Worker

with associate degree:

• Agricultural Technician
• Greenhouse Manager
• Landscape Designer

with bachelor’s degree:

• Agricultural Engineer
• Forester
• Landscape Architect