Bachelor of Science in Horticulture

Warnborough College and ACS Distance Education (UK) jointly designed a Bachelor of Science in Horticulture (BSc.H) degree program that is structured so that it meets the academic requirements for those seeking a career in this profession in any part of the world.

Are you interested in plants and how they grow? Would you like to work in the production, management and/or marketing of plants, vegetables and fruits? The BSc in Horticulture program will give you a broad introduction to a large variety of plants (flowers, berries, fruit, vegetables) that are cultivated both indoors and outdoors. From this basic appreciation, you go on to learn the structure of plants, how they live, and what they need in order to grow and produce food. You will also have the opportunity to go into such specialist areas as landscape design, hydroponics and ecotourism.

Whilst learning specialised knowledge in the horticultural field, you will get to hone academic skills such as technical writing, critical and analytical thinking, and be proficient at handling project-based work. Some modules are conducted through problem-based learning (PBL) which will allow students to demonstrate their acquired knowledge and practical experience.

• Successful completion of a high school certificate; or
• An appropriate horticultural apprenticeship qualification (normally 4 years), equivalent or higher; or
• Over 21 years of age: with proven and appropriate experience in horticulture.

Applicants are expected to be skilled in the use of computers, especially with respect to word-processing and spreadsheets (eg. Microsoft Word and Excel). If your skills are limited in this area, you may find it necessary to undertake an I.T. course before commencing the degree.

Applicants should have a good command of the English language. If English is not your native language, we will require proof that your English language skills will allow you to cope with the course material and requirements (eg. a TOEFL score of 550 or an IELTS score of 6.0).

Thirty (30) modules must be completed successfully for the degree to be awarded. Each module of 100 hours duration provides 4 credit points toward the degree. A total of 120 credit points must be attained for the degree to be awarded.

Upon enrolment, studies may commence within a few days; at which point you will be contacted by email with an access code for an orientation course in technical writing, and sent electronic copies of both the Warnborough and ACS student Handbooks. The Technical Writing course will show you how you should write throughout the degree program.

Course materials for your first modules will be sent to you not later than 3 weeks following acceptance of your enrolment (usually sooner). All studies required to achieve the degree, may be undertaken in the country where you live.

Advanced Standing

• Graduates of appropriate short courses, Certificates or Diplomas will be given credit that equates with the nominal duration of studies in earlier courses.
• Credit may be given for studies from other institutions, where it has been determined that the course duration and content; and the standard of delivery, was at a level equal to, or better than that of this course.
• Credit may be given on the basis of a formal RPL (Recognition for Prior Learning) application; for up to, but no more than, two thirds of the credit points.

120 credit points

A short introductory, online module on Academic Writing must be completed at the very start of the degree. This module should take only a few hours to complete and is not examinable.

Following this, Horticulture I, the first of the compulsory modules must be completed online.
This module will take around 100 hrs to complete; and an exam must be passed, before progressing to any other modules.

The student will be given access codes within a day of processing their enrolment, in order to immediately commence these initial studies.

Year 1 (40 credit points)

Core (Compulsory) Modules
BHT101 Horticulture I (4 credit points)
BHT102 Horticulture II (4 credit points)
BHT103 Plant Health (4 credit points)
BSC102 Plant Biochemistry (4 credit points)
BSC104 Botany I (4 credit points)

Workplace (Compulsory) Projects:
BGN104 Industry Meetings (4 credit points)
BGN102 Research Project I (4 credit points)

Optional (Elective) Modules:
BHT104 Turf Management I (4 credit points)
BHT107 Plant Establishment and Maintenance (4 credit points)
BHT106 Arboriculture I (4 credit points)
BHT109 Garden Design I (4 credit points)
BHT111 Landscape Construction I (4 credit points)
BHT110 Cottage Garden Design (4 credit points)
BHT1301 Crops I (Outdoor Plant Production) (4 credit points)
BHT114 Herb Production I (4 credit points)
BHT113 Australian Plants I (4 credit points)
BHT120 Nature Park Management I (4 credit points)
BSC105 Machinery and Equipment (4 credit points)

Year 2 (40 credit points)

Core (Compulsory) Modules: Course Code
BHT105 Soil Management (4 credit points)
BHT210 Irrigation I (4 credit points)
BBS201 Project Management (4 credit points)

Workplace (Compulsory) Projects:
BGN201 Research Project II (4 credit points)
BGN103 Workshop I (4 credit points)

Optional (Elective) Modules:
BHT207 Plant Protection (4 credit points)
BHT206 Plant Pathology (4 credit points)
BHT209 Weed Management (4 credit points)
BHT202 Turf Management II (4 credit points)
BHT208 Arboriculture II (4 credit points)
BHT214 Garden Design II (4 credit points)
BHT216 Park & Playground Design I (4 credit points)
BHT215 Natural Garden Design (4 credit points)
BHT211 Cutting Propagation (4 credit points)
BHT108 Plant Propagation I (4 credit points)
BHT212 Production Nursery Management (4 credit points)
BHT213 Retail Nursery Management (4 credit points)
BHT224 Hydroponics Production I (4 credit points)
BHT221 Cut Flower Production I (4 credit points)
BHT223 Protected Plant Production (4 credit points)
BHT222 Vegetable Production I (4 credit points)
BHT217 Tropical Fruit Production (4 credit points)
BHT229 Scented Plants (4 credit points)
BHT227 Medicinal Herbs (4 credit points)
BHT228 Lavender Production (4 credit points)
BHT232 Orchid Culture (4 credit points)
BHT233 Palm & Cycad Culture (4 credit points)
BHT231 Rose Culture (4 credit points)
BHT234 Tropical Plant Culture (4 credit points)
BHT225 Australian Plants II (4 credit points)
BHT204 Nature Park Management II (4 credit points)
BSC205 Engineering Applications (4 credit points)
BSC204 Botany II (Available 2004) (4 credit points)
BSC203 Biochemistry II (4 credit points)
BHT236  Plant Breeding (4 credit points)
BHT242  Planning Layout and Construction of Ornamental Gardens (4 credit points)
BHT243  Restoring and Establishing Ornamental Gardens (4 credit points)

Year 3 (40 credit points)

Core (Compulsory) Modules: Course Code
BSC303 Statistics (4 credit points)
BBS301 Professional Practice for Consultants (4 credit points)

Workplace (Compulsory) Projects:
BGN202 Research Project III (4 credit points)
BGN203 Workshop 2 (4 credit points)

Optional (Elective) Modules:
(Note: Upon approval, electives from other years may be accepted here)
BWR301 Technical Writing (4 credit points)
BSC302 Biochemistry III (4 credit points)
BHT203 Horticultural Management (4 credit points)
BHT304 Horticultural Marketing (4 credit points)
BHT305 Irrigation II (4 credit points)
BHT303 Turf Management III (4 credit points)
BHT308 Park & Playground Design II (4 credit points)
BHT307 Water Garden Design (4 credit points)
BHT306 Tissue Culture (4 credit points)
BHT310 Mushroom Production (4 credit points)
BHT219 Nut Production (4 credit points)
BHT309 Berry Production (4 credit points)
BHT320 Bonsai Plant Culture (4 credit points)
BHT319 Annuals Plant Culture (4 credit points)
BHT315 Interior Plant Culture (4 credit points)
BHT314 Fern Culture (4 credit points)
HT354 Eucalypts (4 credit points)
BTR101 Ecotourism I (4 credit points)
BSC206 Alternative Energy (4 credit points)
BHT324 Amenity Horticulture I (4 credit points)
BHT326 Operational Business Management I (4 credit points)
BSC305  Plant Ecology (4 credit points)

Studies for a degree involve 3000 hours of self paced study.
(Note: This is a "basic" minimum figure. For most students, this would not include extra study for exams, or effort required to deal with any difficulties or exceptional assignment work).

Upon satisfactory completion of all requirements, students will be awarded the Bachelor of Science in Horticulture degree.

EXIT POINT: Students who withdraw after successfully completing Semester I, and before commencing Semester II; may apply for and be awarded a Certificate in Horticulture by ACS Distance Education (UK).

The program is conducted via distance learning only. Modules can be done through a combination of online study materials, learning packages sent via post, and videos. Students have access to a personal tutor for each individual module.

Students are required to obtain texts needed for successful completion of program projects, through libraries, on-line resources and/or bookstores.

Please see the tuition fees section. Payments may be made upfront or on a modular basis.

Note: All fees listed here refer to tuition only. It does not include ancillary expenses such as required materials (see above), textbooks, internet connections, postage, telephone calls, insurance and printing.

Download Application Form.
View admissions information.

We share combined faculty for this program with ACS Distance Education (UK). ACS Distance Education (UK) is the UK-established sister school of the well-known Australian Correspondence Schools, which has since 1979, built an outstanding reputation in horticultural education both within Australia and beyond. It is well-known not only for its high standard of training, but also for the many horticultural publications by its principal (John Mason) and staff.

Please contact admissions@warnborough.edu