Aim
Join our Organic Gardening programme and develop the practical knowledge and skills to succeed in horticulture, landscape design, garden maintenance, and plant propagation. With specialist modules, you can select based on your chosen area of interest, from market gardening to plant propagation. Find employment opportunities with landscapers, public parks, nurseries, garden centers, or in managing your allotment.
Our programme provides you with a thorough practical knowledge of horticulture, landscape design, garden maintenance, and plant propagation. Facilitates progression to horticulture programmes on offer in the college at Level 6.
Entry Requirements
- Leaving Cert or its equivalent is advised.
- Mature students are welcome to apply. Life/work experience will be considered in lieu of formal qualifications.
Programme of Study
Elective Modules
- Plant Identification and Use
- Ornamental Horticulture
- Biological Diversity
- Plant Propagation
Core Modules
- Communications
- Plant Science
- Soil Science and Growing Media
- Plant Protection
- Work Practice
Work Placement/Gardening Projects
The programme includes a 440-hour placement. Practical experience is an integral part of the course. The College has established the following practices to enhance learners’ exposure to horticulture:
- Garden maintenance in public parks, private gardens, and college grounds
- Community support: Designing and helping to build a garden for St Michael’s House
- Maintaining the gardens of Simpson’s Nursing Home and helping with the Airfield
Career Opportunities
After completing the programme, there are many employment opportunities in domestic landscaping, private gardens, public parks and nurseries, market gardens, managing your allotment, and garden centers. The design elective allows students to look after large gardens, while the market gardening elective prepares learners to cultivate a site suitable for food crop production, and acquire skills in propagation, cultivation, and harvesting of food crops.
Progression
Graduates who achieve the required standard may progress to our two-year part-time programme in Horticulture Supervision or Market Gardening Supervision at Level 6. Alternatively, graduates may be eligible for advanced progression procedures to year 2 of Higher Certificate/Degree programmes in Horticulture through the CAO application process. Progress to the following degree courses:
- IT Blanchardstown, BN113 Horticulture
- National Botanic Gardens, Horticulture
- UCD, DN272 Horticulture, Landscape and Sportsturf Management (LC Ordinary level Maths required)
