Bachelor of Horticulture

About the course

The Bachelor of Horticulture course at CSU offers two specialisations:

Production Horticulture

Technical and business management training for the fruit, nut, vegetable and flower industries. This specialisation includes an Associate Degree exit point.

The Bachelor of Horticulture (Production) places an emphasis on the integration of the science and technology of horticulture with business management capability. This integration of production technology with business skills in finance, marketing, people management and law, aims to develop a multi-skilled professional capable of fulfilling a range of management and leadership roles in these industries.

Production Horticulture is offered from the Orange Campus by both full-time on-campus study and distance education. Residential schools may be required at mostly Orange (or Wagga Wagga) for subjects taken by distance education. Regular field trips are made to rural businesses. The Campus has well established facilities for horticultural education including plant propagation and glass houses within a horticulture centre. Orange is located in close proximity to major fruit, vegetable, nut, flower and grape industries.

Environmental Horticulture

This specialisation focuses on technical and applied science training for the amenity, landscaping and environmental horticulture industries.

The environmental consequences of urbanisation are immense and environmental horticulture can play a major role in improving the quality and amenity of urban environments. Environmental horticulture graduates could be involved in the design, construction and management of landscapes for councils, corporations, public spaces, or domestic properties as well as plant propagation and nursery production. Graduates with management training are in demand to develop and maintain landscapes for an increasingly environmentally conscious population.

Environmental Horticulture is only offered by distance education from the CSU Wagga Wagga Campus. Some Orange based subjects may require attendance at residential schools at Orange. Theory and practice are combined in the University's various on-campus facilities that include an irrigation demonstration area, nursery production area, horticultural plantings and the unique nature of Wagga Wagga and surrounds.

Where it will take you

Horticulture covers a wide range of industries and activities that are increasingly important to Australia and the world. Production Horticulture graduates could be involved in the production, postharvest and marketing of horticultural products. These industries increasingly need managers and technical people who can service corporate horticulture, service and advisory businesses, the marketing chain and family farms.

Environmental Horticulture graduates could be involved in the design, construction and management of landscapes for councils, corporations, public spaces, or domestic properties as well as plant propagation and nursery production. Graduates with management training are in demand to develop and maintain landscapes for an increasingly environmentally conscious population.

These programs are well suited to TAFE graduates who wish to upgrade their existing qualifications and to those in, or wishing to enter, these exciting industries. Arrangements are in place to assist with this articulation.

Graduation requirements

To graduate with the award Bachelor of Horticulture students must complete 24 subjects. Seven integrated core subjects provide a course core, to which are added 11 or 13 specialist core subjects for the Production or Environmental Horticulture, respectively. The remaining subjects can be selected from a wide range of restricted electives.

The Production Horticulture specialisation also has an Associate Degree exit point after completing 16 core subjects. Students in the Degree program also need to undertake six weeks of Industry Practice within an approved horticultural business.

Students will graduate from the Bachelor of Horticulture with the award BHort.

Staff profiles:

Peter Hedberg (MScAgr)

Peter has a research, teaching and consulting background in the viticulture and horticulture industries. He teaches across a range of subjects which helps build the integrated knowledge of students. His extensive consulting and practical background help prepare students for the real world of production horticulture.

Mark McCrone (BLArch, AssocDipAppSc)

Mark is a Landscape Architect who teaches in a range of subjects in Environmental Horticulture. Mark's professional career experience has covered many facets of the disciplines of horticulture and landscape design; from the design, documentation and supervision of landscape works to landscape management reports, tree inventories, and detailed planting design.

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