FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 2, 2002
CONTACT: Ginger Hall Carnes, Palo Alto College Director of Community and Public Relations
gcarnes@accd.edu
State Board Approves Landscape and Horticultural Science Degree at Palo Alto College
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has approved an associate degree in Landscape and Horticultural Science to
be offered at Palo Alto College on the Southside.
The Landscape and Horticultural Science Program prepares people to work in a wide variety of careers—ranging from outdoors
such as landscaping businesses, nurseries, parks and residential complexes to indoors such as interior landscape design and
the floral industry.
Graduates of the Landscape and Horticultural Science program could be foremen, superintendents, licensed pesticide
applicators or irrigators, or work in the management or sales areas.
"Because of the ten-month growing season, San Antonio and the surrounding area require year-round landscape care and
maintenance, so there are plenty of job opportunities here at home," said Palo Alto President Ana M. "Cha"
Guzman.
She emphasized that students can begin by earning a certificate, which can be counted toward earning the associate degree.
The entire associate degree program can be completed in four semesters, said Dr. Rodger Minatra, Dean of Occupational,
Technical and Continuing Education at Palo Alto College. The program was developed in concert with future employers in the
fields.
Students can begin by working on short-term certificates in Basic Nursery and Landscape Operations, Turf and Landscape
Irrigation, and Landscape and Horticultural Science.
Joe Perez, vice president of operations at Fairway Landscape and Nursery, led an advisory committee that developed the
program. "I’m heartened that this program has been approved because the industry as a whole in San Antonio is not at
the professional level of other large cities like Dallas and Houston," he said. We have plenty of experienced laborers,
but they don’t have that professional level of expertise that you get with book knowledge. Those who start taking courses
and get certificates will be immediately marketable and can earn a degree."
Three short-term certificate programs are available for students who desire expertise in a specific area. Courses can be
used toward the associate degree.
Students can network with established professionals and gain scholarships through a variety of professional organizations,
including the Texas Turfgrass Irrigators Association, Texas Nursery and Landscape Association, Associated Landscape
Contractors of America, and Professional Grounds Management Society.
For information, contact Kirk Williams, chairperson of Agribusiness Management, at (210) 921-5128 or call the dean’s office
at (210) 921-5300.