Best Horticulture Degrees Online

Horticulture involves growing, caring for, and researching plants on a small scale. You’ve likely met an amateur horticulturist with a greenhouse, vegetable patch, or manicured flower garden. Professional horticulturalists improve people’s lives by developing relaxing green spaces and increasing plants’ crop yields.

Horticulture stands apart from other food-production and plant sciences disciplines in important ways. Agriculture operates on a much larger scale and focuses on animal livestock and plants. Agronomy uses a multidisciplinary approach to grow specific edible plants on a large scale.

Start your journey toward a fulfilling horticulture career by researching the best online horticulture degrees. These programs emphasize transferable plant science and business skills.

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

Online horticulture programs’ curricula feature classes in plant propagation, soil science, and other plant science topics. You’ll also take classes in business computing concepts, statistics, and personal computing. Some program requirements, such as an internship, require travel to a local business or agency.

Some colleges let you complement your education with a minor in agricultural business, economics, or information science. A horticulture certificate in seed science or integrated pest management can help you align your majors with specific jobs in the horticulture industry.

Like other undergraduate majors, the best online horticulture degrees provide a well-rounded general education curriculum with coursework in mathematics, natural sciences, and the humanities. These classes emphasize transferable skills that employers in all fields expect you to know. During your program, you’ll earn about 120 credits. If you’re a full-time student with no previous college experience, you’ll likely need four years to graduate.

The best online horticulture degrees feature an interdisciplinary curriculum that trains you for different careers. Employment opportunities include landscape architect, food scientist, and sales manager. You can also use your education to manage an organic farm.

A horticulture major prepares you for jobs and career advancement. Although some entry-level positions require only a high school diploma, many employers restrict management-level jobs to candidates with a college education. A college degree can also improve your competitiveness in the job market. This could be an advantage for future horticulturists because the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects flat to negative growth for some jobs in the horticulture industry over the next decade.

Online horticulture programs can also train you in small business ownership. Your academic advisor can help you pick the right business and management classes to complement your major.

College students who are unsure about their career plans should consult their advisor and explore related fields. Many agribusiness careers focus on the latest scientific advancements impacting large-scale farming. Fortunately, online horticulture classes require coursework relevant to agribusiness and other plant science jobs.

Jobs in the horticulture industry let you explore many career paths. Use your college’s career advising resources to research these and other horticulture careers.

A horticulture certification may help you stand out to potential employers and increase your salary potential. Certifications can also improve your resume if you enter the job market during a recession or choose a career the BLS projects will contract.

Professors, academic advisors, and career advisors can help decide whether these or other horticulture certifications can best assist you with reaching your career goals.

The American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) awards the Associate Professional Horticulturist (APH) to recent college graduates without work experience. Applicants must hold a BS in horticulture or a related field, commit to the ASHS code of ethics, and provide three professional references. You must also submit a cover letter and resume.

ASHS accepts applications online and through the mail. APHs must earn at least 20 continuing education credits (CECs) annually to renew their certification. You may earn up to 10 CECs through self-directed study.

Horticulturists with at least five years of relevant work experience can apply for the Practicing Professional Horticulturist (PPH). Unlike the APH, the PPH requires only a high school diploma or GED. You must also submit three professional references, a cover letter, and a resume.

ASHS charges a $150 application fee as of July 2024, the same rate initial APH applicants pay. The certification remains valid for two years. Renewal requirements include 40 CECs gained from approved self-directed study, in-person classes, and other activities.

The ASHS awards the Certified Professional Horticulturist (CPH) to horticulturists with a college degree and at least five years of relevant work experience. You can substitute an MS for two years of work experience and a Ph.D. for four years of experience. As with the PPH, full- and part-time work counts toward this requirement. The CHP lasts two years and requires 40 CECs to renew. ASHS offers a significant renewal fee discount to members.