Rows of flowers and landscaping.

Environmental Horticulture

Do You Want to Improve the Sustainability of our Natural Environment?

Environmental horticulturists provide solutions necessary to achieve aesthetically pleasing, functional, and environmentally sound outdoor spaces. They also design and manage private and public landscapes, such as golf courses, botanical gardens, and parks. In addition, they may develop the entrepreneurial skills necessary to successfully operate a nursery, garden center, tree care, landscape design, and build or landscape management firm. Three concentrations are offered in the Environmental Horticulture major— Landscape Design and Contracting, Nursery and Landscape Management, and Turf Management.

Students will be provided with frequent opportunities for gaining hands-on learning experiences. Students in the program are either required or encouraged to have student internships or apprenticeships. Many students are engaged in independent studies with faculty in lab and field research, and work study/hourly jobs in the field or greenhouse.

Browse the CSU Course Catalog to learn about courses and degree requirements.

One Major, Three Concentrations

Landscape Design and Contracting Concentration

The Landscape Design and Contracting concentration is an academic program focusing on the profession, science and business of landscape design/build. The design/build process is typically delivered by one company providing a turnkey of design services followed by construction implementation and management of the built project. Our students are offered a multitude of classes and experiential based learning opportunities to prepare them for careers in this field.

Browse CSU Course Catalog for courses and degree requirements.

Nursery and Landscape Management Concentration

Focus on skills like landscape plant culture and gain knowledge on how to manage a nursery, garden center, arboriculture, or landscape management firm. Specialize your studies in producing trees, shrubs, groundcovers, and herbaceous perennials for the landscape industry.  Our program builds in an internship to ensure you the have practical experience to succeed in your career.

Browse CSU Course Catalog for courses and degree requirements.

Turf Management Concentration

This concentration gets you training to work in the area of sod production and the details of how to successfully manage private and public grounds. Learn about producing and maintaining ornamental and functional turfgrass. You can also supplement your coursework within nursery and landscape management, plant and soil science, business management, and irrigation design.

Browse CSU Course Catalog for courses and degree requirements.

what you’ll learn

  • Management and leadership skills necessary for a successful career in the green industry
  • Technical competencies in their understanding of growth and development of horticultural plants and landscapes, including development as influenced by manipulation of horticulture technologies, such as fertility and water management, and integrated pest management for all aspects of landscape horticulture
  • Skills to assess site issues, provide creative environmentally sound solutions and manage designed and built landscapes
  • Analytical and problem-solving skills that allow identification of problems related to the management or production of horticultural crops and landscapes, as well as strategies to solve them

Where You’ll Find Us

Plants in a greenhouse

CSU Horticulture Center

A center for teaching, research and extension for horticulture and landscape programs.

Nutrien building

Nutrien Agricultural Sciences Building

CSU’s new home for Colorado agriculture, student aspirations and agricultural innovation for global impact.

Learn more about the Nutrien Building

Field of flowers

Annual Flower Garden Trials

One of the top tourist attractions in Fort Collins. Explore more than 1,000 varieties at this campus flower garden.

Visit the Flower Trials Website

Interest
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Related Interests

  • Agriculture
  • Business Management
  • Floriculture
  • Gardening
  • Landscaping
  • Plants
  • Science
Career Icon
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Related Careers

  • Arborists
  • Botanic Gardens Personnel
  • Golf Course Superintendence
  • Green Industry Account Management
  • Irrigation Design and Water Resource Management
  • Landscape Business Management and Entrepreneurship
  • Landscape Design and Construction
  • Plant Propagation
  • Retail and Wholesale Nursery and Garden Center Management
  • Sports Turf Management

Contact Us

Katherine Isaacson

Academic Success Coordinator

Katherine Isaacson

For more information, contact Katherine Isaacson for Horticulture and Landscape Architecture Undergraduate majors.