Landscape and Turf Management Diploma Courses

The Horticulture safety course will provide students with the knowledge to recognize safe working practices in the horticulture industry. Outline the standards and expectations required to work safely in the numerous occupations of the horticulture industry. The course will introduce students to the national OSHA safety standards for General Construction and upon their completion of this course will receive the OSHA 10 hour General Construction certification.

The course introduces the students to the field of Turfgrass Science. Applying the principles and practices involved in successful maintenance of turfgrass areas will be presented.

This course introduces the general care and use of horticultural equipment in turf and landscape maintenance, and construction. Emphasis is on operation, preventative maintenance performed by the operator, daily lubrications and minor adjustments. Students will also mount and dismount accessories used on the equipment. Safe operation of machinery is emphasized.

Principles and practices of landscape construction will be explained. Curriculum encompasses process from initial client contact to installation of plant material and hardscape. Laboratory work in the course involves landscape installation using various materials and techniques.

This course presents various types of irrigation equipment: heads, valves, controllers, pipe, and the accessories used in an irrigation system. The course presents the function of water, its relationships to plants and soil, and an introduction to water hydraulics.

Studies specific sport facilities utilizing turf grasses including football, soccer, field hockey, baseball, and softball fields. Techniques of operation, management, maintenance, budgets, construction, and irrigation will be covered.

The course provides an introduction to horticulture covering the basic knowledge and skills associated with growth and development of plants including fruits, vegetables, turfgrass, and ornamentals.

Lecture Hours: 48

Human Relations is the study of self and social behavior. Emphasis is placed on the understanding and application of social science theories and research for the development of effective interpersonal and organizational relationships.

This course provides an introduction to the study of behavior and mental processes with emphasis in such areas as learning, cognition, motivation, personality, behavioral disorder, therapy, and social influence. An understanding of the impact of both theoretical perspectives and experimental evidence on the formulation of the science of human behavior is also stressed. Psychological theories and principles are utilized to explain and predict behavior.

Lecture Hours: 48

This course surveys the basic principles, concepts, and research findings of social life from small groups to societies. The course examines a range of sociological explanations for the various forms of social behaviors and establishes a basis for reflection and further study in the field.

Lecture Hours: 48

This course will introduce students to the safe use of agricultural chemicals. Safety precautions and prevention of chemical exposure will be stressed when discussing types of chemicals, usage, application, equipment, and mixing. First aid and responding to chemical contamination will also be discussed. This course prepares the students for taking the Iowa Commercial Pesticide Applicators Certification Exam.

Horticulture lab offers students the opportunity to work in the Hawkeye horticulture laboratory under the supervision of an instructor. Students will be assigned projects and will be responsible for completing them on a timely basis for a limited time. This course may be repeated up to three times with different content.

This course focuses on the fundamentals of creating a landscape project estimate including material take-offs, plant pricing, labor rates, measuring, reading landscape plans and math calculations.

The course provides opportunities for students to learn techniques of golf course management and operation. Proper construction of specific golf course areas such as: greens, tees, bunkers, basic golf course design is presented. Budgets, irrigation, maintenance and an integrated pest management program are presented.

This course will cover common insect, disease, and weed identification in various landscape applications along with environmental problems. Techniques for problem identification and finding the tools needed to reach a solution will be a major focus. Strategies such as integrated pest management and chemical treatment will be covered.

This course introduced basic maintenance practices used on a golf course; golf course etiquette, procedures such as top dressing, aerifying, mowing, verticutting, fertilizing, watering, and changing cups on a green. Introduces maintenance practices used in sports complexes, parks and recreation areas, and commercial and industrial grounds.

This course covers the fundamentals of turf grass and equipment maintenance including shop layout and maintenance scheduling. Practical applications will be covered involving routine and scheduled maintenance of specialty equipment along with practices such as bearing replacement and reel grinding.

This is a capstone course for the Horticulture program. This course provides an overview of current and potential future trends in the green industry. Case studies will be investigated.

This course provides students with opportunities to gain on-the-job experience in the agriculture, natural resource or horticulture industries. Students will gain an understanding of qualities and skills needed for success. Coordination and guidance will be provided by department instructors.