Ornamental Horticulture

Ornamental horticulture degrees are normally available in the form of certificates, associate's degrees and bachelor's degrees. Very few graduate or post-graduate degrees in this subject are available in the United States. Coursework includes such classes as general biology, plant structure and function, plant materials and soil science. Students in ornamental horticulture learn how to design and tend displays of plants to decorate the exteriors (and occasionally interiors) of public and private buildings, such as homes, schools, government buildings and businesses.

Groundskeeping, landscape architecture, park curation, floristry and professional gardening are all career fields that use the skills of an ornamental horticulturist. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, (www.bls.gov), wages for professions that employ ornamental horticulturists vary greatly. Groundskeepers earn a median wage of around $11.00 an hour, while landscape architects averaged nearly $60,000 per year.

An online master's degree in turf management teaches students to plant and care for grassy areas, such as parks, golf courses, athletic fields and lawns. Program curriculum covers botany, horticulture, landscape design, irrigation and transplanting.

Landscape designers are trained in horticulture and are responsible for consulting, planning and designing the arrangement of exterior landscapes. Some states do not require a degree or certification to work as a landscape designer. However, without proper schooling, along with field experience, most landscape designers are limited in their design work.

Residential Landscape Designers design gardens and lawns for owners of private property. They must have knowledge of art, design, technology, horticulture and business, and their work experience can be a platform for a career in larger-scale landscape architecture.