Diploma (Advanced) in Horticulture - Nursery

“The nursery trade is crying out for well educated managers able to apply their knowledge and skills without constant supervision. This course covers all aspects of nursery management; it is structured to develop students with sound management skills.” - Adriana Fraser Cert.Hort., Cert.Child Care, Adv.Cert.App.Mgt., Cert IV Assessment and Training, Adv.Dip.Hort, ACS Tutor.

Develop a career in the  retail or production nursery industry: as a Nursery Manager, Technical Officer, Marketing Manager, Consultant, Vocational Trainer.

COURSE CONTENT

a) Compulsory core modules

The following FOUR modules are compulsory:
Biochemistry (Plants),
Instructional Skills,
Business Studies, and
Workplace Health and Safety.

b) Stream Core Modules

800 hours of study in compulsory modules (normally 8 x 100 hour modules).

Horticultural Management, Horticultural Marketing, Botany I, Propagation I, Horticulture I, Soil Management, Plant Protection, plus either Wholesale Nursery Management or Garden Centre Management.

c) Stream Elective Subjects

500 hours of study in modules (normally 5 X 100 hour modules), selected from the following:

Wholesale Nursery Management or Garden Centre Management (whichever was not previously chosen), Horticulture II, Irrigation management, Landscaping I, Fruit Production (Temperate), Fruit production (tropical), Commercial Vegetable Production, Hydroponics I, Australian Native Plants I, Herb Culture, Orchid Culture, Roses.

d) Optional Electives

200 hours of study in modules (normally 2 X 100 hour modules), which can be chosen from any advanced diploma accredited modules, from a wide range of disciplines, excluding Recreation Administration & Management I, II & IV, Agricultural Marketing, Farm Management.

* Students are to attain a current Senior First Aid Certificate during the course of study.

WORKPLACE ORIENTED RESEARCH

Two Research projects must be undertaken to satisfy the 200 hour nominal duration. Well organised study guides have been developed for Research Project I & II to work through in order to satisfy this part of the course.

Each project will deal with a distinct aspect of workplace activity, and culminate in a written formal report of a length appropriate to the nature of the project.

WORKSHOPS

Two PBL (Problem Based Learning) modules designed to foster interaction with typical industry problems, as a basis for discovering how to apply knowledge to the real world.
 

INDUSTRY CONFERENCE/SEMINARS/MEETINGS

You must attend 100 hours (minimum) of industry seminars within the period of the course. These may include such things as industry conferences, seminars, or professional society meetings.

 COURSE STRUCTURE SUMMARY 

RECOGNITION:

This course is written to satisfy all relevant competencies of the International Accreditation and Recognition Council.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

There are no academic pre-requisites for this course but it is expected that successful applicants have achieved an educational level that will enable the completion of the course objectives.

Entry to this course is based on:

• a person with 5 years industry experience;
• Year 12 standard of education;
• mature age student.

DURATION:

2,400 hours minimum nominal duration, including:

Being a self paced learning program, you can study at a rate according to their ability and capabilities.This course may be studied over 3 years or less on a full time basis, or up to 8 years on a part time basis.