Articles
HORTICULTURE HIGHER EDUCATION FOR THE 21ST CENTURY; THE CASE OF CURRICULUM CHANGE AND DEGREE REQUIREMENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS, USA
Article number
641_6
Pages
49 – 56
Language
English
Abstract
Due to institutional changes including implementation of a university core curriculum, and a mandated reduction in degree credit requirements, the Horticulture, and Turf and Landscape Horticulture bachelor of science (BS) degree programs were revised in the late 1990s.
The University required that BS programs be reduced from 132 to 124 credits and implemented a 35 credit core curriculum of fundamental laboratory science, math, language skills, arts and humanities, and social sciences.
The College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences simultaneously implemented a core curriculum of 18 credits of communications and composition, and general agriculture, and further required 18 credits remain undetermined as free electives so that students could pursue a second degree program other than their major degree.
After reviewing literature on horticulture education, surveying employers and alumni, studying benchmark institutions, and considering the institutional requirements, new degree programs were created with concentration areas of Management, Science, Merchandising and Business Operations, Turf Management, and Landscaping.
These degree programs had new course areas added including earth and/or environmental science, leadership development, economics and business management, and a mandatory internship work experience was instituted.
The objective of the degree programs was for a student to be immediately employable upon graduation yet prepare students for future career changes.
Comparing the new degree programs to previous programs, it is apparent that the amount of horticulture training and course work that students take has been reduced.
In order to assess degree program content and thoroughness, degree requirements were compared to the requirements of 29 other programs at 20 US universities.
Summaries of the degree requirements are presented.
The University required that BS programs be reduced from 132 to 124 credits and implemented a 35 credit core curriculum of fundamental laboratory science, math, language skills, arts and humanities, and social sciences.
The College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences simultaneously implemented a core curriculum of 18 credits of communications and composition, and general agriculture, and further required 18 credits remain undetermined as free electives so that students could pursue a second degree program other than their major degree.
After reviewing literature on horticulture education, surveying employers and alumni, studying benchmark institutions, and considering the institutional requirements, new degree programs were created with concentration areas of Management, Science, Merchandising and Business Operations, Turf Management, and Landscaping.
These degree programs had new course areas added including earth and/or environmental science, leadership development, economics and business management, and a mandatory internship work experience was instituted.
The objective of the degree programs was for a student to be immediately employable upon graduation yet prepare students for future career changes.
Comparing the new degree programs to previous programs, it is apparent that the amount of horticulture training and course work that students take has been reduced.
In order to assess degree program content and thoroughness, degree requirements were compared to the requirements of 29 other programs at 20 US universities.
Summaries of the degree requirements are presented.
Authors
C.R. Rom
Keywords
bachelor of science, turf, landscape horticulture, degree requirements
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