Welcome!
Our Horticultural Technology program is uniquely situated in a 2-year school located on a 4-year land-grant college campus. This gives students the opportunities afforded by a large 4-year campus and the advantages of a small school atmosphere. Horticultural Technology has been a part of the Thompson School since its creation in 1895. The program has developed and changed as horticulture in the state has become more technology based and has shifted from food and flower crops to a sustainable ornamental horticulture and landscaping industry.
Students who prefer to be generalists in Horticultural Technology may opt for the Ornamental Horticulture specialization while students who are interested in some aspect of landscaping will want to choose the Landscape Operations specialization.
In preparing for admission to our program we recommend a minimum of two years of college preparatory math (any combination of algebra, geometry, and trigonometry), two years of college preparatory science (biology and chemistry) and perhaps a business course. We also stress the importance of having good writing, reading and verbal communication skills.
The course of studies here is both physically and mentally challenging. Most of our classes consist of a lecture with a corresponding lab. Our four-semester program requires 66 credits to complete the AAS degree. However, if students choose to combine part-time study and work, the program will take longer. We also have a Landscape Diploma program option for someone who is interested in going into landscaping but not interested in an Associates Degree. Graduation from the Thompson School includes a required summer work experience of 480 hours. Our faculty has many contacts within the horticultural community and its professional associations and will assist students in locating summer work experience and permanent job placement.
The Horticultural Technology class sizes are small, fostering a community relationship among students, staff and faculty. Students are assigned a faculty advisor for the duration of the program. Students interact with many industry professionals during their two years of study through association meetings, guest speakers and field trips.
Facilities include Barton, Cole and Putnam Halls, the Thompson School Horticultural Facility, Thompson School grounds, the UNH campus and two UNH Horticultural Farms. The UNH campus is a diverse landscape which includes many common and unusual plants and landscape communities.
Dana M. Sansom
Horticultural Technology Chair
