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Horticulture Therapy Program
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Certificate in Horticultural Therapy (34–37 credits)

Image of Gary Altman
The Rutgers AHTA accredited horticultural therapy certificate program courses are held in the floriculture greenhouses on the Cook Campus where students can experience first-hand the restorative value a profusion of plants and people-plant interactions can provide. Here students learn the unique qualities of plants that are conducive to therapy, and how to apply this knowledge in professional practice.

The profession of horticultural therapy employs plants, gardens, and greenhouses as tools for treating mental, physical, and social disabilities. The profession requires the integration of plant systems and culture techniques with human psychology and health. This program, which is fully accredited by the American Horticultural Therapy Association (AHTA), will enable students to pursue professional registration through AHTA.

For additional information, please contact Gary Altman at (848) 932-6321 or gla32@sebs.rutgers.edu, or Dr. Nrupali Patel at npatel@sebs.rutgers.edu.

Required courses (27 Credits)

Group I: Horticultural Therapy Course REQUIREMENTS (9)

  1. 11:776:225   Horticultural Therapy: Concept and Skills (3)
  2. 11:776:325   Horticultural Therapy: Techniques and Programming (3)
  3. 11:776:201   People-Plant Relationships (3)

Group II: Human Science course REQUIREMENTS (9)

  1. 01:830:101   General Psychology (3)
  2. 01:830:340   Abnormal Psychology (3)
  3. 01:830:271   Principles of Developmental Psychology (Human lifespan development) (3)

Group III: Horticulture course REQUIREMENTS (9)

  1. 776:211   Introduction to Horticulture (3)
  2. 776:310   Plant Propagation (3)
  3. 776:391   Weeds, Diseases and Insects of Plants (3) OR 11:350:370 Agricultural Entomology and Pest Management (Disease and Pest Management) (3)

Electives (6–7 Credits)

Group II ELECTIVE: (Choose ONE from the list below) (3)

  1. 01:830:371   Group Dynamics (3)
  2. 01:830:335   Adult Development and Aging (3)

Group III ELECTIVE: (Choose ONE from the list below) (3–4)

  1. 11:776:302   General Plant Pathology (3)
  2. 11:776:321   Greenhouse Systems Management (3)
  3. 11:776:439   Nursery Crop Production (3)
  4. 11:550:235   Herbaceous Plants in the Landscape (Plant Materials) (3)
  5. 11:550:340   Planting Design (Landscape Design) (4)

Internship (1–3 Credits)

  1. 11:776:495/496   Special Problems in Plant Science (1–3)