Horticultural Therapy Program
Green Industry Paid Vocational Skills Training Internship Program
The Green Industry Vocational Skills Training Internship Program is open to horticultural therapy students who are interested in providing green industry career and technical education to individuals with disabilities who are seeking competitive employment in the community.
About the Horticultural Therapy Program
Horticultural Therapy is an emerging profession with many career opportunities available. Horticultural therapy is described as a therapeutic treatment modality that uses plants and plant-based activity to achieve specific goals within an established treatment, rehabilitation, or vocational plan. Trained Horticultural Therapists are in demand at schools, healthcare, rehabilitation, and residential settings where multidisciplinary treatment teams provide services to individuals with disabilities and/or health conditions.
The Rutgers Horticultural therapy certificate program is designed to provide the knowledge behind the theory of the therapeutic relationship between plants and individuals, and the practice of using plants and plant-based activity to develop and address individualized rehabilitation goals. Students will learn about the functional limitations and implications of various developmental, psychiatric, sensory loss/impairment, and medical conditions of individuals served at various settings, and develop the communication skills essential to effective therapeutic work in goal setting, and evaluating progress towards goals with individuals served at these settings. Program design, development and implementation, as well as, funding and consulting will be covered in depth. Students enrolled in the Rutgers Horticultural Therapy certificate program will receive experiential learning through coursework activities, and will have the opportunity to complete internships at various agencies throughout the State of New Jersey.
A minor in Horticultural Therapy is also offered to SEBS and SAS matriculating students to explore Horticultural Therapy as a career option.
The Rutgers Horticultural Therapy certificate program coursework is approved and accredited by the American Horticultural Therapy Association (AHTA). Students will be able to apply their completed coursework toward Professional Registration as a Horticultural Therapist, available through the American Horticultural Therapy Association. For more information about horticultural therapy, professional registration, educational content, and internships, please review the requirements for professional registration and contact AHTA at (888) 294-8527 or visit their website at www.ahta.org.
Information about the history of the program can be found at Rutgers Horticultural Therapy Timeline and Significant Moments.
Program Director
Gary L. Altman, MS, LAC, CRC, CVE, HTR
Foran Hall, Room 184
Phone: 848-932-6321
Email: gla32@sebs.rutgers.edu