Minor in Horticultural Therapy

Gary Altman in the floriculture greenhouse — 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 Horticulture Therapy Minor investigates the intersection of psychology, horticulture, and personal wellness, and is intended for students interested in developing a career in using horticulture as a form of therapy to assist individuals with disabilities. Students minoring in Horticulture Therapy take coursework that balances hands-on plant science with psychological theory to prepare them for careers in this burgeoning, interdisciplinary field.

The Horticulture Therapy Minor pairs well with many SEBS majors including Plant Science, Public Health, and Landscape Architecture, as well as SAS majors such as Psychology, Cognitive Science, and Social Work.

Academic Advisor: Dr. Nrupali Patel (npatel@sebs.rutgers.edu).

Pre-requisites

01:830:101 General Psychology* (3 cr)

Required Courses (12 cr)

11:776:225 Horticultural Therapy: Concept and Skills* (3 cr)
11:776:325 Horticultural Therapy Techniques and Programming* (3 cr)
11:776:201 People-Plant Relationships* (3 cr)
01:830:340 Abnormal Psychology* (3cr)

Electives (6 cr)

Horticulture Electives (Choose One from the List Below)

11:776:211 Introduction to Horticulture* (3 cr)
11:776:310 Plant Propagation* (3 cr)
11:776:391 Diseases and Insects of Plants or Ag Entomology and Pest Management* (3 cr)
11:776:439 Nursery Crop Production (3 cr)
11:776:302 General Plant Pathology (3 cr)

Human Science Electives (Choose One from the List Below)

01:830:346 Atypical Development of Childhood and Adolescence (3cr)
01:830:310 Neuropsychology (3cr)
01:830:377 Health Psychology (3cr)
01:830:271 Principles of Developmental Psychology (human lifespan development) * (3 cr)
01:830:335 Adult Development and Aging (3 cr)
01:830:333 Adolescent Development (3cr)

* Required courses in the Rutgers SEBS Horticultural Therapy Certificate Program (34–36 credits). Certificate program is accredited by the American Horticultural Therapy Association (AHTA).