What can you expect from this program/course?
For a complete overview of the program, please see our Student Handbook.
The Prairie Horticulture Certificate program is the online program in horticulture designed specifically for the prairie provinces and is offered through the Continuing Education department. Choose one of four streams of focus and once you have completed all of the courses in your selected stream you will be granted a Prairie Horticulture Certificate from Olds College. It is jointly offered by a consortium of three Western Canadian institutions:
- Olds College
- Assiniboine Community College
- University of Saskatchewan
Intake Dates 2022-2023:
- Term 1 - September 12 - November 18, 2022
- Term 2 - January 16 - March 24, 2023
- Term 3 - March 27 - June 2, 2023
Registration Deadline: 2 weeks prior to course start date. Pending availability; late registrations may be accepted with a late fee. Limited space available so register early.
Credential: Prairie Horticulture Certificate - students must complete all courses specified for their particular stream and maintain an overall average of 60%. A total 9 courses and 360 hours represents the minimum requirement for a certificate.
Length of Program: You can expect to work 8 - 15 hours per week for a 60 hour course or 4 - 10 hours per week for a 30 hour course.
Delivery: All assignments are handled by the course-delivering institution. The course instructor is available by email to answer questions or receive comments about the course. All classes offered in this certificate are online courses.
Streams offered include:
- Fruit and Vegetable Production
- Landscaping and Arboriculture
- Greenhouse Crop Production
- Nursery Crop Production
Stream Details
The Prairie Horticulture Certificate offers a flexible course load to ensure that it meets the needs of every learner. You can complete as many or as few courses as you like and you are free to choose courses that interest you from any stream. If you are interested in pursuing a certificate we recommend that you start with Applied Botany and/or Soils for Horticulture followed by the required courses and then the elective courses.
Fruit and Vegetable Production Stream
Required Core Courses:
- Applied Botany (University of Saskatchewan)
- Post Harvest Handling of Food Crops (Assiniboine College)
- Soils for Horticulture (University of Saskatchewan)
At least three of the following:
- Basics of Horticulture Business Management (Olds College)
- Basics of Horticulture Marketing (Olds College)
- Integrated Plant Management (Olds College)
- Safe Work/Pesticide Application (Assiniboine College)
And at least two of the following:
- Fruit Production (University of Saskatchewan)
- Plant Propagation (Olds College)
- Vegetable Crop Production (University of Saskatchewan)
Plus one Open Elective. Any course in the Prairie Horticulture Certificate program can be used as an open elective including the following:
- Cannabis Crop production (Olds College)
- Floral Design (University of Saskatchewan)
- Human Resource Management (Assiniboine College)
- Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (University of Saskatchewan)
Landscaping and Arboriculture Stream
Required Core Courses:
- Applied Botany (University of Saskatchewan)
- Arboriculture (Olds College)
- Soils for Horticulture (University of Saskatchewan)
- Woody Landscape Plants (University of Saskatchewan)
At least three of the following:
- Basics of Horticulture Business Management (Olds College)
- Basics of Horticulture Marketing (Olds College)
- Integrated Plant Management (Olds College)
- Safe Work/Pesticide Application (Assiniboine College)
At least two of the following:
- Herbaceous Landscape Plants (Olds College)
- Indoor Landscaping (University of Saskatchewan)
- Landscape Construction (Olds College)
- Landscape Design (Olds College)
- Turfgrass Production and Management (Assiniboine College)
Plus an Open Elective if you require an additional course to meet minimum requirements. Any course in the PHC program can be used as an open elective including the following:
- Cannabis Crop production (Olds College)
- Floral Design (University of Saskatchewan)
- Human Resource Management (Assiniboine College)
- Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (University of Saskatchewan)
Greenhouse Crop Production Stream
Required Core Courses:
- Applied Botany (University of Saskatchewan)
- Greenhouse Crop Production (Olds College)
- Greenhouse Structures & Environment (Olds College)
- Soils for Horticulture (University of Saskatchewan)
At least three of the following:
- Basics of Horticulture Business Management (Olds College)
- Basics of Horticulture Marketing (Olds College)
- Integrated Plant Management (Olds College)
- Safe Work/Pesticide Application (Assiniboine College)
And at least one of the following:
- Indoor Landscaping (University of Saskatchewan)
- Plant Propagation (Olds College)
Plus ONE Open Elective. Any course in the PHC program can be used as an open elective including the following:
- Cannabis Crop production (Olds College)
- Floral Design (University of Saskatchewan)
- Human Resource Management (Assiniboine College)
- Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (University of Saskatchewan)
Nursery Crop Production Stream
Required Core Courses:
- Applied Botany (University of Saskatchewan)
- Nursery Crop Production (Assiniboine College)
- Plant Propagation (Olds College)
- Soils for Horticulture (University of Saskatchewan)
At least three of the following:
- Basics of Horticulture Business Management (Olds College)
- Basics of Horticulture Marketing (Olds College)
- Integrated Plant Management (Olds College)
- Safe Work/Pesticide Application (Assiniboine College)
At least one of the following:
- Landscape Construction (Olds College)
- Landscape Design (Olds College)
- Woody Landscape Plants (University of Saskatchewan)
Plus an Open Elective. Any course in the PHC program can be used as an open elective including the following:
- Cannabis Crop production (Olds College)
- Floral Design (University of Saskatchewan)
- Human Resource Management (Assiniboine College)
- Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (University of Saskatchewan)
