Sow the seeds of the hard work you put into completing your Horticulture Technologist diploma by advancing your skills and knowledge with the Bachelor of`Applied Science - Horticulture degree. This two-year program focuses on combining science and technology with business concepts that will enable you to have a successful career in horticulture or starting your own business.
Accessing our unique campus that acts as a living lab, consisting of a 15 acre constructed wetland, botanic gardens, greenhouses and 12,000 square foot Landscape Pavilion, you’ll develop expertise in integrated pest management, research methods and sustainable site technologies.
Work-Integrated Learning: Fourth year students of the Bachelor of Applied Science - Horticulture program will be required to complete an eight-month Directed Field Study, where they will gain valuable hands-on experience in a mentored workplace setting.
Accreditation: Graduates are eligible to pursue certification through the Horticulture Certification Program by the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association.
Program Intakes: Fall Intake (November program start online, January start on campus)
Applications Open: First Wednesday (9 a.m.) of October for the Fall Intake
Length of Program: Diploma + Two Years
Method of Delivery: Blended
Credentials: Upon successful completion of this program, graduates will receive a Bachelor of Applied Science in Horticulture from Olds College.
- "The program at Olds College tells you what you need to know and is a stepping stone to a successful horticulture career. It gave me the insight into the horticulture industry I needed to start planning my own business."
- Tim Moreland, Class of 1998
Admission Requirements:
2.5 GPA in the 60 credits from the Olds College Horticulture Technologist Diploma, or an equivalent program, or a degree in a closely related area.
OR Certified Journeyperson Landscape Horticulturist with a Red Seal
Meet the English Language Proficiency Requirement.
Transfer Options: Olds College has developed agreements with other educational institutions to allow for transition to Olds College, or to another institution to continue your education. Articulations & Agreements
Out of Province Applicants: Please refer to the Provincial Equivalency Chart for course equivalencies.
International Applicants: Olds College welcomes applications from International Applicants and those who have completed their high school education outside of Canada. Please note, it is still necessary to meet all of the noted admission requirements, including English Language Proficiency.
Tuition & Fees
Year 3: Tuition: $4,515 / Fees: $1,095 / Books & Supplies: $500
Year 4: Tuition: $4,510 / Fees: $740 / Books & Supplies: $0
Please refer to the current Fee Schedule for complete details.
* Please note that international students pay 3.5 times the domestic tuition amount. These fees are provided as estimates only for the purposes of budgeting. All students should refer to the Fee Schedule for the most accurate information and all fees are subject to change.*
Scholarships & Student Awards
Olds College offers over 450 awards, valued at $500,000+ in scholarships, bursaries and prizes. Thanks to our industry partners, alumni, and friends of Olds College we are fortunate to offer a generous student awards program to students.
For additional information on scholarships, bursaries and prizes at Olds College, visit Scholarships & Awards
Entrance Awards Available!
Entrance awards range from $250 - $1500 for students applying for the 2022-2023 academic year and have a paid tuition deposit by June 15, 2022.
Awards are selected randomly from those that have applied and qualify based on the criteria.
Award will be applied as a tuition credit to the student's account after the add/drop course deadline, confirming full-time attendance.
Not all that apply will receive an entrance award.
Student Funding
For information on how to apply for government student loans, financial aid or for help with financial planning, visit our Student Funding page.
Course Details
For course descriptions and requisites, view the Academic Calendar.
Academic Calendar: Bachelor of Applied Science - Horticulture
- Completed the following:
Career Opportunites
Olds College has a solid reputation working with employers in the industry! This directly translates into jobs for our graduates. The Horticulture Bachelor of Applied Science Degree program allows aspiring students the opportunity to enter into senior management positions.
Visit ALIS to find Occupational Profiles with current wages, industry trends and more!
Admitted Student Information
Program Dates
Find out when your term start and end dates are, so that you know when you are expected to be in attendance. For more information, please review the Program Dates & Fee Schedule.
Class Registration
You will be registered into your classes automatically. This will happen approximately 1 month prior to the start-date for your program. You will be notified once you have been timetabled into your courses. You will be able to see your class schedule in your My Olds College account. If you need to make any changes to your class registration, please contact the Office of the Registrar.
Technology Recommendation
It is strongly recommended that you come to Olds College with the following technology:
- A laptop is recommended
As part of your student accounts, all students have access to Office 365 for the duration of their time with Olds College. To access this you just need to follow these steps:
- Go to portal.office.com
- Enter your Olds College email address and password
- Once logged in there is a button on the right that says "Install Office Apps"
This will give you access to the full Office suite on your computer, for both Windows and Mac based platforms.
Materials & Supplies:
Information on required textbooks and any further supplies will be provided as you attend each class. All books and supplies will be available during the first few weeks of classes in the College Campus Store.
Other Important Information:
Time Requirements: Students are typically in class or on field trips for up to 3-6 hours a day Monday through Friday, with normal in-class hours running from 9 am to noon. Occasionally, overnight trips may be necessary. You will also be expected to complete numerous assignments outside of regularly scheduled classes that will vary in terms of their demands upon your time. This amount of time will vary with each course that you take, but a reasonable estimate would be 50 hours per week of effort inclusive of class time.
Student Clubs: It is recommended to join the Horticulture Club and Turf Club since these offer an additional dimension to your Olds College experience. There are also a number of college sports teams, some of which participate at the inter-collegiate level while others are purely recreational.
Additional Skills: Basic computer skills are recommended for all and it is certainly beneficial to have some prior experience with computers before you arrive at the College. A familiarity and comfort in use of Google Docs, word processing, spreadsheet and e-mailing software will be a definite asset.
Lockers: All you need to do during your first few days at Olds is to select one without a lock and it’s yours for the duration. I strongly recommend that you select a locker in the first week of classes because of high demand. You are required to provide your own lock.
For More Information
Our Admissions office can help navigate you through the admissions process and answer any questions you have about your program of study.
