Horticulture Technologist Diploma

Program Details

• Admission Requirements

  • 50% or better in English Language Arts 30-1 or 30-2
  • 50% or better in Math 20-1 or 20-2
  • 50% or better in two of Biology 20, Chemistry 20, Science 20, OR One of Biology 30, Chemistry 30, Science 30
  • Meet the English Language Proficiency Requirement 

  Academic Upgrading and High School Applicants: Applicants currently in high school or who are completing academic upgrading must submit proof of enrollment and any available interim/midterm marks. Final marks must be submitted within one month following the completion of the course(s) and no later than one month prior to the program start date.

  Alternate Admission Option: Alternate Admission status may be offered to applicants who have not or will not complete one of the academic admission requirements. To be considered under Alternate Admission Status, applicants will be asked to provide the following:

  1. (Required) Transcript(s) showing any completed high school and post-secondary courses
  2. (Required) Letter of Introduction and Intent, outlining the following:
     • Introduce yourself
     • Indicate why you wish to enrol in the program
     • Elaborate on your career goals
     • Detail your experience relevant to this program and the industry
  3. (Required) A resume of your work history, extracurricular activities, volunteer service, etc. for the last 5 years
  4. (Optional) Include copies of any tickets and/or certificates you currently hold (first aid, safety tickets, etc.)
  5. (Optional) Letter(s) of reference from current or past employers/coaches/etc. (maximum of two letters)

  *Submitting Alternate Admission material does not guarantee admission*

  Transfer Options: Olds College of Agriculture & Technology 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 & Affordability

  Estimated Tuition & Fees for Domestic Applicants

  Year	Tuition	Fees	Books & Supplies	Estimated Total
  Year 1	$5,900.00	$2,000.00	$1,150.00	$9,050.00
  Year 2	$5,900.00	$2,000.00	$800.00	$8,700.00

  • These fees are provided as estimates only based on the current academic year.
  • The estimate only includes tuition, mandatory fees and books & supplies.
  • Refer to the appropriate academic year Fee Schedule for the most up to date information.
  • International students pay a differentiated tuition rate and should refer to the appropriate academic year Fee Schedule.

  Tuition, Fees & Payments

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  Housing & Meal Plans

  Olds College offers two residence options — Centennial Village and College Courts. Students living on campus are required to choose a meal plan. Housing and meal plan costs are based on the full academic year (September to April), but students in single-term programs will only pay for the corresponding term. 

  For more details, visit Dining at Olds College and Campus Housing.

  Scholarships & Student Awards

  Olds College of Agriculture & Technology 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 

  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.

  Entrance Awards Available!

  Entrance awards range from $250 - $1,500 for students applying for the upcoming academic year and have paid the tuition deposit by the deadline.

  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.

• Courses

  Please note: This webpage has been updated to reflect changes that will be effective as of Summer 2025. Please review the 2024/2025 Academic Calendar for current program details. 

  Year 1

  • Completed the following:

    • HRT1000 - Discovering Plants
    • HRT1900 - Horticulture Field Studies I
    • HRT1100 - Managing Soils
    • COM1020 - Workplace Communication
    • HRT1400 - Managing Pests I
    • HRT1500 - Managing Landscapes
    • HRT1700 - Producing Horticulture Crops
    • HRT1800 - Plants in the Landscape
    • HRT2400 - Propagating Plants
    • HRT1950 - Horticulture Field Studies II

  Year 2

  • Complete all of the following:
    
    • HRT2000 - Starting a Horticulture Business
    • HRT2300 - Developing a Specialty Landscape
    • HRT2600 - Managing Pests II
    • WTR1200 - Managing Water Systems
    • HRT2850 - Designing Landscapes
    • HRT2800 - Managing Landscape Construction
    • HRT1600 - Producing Greenhouse Crops
    • HRT2350 - Applied Horticulture Ecology
    • HRT2450 - Horticulture Field Production
    • HRT2075 - Pruning Woody Plants for the Horticulture Industry 

• Admitted Students

  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 of Agriculture & Technology with the following technology:

  • A laptop is preferred.

  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

  The following items are required to be purchased before the program starts:

  • Steel-toed boots: CSA Approved
  • Safety glasses: CSA Approved
  • Durable work gloves
  • Coveralls or similar work clothing

  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.

  Textbook Order Form

  Other Important Information

  • Time Requirements: This program is delivered using a modified schedule. Most courses are scheduled over a 7.5 week block. Within each course you will be attending class for 3 hours per day, Monday to Friday during these blocks. Classes are normally scheduled between 9 am and noon with some labs scheduled in the afternoons. In addition, you should anticipate several hours of additional study each afternoon and evening and on weekends, which may require the use of on-campus resources like the Herbarium, Greenhouses, or the Botanic Gardens.

    Some courses may require or provide additional opportunities that involve evening/weekend classes or overnight field trips. You must be prepared to make the personal arrangements necessary to allow you to participate in the full range of classroom activities if you are to gain all the competencies required in each course. Notice of field trips will be given well in advance and it is your responsibility to participate. Off-campus events make up a valuable part of your training and further the development of essential skills. Times and duration of each off-campus event will vary but typically involve leaving and returning at times that are outside of normal class hours.

  • Student Clubs: The Horticulture Club is a group that offers an additional dimension to your Olds College of Agriculture & Technology 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 the use of Google products, word processing, spreadsheet and e-mailing software will be a definite asset. Students have the ability to take notes directly into their devices as the class proceeds. You will be schooled in other systems once you arrive and as need dictates. For example, the learning management system ‘Moodle’ is commonly used in the School of Life Science & Business and you will be introduced to its use and application in your very first classes.
    
    Lockers: All you need to do during your first few days at Olds College 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.