Horticulture (Cannabis Biology and Cultivation Track)

Careers in Horticulture

This program prepares you for careers in horticulture, with a focus on the cannabis industry. Some career paths include:

• Budtender
• Cannabis Cultivation
• Dispensary Manager
• Extractor
• Plant Scientist
• Testing Lab Technician

Transfer to a Bachelor’s Degree Program

The Horticulture A.A.S. Cannabis Track program prepares you for the workforce right away and provides a pathway to a related bachelor's degree. If you plan to transfer, you can choose classes that align with your future major’s requirements.

FLCC partners with other colleges to make your transfer path easier:

• Transfer Agreements outline how FLCC classes and credits transfer to a partner college.
• Joint Admissions Agreements admit you to FLCC and a transfer school at the same time.

Our advisors will help you select courses that fit your goals and support your transfer plans.

View Transfer Options

Where Our Students Transfer

Students in our Horticulture program go on to earn a bachelor's degree from colleges such as:

• Cornell University
• Penn State University
• Rutgers University
• SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
• SUNY Brockport
• SUNY Geneseo
• SUNY Morrisville
• University of Michigan

Specialize in Cannabis Cultivation

Three cannabis-specific courses covering cultivation, industrial applications, and regulations introduce you to the field. Study the laws related to cannabis production, develop management skills, and discover the medicinal value of the plant. Upon graduation, you'll be ready to work in this specialized horticulture field — or elsewhere in the industry.

Learn From Industry Professionals

Meet professional horticulturists through guest lectures and field trips. You'll learn from experts at Cornell Cooperative Extension, the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, and the Department of Environmental Conservation, among others.

You'll also visit regional gardens, greenhouses, and nurseries to see professional horticultural work in action, including:

• Cornell AgriTech — a research center providing practical solutions for farmers and agriculture businesses to thrive.
• Coldwater Pond Nursery — a family nursery specializing in growing woody ornamental plants.
• Highland Botanical Park — a world-class arboretum with 500+ varieties of lilacs, woody plants, and tree species.

Real-World Experience in Plant Management

Our Horticulture degree program includes over 50 hours of professional experience in plant propagation, cultivation, and greenhouse management — including working with cannabis to learn its unique growing and harvesting techniques.

Join Our Cannabis Professionals Studies Club

Learn more about the cannabis industry by joining our Cannabis Professionals Studies Club. The club connects its members to a network of industry professionals. Discover how to develop licensed cannabis businesses and prepare for a career in the field.

Horticulture and Cannabis Cultivation Courses

Sample core courses you'll take in this program include:

• AGR 100 - Soil Science
• BIO 251 - Plant Structure and Function
• HRT 102 - First Year Experience in Horticulture
• HRT 110 - Introduction to Horticulture
• HRT 135 - Regulations of Cannabis Cultivation
• HRT 150 - Herbaceous Plant Materials
• HRT 151 - Woody Plant Materials
• HRT 220 - Field Experiences in Horticulture
• HRT 235 - Cannabis: Biology to Industrial App.
• HRT 236 - Cannabis Cultivation
• HRT 260 - Applied Plant Pathology w/ IPM
• HRT 280 - Field Entomology W/ Integrated Pest Mgmt

Visit our academic catalog for a complete list of program requirements. Review prerequisites, general education requirements, electives, and a sample schedule.

View Full Curriculum