Course Summary
Course Category: PLC (Further Education - FET) - Apply directly to College
Join our Sustainable Organic Horticulture programme and learn about general horticulture practices with a strong emphasis on organic and sustainable methods. Develop a hands-on understanding of the importance of the environment and respecting the balance of nature. Our core modules focus on the relationship between plants and soils, providing the correct conditions for healthy growth, and preventing horticultural problems.
This award is designed to introduce learners to sustainable organic horticulture practices. Our course centres around a professional maintenance program along with propagation methods, providing learners with the perfect ingredients for employability.
Course Details
This course prepares you for working in the following Career Sectors:
What will you study?
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Core Modules:
Communications
Communications-2
Plant Science
Soil Science and Growing Media
Plant Identification and Use
Elective Modules:
Biological Diversity
Sustainable Water Management
Ecological Field Methods
Modules offered may be subject to change due to resource demands
Important
- Colleges may add/remove modules to keep the course updated and to meet demands.
- Almost all PLC courses have a Work Experience module, which requires students to find their own placement in an area directly related to their course.
Progression to CAO Courses
Higher Education Links Scheme (HELS)
This course results in a QQI Major Award, and provides progression opportunities to a number of Higher Education courses, including those in the CAO.
To view CAO courses to which this award provides a direct progression route, click below:
QQI Code
To calculate Points based on your QQI award results, use the PLC Points Calculator.
The Student - Career Interests
This course is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:
Naturalist
Not surprisingly, some aspect of the natural sciences will run through the Naturalist's interests - from ecological awareness to nutrition and health. People with an interest in horticulture, land usage and farming (including fish) are Naturalists.
Some Naturalists focus on animals rather than plants, and may enjoy working with, training, caring for, or simply herding them. Other Naturalists will prefer working with the end result of nature's produce - the food produced from plants and animals. Naturalists like solving problems with solutions that show some sensitivity to the environmental impact of what they do. They like to see practical results and prefer action to talking and discussing.
Realist
Realists are usually interested in 'things' - such as buildings, mechanics, equipment, tools, electronics etc. Their primary focus is dealing with these - as in building, fixing, operating or designing them. Involvement in these areas leads to high manual skills, or a fine aptitude for practical design - as found in the various forms of engineering.
Realists like to find practical solutions to problems using tools, technology and skilled work. Realists usually prefer to be active in their work environment, often do most of their work alone, and enjoy taking decisive action with a minimum amount of discussion and paperwork.
Further Research
National Statistics for this Award (All Ireland)
The following data provides general information about this Award from colleges across Ireland.
Disclaimer: These links are to web sites outside of CareersPortal and we accept no responsibility for the information on them.
Career Progression
Work Experience
Practical experience is an integral part of the course. Participants will be required to undertake 40 days of work placement in a suitable environment, 20 working days during the academic year and a further 20 days during the springtime. The College will assist participants in identifying suitable placements.
Employment opportunities
General employment opportunities in the Horticulture sector such as a gardener, horticulturist, landscape designer, or plant propagator, to name a few.