HORTICULTURE

GENERAL COURSE DESCRIPTION

Horticulture students extend their knowledge of biological and chemical sciences as well as technological and technical knowledge of horticultural production: vegetable, fruit and ornamental plant farming. They also get to know the methods of economic analysis, organization and management, principles of agriculture market and they develop the ability to process data with the use of information technology. An important element of this programme is broadening students’ knowledge of humanities and natural sciences, with special focus on environmental protection and management in rural areas. Thanks to the above mentioned education profile graduates are awarded the Bachelor of Science degree and are prepared to run horticultural farms of various profiles, as well as to design, maintain and protect greenspaces. During studies students participate not only in lectures and laboratory classes, but also practical classes – field practice in vegetable, fruit and ornamental plant farming, plant nursery, dendrology and they do an intership in horticultural farms, agricultural enterprises and local administration. The curriculum aims at providing students with the knowledge of pomology, open field vegetable production, greenhouse vegetable production, pomological nursery, ornamental plants, fungiculture, park and garden landscaping, floriculture, as well as the functioning of specialist agritourism and ecological farms. At the beginning of the third year students choose one of the modules which shift the focus to the knowledge and skills connected with horticultural production or environmental protection and management. There are two students’ research groups functioning at the Faculty of Medical-Natural-Technical Sciences: Horticultural Students’ Research Group and Environmental Protection Students’ Research Group.

LIST OF MODULES

1. LANDSCAPING

   This module provides students with theoretical knowledge and practical skills connected with designing, creating and maintaining gardens and urban greenery. Thanks to this module students can also acquire skills connected with growing and cultivating ornamental plants as well as floristry.

2. HORTICULTURAL PRODUCTION

   This module allows students to gain theoretical knowledge and practical skills connected with production, storage, processing, selling and marketing of horticultural produce. Moreover, students acquire knowledge of the latest horticultural technologies and principles of modern horticultural farm management, as well as the introduction of new species and varieties of fruit, vegetables and special plants into the farm.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

Upon completion of the Landscaping module graduates can find employment in the government administration and local government (municipal offices, city halls, district starosties, voivodeship offices and ministries) – in the units which deal with greenery management, town planning, private companies, project teams, national parks, landscape parks and other areas protected by law. Graduates who complete the Horticultural Production module are prepared to run their own horticultural farms, work in enterprises in the fruit and vegetable production and processing industry, ornamental plants and fungi production, as well as open field and greenhouse vegetable farming companies, administration, horticultural consulting institutions, fruit tree nurseries, research institutes, orchards and experimental plots.