1) What do I gain by pursuing a Horticultural Certificate?
Our Horticultural certificates will prepare you to work with plants from both production and aesthetic
standpoints. Our Agribusiness Management Degree, with an emphasis in turf management, will enable
you to pursue entry-level careers in golf course operations, landscaping, nursery management, sports
turf and many other agricultural industries.Program specializations include landscape plants, soil
science, turfgrass management, integrated pest management, and horticulture project estimating, among
others.
2) What is the tradition associated with Florida Gateway College?
In the mid-1960s, the horticulture industries were growing in Florida and golf course superintendents
and landscape companies needed better educated assistant superintendents and landscape foreman, so
industry met with Florida Gateway College administrators about starting a program that educated
students for these specific industries and jobs. With industry input, the college developed programs that
the golf and landscape industries quickly supported and respected.
3) How does FGC Compare/ rank to other horticultural/ turfgrass degree programs?
For many years, FGC has been in to top 3 programs for golf/ landscape education along with PENN
State and Rutgers University.
4) What are the upfront costs and requirements?
Our programs fall into the college credit hour category. Each class is 3 credit hours. Tuition cost for
each credit hour is $104. With online fees, each class is only $342. This is some of the lowest tuition
fees in the nation. A high school diploma or its equivalent is required for our horticulture certificates
and AG Business Management Degree.
For the non-credit Introductory option that consists of 4 courses, each course is $150.
5) Do post college courses/ credits transfer?
Most plant science classes from other accredited institutions will transfer in, although, 30% of your
educational program must be earned at FGC. We can transfer up to 70% of your horticulture education.
6) I already have a degree are these online courses helpful for my continuing educational goals?
Yes, these online horticulture certificates, and their courses, supply specialized education to any current
degree holder. These courses also work to earning CEU’s with various nationwide industry certification
organizations, like the GCSAA and FNGLA.
7) If I am from the Florida area, how will the courses apply to my region?
Our programs consist of sound nationwide scientific and industry practices. Our landscape plants class
deals with the common landscape plants found throughout the nation and their use. Our turfgrass
classes deal with the physiology and identification of all turf species. The soil science and Ag chemistry
classes are not region specific, neither is the irrigation class. The knowledge FGC gives is applicable to
any area of the nation, even the world.
8) Are there various levels in the program?
Yes, the 18 credit hour Horticulture Certificate is the first level that prepares you to work in golf,
landscape or any horticulture industry. Complete 12 more credit hours to earn the Advanced Certificate
in Horticulture, which creates a pathway into the Agribusiness Management A.S. degree. We also offer
a non-credit Introductory option of 4 courses, in eight week cycles that are available in English and
Spanish.
9) How many courses should I take at one time?
That is up to you and your advisor's recommendation based on your time line and goals. Each three-
credit course, on average, will require 3 hours per week to complete all work for that week. For
example, if you had 12 hours per week that you knew you could dedicate to your education, we would
suggest you take 4 classes. If it was only 6 hours per week, then our recommendation would be to take
only 2 classes.
10) Are classes at your own pace or based on a traditional schedule (i.e. semester)?
Classes are taught on the traditional college level with three semesters per year. Fall and Spring
semesters are 16 week courses with Summer Semester being only 12 weeks, credit courses.
11) Do any classes require proctored exams or is everything online?
The horticulture certificates are 100% online. The Agribusiness Management degree is 100% online
also, and does require proctored exams for the math class that may be proctored online.
12) Tell me about the backgrounds of your instructors.
All of our instructors have a minimum of master’s degrees from the University of Florida and other
colleges. They are employed, or have been employed, in the fields of soil science, nematology, and golf
course industries, just to name a few.
13) Are there financial aid options?
Yes, receiving financial aid starts with the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Visit
www.fafsa.gov to complete the free application. This application also allows FGC to award you various
scholarships referenced in next answer below.
14) Are there scholarships available?
There are many scholarships available through our department and the college foundation specifically
for golf course related programs. We have the ability to assist you in paying for your horticulture
certificates at 100%. Contact Brian Lloyd at 386-754-4416 or Financial Aid 386-752-1822 for more
information.
15) Are there future educational options for receiving my certificates?
The horticulture certificates are the launching platform into our Agribusiness Management degree. The
horticulture certificate consists of 10 classes. Once those classes are finished, you have the option of
continuing with the associate degree by taking only an additional 10 classes, for a total of 61 credit
hours.
16) Are there any past graduates I could contact?
As this information is federally protected, we would recommend that you visit our programs Facebook
feed at https://www.facebook.com/tem.gco Many of our alumni subscribe to college updates through
this feed. The networking possibilities are endless with social media. There will be a process that
connects Ambassadors of the program to potential students.
17) What steps do I need to take to start enrollment and to decided what options are best for me?
a. Contact William Smith at Brian.Lloyd@fgc.edu or 386-754-4416
b. Apply for Admission! Details can be found at www.fgc.edu/golf on how to get started.
c. Decide when you wish to start the learning process and choose FGC.
