Bachelor of science in horticultural science

By PHILIPPA STEVENSON


THE COURSE

Massey University's bachelor of science in horticultural science is one of several plant science-based degrees or diplomas.

Offered at the Palmerston North campus, it is aimed at people interested in the production, storage and processing of high-quality food or ornamental plants, or work with sports fields, landscaping, land stabilization and reclamation.

The only entry requirement for the three-year degree (or four-year honours degree) is a recognised university entrance qualification for students under 20. Mature students can gain discretionary admission without a university entrance qualification. Seventh-form chemistry, biology, maths and statistics are also useful.

The course is generally studied fulltime, but students can take many papers extramurally or part-time.

Lectures, laboratory work and practical assignments occupy up to 25 hours a week with about an equal amount of time in individual study.

The degree is very flexible and includes standard laboratory techniques and instrumentation in plant, soil and environmental science, chemistry and biochemistry.

Students will also learn horticultural production technology with emphasis on the underlying scientific principles.

Design and analysis of lab and field experiments are also part of the degree, as are management and business techniques applied to primary production and biotechnology. Students also study computer and statistical analysis and communication and integrative thinking skills.

Each paper is assessed on written assignments and write-ups based on labs or field/greenhouse experiments, plus an exam worth between 30 and 50 per cent of the final make.

Students are expected to work in the industry during their summer break.

Graduates can expect a wide range of career opportunities including as research technicians, school or polytechnic tutors, technical reps for agricultural companies, advisers or consultants with agricultural consultancies or managers of a wide range of horticultural businesses.

There is no limit on the number of places, and fees are $3700 for a normal fulltime, one-year programme of eight papers.

The next intake is February, and applications have to be in by mid-February for extra-mural students and the end of February for internal students.



WHAT PAST STUDENTS THINK


Ben Smith, 21

Technical manager

Status Produce

Auckland

Graduated 2002

"I grew up in Pukekohe, so horticulture was all around me while I was growing up. I got hooked on horticulture at high school and started working part-time for Status.

"You don't need more than the basic qualification like three C passes in Bursary, but it is helpful if you have an idea of the subject area you're interested in. I was interested in glasshouse growing, others were into apples.

"The principles may be the same but take for instance pruning: how it is applied to apples is hugely different to tomatoes. If you're mixing it up from apples to poinsettias you might not get a lot of benefit from the course.

"If you've no idea what you want to do in horticulture you could, though, figure it out in your first year.

"The amount of study varies from year to year, but it was about 70 per cent theoretical and the rest practical and laboratory-based.

"I could do nothing but recommend the degree. It has set me up. I'm 21 and I'm now technical manager for Status, which has 14 hectares of glasshouses and is the biggest indoor tomato grower for the fresh market in New Zealand."




WHAT EMPLOYERS THINK


Piers Gasgoine

General manager

Status Produce

Auckland

"We first encountered Ben when he was still a student at Pukekohe High School. He was definitely interested in horticulture and we helped him through university.

"We were looking for someone with technical expertise. Status had no one with tertiary training, though we've got lots of people with 30 or 40 years' practical experience.

"Ben had a couple of weeks off after graduation in November last year and then he came straight here. He's got an ability to analyse technical information, and assists us with things like new product, new chemicals and product development.

"Horticulture is not a sexy industry like IT or marketing, but with our computer system we are involved in IT and growers are very involved in marketing as well.

"Since Ben's been here we've looked at what other expertise we could benefit from, and have just employed another tertiary qualified person from Massey."

THE QUALIFICATION

Bachelor of science in horticultural science

Massey University, Palmerston North,

Manawatu

Phone: (06) 356 9099 ext 7796

Website: Massey

Email: horticulture@massey.ac.nz