Program Purpose

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To provide a world class education for students in Plant and Landscape Systems. We aim to be the best program available. We define "the best" as the program that succeeds in accomplishing the following:

1. Best integration of science, art, business, and 'hands on' education;
2. Most highly-recruited graduates for full-time employment in landscape management, design, and installation;
3. Highest success in gaining entrance to a wide variety of graduate programs (MLA, MBA, MPA, JD, MS, PhD, etc);
4. Greatest impact on the landscape industry, and graduates who are best prepared to serve their families, professions, churches and communities.

Course Descriptions

PWS 100 Plants in the Environment - Physiological, morphological, and ecological characteristics of plants used for food, fiber, and aesthetic enhancement.

PWS 103 Residential Landscape Design - Design and composition as applied to development of residential grounds.

PWS 105 Landscape Design Graphics - Professional plan graphics: plan views, elevation, color, and computer-aided design.

PWS 110 Sustainable Food Crop Systems - Fundamentals of sustainable food crop systems

PWS 112 Floral Design - History and principles of floral design

PWS 191 Introduction to Plant and Landscape Systems - Introduction to careers in the plant and landscape systems industry.

PWS 198R PLS Practicum - Multiple horticultural experiences through collaboration with BYU Grounds and other campus entities

PWS 199R Academic Internship - Work experience within the Green Industry

PWS 205 Landscape Comp Applications - Proficiency with computer applications used for landscape design

PWS 211 Hardscape Materials - Theory and mechanics of hardscape design and construction.

PWS 212 Principles of Irrigation - Working methods of the landscape industry: irrigation, equipment, and materials.

PWS 213 Interior Plants and Landscapes - Overview of proven health, environmental, psychological, and productivity benefits of plants indoors.

PWS 214 Bidding and Estimating - Competitive bidding strategies, quantity takeoffs, bid analyses for landscape construction and maintenance.

PWS 216 Plant and Landscape Lighting - Technical capabilities, design principles, and maintenance of landscape and horticultural lighting.

PWS 220 Trees - Fundamental concepts dealing with ecology, biology and care of trees.

PWS 282 Soil Science - Physical, chemical, and microbiological properties of soils

PWS 283 Soil Science Lab - Laboratory techniques in determining soil physical, chemical, and fertility properties.

PWS 301 Plant Propagation - Scientific principles and techniques of plant propagation

PWS 319 Grasses in the Urban and Natural Environment - Management of turf relative to climate, soil, and use on the golf course, park, and private areas.

PWS 320 Sustainable Plant Systems - Global food systems, field agriculture and controlled environment horticulture.

PWS 331 Science of Plant Pest Control - Identifying important insects, disease, and weed pest problems.

PWS 380 Advanced Landscape Design - Design and composition of commercial and institutional property grounds

PWS 402 Soil and Water in Urban Environments - Principles of water management, soil physics, and soil fertility.

PWS 431 Plant Health Diagnostics - Diagnosing, identifying, and managing weed, insect, and disease problems in plants.

PWS 481 Plant and Landscape Business Systems - Understanding and demonstrating competency with business systems used in plant and landscape systems companies.

 

ACC 200 Principles of Accounting - Financial and managerial accounting principles.

BIO 235 Field Botany - Recognition, characteristics, and uses of common trees and shrubs.

CHEM 101 Introduction to General Chemistry - Atomic and molecular structure

CHEM 105 General College Chemistry - Atomic and molecular structure

ECON 110 Economic Principles and Problems - Strengths and weaknesses of markets and governments

ENT 381 Entrepreneurship Lecture Series - Lectures about entrepreneurship by successful entrepreneurs.

FIN 201 Principles of Finance - Financial management from the viewpoint of the business manager emphasizing profitability, liquidity, and long-range financial planning.

HRM 300 Organizational Behavior - Theories and concepts for creating effective organizations.

M COM 320 Management Communication - Developing written and oral communications for professional organizations.

MKTG 201 Marketing Management - Marketing's role in society and the firm, marketing opportunities, the consumer market, and management of marketing mix.

Catalog Information

Learning Outcomes

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The Landscape Management program at BYU aims to be the best in the country. Upon completing this degree, students will be able to:

Landscape Management and the Gospel of Jesus Christ

Identify, reflect on, and articulate personally significant experiences that strengthen the desire to incorporate the gospel of Jesus Christ in managing and creating beautiful landscapes

Career Preparation

Effectively compete for the best employment positions, including leadership in national organizations, which are available to college graduates, including self-employment.

Landscape Practices

Lead and practice with a knowledge of landscape contracting at the local and national levels.

Landscape Design, Construction, and Management

Demonstrate competence in each of the three main areas of landscape contracting: design, management and installation.

Academic and Professional Preparation

Demonstrate preparation to excel in a variety of graduate programs related to landscape management.

Evidence of Learning

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Assessment for Learning Outcomes

1. The first learning outcome will be evaluated at the program level by self-assessment. Each student will include an essay on this topic in the personal portfolio to be submitted during PWS 490 or PWS 492during the final semester.
2. The second learning outcome will be measured by tracking pre-graduation placement statistics (i.e., company, salary range, how student located full time employment). These are incorporated into the annual report for program accreditation by the Professional Landcare Network.

3. Student scores on each of the seven sections of the national Certified Landscape Professional (CLP) exam will be obtained from the Professional Landcare Network. The following measures will be obtained through questions on the EXIT SURVEY for graduating seniors:

   a. Participation in state, regional and national professional meetings;

   b. Membership in professional organizations (e.g., PLANET, ISA, APLD, ASLA, UNLA, etc.);

          c. Certifications and licenses attained prior to graduation;

 

4. The fourth learning outcome will be assessed through a personal student portfolio, which will be submitted during PWS 490 or 492.  The portfolio will include each of the following:

 

1. The essay from learning outcome # 1 above.
2. Examples of completed projects in each of the areas of design, installation, and management (i.e., projects completed in classes, while employed by BYU Grounds, during internships and other relevant work experience, through extra-curricular opportunities, etc.).
3. The BYU Landscape Management Competency Matrix.  Students will self-assess a broad range of competencies (skills) identified as industry priorities for professionals within the landscape contracting profession. The self assessment survey will be collected as a pre-assessment in PWS 191, and as a post-assessment for students upon graduation. However, students will regularly self-assess their progress in these competencies from the time they enter the program until they graduate. See the box below...

*no skill (the student has no previous skill in the target competency) *exposure (the student has observed a competent professional demonstrating the skill) *apprentice(the student has completed relevant activity under supervision of a competent professional) *expert (the student is qualified to supervise other individuals in the competency area).

5. The fifth learning outcome will be measured by tracking pre-graduation admissions into graduate programs.  

Direct Measures

1. Assessment for Learning Outcome 1
2. Assessment for Learning Outcome 3.1
3. Assessment for Learning Outcome 3.2
4. Assessment for Learning Outcome 3.5
5. Assessment for Learning Outcome 4.1
6. Assessment for Learning Outcome 4.2
7. Assessment for Learning Outcome 4.3

Indirect Measures

1. Assessment for Learning Outcome 2
2. Assessment for Learning Outcome 3.3
3. Assessment for Learning Outcome 3.4
4. Assessment for Learning Outcome 4.2
5. Assessment for Learning Outcome 4.3
6. Assessment for Learning Outcome 5

Learning and Teaching Assessment and Improvement

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