Course Description
Introduction to the principles and practice of horticultural therapy. Exploration of the profession, program models, and the science of people-plant interactions. Students examine applications of horticulture as therapy in healthcare, educational, and rehabilitation settings through lectures, discussions, and hands-on activities.
Athena Title
Intro to Hort Therapy
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in HORT 3025E
Prerequisite
BIOL 1103 or BIOL 1103E or BIOL 1107 or BIOL 1107E or AESC 1500 or CHEM 1110 or CHEM 1210 or CHEM 1210E or CHEM 1211-1211D or HORT 2000 or HORT 2000E or permission of department
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student learning Outcomes
- Students will analyze and interpret the role of horticulture in therapeutic settings through assignments that require students to make evidence-based connections between theoretical models and observed outcomes, fostering critical evaluation of practice.
- Students will develop written and oral presentations related to client populations and professional roles.
- Students will design original job descriptions and plant-centered therapeutic activities, applying creativity to solve real-world problems, integrating horticultural knowledge with human service needs, and exploring innovative adaptations of horticultural activities to meet diverse client goals.
- Students will demonstrate understanding of ethical and inclusive practice in horticultural therapy, developing social awareness through research on populations that benefit from horticultural therapy, such as youth, veterans, and older adults and class discussions that emphasize respect for client autonomy, accessibility in garden design, and responsible stewardship of natural resources, fostering empathy and professional responsibility
- Students will connect interdisciplinary perspectives to the application of horticultural therapy by integrating biological, psychological, and social science concepts to explain the therapeutic value of horticulture.
Topical Outline
- • Introduction to Horticultural Therapy and Employment Opportunities
- • Plant-Based Programming and the Role of the Therapist
- • Program Models: Therapeutic, Vocational, and Social
- • People-Plant Responses and Brain Function
- • Theories and Interdisciplinary Foundations
- • Client Populations and Settings: Youth, Adults, and Older Adults
- • Therapeutic Gardens and Accessibility Design
- • Professional Roles and Job Descriptions in Horticultural Therapy
- • Ethics, Future Directions, and Professional Practice
Institutional Competencies Learning Outcomes
Analytical Thinking
The ability to reason, interpret, analyze, and solve problems from a wide array of authentic contexts.
