Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon Portland Community College

Environmental Landscape Management Technology, associate degree

Students and instructor standing among grasses and discussing water quality landscaping

As our natural world faces more challenges as climate change and habitat loss, we need environmental stewards who understand the balances and can make a difference in the landscape industry. Environmental Landscape Management is the intersection of Landscape Technology and Environmental Science and students are uniquely prepared to enter niche industries related to both.

Award information

Degrees and certificates by number of terms to complete
Award Length Financial aid eligible Currently accepting students?
Associate Degree: Environmental Landscape Management Technology2 years

Learn more about Landscape Technology and all 6 awards available »

Locations

What will you learn?

  • Native plant identification and ecosystems
  • Environmental systems
  • Environmental restoration
  • Science policy
  • Sustainable landscaping practices
  • Site evaluation and plan reading
  • Equipment operation, irrigation fundamentals

Courses

Course listing for the 2023-2024 catalog year.

Plan of Study Grid
First TermCredits
BI 141 Habitats: Life of the Forest * 4
ESR 150 Environmental Studies Orientation 1
ESR 200 Introduction to Environmental Systems 4
LAT 236 Landscape Math § 3
Second Term
CSS 200 Soils and Plant Nutrition 4
LAT 104 Pesticides 3
LAT 115 Tool and Equipment Safety, Operation and Maintenance 3
LAT 272 Sustainable Landscaping 3
Third Term
BI 143 Habitats: Freshwater Biology * 4
LAT 102 Plant Establishment and Maintenance 3
LAT 108 Landscape Irrigation I 3
LAT 262 Native Plants of Oregon 3
Fourth Term
LAT 280A Cooperative Education: Landscape 3
Environmental LAT Degree Elective 3
General Education: 1 course
Fifth Term
ESR 202 Applied Environmental Studies: Prep for Problem Solving 4
LAT 106 Plant Anatomy and Physiology 4
LAT 223 Site Evaluation 3
General Education: 1 course
Sixth Term
ESR 201 Applied Environmental Studies: Science/Policy Consideration 4
LAT 243 Landscape Business Operations 3
LAT 264 Landscape Estimating and Bidding 3
Environmental LAT Degree Elective 3
Seventh Term
ESR 204 Introduction to Environmental Restoration * 4
LAT 224 Grading and Drainage 3
LAT 250 Plant Diseases, Insects and Weed Identification 3
LAT 276 Employment & Careers in the Landscape Industry 2
Eighth Term
LAT 280A Cooperative Education: Landscape 1 3
Environmental LAT Degree Elective 3
 Total Credits92
*

Could be used as General Education.

§

 Course cannot be substituted for another course.

1

Students with one year documented work experience in landscape management may take an additional 6 credits of elective courses in lieu of cooperative work experience. Arrange with landscape department chair.

2

Most LAT classes are only offered once a year.  First term corresponds to the fall term, second term to winter term, third term to spring term, and 4th term to summer term. Students may start the program at any time of the year.  Please contact the LAT program advisor for more guidance.

Students may take the LAT Math Challenge Test to test out of LAT 236, Landscape Math. Please contact the LAT Department Chair, Jenn Peters, to learn more.

What will you do?

  • Manage and care for green infrastructure projects
  • Restore environments
  • Collect field data for environmental research and management
  • Manage landscape accounts
  • Environmental education

Who will hire me?

  • Environmental restoration firms
  • Commercial landscape maintenance firms
  • Parks and recreation districts and city municipalities
  • Government regulatory agencies
  • Nonprofit organizations

Next steps

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