Horticulture Degree

[Cosmo and Dibs]

What are your thoughts on a Horticulture degree? Has anyone done similar? What type of jobs would be available on graduation?

Thanks!

[NOG]

In the job market Degrees are worthless without experiance to back them. I intervew all the time and normally employ the bloke off the local estate who has worked in Tesco than the dude with a 22 in Eastern Europien 16 century religions. If there are two applicants with equal experiance and one has a reveliant degree then they would get the job..

[dexterdoglancashire]

I've no experience of such a degree course, but I would say if you are interested in it, and enjoy it - go for it!
I did a Home Economics degree in the 1980s - and I never got even an interview for a related job - what I do appreciate though, is the life experience it gave me, I went straight to Uni from sixth form college, so I learnt a lot that way.

[bluemoon]

I was a mature student and though I did work in the field (biochemistry and genetics) for a few years I quickly became bored (though, to be honest it was probably more that my interests changed) But I still treasure the experience and I've never regretted it.

[minipop]

Hi C&D,

I finished my BSc hort last friday - 3 years of hard work! I don't know if your course has a specified theme, i.e. design; amenity;, but mine was in ethnobotany (global uses of plants by people). We covered everything from plant & soil science to genetics, ecology, contemporary issues in hort, plant medicines, land use, sustainability, food production... the list goes on. We did also have to do the lab work and statistics and some rubbish about the 'knowledge economy' - sorry if you're into that!

Despite the hard work i thoroughly enjoyed the course and the people i studied with were fantastic. It was great to have a common interest but we all had our niches (thats an ecological term! ).

If you want a deep theoretical knowledge and are prepared to work hard then go for it! But, if you're after something more practical then BTEC/HND/RHS courses are probably the way to go. There is also the option of a Foundation degree - which is 2 yrs (about 3 days a week) - but again, this is a theory and science based course.

With regards job prospects.... I applied for a job with the National Trust (had my interview the other day) as a gardener - to manage and restore a kitchen garden, leading volunteers etc; and although they said they were impressed, i lost out to someone without a degree and more practical experience!

Of all my friends with degrees in various subjects there is only one who has walked straight into a proper 'graduate-level' job, but i'm not discouraged just yet! Finding any job is rarely easy - degree or not!

On the plus side, 'green careers' are coming to the fore and will be even more important in the future - so if you want to work in sustainable growing / techology development / biocomposites or that kind of thing then your degree could be all an employer is interested in!

Whatever you decide, good luck! You can pm me if you want any details, have any Q's etc

P.S. You said you'd like to do it for personal interest... I have to agree that even if i dont find my ideal job, i have learned so much about just about everything and i feel proud of myself when i can enter an intelligent conversation and give my opinion based on sound knowledge! It has definately made me a better person!