Master of Urban Horticulture
The Master of Urban Horticulture is a graduate coursework program of 200 points completed over two years of full-time study or part-time equivalent. Offered primarily at the Burnley and Parkville campuses the course began in 2009. Some subjects may be offered online or using intensive, residential or mixed-mode delivery. Core studies are completed in the areas of ecology and environments, landscape management, plant production and establishment, horticultural science, urban flora, and either project management, social research or experimental design and statistics. Elective subjects include social and therapeutic horticulture, garden history and design, urban tree management, managing invasive species and many others across the university. A number of research project studies can also be completed as elective studies.
The Master of Urban Horticulture (Coursework) was developed specifically for those seeking professional employment or developing research careers in urban horticulture. Employment opportunities can be found in a variety of settings including arboricultural services and tree management, urban parks and public open space, revegetation and restoration, residential landscape design, landscape and asset management, landscape construction and services and in nursery and greenhouse management. Upon completion of the course students can progress to PhD studies at the University of Melbourne. Whilst it is beneficial for students to have some experience in the horticultural industry it is not essential to have previous employment to gain entry to the course. There are different pathways for students depending on the previous studies completed. The course has excellent linkages and contacts to the urban horticulture industry, adding to the currency and relevancy of the study experience, but also building employment opportunities for the future.
On completion of the Master of Urban Horticulture, students should be able to:
- Display skills, knowledge, understanding and competence in the area of urban horticulture;
- Analyse problems, advise, guide, develop and organise horticultural programs and operations;
- Develop a holistic approach to horticultural management through an understanding of the biological, socio-cultural and environmental factors within the system;
- Extend scholarly and critical attitudes in the discipline of urban horticulture;
- Develop an understanding of a range of problem solving methodologies suited to horticultural management;
- Apply such understanding to a contemporary issue or problem affecting urban horticulture