Landscape & Lawn Management Program - Sidney, Michigan
Michigan State University and Montcalm Community College
Welcome to the program! This guide is intended to provide you with answers to the most commonly asked questions students have as they work toward completing the Landscape and Lawn Management program.
You are highly encouraged to meet regularly with your academic advisor to plan courses and review your objectives. Please note that ultimately you, and not your advisor, are responsible for meeting the requirements for graduation.
Program Description
The MSU Institute of Agricultural Technology has offered "short courses" in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources for over 100 years. These short courses have developed into highly focused Certificate programs in a variety of fields.
The Landscape and Lawn Management program in Sidney allows you to combine horticulture courses with business courses to earn a MSU Certificate. It provides a focused curriculum in the plant sciences area, along with a business emphasis. In the landscape and nursery industry, many employers and alumni testify to the significance of sound business knowledge in managing their companies.
MSU offers two to three courses each Fall and Spring semester in the evening at locations in Grand Rapids. You can also choose to take MSU courses on-campus in East Lansing. Some classes are offered by ITV, an interactive television system that connects you to the best instructors possible. You meet your classmates in a special classroom that has interactive TV technology, where you both see and hear your instructor. Likewise, your instructor is able to answer your questions and speak to you directly. Other classes are taught on-site by MSU faculty and/or highly qualified and experienced industry leaders. You may also connect to campus resources by computer. As a Spartan, you'll receive an account with access to e-mail, the internet, and library resources.
Choosing Credentials
The MSU Certificate is widely recognized by professionals in the Landscape, Turfgrass, and Nursery industries, and there is great demand for graduates of this program. This program is best for you if you want to gain immediate employment in the industry, or improve your credentials for professional development.
Click here for the Certificate requirements
Admission and Enrollment
Since you'll actually be taking courses from two institutions, you'll need to be admitted to the Landscape and Lawn Management program through both MSU IAT and MCC. The application, registration procedures, tuition and fees are administered independently by each institution. All high school graduates are eligible to apply. The following information on this page covers the specifics for the MSU portion of the program.
For a summary of MCC procedures, visit the MCC website.
Applying to the MSU Institute of Agricultural Technology
Complete an application for admission to the IAT, including a $35 application fee, and mail it to the East Lansing address on application the form. You'll also have to contact your high school and/or other post-secondary institution to request they send an official transcript to IAT. You'll receive a student number so you can register for classes on-line. And remember, you'll have the assistance of an academic advisor from MSU who is a professional horticulturist and can advise you in choosing courses and making career decisions.
Please complete your MSU application for admission by July 1 for fall semester or by November 1 for spring semester admission. Students who wish to apply after the deadline should contact the program coordinator.
Click here for IAT Landscape and Lawn Management Application.
MSU Course Schedule and Offerings
MSU-West regularly publishes a course schedule that is emailed to everyone participating in credit courses in the Landscape & Lawn Management program. The course schedule announces class-meeting dates, times and locations, registration deadlines and dates for academic advising. You must use computer enrollment to register for classes. If you are in need of assistance registering, please contact Dawn Meredith at the MSU-West Office at: (616) 458-6805.
Click here for a detailed schedule of the MSU courses
Advising
The MSU Program Coordinator is available for personal advising prior to each semester. Contact Marcus Duck directly to schedule an appointment. You are encouraged to meet regularly with an academic advisor to plan courses and review your objectives. Please note that ultimately you, and not your advisor, are responsible for meeting the requirements for graduation
Transferring Previous College Credits to MSU
You may be able to transfer credits earned from other institutions to help satisfy some MSU course requirements. Have official transcripts forwarded from previous colleges for evaluation when you apply for admission. After a review by the program coordinator, courses that cover similar content will be accepted in transfer if the grade received was a C (2.0) or better. Up to 24 transfer credits may be applied toward completion of the MSU Certificate.
Academic Standards
A passing grade must be earned in each required and elective course. You'll need to maintain a 2.0 overall GPA in order to remain in good academic standing, and to graduate.
Internships (Placement Training)
A professional internship is required. The internship places you in a professional learning environment that challenges your ability to combine knowledge and hands-on mastery, and your interpersonal and professional skills. You'll earn credit for supervised on-the-job training. Employers are eager to hire MSU graduates, in part because of the field experience you'll take to that first job. Internships are individualized, and are as diverse as our students. You'll have flexibility in scheduling and employment options. You must enroll for at least three internship credits. You are required to complete a minimum of 480 hours of work experience.
Generally, you'll obtain your own employment and negotiate wages and work schedule. We require that both you and your employer complete a written agreement, outlining the terms of employment and expectations. Then, you'll report monthly to your advisor and receive regular feedback from your supervisor. You can expect a personal visit from your advisor during the time you're employed.
You're encouraged to seek new or expanded work opportunities for your internship rather than return to familiar employers. If you own your own business we can negotiate a series of independent projects, which will help you satisfy this requirement. The best internships are planned long in advance and benefit from the counsel of your academic advisor.
Click here for more details on the Internship Requirements
Career Opportunities
- Landscape Design, Maintenance, and/or Construction
- Nursery Manager
- Nursery Production
- Retail/Wholesale Garden Center
- Irrigation Installation, Design, and/or Maintenance
- Opportunities for full-time positions are extremely favorable
- Job placement throughout Michigan, across the US, and internationally
- For more details on career opportunities, visit The Land Lovers web site
- Visit our Internship and Job Posting web page for current and archived postings for internships, part-time and full-time jobs, homeowner requests, etc.
Completing the Program
At the end of the last semester of study, credits must be transferred from MCC to MSU in order for the Certificate requirements to be met. Transcripts should be sent directly from MCC to the Institute of Agricultural Technology office. Copies released to you will not be accepted by either school.
Click here for useful tips about the Landscape & Lawn Management program
For more information:
Marcus Duck
Landscape and Lawn Management Program Coordinator
Michigan State University
A240-D Plant & Soil Sciences Building
East Lansing, MI 48824-1325
Phone: (517) 355-5191 x 1351
Fax: (517) 353-0890
duckmarc@msu.edu
Dawn Meredith
MSU-West Office, Student Services
940 Monroe NW, Suite 140
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Phone: (616) 458-6805
meredi17@msu.edu