Arboriculture and Landscape Management

Aboriculture and Landscape Management at Paul Smith’s College can lead to an exciting career in the green industry.

Both in the classroom and in the field, your primary emphasis will be on the science of arboriculture and tree health, including best practices in tree surgery and care. Graduates are employed as tree surgeons, city arborists, landscape managers and plant health care specialists throughout the United States. Some start their own businesses while many work with established tree care companies, landscaping firms and tree nurseries. This associate-degree program is also a great pathway to a bachelor’s degree in parks, recreation and facilities management.

  • Learn how to properly plant, fertilize and prune trees in the landscape
  • Become familiar with common diseases and insects, as well as appropriate management strategies
  • Gain experience caring for the campus landscape – an integral part of the college’s identity

Successful management of natural resources is increasingly complex, demanding a wide range of skills. Students receive a combination of classroom instruction and hands-on training in the areas of arboriculture, landscaping and plant propagation. Our graduates build a solid foundation to perform as trained technicians and managers for the planning, planting, and maintenance of trees and shrubs in the urban environment.

Key Facts
  • A.A.S. degree
  • 62 credit hours (minimum) required
    • 20 credits must be in the liberal arts and sciences
Career Options
  • Arborist
  • City Forester
  • Grounds Superintendent
  • Landscape Contractor
  • Landscape Designer
  • Nursery Manager
  • Plant Health Technician
  • Pest Management Technician (for Insects and Diseases of Trees)
  • Utility Vegetation Manager
  • Turf Care Specialist
  • Park Manager
Courses & Objectives

At the end of the program students will be able to:

  • Understand the fields of arboriculture and urban forestry along with career opportunities and affiliated professional organizations
  • Identify native trees and commonly planted ornamental trees and shrubs.
  • Assess the condition of trees and shrubs on a property and be able to write maintenance recommendations.
  • Use approved equipment to safely work in trees in order to perform tree surgery tasks.
  • Properly prune and fertilize trees and shrubs.
  • Perform a street tree inventory as well as compile and assess gathered data
  • Understand landscape design principles and be able to properly install landscape plants
  • Propagate plants from seeds, cuttings, and grafting methods.
  • Recognize insect and disease problems of trees and understand acceptable control strategies.
  • Understand basic accounting principles
  • Appreciation the day-to-day workings of a tree care related business.
  • Communicate, reason, and interact in a professional manner
  • Use basic GIS technology and computer mapping technology

Sample courses:

  • Dendrology
  • Insects & Disease of Trees
  • Landscape Fundamentals & Interpretation
  • Geospatial Info Technology
  • Financial Accounting
  • Greenhhouse-Turf Practice
  • Urban Forestry Issues

More program information and a full course list can be found in the College Catalog. For program planning sheets, click here.

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