Diploma in Horticulture Technologist

at Olds College Canada

Open yourself up to environmental career options that will make a global impact with the Land and Water Resources diploma. This two-year program offers you work-integrated training in applied environmental sciences that will prepare you for careers in land reclamation, environmental stewardship and rural planning emphasizing environmentally sustainable land management practices.

In-field study and future-focused curriculum help you acquire the skills needed to manage soil, plant and water resources in agricultural and natural ecosystems. Students in this program have the option of choosing to major in three areas of specialization: Surface Land Management, Land Reclamation and Remediation, and Environmental Stewardship and Rural Planning.

Take your horse care knowledge to the next level in the one-of-a-kind Farrier Science program. Recognized as providing the finest farriery programming in North America, Olds College has a fully-equipped, state-of-the art farrier lab. This one year program will train you in new techniques and products designed to serve a rapidly growing and changing equine industry.

Learn from instructors who are industry leaders with their own farriery businesses and engage in unique clinics with specialized farriers and product representatives. You will learn all of the necessary skills to be a successful Farrier or Blacksmith and experience hands-on working field trips to Warner Ranch, Ya Ha Tinda and University of Calgary Veterinary program.

Give yourself the added advantage towards a rewarding career in the dynamic and global agriculture industry with the Bachelor of Applied Science - Agribusiness degree. This two-year program will equip you with the necessary skills, such as critical thinking, problem solving and collaborative investigation, to solve real-world business challenges.

Through industry focused instruction, you’ll spend the first year on campus learning how to apply business fundamentals such as finance, marketing, strategic business management, human resources, applied research, innovation and leadership. During this time you will also develop communication, networking, teamwork and time management skills while completing projects with classmates and industry clients on relevant current topics.

Take your education to the next level with the post-diploma certificate in Agriculture Technology Integration. Designed for those of you who have completed a related diploma or degree, this eight-month program will provide you with an understanding of how related technologies and components interact to provide accurate information and real-time monitoring and controls to the agriculture producer.

Through a blended course delivery of on-campus classes and high-tech, hands-on experiences at the Olds College Smart Farm, you will learn how to recognize the connections and interactions between hardware and software that will enable producers to maximize uptime in the field. By the end of this program, you will be able to link emerging technologies with existing farm infrastructure, including the installation, calibration, troubleshooting and repair of precision agriculture hardware and equipment, including mechanical and software systems.

Cultivate an exciting career in horticulture with the Horticulture Technologist diploma. This two-year program will provide you with a deep understanding of horticulture, including the production and management of plants, pests, landscapes, soils and water systems to achieve productive and sustainable systems.

Hone your skills through immersive hands-on learning accessing our unique campus that acts as a living lab, consisting of a 15 arce constructed wetland, botanic gardens, greenhouses and 12,000 square foot Landscape Pavilion. Learn how to design specialty landscapes, start a horticulture business and create an entrepreneurial approach to processing plants. You will also learn how to manage production of horticulture crops in response to market demands, as well as recognize the ecological, economic and social implications of horticulture decisions and processes.

Take your career to the next level with the Business Management diploma, majoring in General Management. This program is offered to students who have completed the Business Management certificate and are looking to build on the skills mastered during their first year.

Through project-based learning, you’ll have the opportunity to practice applying foundational business concepts to real world problems. Working alongside business owners and clients, you’ll complete a semester-long project identifying business problems through research and the development of meaningful and effective solutions supported by evidence.

Upon completion of this program, you will have received invaluable hands-on learning experiences, along with mentorship from business owners. 

Further your career in agriculture and heavy equipment repair with the Agricultural and Heavy Equipment diploma. Learning from experienced, Journeyperson certified, industry-trained instructors, you will receive hands-on education with exposure to an extensive working shop and tool room.

Building off of the Agriculture and Heavy Equipment certificate, this one-year program will expand on your understanding of the fundamentals of heavy equipment repair as you choose from one of two majors: Agricultural Equipment or Heavy Equipment.

Start your career in agriculture and heavy equipment repair and get your hands on the newest and largest industry equipment in this one year program. Learning from experienced, Journeyperson certified, industry-trained instructors, you will receive hands-on education with exposure to an extensive workshop and tool room.

This comprehensive program will give you a thorough understanding of engines, hydraulics, braking, electrical, starting, charging, fuel systems and more. Our classrooms are discipline specific (i.e. motor lab, machinery lab) with small student to instructor ratio and personal workbenches. 

Brew your way to graduation in the Brewmaster and Brewery Operations Management diploma program! Learn the art, science and business of the vibrant and continually evolving brewing industry at the 2,300 square foot brewing facility at Olds College. This two-year program provides you with hands-on training that includes developing recipes, sourcing ingredients and conducting trial brews.

In alignment with the Canadian Food and Wine Institute (CFWI), you will receive a solid grounding in technical, analytical, business, marketing and entrepreneurial skills needed in the brewing industry. During the program, you will have the opportunity to brew your own beer and potentially bring it to market within the Olds College Brewery Store.

If you are looking for a career that will help feed, clothe, house or even fuel the world you have found the right place. Olds College’s Agricultural Management diploma program gives you a comprehensive education in all aspects of the agriculture industry through a mix of classroom time and hands-on experience on the Olds College farm.

You will develop a foundation of business skills, including communication, accounting and marketing strategies and be exposed to the advancement of agricultural technology, from accounting software to farm machinery. Gain an environmental understanding in the production of food, feed, fuel and fibre, livestock physiology and health, and the global issues that are currently impacting the industry. Learning from industry professionals, you will have a great understanding of farm and pest management, crop production, soil and nutrition, and Precision Crop Systems after completing this program.