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Blue Ridge Community
College is proud to announce the introduction of a new Career Studies
Certificate program in Arboriculture. The purpose of this program is to
provide the knowledge and skills needed for entry-level positions in
arboriculture.
The Career Studies
Certificate in Arboriculture will consist of four courses:
Fall 2003
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HRT 127 Horticultural
Botany ( 3 CR) Studies taxonomy, anatomy, morphology, physiology,
and genetics of plants as applied to identification, propagation and
culture.
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HRT
259 Arboriculture ( 3 CR) Studies the techniques of tree care.
Covers surgery, pruning, insect and disease recognition and control,
fertilization, cabling, and lightning rod installation.
Spring
2004
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HRT
207 Plant Pest Management ( 3 CR) Teaches principles of plant
pest management. Covers morphology and life cycles of insects and
other small animal pests and plant pathogens. Lab stresses diagnosis,
chemical and non-chemical control of specific pests, and pesticide
safety.
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FOR 265 Urban Forestry ( 4 CR)
Examines the care, maintenance, establishment and management of trees
and related plants in an urban environment. Emphasizes non-commodity
values of trees in an urban environment.
Students will make
extensive use of the BRCC Arboretum in each course. Students will have the
opportunity to observe demonstrations performed by local tree care
companies, tour regional urban forests, and meet the individuals
responsible for the maintenance of the landscape and trees. Special guest
speakers, representing some of the diverse aspects of modern
arboriculture, will visit the campus throughout the year. Students will be
encouraged to join, and be active members, in at least 3 professional
societies during this program. This is in addition to memberships that I
can secure for you at no charge. Go to the links
page and find the category "Suggested Memberships."
The Career Studies
Certificate Arboriculture program and other related arboricultural courses
at BRCC (credit and non-credit) enjoy the support from many local and
municipal arborists, landscape maintenance, and tree care companies. This
program and related courses have also been recognized by the following
organizations:
- Virginia
Urban Forest Council
- Virginia
Department of Forestry, Urban & Community Forests
- International
Society of Arboriculture
- Mid-Atlantic
Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture
- National
Arborist Association
Program Director
Joe Murray’s combination of education and experience enables him to make
his arboriculture classes lively and entertaining. Joe’s educational
background includes a Masters in Plant Pathology (VA Tech) and Masters in
Teaching (University of Richmond) and his work experience includes
positions in commercial horticulture and arboriculture. Joe is a MAC-ISA
Certified Arborist and is currently serving as an Assistant Professor of
Biology at Blue Ridge Community College and as the Director of the BRCC
Arboretum. In addition to this program Joe teaches biology, non-credit
arboricultural courses, an arborist certification course, and is involved
in several urban forestry research projects.
Additional
Instructors
All instructors involved in teaching the core courses for this program
have extensive field experience in horticulture and/or arboriculture.
BRCC
Arboretum
This program is very fortunate to have an amazing resource available for
the students. The BRCC Arboretum is just 14 years old but already contains
over 700 trees representing over 150 native and naturalized tree species
to Virginia. This is one of the largest collections of native trees in
Virginia. There are also several ongoing urban forestry research projects
on the grounds of the arboretum and campus.
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