NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE
COURSE SYLLABUS
COURSE AND INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
Course title: HORTICULTURE
Course prefix, number, and section number: HORT 1401, Sections 300 & 301
Semester/Year of course: SP/2025
Semester start and end dates: 01/21/25-05/17/25
Modality (Face to face/Synchronous or Asynchronous online/Hybrid): Asynchronous Online
Class meeting location, days, and times: 100% Online
Lab meeting location, days, and times: 100% Online
Semester credit hours: 4 (48 Lecture Hours + 32 Laboratory Hours)
Course description:
Lecture: Structure, growth, and development of horticultural plants. Examination of environmental effects, basic principles of reproduction, production methods ranging from outdoor to controlled climates, nutrition, and pest management.
Lab: This laboratory-based course accompanies HORT 1301. Laboratory activities will reinforce the structure, growth, and development of horticultural plants. Examination of environmental effects, basic principles of reproduction, production methods ranging from outdoor to controlled climates, nutrition, and pest management.
Course prerequisites:
None
Required course materials:
No textbook required; however, various materials will be required for labs.
Name of instructor: Ashley Hartman
Office location: Gainesville, AGC 1608
Telephone number: (940) 668-7731 x4488
E-mail address: ahartman@nctc.edu
Office hours for students: Mondays, 4:30-5 p.m. (face to face in office), Tuesdays, 12-5 p.m. (remote office hours online), Wednesdays, 2-3 p.m. (face to face in office), Thursdays 1-4:30 p.m. (face to face in office)
SYLLABUS CHANGE DISCLAIMER
The faculty member reserves the right to make changes to this published syllabus if it is in the best interest of the educational development of this class. Any such changes will be announced as soon as possible in person and/or writing.
SUMMARY OF COURSE ASSIGNMENTS
List of graded assignments:
Exams (4@100pts.) 400 points
Quizzes (12@10pts.) 120 points
Lab Projects 300 points
Total Possible Points 820 points
Final grade scale:
A = 733.9-820 points (89.5-100%)
B = 651.9-733.8 points (79.5-89.49%)
C = 569.9-651.8 points (69.5-79.49%)
D = 491.18-569.8 points (59.5-69.49%)
F = Fewer than 491.18 points (Less than 59.5%)
This is a strictly adhered-to scale; standard rounding procedure is applied as outlined above. In other words, finals grades falling below the five-tenths of a percent are NOT rounded to the nearest number. Students receive the grade earned and have the ability to increase their grades with extra credit early in the semester.
Late work policy:
Late work will not be accepted under any circumstances. Any assignments not submitted by the due date in Canvas will receive a zero in the grade book. This includes exams, assignments, papers, quizzes, discussions, and other tasks, which will not be reopened for any reason any reason (except in the case of a documented and validated excused absence). Technical issues, such as computer or technology problems, are not valid excuses for late submissions. To avoid these situations, students should manage their time effectively, prepare for potential technical difficulties, and submit work early. Assignments sent via email, whether before or after the deadline, will not be accepted. Given that students typically have a week to complete most tasks, extensions are rarely granted, even with an excused absence. Additionally, please note that Finals Week has fewer days for submissions.
SEE CANVAS FOR THE COMPLETE COURSE CALENDAR, OUTLINE, DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF GRADED WORK, AND OTHER RELATED MATERIAL.
COURSE POLICIES
Syllabus Addendum
This is the BASIC SYLLABUS, required for online publishing, and it does not contain all the course policies. Additional information and course policies are outlined in the Syllabus Addendum, located in Canvas under the Syllabus tab.
Academic Integrity Policy:
Scholastic dishonesty shall include, but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, academic falsification, intellectual property dishonesty, academic dishonesty facilitation and collusion. Faculty members may document and bring charges against a student who is engaged in or is suspected to be engaged in academic dishonesty. See Student Handbook, “Student Rights & Responsibilities: Student Conduct
([FLB(LOCAL)]”.
Consequences for academic dishonesty may include:
1. Receiving an F on a specific assignment or in the course.
2. Being reported to the Chair/Dean for disciplinary action.
Attendance Policy:
Regular and punctual attendance is expected from all students. In the case of an online course, attendance is measured by the submission of assignments. All absences are considered to be unauthorized unless the student is absent due to illness or emergencies. Students are responsible for providing documentation of the illness/emergency for approval by the instructor, and this should be done within one week of the absence. Absences due to approved, college-sponsored activities are also excused. The instructor has the discretion to determine the validity of any absence reason. However, valid reasons for absences do not relieve the student of the responsibility to make up missed work. Students will not be allowed to make up missed exams unless the absence is for a reason deemed acceptable by the instructor. If a student anticipates being absent on the day of an exam, they should request permission from the instructor in advance to reschedule. If a student has excessive absences or tardiness that prevents meeting the course objectives, the instructor may recommend the student be dropped from the course. Persistent, unjustified absences from classes or labs may result in the College dropping the student from the course, as per Board Policy FC (LOCAL).
Withdrawal Policy:
A student may withdraw from a course on or after the official date of record. It is the student’s responsibility to initiate and complete a Withdrawal Request Form.
Last day to withdraw from the course with a “W” is: April 7, 2025.
Student Learning Outcomes:
- Identify the various horticultural industries and their roles in our society
- Investigate methods of environmental manipulation (e.g. greenhouse controls, frost management methods, hot caps)
- Apply scientific reasoning to investigate questions and utilize scientific and horticultural tools to collect and analyze data and demonstrate methods
- Use critical thinking and scientific problem - solving to make informed decisions
- Communicate effectively the results of scientific investigations
- Describe the fundamentals of plant science
- Assess the interactions of soils, water, and fertility in plant science
- Contrast the methods of plant reproduction and propagation
- Explain the impacts of production methods and technologies on plant science
- Contrast methods of pest management in plant science
Core Objectives:
Critical Thinking
Communication
Empirical and Quantitative Skills
Teamwork
COLLEGE POLICIES
ADA STATEMENT
NCTC will adhere to all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable accommodations to afford equal educational opportunity. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the Office for Students with Disabilities to arrange appropriate accommodations. See the OSD Syllabus Addendum.
AI STATEMENT
Absent a clear statement from a course instructor, use of or consultation with generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or other similar technologies shall be treated analogously to assistance from another person, agency, or entity. In particular, using generative AI tools to substantially complete an assignment or exam is not permitted. Students should acknowledge the use of generative AI (other than incidental use) and default to disclosing such assistance when in doubt.
When students use generative AI to replace the rigorous demands of personal engagement with their coursework, it runs counter to the educational mission of the college and undermines the heart of education itself. Artificial Intelligence, large language models, and other such technologies hold promise for deploying knowledge in service to others and accelerating the discovery of new knowledge. However, such technology poses new challenges to pedagogy and to integrity. Within the context of the teaching mission of the college and consistent with the Student Code of Conduct, the authority to define the appropriate use, study, and deployment of these technologies rests with the faculty.
Individual course instructors, in coordination with their divisions, set policies regulating the use of generative AI tools in their courses, including allowing or disallowing some or all uses of such tools. Course instructors will set such policies in their course syllabi and clearly communicate such policies to students. Students who are unsure of policies regarding generative AI tools are encouraged to ask their instructors for clarification.
STUDENT HANDBOOK
Students are expected to follow all rules and regulations found in the Student Handbook.
STUDENT SERVICES
NCTC provides a multitude of services and resources to support students. See the Student Services Syllabus Addendum for a listing of those departments and links to their sites.
QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, or COMPLAINTS
The student should contact the instructor to deal with any questions, concerns, or complaints specific to the class. If the student and faculty are not able to resolve the issue, the student may contact the chair or coordinator of the division. If the student remains unsatisfied, the student may proceed to contact the instructional dean.
Name of Chair/Coordinator: Danelle Wolf
Office location: Gainesville Campus, 1600 Building
Telephone number: 940-668-7731 Ext. 4423
E-mail address: dwolf@nctc.edu
Name of Instructional Dean: Debbie Huffman
Office location: Gainesville Campus, 2100 Building, Room 2106
Telephone number: 940-668-3357
E-mail address: dhuffman@nctc.edu