Course Content and Outcomes Guides (CCOG)

CCOG for GRN 166 archive revision 202304

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Effective Term:
Fall 2023

Course Number:
GRN 166
Course Title:
Therapeutic Horticulture in Health and Human Services
Credit Hours:
1
Lecture Hours:
10
Lecture/Lab Hours:
0
Lab Hours:
0

Course Description

Introduces the application of therapeutic horticulture incorporating the four seasons for persons of all ages and abilities in a wide variety of health and human service settings, including community centers, parks and recreation programs, day care programs, long-term care communities, and rehabilitation, education, and corrections environments. Audit available.

Addendum to Course Description

Required for the Therapeutic Horticulture Activity Specialist (THAS) Certificate and a  program elective for the AAS Degree in Gerontology. Recommended for students earning the Activity Professional Certificate.

Intended Outcomes for the course

Upon completion of the course students should be able to:

  1. Identify ways to incorporate therapeutic horticulture and adaptive strategies into various settings serving a range of populations.
  2. Identify the steps to format therapeutic horticulture session plans for each of the four seasons.

Aspirational Goals

Students will choose to integrate therapeutic horticulture into their practice in a range of horticultural, health and human service fields, and elect to pursue a path to becoming a registered horticultural therapist (HTR) through the American Horticultural Therapy Association (AHTA).

Course Activities and Design

Course activities will include reading, lecture, discussion and observation on course themes, concepts, issues, and skills. Also includes activities utilizing plant materials and accommodating people with various challenges and disabilities.

Outcome Assessment Strategies

Students will -
1. Complete the course study guide.
2. Assemble a collection of facility and service brochures on the service areas that interest them, articles and news items on issues affecting a particular demographic group, and gardening information pieces from local community and mainstream publications.
3. Visit two different service sites and write a report about their therapeutic horticulture or nature-based activities.
4. Successfully complete a quiz on the course content measuring course outcomes mastery.

Course Content (Themes, Concepts, Issues and Skills)

Course content includes -
1. Definition of therapeutic horticulture, adaptive strategies, and therapeutic gardens

2. Types of organizations, facilities and settings serving a range of population groups that could benefit from therapeutic horticulture.

3. Three main types of programming: vocational, therapeutic, and social

4. Orientation to the Therapeutic Horticulture Activity Specialist Certificate (THAS) and the coursework and internship requirements for becoming a registered horticultural therapist (HTR).

5. Orientation to the American Horticultural Therapy Association (AHTA), the NW Chapter of AHTA, and the variety of programs and resources that support therapeutic horticulture activity work.