Course Content and Outcomes Guides (CCOG)

CCOG for GRN 272 archive revision 201801

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Effective Term:
Winter 2018

Course Number:
GRN 272
Course Title:
Therapeutic Garden Design, Maintenance & Programming
Credit Hours:
3
Lecture Hours:
30
Lecture/Lab Hours:
0
Lab Hours:
0

Course Description

Focuses on the design, maintenance and programming of natural and horticultural therapeutic gardens. Includes working with an interdisciplinary team, garden assessment using therapeutic gardening standards, designing restorative settings, planning and conducting group and seasonal sessions, sensory goals programming for dementia clients patio and strolling gardens for assisted living facility programs, and special needs gardens. Students must have completed GRN 271 or the equivalent course offered through the Legacy Therapeutic Horticulture Program. Audit available.

Addendum to Course Description

This is the sixth course of a 6 course, 13-credit sequence in therapeutic horticulture required by the Therapeutic Horticulture Activity Specialist Certificate of Completion.

Intended Outcomes for the course

• Design, maintain, and develop programming for natural and horticultural therapeutic gardens, appropriate for a variety of special populations and working with an interdisciplinary team.


• Design and assess restorative and therapeutic garden programs, including individual and group sessions, seasonal programming, and specialized programs for dementia clients, assisted living facilities, and special needs populations.

Aspirational Goals

  • Basic understanding of therapeutic gardens and how they differ from other gardens
  • Successful maintenance of therapeutic gardens
  • Sustainability of therapeutic gardens

Course Activities and Design

Course is conducted as a class web, including contact with the therapeutic horticulture program and garden. Includes a combination of reading, lecture, discussion, observation and practice in the program and garden, and in a variety of locations. Focuses on restorative and therapeutic garden design, as well as programming appropriate to various settings and populations.

Outcome Assessment Strategies

Students will demonstrate they have met the learning outcomes through various means, including oral, demonstration, and written examinations; and capstone projects in garden design, maintenance, and programming.

Course Content (Themes, Concepts, Issues and Skills)

Horticulture, therapeutic horticulture, horticultural therapy and therapeutic garden
Historical development of therapeutic gardens
Benefits of therapeutic horticulture and gardens
The interdisciplinary team
AHTA Therapeutic Garden standards
Case Studies
Raised Beds
Garden assessment
Coherence, legibility, complexity and mystery in garden design
Restorative settings
Group and individual sessions in therapeutic gardens
Garden design and maintenance
Seasonal session planning to meet cognitive and sensory goals
Patio and strolling gardens
Therapeutic applications of trees, shrubs, perennials, vines and annuals
Professional Ethics