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Daniel Halsey

Academic Track for Ecological Design

In the past, I have advised current and prospective students about their coursework and permaculture.  Below is the self directed track for my BS program in permaculture design. It was called Temperate Climate Polyculture Design. This is not an actual track in the university system, but a list of courses I have taken or are required within horticulture majors. Some 1xxx courses are high school AP classes.  The combination of design, ecology, and horticulture courses builds an education with the breadth and depth to design resilient ecological systems. It also builds the skill required for professional design presentations incorporating permaculture principles. Choose your path and specialize your expertise in design. Be advised,  I have heard from graduates in my classes that their Landscape Architecture degrees do not contain the horticultural and biological foundations for ecological design. That is why they are in my permaculture design classes after graduation.



If teaching is the goal, I suggest immediate and prolonged experiential learning in real courses starting as a TA and progressing ASAP to presenting lesson plans. Mileage with constant improvements is the key to good teaching. Find a mentor and learn by teaching.


Similar courses exist at OSU, MSU, UNL, Cornell, and other research universities. Offerings change each semester and course content varies per instructor. Many important educational opportunities are outside the college system. Take advantage of short term work-study opportunities.


My Masters degree courses are also listed at the bottom.



 Degree             :  Bachelor of Science and MPS


 Academic Program  :  CLA or College of Continuing Education


 Plan                  :  ICP, BIS, or Hort


 Concentration   :  Permaculture in Horticultural Design


Temperate Climate Polyculture Design


     


Suggested  Ecological Design Track     


BIOL 1009    General Biology


HORT 1015    Woody & Herbaceous Plants            (Species and Taxonomy)


MATH 1031    College Algebra


CHEM 1061    Chem Prin I and CHEM 1065 Chem Prin I Lab


HORT 2100    Agricultural Biochemistry             (Optional)


HORT 1001    Plant Propagation                (Plant Structures and Physiology)


PLPA  2001    Introductory Plant Pathology for Horticulturists    (Optional, Diseases)


HORT 3005    Environmental Effects on Horticultural Crops    (Climate and Weather)


HORT 1014    Edible Landscapes                    (Global Reference)


FR       3104    Forest Ecology                         (Montgomery)


SOIL   2125    Soil Science Resource                 (Cooper)       


AGRO 4888    Issues in Sustainable Ag            (Summer, Week Trip)


FR       3131    GIS for Natural Resources            (ArcMap Skills)


Permaculture Ecological Designer Track (Years 1-4)


DES 1101W    Introduction to Design Thinking


DES 2101     Design and Visual Presentation    (Adobe Creative Suite)


GDES 3351    Text and Image                 (3352 prereq.)


DHA 3352    Identity and Symbols                (Suman Chu)


HORT xxxx      Sustainable Horticultural Design         (New Design Course, Fall, 2013)



Independent Study (Years 3-4)


HORT 3090.1     D.S., Permaculture Design Certification    (Off-site Summer PDC)


HORT    3090.2  D.S., Mechanisms of Facilitation  (Student Research)


HORT 3090.3     D.S., Polyculture Design     (Using Natural Capital Plant Database and Dave Jacke Books)


    


American Indian Semester Intensive


AMIN 3201W    American Indian Literature


AMIN 3301    Am Indian Philosophies


AMIN 3303    Am Indians and Photography


AMIN XXXX    Many Options




Degree: Masters of Professional Studies, Horticulture


HORT 5032    Org Veg Prod


HORT 5090    Directed Studies (Design Project)


HORT  5031    Org Viticulture & Fruit Prod


HORT 6011    Plant Prop (unless 1011 was taken)


EEB*  5068    Plant Physiological Ecology


ENT*  5341    Biol Control:Insects & Weeds


CI       5540    Ecology for Educators    (Summer, Educator Track)


HORT 5012    Chinese Medicinal Herbs, Grow & Process


HORT 6002    Problem Solving in Hort   (Final Project)



* Intense study with topics outside previous courses. (But very good)


D.S., Directed Study, (Independent Study).



Your comments on this list and other institutional offerings are appreciated.



Dan

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