10 Best Master’s in Horticultural Therapy

Horticultural therapy is gaining recognition in holistic healthcare for its role in physical, emotional, and mental recovery through gardening and plant care. It’s used in hospitals, rehab centers, and senior or veteran programs. Despite its proven benefits, graduate programs in this field remain limited and specialized.

What is a Master’s in Horticultural Therapy?

A Master’s in Horticultural Therapy trains professionals to design, manage, and evaluate therapeutic garden programs that aid recovery and enhance mental health. Students learn to integrate plant-based activities into healthcare, rehabilitation, and social service settings.

Key Learning Areas:

• Therapeutic use of plants and gardens
• Psychology and behavioral health foundations
• Rehabilitation and special populations
• Program design and assessment
• Plant science, propagation, and landscape design
• Clinical practice and supervised fieldwork

Why It’s a Rare and Under-Explored Field

• Dual-focus requirement: Combines psychology/therapy with horticultural science—few universities can staff both.
• High hands-on needs: Requires therapeutic gardens, greenhouses, and on-site training.
• Limited demand: Specialized niche—small enrollment but rising popularity in healthcare and rehabilitation.
• Certification gap: Few standardized national licensure routes; most practitioners rely on American Horticultural Therapy Association (AHTA) guidelines.

Growth Outlook and Industry Relevance

Horticultural therapy is still a small, specialized profession in the U.S., but interest is increasing as more people turn to nature-based methods for health and recovery. While formal programs and insurance recognition remain limited, the field is slowly expanding across the following fields:

• Healthcare
• Rehabilitation
• Community wellness settings

Here are a few facts to know:

• According to HortTechnology (2021), 41% of practitioners report growth despite limited insurance recognition.
• The American Horticultural Therapy Association (AHTA) has about 500 active members, reflecting a niche but dedicated workforce.
• The growing demand for nature-based and mental health interventions continues to expand career opportunities.
• Job outlook projects roughly 17% growth (2018–2028).

Example Career Paths

Graduates often work in healthcare, rehabilitation, and community wellness roles such as:

• Therapeutic Horticulturist – designing and managing healing gardens
• Rehabilitation Program Coordinator – integrating plant-based therapy into clinical rehab
• Community Wellness Specialist – leading horticultural programs for seniors, veterans, or youth
• Clinical Researcher / Educator – studying or teaching evidence-based horticultural therapy
• Nonprofit or Hospital Program Director – creating accessible green programs for therapy and recovery

10 Master’s in Horticultural Therapy

Colorado State University

Master of Science in Horticulture and Human Health

• Length: Varies (Plan B – non-thesis option with final research paper)
• Tuition: $634 per credit hour
• Format: Online or On-Campus
• Courses Include:
  • Fundamentals of Horticultural Therapy
  • Greenhouse Management
  • Medicinal and Value-Added Uses of Plants
  • Horticultural Therapy Techniques
  • Horticulture and Human Health and Well-Being
• Standout Features:
  • Offers two certificate programs:
    • Horticulture and Human Health
    • UrbanAgriculture
  • Students gain hands-on learning opportunities through the CSU Horticulture Center, ARDEC (Agricultural Research and Development Center), and Annual Flower Garden Trials.
  • Strong interdisciplinary approach connecting agriculture, human health, and environmental science.

Learn more: CSU – MS in Horticulture and Human Health

NC State University

Master of Horticultural Science

• Length: Typically 2–3 years (non-thesis program)
• Tuition: $16,303.68 per year
• Format: Blended (online + on-campus options; about 50% of courses available online)
• Courses Include:
  • Advanced Horticultural Science
  • Plant Breeding and Physiology
  • Urban and Sustainable Horticulture
  • Postharvest Management
  • Seminar Techniques and Technology
• Standout Features:
  • Flexible non-thesis degree ideal for professionals seeking advanced horticultural training without pursuing a PhD.
  • Students work with an advisory committee to design a personalized plan of study.
  • Includes hands-on teaching and outreach experiences to develop real-world skills.
  • Allows transfer of credits from NC State’s Graduate Certificate in Horticultural Science.

Learn more: NC State – Master of Horticultural Science

University of Minnesota

Master of Professional Studies in Horticulture

• Length: Average 2.5 years
• Tuition: $936 per credit (30 credits total; approx. $28,000)
• Format: In-person
• Courses Include:
  • Introduction to the MPS in Horticulture Program
  • Plant Propagation
  • Capstone: Problem Solving in Horticulture
  • Ecological Design for Horticulture
  • Garden Design: Theory and Application
• Standout Features:
  • An applied, career-focused master’s degree designed to prepare students for hands-on horticulture careers rather than research.
  • Highly customizable—students choose from areas like Public Garden Management, Urban Agriculture, or Restoration and Conservation.
  • Open to applicants from diverse academic backgrounds.
  • Focuses on developing professionals skilled in sustainable landscape, crop, and plant production practices.

Learn more: UMN – Master of Professional Studies in Horticulture

Auburn University

Master of Science in Horticulture

• Length: Typically 2 years
• Tuition: Estimated $11,500 per year (in-state); $31,000 per year (out-of-state)
• Format: On-campus
• Courses Include:
  • Advanced Plant Physiology
  • Soil and Crop Management
  • Landscape Design and Environmental Horticulture
  • Research Methods and Statistics
  • Sustainable Production Systems
• Standout Features:
  • Flexible curriculum that can be tailored to each student’s goals in research, teaching, business, or extension.
  • Strong research focus with opportunities in greenhouse production, plant breeding, and sustainable systems.
  • Part of Auburn’s College of Agriculture, known for its applied and industry-connected research.

Learn more: Auburn – MS in Horticulture

Cornell University

Master of Science (career-oriented)

• Length: 2 years (thesis-based)
• Tuition: Approx. $32,000–$42,000 per year
• Format: On-campus
• Courses Include:
  • Plant Physiology and Ecology
  • Horticultural Crop Breeding and Management
  • Soil and Environmental Science
  • Research Methods and Data Analysis
  • Human–Plant Interactions
• Standout Features:
  • The only Ivy League horticulture graduate program.
  • Highly interdisciplinary—students can choose majors:
    • Horticultural Crop Breeding
    • Horticulture Crop Management
    • Physiology & Ecology of Horticultural Crops
    • Human-Plant Interactions
  • Strong research with a focus on sustainable food systems, crop innovation, and community impact.
  • Opportunities for teaching and Cooperative Extension experience.

Learn more: Cornell University – Graduate Field of Horticulture

Kansas State University

Master’s Degree in Horticulture and Natural Resources

• Length: 2–3 years (depending on thesis or non-thesis option)
• Tuition: Approx. $15,000–$25,000 per year (graduate in-state vs. out-of-state rates may vary)
• Format: On-campus
• Courses Include:
  • Research Methods and Scientific Writing
  • Advanced Horticultural Therapy / Human Dimensions of Horticulture
  • Plant Physiology, Propagation, and Pest Management
• Standout Features:
  • Developed through consultation between the major professor and the student.
  • Outreach and extension experiences with public education, community engagement, and industry interaction.
  • Prepares graduates for careers in horticultural therapy, research, environmental management, and teaching.

Learn more: Kansas State University – Master’s in Horticulture

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Online Certificate in Therapeutic Horticulture

• Length: 4 courses, 6 weeks each (self-paced, online)
• Tuition: $400–$450 per course
• Format: Fully online, asynchronous
• Courses Include:
  • Introduction to Therapeutic Horticulture
  • Program Development
  • Accommodating Diverse Populations
  • Program Management
• Standout Features:
  • Fully online, flexible for working professionals.
  • Ideal for allied health professionals, educators, and garden and landscape practitioners.
  • Builds foundational and applied knowledge for therapeutic horticulture programs.
  • Provides Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for professional development.

Learn more: UNC – Online Certificate in Therapeutic Horticulture

Higher Education Alliance for Agriculture (IDEA)

Graduate Certificate in Horticulture

• Length: 12–15 credit hours (graduate courses)
• Tuition: $622 per credit hour
• Format: 100% online, courses offered by Kansas State University, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, North Carolina State University, and Texas Tech University
• Courses Include:
  • Plant Physiology, Nutrition, and Irrigation Science
  • Nursery, Greenhouse, and Edible Food Crop Production
  • Horticultural Business Management
  • Advanced Horticultural Practices and Principles
• Standout Features:
  • Designed for working professionals and graduate students.
  • Flexible schedule with spring, summer, and fall sessions.
  • Serves as a foundation for careers in horticultural management, extension, teaching, or further graduate study.
  • Provides direct applicability to industry, landscaping, and research roles.
  • Seamless pathway to the Master of Science in Horticulture at participating universities.

Learn more: IDEA Graduate Certificate in Horticulture

Horticulture Therapy Institute

Certificate Program in Horticulture

• Location: Denver, Colorado (with optional online format)
• Length: 1 year
• Format: Four intensive 4–5 day sessions (face-to-face or online) + pre/post-class assignments
• Courses Include:
  • Fundamentals of Horticultural Therapy
  • Horticultural Therapy Techniques
  • Horticultural Therapy Programming
  • Horticultural Therapy Management
• Standout Features:
  • AHTA-accredited certificate; optional academic credit from Colorado State University.
  • Emphasizes the human/nature connection in therapy.
  • Mix of in-person and distance learning; flexible locations nationwide.

Learn more: Horticultural Therapy Institute – Certificate Program

College of DuPage

Advanced Horticultural Therapy Certificate

• Length: 1–2 years (43 total credits, including internship)
• Average Expense: $6,000–$9,000 total (depending on residency and course load)
• Format: In-person
• Courses Include:
  • Advanced coursework in therapeutic programming, management, and applied horticultural techniques
  • Supervised internship in clinical, community, or rehabilitation settings
  • Preparation for Horticultural Therapist–Registered (HTR) eligibility through AHTA
• Standout Features:
  • Bridges plant science, psychology, and human services.
  • Ideal for those in psychology, counseling, rehabilitation, and health sciences.
  • Provides practical, real-world experience for applied therapeutic practice or graduate research

Learn more: College of DuPage – Advanced Horticultural Therapy Certificate

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a background in horticulture or psychology to apply?

Not always. Many programs accept applicants with backgrounds in:

• Education
• Healthcare
• Environmental sciences

Though some require basic plant science or psychology courses.

Is horticultural therapy a licensed profession?

No national licensure exists yet. Professionals usually follow the AHTA’s Registered Horticultural Therapist standards, which require approved coursework and supervised experience.

What’s the job market like?

Small but expanding. Hospitals, rehab centers, community organizations, and senior care facilities increasingly include horticultural therapy in wellness programs.

Can I combine horticultural therapy with another specialization?

Yes. Many students integrate it with landscape design, psychology, occupational therapy, or education for broader career flexibility.