COURSE CURRICULUM

The Arboriculture Co-op program offers a comprehensive curriculum designed to equip students with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills necessary for urban tree care. In Semester 1, students engage in in-person courses including Advanced Tree Climbing and Pruning, Careers in Arboriculture and Urban Forestry, Dendrology, Operation and Maintenance of Equipment, Tree Climbing Fundamentals, and Tree Sciences and Practices, totaling 405 hours of instruction. Semester 2 consists of a 450-hour co-op placement, providing valuable hands-on experience in real-world arboriculture settings. In Semester 3, students return to in-person learning with courses such as Dendrology II, Field Operations, Forest Entomology and Pathology, Tree Health Management, Tree Removal, and Utility Line Clearing, accumulating 375 hours. This blend of classroom instruction, practical fieldwork, and cooperative education ensures students develop advanced competencies in identifying tree species, diagnosing and managing pests and diseases, performing safe climbing and pruning techniques, operating specialized equipment, and managing tree removal and utility line clearance. Graduates emerge with a strong foundation to maintain and preserve urban trees and shrubs, promoting healthier green spaces and contributing to environmental sustainability within communities.