CWE 168 – Horticulture and Landscape Design


Instructor in Charge:                 Charles Harrison           charrison@saddleback.edu
Program Officer:                       Trudi Baggs                  tbaggs@saddleback.edu

This course places students at worksites for 60 (unpaid) or 75 (paid) hours.  Positions can be at a student’s present workplace if an additional skill is learned.   Students may find their own employer/sponsor if they wish.  Students may stay for a longer period if desired and if the employer agrees.  Contact Charles Harrison with any questions.

What’s the Purpose of CWE?

To provide on-the-job experience in a true-to-life working environment.  We offer many classes but actual hands-on experience in the workplace is invaluable to the student and the potential employer                      

Does everyone have to take CWE?

No, but consider its value to you.  The certificates in both Horticulture and Landscape Design allow CWE as one of several options.   Please view the current certificates at http://www.saddleback.edu/AP/hort/certifs.html

When is a good time to start CWE?

Most employers want a person who has some skills already.  In Landscape Design almost all employers are eager to take students who have had Landscape CAD or basic CAD.  Students taking CAD courses during their first year would have an advantage in securing a position.  Students waiting until their final classes to take CAD may find that there are few good openings for them in Landscape Design CWE; they may want to choose from another certificate option in that case.

CWE should be taken by students after they have finished about 8-9 units of certificate work.  Of course, students already on the job, can arrange with their employer to take CWE earlier by developing a plan for an educational goal to be studied on the job.  You must contact the instructor in order to enroll.  CWE is not listed in the general schedule of classes

Will CWE positions pay a salary?
Most will not.  Some will.  If salary is important to a student, the pool of positions open to them will decrease.  Most positions are without salary but some employers find that they want to keep the person on beyond 60 hours, in which case they must pay a salary. <> 

How do I get started?

Once you make the decision to include CWE in your certificate and are ready to start, contact Charles Harrison at the email address above.  Also, please visit the Saddleback College CWE website at http://www.saddleback.edu/AP/atas/cwe