Landscape Irrigation Accreditation Program

POMONA, CA

The specialized science of landscape irrigation has been given four-year degree accreditation by Cal Poly Pomona. Given the importance of water conservation in many communities, it appears that programs similar to Cal Poly's will soon be offered in many parts of the country-- and for Landscape Architects, may represent an opportunity to specialize in an ever-growing field. Photo provided courtesy of Hunter Industries.

"Irrigation is much more complex than most people realize," explained Mike Cook, a program graduate who works as an irrigation technical specialist at Rain Bird. "My LIS major allows me to evaluate problems from both a mathematical and horticultural standpoint."

Another LIS graduate, Steve Hohl, who works for Santa Ana, CA-based Land Concern, Ltd., credits the program with giving him a "strong theoretical foundation in soil, water, and plant relationships" and "the tools to work in any aspect of the irrigation industry."

Hung noted that the irrigation industry is young and there is a huge market for trained irrigation specialists. However, Department Chair Vis cited a continuing need for industry support: "There is a vital need for scholarships and equipment donations to meet the demand for trained specialists."

For more information on the landscape irrigation science program, call 909-869-2084 or email egvis@csuponoma.edu.