The purpose of this study was to analyze the relation of internal factors and to build a foundation for SWOT Matrix strategy of horticulture therapy in the domestic. 438 master’s and doctorate degree dissertations on horticultural therapy from 1998 to 2015 were analyzed with years, school groups, degree classifications and regional groups. Master’s and doctorate degree dissertations published 438 studies in 1998 (1), 2002 (13), 2007 (32), and 2012 (44) have increased continuously. Among all the 211 Korean schools, 82 published dissertations related to horticultural therapy. The schools that have published more than 10 theses are as follows. Konkuk university has published the most 67 theses. The dissertations were followed by Korea univ. (50), Dankook univ. (44), Catholic univ. of Daegu (40), Seoul national univ of education (21), univ. of seoul (15), Mokpo national univ. (12), Jeju national univ. (11), Chungnam univ. (11), Daegu univ. (10), Chosun univ. (10). In the frequency analysis of academic degree types related to 438 theses, agricultural science (39.3%) accounted for the largest percentage. The next was followed by natural science (17.6%), education (16%), social welfare (8.4%), health science (5.7%), art plastic (2.3%), literature (2.1%), special education (2.1%), engineering (1.8%), science of nursing (1.1%), design (1.7%), theology (0.7%), psychology (0.7%), natural therapy (0.7%), etc (0.9%). According to the frequency analysis of regions where 438 dissertations were published in 15 cities/provinces in South Korea except Ulsan city. The results of this study confirmed that horticultural therapy satisfied the internal environment to become a field of complementary and alternative medicine.

• Byung Jin Choi(Department of Horticulture, The Graduate School, Catholic University of Daegu)
• Suk Young Yun(Department of Horticulture, The Graduate School, Catholic University of Daegu) Corresponding author
• Eun Jin Jang(Department of Horticulture, The Graduate School, Catholic University of Daegu)