Curricula in
Horticultural Sciences
Horticulture is a continually growing
profession full of challenging, rewarding and enjoyable careers.
Horticulture encompasses the art, science and technology of
production, utilization and distribution of fruits, vegetables
and nursery/floral crops throughout all facets of our society.
The undergraduate program focuses on traditional areas of production,
marketing and processing of horticultural crops. In addition,
with the growing emphasis placed on horticultural programs
in urban areas, students can acquire the skills and knowledge
necessary for the planning, implementation and management of
such programs. Graduates have the technical and scientific
skills as well as the communication, leadership and interpersonal
capabilities necessary to function effectively as horticultural
professionals. In addition, graduates in horticultural sciences
are prepared for graduate studies in horticulture and other
plant sciences.
The Department of Horticultural Sciences
offers degrees in Horticulture and Floriculture with three
study emphases including: Production and Management, Science
and Biotechnology, and Environmental and Urban Horticulture.
Production and Management. This emphasis is designed to provide
students with the knowledge and skills needed for a career
in the production and management of horticultural crops.
Students can specialize in one or more areas including:
fruit, nut, vegetable, floriculture and nursery crops;
landscape design, installation and management; floral design;
and food processing.
Graduates in this option are prepared
for specific careers in production, design, management,
sales and processing of horticultural products.
Science and Biotechnology. This emphasis provides a stronger
foundation in basic sciences and is intended for those
who plan to pursue a graduate degree. Graduate studies
provide career opportunities in teaching and research at
universities, private industry research, cooperative extension
service and consulting firms. Universities, state and federal
agencies, and industries need trained scientists who can
teach, conduct research and communicate research findings
to the public to ensure efficient, environmentally sound
production and use of horticultural products.
Environmental and Urban Horticulture. This
emphasis is designed for students interested in learning
how plants improve the environment
and the quality of our lives. Two areas focused on are
the biological and physical concepts and horticultural
principles of management of plants and plant ecosystems
in landscape settings, and the sociological aspects of
people-plant interactions in the urban environment. In
addition to the technical areas of horticulture, the student
in urban horticulture will be committed to improving the
way people live as it is affected by the urban setting.
Management of urban horticulture projects requires expertise
in problem-solving, decision-making, assessment of social
and environmental impacts, personnel, public relations,
volunteer management, financing and fund-raising, marketing
of services, and needs assessment. Skills in working with
people in the legal and political environment are necessary,
as well as the ability to assess and work with other organizations
for cooperative developments in urban horticulture. Students
in this option prepare for managerial careers with public,
youth, not-for-profit agencies and commercial horticulture
programs.
University Core Curriculum
| Required course |
(Th-Pr)
|
Credit
|
| BIOL 113 and 123 Introductory
Biology and Lab or BOTN 101 Botany |
|
4
|
| CHEM 101 Fundamentals
of Chemistry I |
(3-3)
|
4
|
| ENGL 104 Composition
and Rhetoric |
(3-0)
|
3
|
| POLS 206 American
National Government |
(3-0)
|
3
|
| POLS 207 State and
Local Government |
(3-0)
|
3
|
| Communication elective
|
|
3
|
| History electives
|
|
6
|
| Humanities elective
|
|
3
|
| Mathematics electives
|
|
6
|
| Social and behavioral
sciences elective |
|
3
|
| Visual and performing
arts elective |
|
3
|
| * KINE 198 Health
and Fitness Activity |
(0-2)
|
1
|
| * KINE 199 Required
Physical Activity |
(0-2)
|
1
|
| |
|
43
|
Horticultural Sciences Core Courses
| Required course |
(Th-Pr)
|
Credit
|
| HORT 101 Concepts
of Horticultural Science |
(1-0)
|
1
|
| HORT 201 General Horticulture |
(3-0)
|
3
|
| HORT 202 General Horticulture
Laboratory |
(0-3)
|
1
|
| HORT 326 Plant Propagation |
(2-3)
|
3
|
| HORT 481 Seminar |
(1-0)
|
1
|
| Horticulture electives |
|
15
|
| |
|
24
|
Support Courses
| Required course |
(Th-Pr)
|
Credit
|
| AGRO 301 Soil Science |
(3-2)
|
4
|
| CHEM 222 Elements
of Organic and Biological Chemistry |
(3-0)
|
3
|
| ENTO 201 General Entomology |
(2-2)
|
3
|
| GENE 310 Principles
of Heredity or GENE 315 Genetics
of Plants or GENE 320 Biomedical
Genetics |
|
3
|
| MEPS 313 Introduction
to Plant Physiology or MEPS 316 Introduction
to Theory and Practice of Plant Physiology |
|
3
|
| PLPA 301 Plant Pathology |
(3-0)
|
3
|
| PLPA 303 Plant Pathology
Laboratory |
(0-2)
|
1
|
| Study emphasis electives
|
|
35
|
| Free electives |
|
6
|
| |
|
61
|
