Course Descriptions
Department of Horticultural Sciences
Professors M. A. Arnold, D. H. Byrne, S. D. Cotner, F. T. Davies, T. D. Davis (Head), E. A. Hiler, R. D. Lineberger, J. C. Miller, Jr., L. M. Pike, D. W. Reed, J. M. Zajicek; Associate Professors M. L. Binzel, L. Cisneros-Zevallos, B. G. Cobb, S. R. King, P. E. Klein, B. S. Patil, T. W. Starman; Assistant Professors H. Koiwa, L. Lombardini; Senior Lecturers J. L. Johnson, J. R. Novak
Horticultural Sciences
(HORT)
101. Concepts of Horticultural Science. (1-0). Credit 1. I, II
Introduction to the many facets of horticulture in Texas and the United States including organization, history and nature of the industry; discussion of professional development and identification of career opportunities.
201. (AGRI 1315, 1415,HORT 1301, 1401) Horticultural Science and Practices. (3-0). Credit 3. I, II
Structure, growth and development of horticultural plants from a practical and scientific approach; environmental effects, basic principles of propagation, greenhouse and outdoor production, nutrition, pruning and chemical control of growth, pest control and branches of horticulture.
202. Horticulture Science and Practices Laboratory. (0-3). Credit 1. I, II
Methods and practices related to production of horticultural crops; practical exercises in greenhouse and field. Prerequisite: HORT 201 or registration therein.
203. Floral Design. (2-2). Credit 3. I, II
Principles of design illustrated with the use of floral materials; floral design elements and techniques including color, form, line and texture; history and utilization of floral art in society.
223. Flower Quality Standards. (0-2). Credit 1. II
Judging quality standards for flowers and potted plants for retail flower shops. Intercollegiate flower judging team chosen from this class.*
301. Garden Science. (3-0). Credit 3. I, II, S
Identification, propagation, soil management, fertilization, growth control and protection of common garden plants: indoor ornamentals, landscape ornamentals, fruits and vegetables; special topics include home landscaping, container gardens, bonsai, herbs and medicinal plants and hobby greenhouse management. The effects of organic and non-organic practices on the garden ecosystem.
302. Garden Science Lab. (0-3). Credit 1. I, II, S
Practical activities in identification, propagation, fertilization, media preparation, soil management, irrigation and protection of indoor ornamentals, landscape ornamentals, fruits and vegetables common in gardens in Texas. Organic and non-organic methods.
306. Woody Ornamental Plants. (2-2). Credit 3. I
Better known woody ornamental trees and shrubs; identification, morphology, classification, nomenclature and adaptability for use in landscape environments. Prerequisite: BOTN 101 or HORT 201 or approval of instructor.
308. Landscape Plant Materials. (2-2). Credit 3. II
Identification and use of indigenous and introduced landscape plants; plants for special uses in urban environments; emphasis on plants’ ornamental attributes, cultural requirements, and adaptability in urban and suburban environments. Prerequisite: HORT 201 or 206 or BOTN 101 or approval of instructor.
309. Interior Plants. (2-2). Credit 3. II
Identification, selection and maintenance of interior foliage plants; emphasis on design solutions for commercial and private facilities. Offered in even numbered years. Prerequisites: HORT 201; junior or senior classification.
311. Principles of Food Processing. (2-3). Credit 3. I
Principles and practices of canning, freezing, dehydration, pickling and specialty food manufacture; fundamental concepts of various techniques of preparation, processing, packaging and use of additives; processing plants visited. Cross-listed with FSTC 311.
315. Component Analysis of Horticultural Systems. (3-0). Credit 3. II
Examination of the components of modern horticultural systems, from the effects of plant genetics to the application of computer technology, and their impact on crop production and utilization; introduction to all horticultural production/utilization courses discussing elements and techniques common to all without regard to commodity. Prerequisites: HORT 201 and 202.
319. Fruit and Nut Production. (2-3). Credit 3. I
Rootstocks, cultivars, identification, site selection, pollination, pruning, fruit thinning, dormancy, orchard culture management, irrigation, pest control, harvesting and post harvest physiology of temperate fruit and nut species. Prerequisite: HORT 201.*
325. Vegetable Crop Production. (2-3). Credit 3. I
Origin, nutritive value, economic importance, botany and cultural practices of the major vegetable crops. Lab activities include organic and non-organic production of major vegetable crops.*
326. Plant Propagation. (2-3). Credit 3. II
Principles, practices and techniques followed in the sexual and asexual propagation of horticultural plants: seed technology and seed propagation, rooting and propagation of cuttings, graftage and budding systems, layering and propagation by specialized plant structures, Biotechnology and tissue culture systems for Micropropagation.
335. Sociohorticulture. (3-0). Credit 3. I
Horticulture as a therapeutic medium for special populations; use of horticulture in urban development and community garden programs. Prerequisite: Junior classification.*
400. Field Studies in Horticulture. Credit 1 to 3.
Field trip to observe operation of horticultural businesses, governmental agencies affecting horticultural programs, and public and private institutions active in horticulture in the U.S. and other countries; usually arranged during spring break, between semesters or during the summer; may be repeated for credit. Prerequisites: HORT 201 or 301 and approval of instructor.*
404. Plant Breeding. (2-2). Credit 3. II
Application of genetics and other sciences to breeding and improvement of horticultural crops; methods and special techniques employed. Offered in even numbered years. Prerequisite: GENE 301. Cross-listed with GENE 404. Credit cannot be given for both HORT 404 and AGRO 304.*
418. Nut Culture. (3-0). Credit 3. II
Orchard management, native grove development, cultivars, fruit setting, soils, nutrition, propagation, pest control, harvesting, shelling, storage and marketing of temperate tree nut crops grown in the U.S. with major emphasis on pecans. Offered in odd numbered years. Prerequisite: HORT 319 or approval of instructor.*
419. Viticulture and Small Fruit Culture. (3-0). Credit 3. II
Classic winegrape culture in Europe and U.S. are taught; influence of climate, soil, cultivar, rootstock, canopy and management is presented; nutrition, water, spacing, trellis, pruning, IPM and harvest are integrated for quality yields; culture of muscadines, berries, figs and persimmons are taught. Offered in even numbered years. Prerequisite: HORT 319 or approval of instructor.
420. Concepts in Wine Production. (3-0). Credit 3.
Classic wine grapes of the world and where they are produced; evaluation of wine style and quality through formal laboratory tastings. Prerequisites: HORT 201, 319, 419 or 446 or FSTC 201; must be 21 years of age; junior or senior classification.
421. Enology. (2-3). Credit 3. I
Provides a basic understanding of each step of the wine making process; emphasis on home and small scale commercial wine production as related to Texas conditions. Prerequisites: Must be 21 years of age; junior or senior classification.*
422. Citrus and Subtropical Fruits. (2-2). Credit 3. I
History, taxonomy, planting, irrigation, soil management, pruning, hardiness, packing, processing, post harvest physiology and marketing of citrus and other subtropical fruits. Offered in even numbered years. Prerequisite: HORT 319 or approval of instructor.*
423. Tropical Horticulture. (3-0). Credit 3. I
Production, processing and marketing of coffee, bananas, cacao, mango, cashew, pineapple, coconut and root and tuber crops; recent significant developments in plant breeding and cultural practices. Offered in odd numbered years. Prerequisites: HORT 201 and 319 or approval of instructor.
425. Landscape Maintenance and Construction. (2-3). Credit 3. II
Principles and practices of grading, drainage and construction of residential and small commercial landscapes; cost and bid estimation; soil preparation; transplanting operations; control of landscape diseases and pests; maintenance of landscape areas. Prerequisite: HORT 201 or approval of instructor.
427. Fall Greenhouse Crops. (0-2). Credit 1. I
Hands-on lab for growing and managing fall greenhouse crops including fall bedding plants, cut flowers, foliage, poinsettias and other flowering potted plants.
428. Commercial Greenhouse Management. (3-0). Credit 3. I
Principles of greenhouse management for commercial production of floral crops; greenhouse construction and operation; regulating and controlling the environment; applying cultural practices as they affect plant processes and influence growth and development; management and marketing of high quality floriculture crops. Prerequisite: HORT 201.*
429. Floriculture Crop Production. (2-2). Credit 3. II
Production of floriculture crops in the greenhouse environment; scheduling and controlling crop growth for target market periods; specific flowering crops will be used as models to demonstrate potted flowering plant, cut flower, and garden plant production systems; hands-on crop production experience in lab. Prerequisite: HORT 201.*
431. Nursery Production and Management. (2-2). Credit 3. I
Container, field and protected culture production of ornamental nursery plants (shrubs, trees, ground covers, bedding plants and herbaceous perennials); retail and wholesale nursery—site selection and development, financing, niche-marketing, personnel and labor management; wholesale nursery production cycles and systems, storage and shipping.*
432. Horticulture Landscape Design. (2-2). Credit 3. II
Application of the principles and elements of design to planning and developing both exterior residential landscape designs and interior commercial designs. Prerequisites: HORT 203; HORT 206 or 308 or approval of instructor.
435. Urban Horticulture. (3-0). Credit 3. I
Introduction to urban horticulture and its role in community development and well-being; emphasis on career opportunities and the roles of the urban horticulture programmer. Offered in odd numbered years. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification.
445. Horticultural Therapy. (2-3). Credit 3. II
Principles and practices of horticultural therapy; planning and implementing horticultural programs for persons with special needs. Prerequisites: HORT 335 or 435 or approval of instructor; junior or senior classification.
446. Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Processing. (2-3). Credit 3. II
Pilot plant and laboratory operations pertaining to processed fruits, vegetables and beverages; new product development emphasized via individual laboratory projects. Prerequisite: FSTC 311. Cross-listed with FSTC 446. (Offered in even numbered years.)
451. Retail Floristry. (2-3). Credit 3. I
Principles of floral design in a commercial shop enterprise; aspects of design in vase arrangements, personal flowers, sympathy flowers and flowers for special occasions; production costs and profit analysis, selling techniques and customer relations; term project required. Prerequisite: HORT 203 or approval of instructor.
452. Floral Design: Weddings and Personal Flowers. (2-3). Credit 3. II
Basic principles of floral design as applied to wedding work; design principles and mechanics as applied to corsages, headpieces, hand bouquets and ceremony and reception decorations; history of wedding traditions; selling and pricing weddings. Prerequisite: HORT 203 or 451 or approval of instructor.
453. Floral Art. (1-2). Credit 2. I, II
Advanced study of floral design as an art form in contrast to a commercial florist operation; interpretive expression of design principles and color stressed along with international design styles. Prerequisites: HORT 203; HORT 451 and/or 452.
481. Seminar. (1-0). Credit 1. I, II
Review of current research literature in field of horticulture presented by senior students; transition from college to work environment, including professional development and career advancement; required of all senior students in horticulture.
484. Internship. Credit 1 to 9. I, II, S
On-the-job experience program in the student’s area of horticultural specialization. Must be taken satisfactory/unsatisfactory. May be taken three times. Prerequisites: Sophomore, junior or senior classification; approval of instructor; 2.0 GPR in major and overall.
485. Directed Studies. Credit 1 to 4. I, II, S
Special problems and projects in any area of horticulture. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification or approval of department head.
489. Special Topics in… Credit 1 to 4. I, II, S
Selected topics in an identified area of horticultural science. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Approval of instructor.*
NOTE: Undergraduate floriculture courses are taught under the horticulture designation.
*Field trips required for which departmental fees may be assessed to cover costs.