Master of Science in Horticulture Top Colleges, Syllabus, Scope and Salary

 

M.Sc. in Horticulture is a 2-year postgraduate program specialization in the agricultural field. The course is divided into 4 semesters, with each semester lasting a period of 6 months. Each semester contains a separate set of theoretical subjects and practical lab sessions.

Horticulture is the most dynamic and career-oriented sector of agriculture. It deals with:

• cultivation and primary processing of plants.
• management, consulting, activity organization.
• quality assurance, marketing and after-services.
• production and marketing of horticultural enterprises.

Master of Science in Uttar Pradesh

Master of Science in Uttarakhand

Master of Science in Tamil Nadu

Master of Science in Maharashtra

Qualified professionals of the course can work as:

• managers
• counsellors
• research scientists
• educators.

The program has been designed to build in eligible students:

• knowledge of horticultural and natural sciences.
• awareness of interdisciplinary aspects such as crop rotation and cultivation.
• relevant understanding of subjects like:

1. genetics
2. physiology
3. ecology
4. biometrics.

• advanced understanding of:

1. fruits
2. medicinal plants
3. vegetables
4. ornamental flowers
5. grape and wine.

The course consists of components such as:

• theoretical lectures
• laboratory work
• farm practices
• field visits.

Specializations offered as part of the course include:

• Biotechnology
• Plant and Soil Biochemistry
• Crop Management
• Economics
• Plant Cultivation
• Research
• Genetics
• Crop Ecophysiology.

The average course fee in India ranges between INR 3,000 - 80,000 for the total duration. The average annual salary offered to successful postgraduates of the field lies between INR 5-7 lacs.

M.Sc. in: Course Highlights

Tabulated below are some of the major highlights of the course.

Course Level	Postgraduate
Duration	2 years
Examination Type	Semester System
Eligibility	Graduation from a recognized university
Admission Process	Direct admission to colleges. Entrance test in some cases.
Course Fee	INR 5,000 - 80,000
Average Starting Salary	INR 5-7 lacs
Top Recruiting Fields/Areas	Private Plants, Agricultural Machinery and Equipment Manufacturing Firms, Fertilizer Production Companies, Marketing Firms, Ornamental and Medicinal Plants and Flowers Businesses, Food Production and Technology, Landscape Design and Interior Design firms, Private Colleges, Agriculture Department, Forest Department, Fertilizer Production Units, Plant Breeding, Turfgrass Management, Landscape Design and Urban Horticulture, among others.
Job Titles	Horticulturist, Floriculturist, Pomologist, Fruit Juice Companies, Garden/Orchard owner, Food Processing Plants, Scientist in research studies, and such.

M.Sc. in Horticulture: What is it About?

Horticulture is defined as the art, science and technology of growing and cultivating plants.  These plants may be:

• medicinal or ornamental
• fruits
• vegetables
• nuts
• seeds
• seaweeds
• herbs
• sprouts
• mushrooms
• flowers
• non-food crops such as grass.

Students enrolled to the course are imparted advanced lessons in:

• Plant Breeding
• Biochemistry
• Yield-improvement
• Seed Technology
• Plant Cultivation
• Plant Physiology
• fundamentals of Physical Science, Biology and Technology.
   

M.Sc. in Horticulture: Who should opt?

Ideal candidates for the course would possess:

• interest in gardening, agriculture and similar studies.
• good leadership and team-management skills.
• affinity for science subjects like:

1. Plant Physiology
2. Horticultural Biology
3. Molecular Plant Science
4. Crop Development.

Top Institutes offering M.Sc. in Horticulture

Listed below are some of the top institutes offering the course in the country with the corresponding locations and fees charged by each.

Name of Institute	City	Average Fees per annum in INR
Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth - [PDKV]	Akola	9,086
Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University - [BBAU]	Lucknow	50,000
BFIT Group of Institutions	Dehradun	49,500
Central Agricultural University - [CAU]	Imphal	74,000
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University	Coimbatore	16,700
University of Horticultural Sciences	Bagalkot	21,400
Dr. YSR Horticultural University	Tadepalligudem	32,100
Uttaranchal (P.G.) College of Biomedical Sciences & Hospital	Dehradun	30,000
Dr. YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry - [YSPUHF]	Solan	40,000
Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University	Samastipur	15,000

Eligibility for M.Sc. in Horticulture

Candidates aspiring for admission to the course are required to fulfill the following minimum eligibility criteria.

• Graduation completed from a recognized university.
• Preferably, graduation needs to have been completed in a relevant discipline, such as:

• B.Sc. Horticulture
• B. Sc. in Applied Sciences
• B.Sc. Agriculture
• Agricultural Engineering
• Agricultural Information Technology.

• A minimum aggregate score of 50% (45% for SC/ST/OBC candidates) at the level of graduation.
• Candidates appearing for their final graduation-level examination are also eligible to apply for the course on provisional basis.

Master of Science in Rajasthan

Master of Science in Madhya Pradesh

Master of Science in Andhra Pradesh

Master of Science in Bihar

M.Sc. in Horticulture: Admission Process

Most institutes offering the course in India admit students based on their performance in a relevant entrance test, followed by a subsequent round of counselling.The round of counselling consists of two additional rounds of group discussion and personal interview, wherein the candidate’s general aptitude for the course is examined.

Some institutes conduct their own entrance tests for offering admission. Admission process generally varies across colleges. A few institutes also provide direct admission based on the candidate’s score at the level of graduation.

M.Sc. in Horticulture: Syllabus and Course Description

A semester-wise breakup of the course’s syllabus is tabulated below

Semester 1	Semester 2
Plant Biochemistry	Plant Breeding
Plant Microbiology	Seed Technology
Biotechnology	Agricultural Meteorology
Plant Physiology	Agronomy
Molecular Biology	Soil Science and Engineering
Plant Genetics	Agricultural Chemistry
Semester 3	Semester 4
Fertilizer Technology	Floriculture
Entomology	Plantation Management
Plant Pathology	Landscape Architecture
Agricultural Economics	Medicinal and Aromatic Plants
Agricultural Extension	Field Study
Post-Harvest Technology	Thesis

M.Sc. in Horticulture: Career Prospects

Popular areas of employment for such postgraduates include:

• Agriculture Department
• Forest Department
• Fertilizer production units
• Academia
• Private Plants
• Agricultural Machinery and equipment manufacturing firms
• Fertilizer production companies
• Marketing firms
• Ornamental and Medicinal plants and flowers businesses
• Food Production and Technology
• Productions and Sales
• Public Gardens
• Marketing, Research and Development Sector
• Landscape Design, Agriculture
• Landscape Design and Interior Design firms
• Private Colleges, etc.

Such professionals are hired in capacities such as:

• Horticulturist
• Floriculturist
• Pomologist
• Scientist in research studies.

Some of the popular professional avenues open to successful postgraduates of the course are listed below with the corresponding salaries offered for the respective positions.

Job Position	Job Description	Average Annual Salary in INR
Horticulturist	Horticulturists work the production and cultivation of plants. They are work to improve plant growth, quality, nutritional value, yield, and resistance to insects, diseases. Also, they are involved in research work, and perform research on plants to produce new breeds and yields. Their job starts as gardeners and designers. They grow and act as therapists, designers, and often act as technical advisors for the organization they work in.	4-7 lacs
Floriculturists	Floriculture is a part of horticulture, and is a process of cultivation of fragrant flowers used as a raw material in the making of perfumes and cosmetics in the pharmaceutical industry. A Floriculturist cultivates flowering and ornamental plants on a large scale. They take care of flower gardens, work in floral industries, and for export. They also develop new plant varieties.	3-6 lacs
Pomologist	A Pomologist is responsible for ensuring healthy growth and breeding of fruits and nuts, and also the trees and bushes on which the fruits grow.	4-6 lacs
Soil Scientist	Soil Scientists examine different soils from a variety of terrains and geographical locations. Their job is to study the soil's physical composition and chemical properties. Soil Scientists assess, evaluate, and record the impact of the quality of soil on agriculture.	4-6 lacs
Seed Analyst	Seed Analysts are responsible for testing and analyzing seeds for purity, type, viability, and germination rate. They follow the standards set by the government or private organization they work for. They shuffle between lab and field settings. They may also travel to explore and produce hybrid seeds.	3-6 lacs

Candidate must possess graduation degree  B.Sc in relevant field with 60% from this university or any other recognized university.