Students have access to faculty mentors and the opportunity to receive hands-on experience working side-by-side with research scientists in laboratories, greenhouses, and fields.Plant science majors are able to customize their education and focus on a variety of areas in the plant science field, such as sustainable agriculture, crop physiology and biotechnology, weed control, fertilization, water requirements and application, and the specific production of fruits, vegetables, turf, ornamentals, and agronomic crops.Students must choose an emphasis.

  • Horticulture and Cropping Systems: This emphasis is focused more on applied, hands-on work with plants. It is designed for students interested in applied aspects of plant production and management in the field, nursery, orchard, or greenhouse. Students can also study plant management, preparing them for careers with golf courses, botanical gardens, school campuses, and other landscapes.

  • Research: This emphasis is designed for students intending to attend graduate school. It is focused on the science of crop production, including plant breeding and genetic engineering. Because of the rapidly changing technologies in the field of plant and food production, plant research scientists are in high demand.

Horticulture and Cropping Systems Emphasis

  •     Orchard, greenhouse, or nursery management
  •     Golf course or parks superintendent
  •     Laboratory technician
  •     Supervisor or demonstrator of chemical or technical products
  •     Inspector of agricultural products
  •     Private businesses in irrigation equipment sales
  •     Work abroad through government or philanthropic foundations to help solve world food, soil, and environmental problems
  •     Garden center, seed, and chemical sales
  •     Agricultural production
  •     Owning or managing farm-related businesses
  •     Consulting
  •     Agricultural product sales
  •     Government agencies

Research Emphasis

  •     Genetic engineering
  •     Agribusiness
  •     Plant breeding
  •     Research laboratories
  •     Government agencies
  •     Agriculturally oriented research companies
  •     Chemical firms
  •     Work abroad through government or philanthropic foundations to help solve world food, soil, and environmental problems
  •     Academia