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Horticultural Science
Overview
Horticultural science programs teach people the scientific principles behind cultivating garden and ornamental plants.Horticultural science programs include topics such as:
- Breeding horticultural varieties of flowers, fruits, vegetables, flowers, and nursery crops
- Physiology of plants
- Botany
- Pest management
- Soil Science
Concentrations
In horticultural science programs, students may be able to specialize in:
- Silviculture (forest trees)
- Arboriculture (trees in general)
- Floriculture (flowers)
Schools
Many community colleges offer associate degree programs in horticultural science. An associate degree usually takes two years to complete. After earning an associate degree students can transfer to a college or university for further study.
Several colleges and universities offer bachelor's degrees in horticultural science. A bachelor's degree usually takes about four years of full-time study.
A few universities offer graduate degrees in horticultural science. A master's degree typically requires two years of study beyond a bachelor's degree. Doctoral (PhD) degree programs usually require two or more years of study beyond the master's degree.
See schools that offer this program.
Related Educational Programs
- Agriculture, General
- Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture
- Agronomy and Crop Science
- Botany
- Horticulture Operations
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping
- Ornamental Horticulture
- Pest Management
- Plant Pathology
- Plant Physiology
- Plant Science
- Soil Science
- Turf and Turfgrass Management
Related Careers
Careers Directly Related to this Program of Study
Other Careers Related to this Program of Study
- Conservation Scientists
- Environmental Scientists
- Floral Designers
- Interior Designers
- Landscape Architects
- Landscapers and Groundskeepers
Program Admission
You can prepare for this program by taking courses in high school that prepare you for college. This typically includes four years of English, three years of math, three years of social studies, and two years of science. Some colleges also require two years of a second language.
Below is a list of high school courses that will help prepare you for this program of study:
- Agricultural Management
- Agriculture Science
- Agriculture Work Experience
- Algebra
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Horticulture
- Probability and Statistics
Graduate Admissions
Admission to graduate programs is competitive. You need a bachelor's degree, good grades, and good scores on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) General.
Additional requirements at most schools include:
- Letters of recommendation
- Statement of purpose
Although it would be helpful, your bachelor's degree does not necessarily have to be in horticultural science. However, you usually need to take several courses in the life sciences and basic horticultural science before you can officially enter a master's degree program.
Since doctoral programs tend to emphasize advanced research, you should have a strong background in the life sciences, if not horticultural science as well. Prerequisite courses include:
- Biochemistry
- Computer Science
- Molecular Genetics
- Plant Physiology
- Statistics
Typical Course Work
Program Courses
In this undergraduate program, you typically take courses such as the following:
- Applied Entomology
- Botany
- Chemistry
- Floriculture Physiology
- Flower Production
- Forestry
- Herbaceous Plants
- Herbicides and Pesticides
- Horticultural Plant Materials
- Horticultural Science and Systems
- International Horticulture
- Landscape Maintenance
- Microbiology
- Nursery Production
- Organic Production in Horticulture
- Plant and Animal Genetics
- Plant Growth and Development
- Plant Identification
- Plant Pathology
- Plant Propagation
- Seed Science and Technology
- Soil Science
- Tree and Shrub Care
- Vegetable Crop Production
- Weed Science
- Woody Plant Materials
Graduate Program Courses
Course work in graduate programs tends to vary. However, the outline of a typical graduate curriculum looks like the following:
- Required courses
- Elective courses
- Comprehensive exams
- Thesis and thesis defense (master's degree only)
- Dissertation and dissertation defense (doctoral degree only)
Some schools offer master's degree programs that focus less on research and more on advanced training for professionals. In these cases, you usually take a comprehensive exam in place of writing a thesis. You may also have to complete a project applying your classroom knowledge to a real-life horticultural science situation.
Some programs, both undergraduate and graduate, incorporate internships into their curriculums. An internship allows you to gain hands-on experience in a real-world horticultural science. You can use the opportunity to focus on an area of horticultural science in which you're already interested. Or you can use it to explore an area that you're undecided about pursuing.
Your program may work with you to secure an internship based on your interests, skills, and knowledge. In other cases, they may give you leads that you can pursue on your own.
Possible settings for an internship include a local arboretum, a seed company, or a citrus orchard. You might help plant seedlings, perform quality assurance on seeds before they're packaged, or treat citrus trees to prevent plant diseases and pests. These are just a few of the many possibilities. In whatever internship you have, you usually benefit from the guidance and supervision of an experienced horticultural professional.
Things to Know
For information about farm occupations, opportunities, and 4-H activities, contact your local county extension service office.
Some programs offer opportunities to study horticulture abroad. Others offer easy access to certain native plants or produce.
Schools
East Side Area
Washington State University - Pullman
- Horticulture
King-Snohomish Area
Bastyr University
- Holistic Landscape Design
Edmonds Community College
- Horticulture--Landscape Design Specialization
- Horticulture--Landscape Horticulture
- Horticulture--Sustainable Landscape Management
South Seattle College
- Landscape Horticulture
University of Washington - Seattle
- Environmental and Forest Sciences--Environmental Horticulture
Spokane Area
Spokane Community College
- Horticulture Pre-Major
Statewide and Distance Learning
Washington State University - Global Campus
- Agriculture--Plant Health Management