Plant Science (BS)
The Plant Science major, with concentrations in Environmental Horticulture, Soil Science, Sustainable Agriculture, and Turfgrass Science, focuses on the science and practices associated with sustainable plant production and/or use within managed systems. Courses emphasize practices and concepts related to reducing environmental impact during production and in managed land use systems.
Concentrations focus on the production of ornamental and edible crops in controlled environments, greenhouses, nurseries and on farms; management practices for built landscapes and surfaces used for recreational and sporting activities; and the selection and management of ornamental trees, shrubs, grasses, native species, and plants and soils that perform ecosystem services in recreational, urban, and suburban settings to meet functional and aesthetic requirements. The program emphasizes hands-on learning and developing and applying knowledge to solve contemporary problems in individual and team approaches. Students have the opportunity to gain real-world experience through internships.
Requirements
All students in this major must complete the following courses:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| BIOL 1108 | Principles of Biology II | 4 |
| or BIOL 1110 | Introduction to Botany | |
| CHEM 1122 | Chemical Principles and Applications | 4 |
| or CHEM 1124Q | Fundamentals of General Chemistry I | |
| or CHEM 1127Q | General Chemistry I | |
| PLSC 1120 | Introduction to Plant Science | 4 |
| PLSC 2120 | Environmental Soil Science | 3 |
| PLSC 2125 | Environmental Soils Lab | 1 |
| PLSC 2110W | Sustainable Plant Pest Management Communication | 1 |
| or PLSC 2560W | Written Communications in Horticulture | |
| PLSC 4210 | Plant Physiology: How Plants Work | 3 |
| Total Credits | 20 | |
The writing in the major requirement is satisfied by PLSC 2110W Sustainable Plant Pest Management Communication or PLSC 2560W Written Communications in Horticulture.
Plant Science General Concentration
This track is to be used when no concentration is declared and may also be used as a means of advancing to a graduate program without yet specializing to a concentration. Students in this concentration must complete the following courses:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select one or a combination of the following: | 2-6 | |
| Field Study Internship | ||
| Undergraduate Research in Plant Science | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Plants in ecology, environments, and landscapes | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| The Common (Shared) Landscape of the USA: Rights, Responsibilities and Values | ||
| Biophilic Cities and Landscapes | ||
| The Great American Lawn: History, Culture, and Sustainability | ||
| Environmental Sustainability of Food Production in Developed Countries | ||
| Principles and Concepts of Agroecology | ||
| Urban Plant Systems Construction and Maintenance | ||
| Ecology and Control of Weeds | ||
| Applied plant production systems | 6-8 | |
| Select two of the following: | ||
| Fundamentals of Horticulture | ||
| Turfgrass Management Lab | ||
| Introduction to the Horticulture of Cannabis | ||
| Golf Course Management | ||
| Small Fruit Production | ||
| Garden Center Management | ||
| Organic and Sustainable Vegetable Production | ||
| Nursery Production | ||
| Greenhouse Technology and Operations | ||
| Greenhouse Technology and Operations Laboratory | ||
| Plant associated microbes and plant pests | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: | ||
| Fungi, Fire, and Flood: Soil Microbes in a Changing World | ||
| Fundamentals of Plant Pathology | ||
| Horticultural Entomology | ||
| Integrated Pest Management | ||
| Plant materials | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: | ||
| Herbaceous Ornamental Plants | ||
| Floral Art | ||
| Woody Plants: Common Trees, Shrubs and Vines | ||
| Indoor Plants and Interiorscaping | ||
| Plant propagation and breeding | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: | ||
| Molecular Laboratory Technology | ||
| Biotechnology - Science, Application, Impact, Perception | ||
| Plant Breeding and Biotechnology | ||
| Modern and Traditional Plant Breeding Techniques | ||
| Plant Propagation | ||
| Total Credits | 23-29 | |
Environmental Horticulture Concentration
Students in this concentration must complete the following courses:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PLSC 3640 | Plant Propagation | 3 |
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Fundamentals of Plant Pathology | ||
| Ecology and Control of Weeds | ||
| Horticultural Entomology | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Herbaceous Ornamental Plants | ||
| Woody Plants: Common Trees, Shrubs and Vines | ||
| Indoor Plants and Interiorscaping | ||
| Select three of the following: | 9 | |
| Small Fruit Production | ||
| Garden Center Management | ||
| Urban Plant Systems Construction and Maintenance | ||
| Organic and Sustainable Vegetable Production | ||
| Nursery Production | ||
| Greenhouse Technology and Operations | ||
| Plant Tissue Culture | ||
| Total Credits | 24 | |
Soil Science Concentration
Students in this concentration must complete the following courses:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PLSC 3120E | Fungi, Fire, and Flood: Soil Microbes in a Changing World | 3 |
| PLSC 3620 | Soil Fertility | 3 |
| PLSC 3700 | Soil Morphology | 3 |
| PLSC 3710 | Soil Management, Soil Health, and Climate Change | 3 |
| Select one or a combination of the following: | 1-6 | |
| Field Study Internship | ||
| Undergraduate Research in Plant Science | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Fundamentals of Plant Pathology | ||
| Ecology and Control of Weeds | ||
| Horticultural Entomology | ||
| Integrated Pest Management | ||
| Three of the following: | 9 | |
| Turfgrass Management | ||
| Environmental Sustainability of Food Production in Developed Countries | ||
| Principles and Concepts of Agroecology | ||
| Small Fruit Production | ||
| Urban Plant Systems Construction and Maintenance | ||
| Organic and Sustainable Vegetable Production | ||
| Nursery Production | ||
| Greenhouse Technology and Operations | ||
| Total Credits | 25-30 | |
Sustainable Agriculture Concentration
Students in this concentration must complete the following courses:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PLSC 2100E | Environmental Sustainability of Food Production in Developed Countries | 3 |
| PLSC 2500E | Principles and Concepts of Agroecology | 3 |
| PLSC 3610 | Organic and Sustainable Vegetable Production | 4 |
| PLSC 3620 | Soil Fertility | 3 |
| PLSC 3840 | Integrated Pest Management | 3 |
| PLSC 3990 | Field Study Internship | 1-6 |
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Fundamentals of Plant Pathology | ||
| Ecology and Control of Weeds | ||
| Horticultural Entomology | ||
| Total Credits | 23-28 | |
Turfgrass Science Concentration
Students in this concentration must complete the following courses:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PLSC 1100 | Turfgrass Management | 3 |
| PLSC 1115 | Turfgrass Management Lab | 1 |
| PLSC 3150 | Advanced Turfgrass Management | 3 |
| PLSC 3620 | Soil Fertility | 3 |
| PLSC 3990 | Field Study Internship | 1-6 |
| Select three of the following: | 9 | |
| Fundamentals of Plant Pathology | ||
| Ecology and Control of Weeds | ||
| Horticultural Entomology | ||
| Integrated Pest Management | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Herbaceous Ornamental Plants | ||
| Woody Plants: Common Trees, Shrubs and Vines | ||
| Urban Plant Systems Construction and Maintenance | ||
| Total Credits | 23-28 | |
Students successfully completing these courses will have met their Common Curriculum requirements for information literacy.
University Common Curriculum Requirements
Every student must meet a set of core requirements to earn a baccalaureate degree, in addition to those required by the student's major course of study and other requirements set by the student's school or college. For more information about these requirements, please see Common Curriculum Requirements.
College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources Degree Requirements
Students must meet a set of requirements established by the college in addition to the University's Common Curriculum requirements. For more information, see the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources section of this catalog.