UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE OPTIONS

 

Admission Requirements for this Major


1. New freshmen admitted to USU in good standing qualify for admission to this major.
2. Transfer students from other institutions need a 2.2 transfer GPA and students transferring from other USU majors need a 2.0 total GPA in courses required for this major to be accepted in good standing in Horticulture.

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The Program

The demand for high quality food, the use of ornamental plants to bring aesthetic qualities to urban living, the increasing importance of land-use planning and zoning laws, the efforts to control air, soil, and water pollution, and the rehabilitation of land make this an exciting time to begin a career in Plants, Soils, and Biometeorology.

In addition to learning about soil preparation, planting, growing, and harvesting crops, students learn how to identify and control insects, diseases, and weeds. They study the use of growth regulators, proper fertilization, water application, crop rotation, and other management practices to improve the production and quality of crops and to preserve our environment. Many interested students have the opportunity to receive hands-on experience working side-by--side with research scientists in the laboratory, greenhouse, and field.

The Horticulture Major prepares students for production of fruits, vegetables, turf, or ornamentals, for landscape construction and maintenance, and business and technical careers. Core courses include biology, mathematics, chemistry, soils, and ecology. The Ornamental Horticulture Emphasis adds courses in production and management techniques such as pruning, spraying, landscaping (materials, design, and maintenance), greenhouse operation, and pest control. In the Landscape Maintenance and Construction Emphasis, students learn design, construction, and maintenance through a joint program with the LAEP Department. The Turfgrass Management Emphasis adds courses in turfgrass management to prepare students for careers in golf course, park athletic field, and landscaping management. The Business Emphasis adds the courses necessary for a minor in Business to the fundamentals of horticulture. The Science Emphasis prepares students for graduate study and for employment in technical occupations.

Students entering the department are assigned an advisor who assists them in, developing their course schedule, suggests opportunities for summer employment, and maintains am awareness of job opportunities after graduation. Faculty members in the department enjoy working with students and make themselves available for student consultation.

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Career Opportunities


Graduates of the department have a number of employment opportunities with private industry, universities, and federal, state, and local governments. Others serve as farm advisors or farm consultants with industries closely aligned to agriculture. Agricultural businesses depend on competent, technically-oriented salespersons to get merchandise to farmers and to recommend new technology to their customers. With sales experience, graduates can also move into advertising, marketing, technical services, administration, and management. At land-grant universities, the Cooperative Extension Service hires graduates to work with producers and other groups who need to translate research results into usable management practices.

Graduates obtain employment in many fields, but the most common include: (1) orchard, greenhouse, or nursery management; (2) golf course or parks superintendent; (3) landscape construction and maintenance; (4) laboratory technician; (5) supervisor or demonstrator of chemical or technical products; (6) inspector of agricultural products; (7) private businesses such as irrigation equipment sales, or consulting; (8) work abroad through government or philanthropic foundations to help solve world food, soil, and environmental problems; and (9) garden center, seed, and chemical sales.
Many graduates go on to graduate schools to prepare themselves for research and teaching. The department offers MS and PhD degrees.

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Graduation Requirements:
BS Degree in Horticulture

Minimum University Requirements*

Note: Approved University Studies courses and requirements are listed in the back section of each semester's Schedule of Classes.

Total credits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .120
Grade point average: (most majors require higher GPA). . . . . . . . . . .2.00 GPA
Credits of C- or better. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Credits of upper-division courses (#3000 or above). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
USU Credits (10 of last 40 must be USU credits). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Completion of approved major program of study. . . . . . . . See department
Credits in minor (if required by department). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Credits in American Institutions (Econ 1500; Hist 1700,
2700, or 2710; Pops 1100, or USU 1300). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
University Studies requirements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . See next page


*Colleges and departments may require more credits or a higher GPA. See r requirements on this sheet
University Studies Requirements for Horticulture Major

General Education Requirements (27-31 credits)
Competency Requirements (9-13 credits)
Communications Literacy (CL) (6 credits)
Eng1 1010 (3 credits) or satisfactory AP, CLEP, or ACT score
AND
Engl 2010 (3 credits)


Quantitative Literacy (QL) (3-4 credits)
Math 1030 or 1050 or Stat 1040 (3.4 credits)
OR
One Math or Stat course requiring Math 1050 as a prerequisite
OR
AP Math score of 3 or higher

Computer and Information Literacy (0-3 credits)
Passing grade on six computer and information literacy related examinations. Although no specific course is required, USU 1000, BIS 1400, CS 1020, Engr 1010, and InsT 1000 teach the required skills.

Breadth Requirements (18 credits)
Select at least one approved course from each of the following six categories: American Institutions (BAI), Creative Arts (BCA), Humanities (BHU), Life Sciences (BLS), Physical Sciences (BPS), and Social Sciences (BSS). At least two of the six breadth courses must be University Studies courses with a USU prefix (excluding USU 1000, 1100, and 3330). (CLEP or AP credit may be used.) Bio l1010, 1220, PISc2000, or FRWS 2200 will fulfill the Life Sciences requirement for students in the Horticulture major.

Depth Education, Requirements
Communications Intensive (Cl) (2 courses)
PSB 4890, plus another course having CI designation, will meet this requirement.

Quantitative Intensive (QI) (1 course)
One course having QI designation (such as LAEP 2600, Biol 3200,4400, Soil 5550, and Stat 3000) will meet this requirement.

Depth Course Requirements (2 courses)
Select at least one approved 3000-level or above course from each of the following two categories: Humanities and Creative Arts (DRA) and Social Sciences (DSS).

Department Requirements
All courses used to fulfill major requirements must be taken for a grade of AB-C-D-F and not Pars/Fail. A 2.5 GPA is required for all courses used to fulfill major requirements (Core and Emphasis courses). At least 20 credits of the major must be taken from the Plants, Soils, and Biometeorology Department

 

Horticulture Major
Students must complete the core courses and courses for one of the four emphases to fulfill the requirements for a Horticulture Degree.

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Core Courses (26-29 credits)

Credits
Biol 3030 Genetics and Society (F) ......................................................... .....3
BIS 1400 Microcomputer Applications in Business (F,Sp,Su).................. .....3
Chem 1110 General Chemistry I (F,Sp,Su) or
Chem 1210 Principles of Chemistry I (F,Sp) (4 cr)...................................... .....4
FRWS 2200 (BLS) Ecology of Our Changing World (F,Sp)........................ .....3
Math 1050 (QL) COllege Algebra (F,Sp,Su)............................................. .....4
PISc 2250 Occupational Experience in Agronomy

and Horticulture (F,Sp,Su) (1-4 cr) or
PSB 4250 Internship in Plants,Soils and/or
Biometeorology (F,Sp,Su) (1-4 cr).......................................... ...1-4
PISc 2650 Identification and Selection of Plants
in Production Agriculture (F).................................................... .....1
PSB 1050 Plants,Soils and Biometeorology Orientation (F)....................... .....1
PSB 4890 (CI) Senior Seminar (take one credit per semester) (F,Sp)....... .....2
Soil 3000 Fundamentals of Soil Science (F,Sp)........................................ .....4
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A. Ornamental Horticulture Emphasis (44 credits minimum)

In addition to the Core Courses select 36 credits from the following courses. Those marked with an asterisk (*) are required.

Credits
ASTE 3080 Compact Power Units for Agricultural
and Turfgrass Applications (Sp)........................................... .....3
Biol 1210* Biology I (F)............................................................................ .....4
Biol 1220* (BLS) Biology II(Sp).............................................................. .....4
PISc 2100 (BLS) Introduction to Horticulture (F)..................................... .....3
PISc 2600* Annual and Perennial Plant Materials (F) (1.5 cr) or
PISc 2610* Indoor Plants and Interiorscaping (F) (1.5 cr) or
PISc 2620* Woody Plant Materials: Trees and Shrubs for
the Landscape (F) (3 cr).................................................... ..1.5 or 3
PISc 3050 Greenhouse Management and Crop Production (Sp)................ .....4
PISc 3300 Residential Landscapes (Sp).................................................... .....3
PISc 3400 Managing for Sustainable Landscapes (F)................................ .....3
PISc 3700 Plant Propagation (F).............................................................. .....4
PISc 3800 Turfgrass Management (F)...................................................... .....3
PISc 4400* Modern Vegetable Production (F)........................................... .....3
PISc 4500* Fruit Production (Sp).............................................................. .....4
PISc 4800 Professional Turfgrass Management (Sp, even years)............... .....2
Soil 5500* (QI) Soils and Plant Nutrient Bioavailability (Sp)...................... .....3

Select two of the following courses:

Biol 4500 Applied Entomology (Sp)........................................................ .....3
Biol 5410 Introduction to Plant Pathology (F).......................................... .....4
FRWS 5100 Wildlife Management Laboratory (F)....................................... .....3
PISc 5550 Weed Biology and Control (F)................................................ .....4

Select two of the following courses (not including Chem 1130):

Biol 4400 (QI) Plant Physiology (F)........................................................ .....4
Biol 4410 Plant Structure (Sp)................................................................. .....3
Chem 1120 (BPS) General Chemistry II (Sp)............................................. .....4
Chem 1130 General Chemistry Laboratory (Sp)......................................... .....1
PISc 3500 The Structure and Function of Economic Crop Plants (Sp)....... .....3
PISc 5200 Crop Physiology (Sp).............................................................. .....2
PISc 5210 Crop Physiology Laboratory (Sp)............................................ .....1
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B. Landscape Maintenance and Construction Emphasis (43.5-44.5 credits)

In addition to the Core Courses, students must complete the following courses for the Landscape Maintenance and Construction Emphasis. All courses are required.

Credits
Biol 1010 (BLS) Biology and the Citizen (F,Sp,Su)................................. .....3
Biol 1020 Biology Discovery: A Lab Course (F,Sp)................................ .....1
LAEP 1200 Basic Graphics in Landscape Architecture (F).......................... .....4
LAEP 2600 (QI) Landscape Construction I (F).......................................... .....4
LAEP 3500 Planting Design (F)................................................................. .....2
LAEP 3610 Landscape Construction II(Sp)............................................... .....4
PISc 2200 Pest Management Principles and Practices (Sp)....................... .....3
PISc 2600 Annual and Perennial Plant Materials (F)................................. ....1.5
PISc 2620 Woody Plant Materials: Trees and Shrubs for
the Landscape (F)............................................................... .....3
PISc 3400 Managing for Sustainable Landscapes (F)................................ .....3
PISc 3500 The Structure and Function of Economic Crop Plants (Sp)....... .....3
PISc 3800 Turfgrass Management (F)...................................................... .....3
PISc 4400 Modern Vegetable Production (F) (3 cr) or
PISc 4500 Fruit Production (Sp) (4 cr)..................................................... ..3 or 4
PISc 5500 Weed Biology and Control (F)................................................ .....4
Soil 4700 Irrigated Soils (Sp).................................................................. .....2

The following courses are suggested as electives:

ASTE 3200 Irrigation Principles and Practices (Sp).................................... .....3
PISc 2100 (BLS) Introduction to Horticulture (F)..................................... .....3
PISc 2610 Indoor Plants and Interiorscaping (F)....................................... ...1.5
PISc 3700 Plant Propagation (F).............................................................. .....4
PISc 4800 Professional Turfgrass Management (Sp, even years)............... .....2
PSB 5200 Site-Specific Agriculture and Landscape/Horticultural
Management (Sp)............................................................. .....3
Soil 5550 (QI) Soils and Plant Nutrient Bioavailability (Sp)...................... .....3
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C. Turfgrass Management Emphasis (44-49 credits)

In addition to the Core Courses, students must complete the following courses for the Turfgrass Management Emphasis.

Credits
Biol 1210 Biology I................................................................................. .....4
Biol 1220 (BLS) Biology II..................................................................... .....4
PISc 2620 Woody Plant Materials:
Trees and Shrubs for the landscape (F)................................ .....3
PISc 3400 Managing for Sustainable Landscapes (F)................................ .....3
PISc 3800 Turfgrass Management (F)...................................................... .....3
PISc 4400 Modern Vegetable Production (F) (3 cr) or
PISc 4500 Fruit Production (Sp) (4 cr)..................................................... ..3 or 4
PISc 4800 Professional Turfgrass Management (Sp)................................. .....2

The following courses as electives. Select a minimum of two courses from each category:

Horticulture

ASTE 3080 Compact Power Units for Agricultural
and Turfgrass Applications (Sp)........................................... .....3
ASTE 3200 Irrigation Principles and Practices (Sp)..................................... .....3
FRWS 5300 Wildlife Damage Management Principles (Sp).......................... .....3
PISc 2200 Pest Management Principles and Practices (Sp)........................ .....3
PISc 3300 Residential Landscapes (Sp).................................................... .....3
PISc 3700 Plant Propagation (F).............................................................. .....4
PISc 5100 Landscape Irrigation Management (Sp).................................... .....3
PISc 5500 Weed Biology and Control (F)................................................. .....4
Soil 4700 Irrigated Soils (Sp, half semester)............................................. .....2

Science

Biol 2220 General Ecology (F, Sp).......................................................... .....3
Biol 3040 Plants and Civilization (F)......................................................... .....3
Biol 3400 Plant Taxonomy (Sp)............................................................... .....3
Biol 4400 (QI) Plant Physiology (F)......................................................... .....4
Biol 4410 Plant Structure (Sp)................................................................. .....3
Biol 4500 Applied Entomology (Sp)........................................................ .....3
Biol 5410 Introduction to Plant Pathology (F)........................................... .....4
Chem 1120 (BPS) General Chemistry II (Sp)............................................. .....4
Chem 1230 General Chemistry Laboratory (Sp)......................................... .....1
PISc 3500 The Structure and Function of Economic Crop Plants (Sp)....... .....3
PISc 5200 Crop Physiology (Sp).............................................................. .....2
PISc 5210 Crop Physiology Laboratory (Sp)............................................ .....1
PISc 5430 Plant Nutrition (F).................................................................... .....2
Soil 4000 Soil and Water Conservation (F).............................................. .....4
Soil 5500 (QI) Soils and Plant Nutrient Bioavailability (Sp)....................... .....3
Stat 2000 (QI) Statistical Methods (F,Sp)................................................ .....3

Business

Acct 2010 Survey of Accounting I (F,Sp)................................................. .....3
ASTE 3050 (CI) Technical and Professional Communication
Principles in Agriculture (F,Sp)............................................. .....3
BA 3500 Fundamentals of Marketing (F,Sp)........................................... .....3
Econ 1500 (BAI) Introduction to Economic Institutions,
History, and Principles (F,Sp).............................................. .....3
MHR 2990 Legal and Ethical Environment of business (F,Sp).................... .....3
MHR 3110 (DSS) Managing Organizations and People (F,Sp)................... .....3
MHR 3710 Developing Team and Interpersonal Skills (F,Sp)..................... .....3

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D. Business Emphasis (45 credits)

In addition to the Core Courses, select 30 credits from the following courses. Those marked with an asterisk (*) are required.

Credits
Biol 1010* (BLS) Biology and the Citizen (F,Sp,Su).................................. .....3
Biol 1020* Biological Discovery: A Lab Course (F,So).............................. .....1
PISc 2100 (BLS) Introduction to Horticulture (F)...................................... .....3
PISc 220* Pest Management Principles and Practices (Sp)........................ .....3
PISc 2600 Annual and Perennial Plant Materials (F).................................. ...1.5
PISc 2620 Woody Plant Materials:Trees and Shrubs
for the Landscape (F)......................................................... .....3
PISc 3050 Greenhouse Management and Crop Production (Sp)................ .....4
PISc 3300 Residential Landscapes (Sp).................................................... .....3
PISc 3400 Managing for Sustainable Landscapes (F)................................ .....3
PISc 3500* The Structure and Function of Economic Crop Plants (Sp)....... .....3
PISc 3700 Plant Propagation (F).............................................................. .....4
PISc 3800 Turfgrass Management (F)...................................................... .....3
PISc 4400* Modern Vegetable Production (F)........................................... .....3
PISc 4500* Fruit Production (Sp).............................................................. .....4
PISc 5200 Crop Physiology (Sp).............................................................. .....2
PISc 5210 Crop Physiology Laboratory (Sp)............................................ .....1
PISc 5550* Weed Biology and Control (F)................................................ .....4
Soil 4700 Irrigated Soils (Sp).................................................................. .....2
Soil 5550* (QI) Soils and Plant Nutrient Bioavailability (Sp)...................... .....3

The following courses are required for a Business Minor and the Business Emphasis:

Acct 2010 Survey of Accounting I (F,Sp,Su)............................................ .....3
BA 3460 Fundamentals of Personal Investing (Sp).................................. .....3
BA 3500 Fundamentals of Marketing (F,Sp,Su)...................................... .....3
MHR 2990 Legal and Ethical Environment of Business (F,Sp,Su) (3 cr) or
BIS 3100 (DSS) Business Information Systems (F,Sp,Su) (3 cr)............. .....3
MHR 3130 (DSS) Managing Organizations and People (F,Sp)................... .....3

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E. Science Emphasis (44 credits minimum)

In addition to the Core Courses, students must select 41 credits from the following courses for the Science Emphasis. Those marked with an asterisk (*) are required.

Credits
Biol 1210* Biology I (F)......................................................................4
Biol 1220* (BLS) Biology II (Sp)............................................................4
Biol 3200 (QI) Principles of Genetics (F,Sp)............................................4
Biol 4400* (QI) Plant Physiology (F)......................................................4
Biol 4410 Plant Structure (Sp).............................................................3
Biol 5400 Advanced Plant taxonomy (F)................................................4
Chem 1120 (BPS) General Chemistry II (Sp)............................................4
Chem 1220 (BPS) Principles of Chemistry II (F,Sp)................................... 4
Chem 1230 Chemical Principles Laboratory I (F,Sp)..................................1
Chem 1240 Chemical Principles Laboratory II (F,Sp).................................1
Chem 2310 Organic Chemistry I (F)......................................................4
Chem 2320 Organic Chemistry II (Sp)....................................................4
Chem 3700 Introductory Biochemistry (Sp).............................................3
Chem 3710 Introductory Biochemistry Laboratory (Sp).............................. ...1
Math 1060 Trigonometry (F,Sp,Su)............................................................ ...2
Math 1100* (QL) Calculus Techniques (F,Sp,Su)....................................... ...3
Phyx 1200 (BPS) Introduction to Physics
by Hands-on Exploration (Sp,Su)...................................... ...4
PISc 3700 Plant Propagation (F).............................................................. ...4
PISc 4400* Modern Vegetable Production (F)........................................... ...3
PISc 4500* Fruit Production (Sp).............................................................. ...4
PISc 5200* Crop Physiology (Sp)............................................................. ...2
PISc 5210 Crop Physiology Laboratory (Sp)........................................... ...1
PISc 5760 Crop Ecology (Sp)................................................................. ...2
Soil 5550* (QI) Soils and Plant Nutrient Bioavailability (Sp)...................... ...3
Stat 3000 (QI) Statistics for Scientists (F,Sp).......................................... ...3
Select any Ornamental Horticulture class *....................................................... ...2-3

Select one of the following:

Biol 4500 Applied Entomology (Sp)........................................................ ...3
Biol 5410 Introduction to Plant Pathology (F).......................................... ...4
FRWS 5100 Wildlife Management Laboratory (F)....................................... ...3
PISc 5550 Weed Biology and Control (F)................................................ ...4

Ornamental Horticulture Program
One-year Certificate (27 credits)

The 27 credits are distributed as follows:

Credits
PISc 2600 Annual and Perennial Plant Materials (F).................................. ...1.5
PISc 2620 Woody Plant Materials : Trees and Shrubs
for the Landscape (F)......................................................... ...3
Additional PISc courses selected from
Associate of Applied Science Core Classes **.......................................... ...18.5-20
Courses selected from Approved Electives..................................................... ...3-5

** Students should choose courses that emphasize either Floriculture or Landscape Horticulture.

Ornamental Horticulture Program Associate of Applied Science Degree (60 credits)

The 60 credits are distributed as follows:

University Studies Requirements (15 credits) Credits
Engl 1010 (CL) Introduction to Writing: Academic Prose (F,Sp,Su)......... ...3
Engl 2010 (CL) Intermediate Writing: Research Writing
in a Persuasive Mode (F,Sp,Su).......................................... ...3
Social Sciences/Humanities Breadth Courses.................................................. ...6
Life Sciences/Physical Sciences Breadth Course............................................ ...3

Professional Requirement

All of the Core Courses...................................................................... ...35-38
Courses selected from Approved Electives.................................................... ...7-10

Core Courses(35-38 credits)

Credits
BIS 1400 Microcomputer Applications in Business (F,Sp,Su)................. ...3
PSB 1050 Plants,Soils, and Biometeorology Orientation (F)..................... ...1
PISc 2100 (BLS) Introduction to Horticulture (F)..................................... ...3
PISc 2200 Pest Management Principles and Practices (Sp)....................... ...3
PISc 2250 Occupational Experience in Agronomy
and Horticulture (F,Sp,Su)................................................. ...1-4
PISc 2600 Annual and Perennial Plant Materials (F)................................. ...1.5
PISc 2610 Indoor Plants and Interiorscaping (F)...................................... ...1.5
PISc 2620 Woody Plant Materials: Trees and Shrubs
for the Landscape (F)........................................................ ...3
PISc 2650 Identification and Selection of Plants
in Production Agriculture (F).............................................. ...1
PISc 3050 Greenhouse Management and Crop Production (Sp)............... ...4
PISc 3300 Residential Landscapes (Sp)................................................... ...3
PISc 3400 Managing for Sustainable Landscapes (F)............................... ...3
PISc 3700 Plant Propagation (F)............................................................. ...4
PISc 3800 Turfgrass Management (F)...................................................... ...3

Approved Electives (10-14 credits)

Choose electives from the following courses or choose from any courses that are part of a BS Degree in Horticulture.

Credits
PISc 2900 Special Problems in Plant Science (F,Sp,Su)........................... ...1-4
PISc 3010 Basic Flower Arranging (Sp)................................................... ...2
PISc 3020 Floral Crops Judging and Contemporary Design (Sp).............. ...2
PISc 3500 The Structure and Function of Economic Crop Plants (Sp)....... ...3
PISc 4400 Modern Vegetable Production (F)........................................... ...3
PISc 4500 Fruit Production (Sp).............................................................. ...4
Soil 3000 Fundamentals of Soil Science (F,Sp)....................................... ...4
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Plants, Soils and Biometerology

Native Plants in the Landscape

View our factsheets on using native plants and other drought tolerant species in your landscape!

Think Green!

Learn more about of USU's Waterwise Gardens

Sustainability at USU

Class Lectures

PLSC 3800

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the Utah Agricultural Experiment Station and USU Extension for their support and participation in Horticultural Research at USU.

Weather Data

Check the current weather conditions at the Greenville Research Farm

Check weather conditions near your geographic location, including watering requirements for turfgrass

Special Feature

Research in water conservation is conducted through the Center for Water Efficient Landscaping