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Undergraduate Program

The undergraduate program in Plant Sciences is a broad based curriculum that offers our students a diverse experience. Students can choose to study whole plant production systems, focus on the cellular function of a plant, or the ecological and environmental role of plants.

Majors

Students enrolled in the Plant Science degree program will earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Plant Science. Because of the broad based education and the amount of faculty interaction each student receives, students are well equipped to be competitive in their chosen field of plant sciences. Every student selects an emphasis area which allows them to specialize in a particular area of plant sciences. The four emphasis areas of undergraduate study are:

	Breeding, Biology and Biotechnology Manipulating plants at the cellular level to increase yields, improve pest resistance, & enhance nutritional value. Analyzing genetically modified plants for transition from laboratory to field production.
	Crop Management Managing food and fiber crops to increase yields while being environmentally conscious. Designing strategies to improve plant growth by strengthening natural resistances to pests and diseases.
	Horticultural Science and Design Sustainably growing fruits and vegetables, trees, shrubs, flowers and herbs to enhance the environment. Sculpting the land to enhance functionality, aesthetics, preserve green space, and help reduce global warming.
	Turfgrass Science Creating and maintaining high quality athletic fields, golf courses, and lawns. Developing integrated strategies to manage pests while minimizing pesticide use, and limiting natural resource inputs to conserve water and nutrients

Minors

A minor in Plant Sciences shall consist of a minimum of 15 hours of formal coursework in Plant Sciences (PS) designated courses. Of the 15 hours selected, a minimum of 12 hours must be numbered 2000 or above, of which at least 9 hours must be numbered 3000 or above.

Note: Problems courses, Readings courses, Internship courses and Undergraduate Research courses are not acceptable courses for the Plant Sciences minor, unless approved by the Director for Undergraduate Programs.