Horticulture
Instruction and study in horticulture is focused on fruits, vegetables, and woody and herbaceous landscape plants, including propagation, production, culture, marketing, processing, and utilization. Horticulture encompasses the design and planting for landscapes, parks, highways, and public facilities, including interiorscapes, in rural, suburban, and urban areas. It includes skills for management of nursery, garden center, greenhouse, seed, fruit, vegetable, biotechnology, and specialty crop enterprises, as well as floral design and flower shops.
The Horticulture major is a four-year curriculum leading to the B.S. degree. Students also may minor in Horticulture. Prospective students should consult with horticulture faculty regarding programs and options so their educational needs may best be fulfilled. Master of Science and Ph.D. degree programs also are available. For more complete details, see the Graduate Bulletin .
Curriculum Options
Horticulture majors may select one or more options of study. All of the requirements for the major and the supporting disciplines must be met to complete any horticulture option. Students may select from the following five options:
- Horticulture Biotechnology: This option is for students who plan to engage in laboratory research or further their education in the biotechnology of horticultural crops.
- Horticulture Science: This option is for students who plan to continue formal graduate school education leading to careers in research, teaching, and extension.
- Landscape Design: This option is for students interested in planning, designing, and installing landscape plantings for functional and aesthetic purposes (a 19-credit minor in landscape architecture is required).
- Production Business: This option is for students who wish to grow, market, and process horticultural crops, for example, nursery and/or greenhouse landscape, fruit, and vegetable crops.
- Urban Forestry and Parks: This option is for students who desire a career in the management of urban forests and park-like areas, including arboreta and botanic gardens. It also includes maintenance of residential landscapes.
Special Opportunities
Pre-Forestry: A student who desires to major in forestry may select a two-year pre-forestry curriculum. However, the forestry student must transfer to another institution that offers a Forestry program to complete degree requirements.
Horticulture and Forestry Club: This club meets twice each month. Members take field trips to botanical gardens, arboreta, trade shows, parks and other horticultural sites. They also are actively involved in growing and marketing flowers and foliage plants, regional and national judging contests, flower shows, and horticulture science and education programs.
Major Requirements
Major: Horticulture
Degree Type: B.S.
Required Degree Credits to Graduate: 128
General Education Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| First Year Experience (F): | ||
| AGRI 189 | Skills for Academic Success (Students transferring in 24 or more credits do not need to take AGRI 189.) | 1 |
| Communication (C): | ||
| ENGL 110 | College Composition I | 3 |
| ENGL 120 | College Composition II | 3 |
| One Course in Upper Level Writing: Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Business and Professional Writing | ||
| Writing in the Technical Professions | ||
| Writing in the Sciences | ||
| COMM 110 | Fundamentals of Public Speaking | 3 |
| Quantitative Reasoning (R): | ||
| STAT 330 | Introductory Statistics | 3 |
| Science & Technology (S): | ||
| CHEM 121 & 121L | General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Laboratory | 4 |
| CHEM 122 | General Chemistry II | 3 |
| CSCI 114 | Microcomputer Packages | 3-4 |
| or CSCI 116 | Business Use of Computers | |
| Humanities & Fine Arts (A): Select from current general education list | 6 | |
| Social & Behavioral Sciences (B): | ||
| ECON 201 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| or ECON 202 | Principles of Macroeconomics | |
| Select course from current general education list | 3 | |
| Wellness (W): Select from current general education list | 2 | |
| Cultural Diversity (D): Select from current general education list | ||
| Global Perspectives (G): | ||
| ECON 201 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| Total Credits | 40 | |
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements | 40 | |
| Required Courses for Horticulture | ||
| AGRI 150 | Agriculture Orientation (Students transferring in 24 or more credits do not need to take AGRI 150.) | 1 |
| BIOL 150 & 150L | General Biology I and General Biology I Laboratory | 4 |
| ENT 350 | General Entomology | 3 |
| PLSC 210 | Horticulture Science | 3 |
| PLSC 211 | Horticulture Science Lab | 1 |
| PLSC 315 | Genetics | 3 |
| PLSC 355 | Woody Landscape Plants | 3 |
| PLSC 457 | Horticulture and Turfgrass Systems (Capstone) | 3 |
| PLSC 491 | Seminar | 1 |
| PPTH 324 | Introductory Plant Pathology | 3 |
| Options: Select one of the five options listed below. | 38-53 | |
| Students must select one option of most interest. The standard option for this major is Production-Business. Student who wish to declare an option other than the standard option must officially declare that option with the Office of Registration and Records. | ||
| Degree Requirements: Potential of a minimum of 25 credits to reach 128. | 25 | |
| Total Credits | 128-143 | |
Production-Business Option - 47 Credits
Standard option for the major of horticulture.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ACCT 102 | Fundamentals of Accounting | 3 |
| BOT 372 | Structure and Diversity of Plants and Fungi | 4 |
| BOT 380 | Plant Physiology | 3 |
| MGMT 320 | Foundations of Management | 3 |
| MGMT 450 | Human Resource Management | 3 |
| MATH 103 | College Algebra | 3 |
| PLSC 315L | Genetics Laboratory | 1 |
| PLSC 323 | Principles of Weed Science | 3 |
| PLSC 360 | Horticultural Food Crops | 4 |
| PLSC 368 | Plant Propagation | 3 |
| PLSC 412 | Nursery Production and Management | 3 |
| PLSC 422 | Greenhouse Production and Management | 3 |
| PLSC 486 | Applied Crop Physiology | 3 |
| PPTH 455 | Plant Disease Management | 3 |
| or PPTH 457 | Landscape Plant Pathology | |
| SOIL 210 | Introduction to Soil Science | 3 |
| Plant Science Electives: Select one of the following: | 2 | |
| Potato Science | ||
| Herbaceous Landscape Plants | ||
| Turfgrass Management | ||
| Advanced Landscape Plants | ||
| Plant Tissue Culture and Biotechnology | ||
| Arboriculture Science | ||
| Field Experience | ||
| Total Credits | 47 | |
Horticulture Biotechnology Option - 53 Credits
This option also requires the completion of the Biotechnology minor.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOC 460 & 460L | Foundations of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I and Foundations of Biochemistry I Laboratory | 4 |
| BIOC 461 | Foundations of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II | 3 |
| BIOC 474 | Methods of Recombinant DNA Technology | 3 |
| BOT 372 | Structure and Diversity of Plants and Fungi | 4 |
| BOT 380 | Plant Physiology | 3 |
| CHEM 122L | General Chemistry II Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 341 & 341L | Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry I Laboratory | 4 |
| CHEM 342 | Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
| MATH 146 | Applied Calculus I | 4 |
| MICR 202 & 202L | Introductory Microbiology and Introductory Microbiology Lab | 3 |
| PLSC 315L | Genetics Laboratory | 1 |
| PLSC 360 | Horticultural Food Crops | 4 |
| PLSC 368 | Plant Propagation | 3 |
| PLSC 484 | Plant Tissue Culture and Biotechnology | 3 |
| PLSC 486 | Applied Crop Physiology | 3 |
| MATH 103 | College Algebra (or higher level) | 3 |
| Plant Science Electives: Select 4 credits from the following: | 4 | |
| Field Experience | ||
| Applied Plant Breeding and Research Methods | ||
PLSC Elective Course | No more than 2 credits of co-op allowed | |
| Total Credits | 53 | |
Horticulture Science Option - 50 Credits
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BOT 372 | Structure and Diversity of Plants and Fungi | 4 |
| BOT 380 | Plant Physiology | 3 |
| CHEM 122L | General Chemistry II Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 260 | Elements of Biochemistry | 4 |
| CHEM 341 & 341L | Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry I Laboratory | 4 |
| MATH 103 | College Algebra (or higher based on math placement) | 3 |
| MATH 146 | Applied Calculus I | 4 |
| PHYS 120 | Fundamentals of Physics | 3 |
| PLSC 315L | Genetics Laboratory | 1 |
| PLSC 323 | Principles of Weed Science | 3 |
| PLSC 360 | Horticultural Food Crops | 4 |
| PLSC 368 | Plant Propagation | 3 |
| PLSC 484 | Plant Tissue Culture and Biotechnology | 3 |
| PLSC 486 | Applied Crop Physiology | 3 |
| SOIL 210 | Introduction to Soil Science | 3 |
| Plant Science Electives: Select 4 credit from the following: | 4 | |
| Field Experience | ||
| Nursery Production and Management | ||
| Greenhouse Production and Management | ||
| Applied Plant Breeding and Research Methods | ||
PLSC | Elective | |
| Total Credits | 50 | |
Landscape Design Option - 38 Credits
This option also requires the completion of the Landscape Architecture minor.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BOT 380 | Plant Physiology | 3 |
| BOT 460 | Plant Ecology | 3 |
| BUSN 431 | Business Law I-Contracts, Property and Torts | 3 |
| MATH 103 | College Algebra | 3 |
| PLSC 177 | Floral Design I | 2 |
| PLSC 323 | Principles of Weed Science | 3 |
| PLSC 341 | Landscape Bidding, Contracting and Operations | 2 |
| PLSC 365 | Herbaceous Landscape Plants | 2 |
| PLSC 375 & 375L | Turfgrass Management and Turfgrass Management Laboratory | 4 |
| PLSC 465 | Advanced Landscape Plants | 2 |
| PLSC 485 | Arboriculture Science | 3 |
| PPTH 457 | Landscape Plant Pathology | 3 |
| SOIL 210 | Introduction to Soil Science | 3 |
| Plant Science Electives: Select 2 credits from the following: | 2 | |
| Field Experience | ||
| Plant Propagation | ||
| Nursery Production and Management | ||
| Greenhouse Production and Management | ||
| Applied Crop Physiology | ||
PLSC | Elective | |
| Total Credits | 38 | |
Urban Forestry & Park Option - 51 Credits
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BOT 372 | Structure and Diversity of Plants and Fungi | 4 |
| BOT 380 | Plant Physiology | 3 |
| BOT 460 | Plant Ecology | 3 |
| MGMT 320 | Foundations of Management | 3 |
| HNES 426 | Sport Administration | 3 |
| MATH 103 | College Algebra | 3 |
| NRM 150 | Natural Resource Management Orientation | 1 |
| PLSC 219 | Introduction to Prairie & Community Forestry | 2 |
| PLSC 315L | Genetics Laboratory | 1 |
| PLSC 323 | Principles of Weed Science | 3 |
| PLSC 365 | Herbaceous Landscape Plants | 2 |
| PLSC 375 | Turfgrass Management | 3 |
| PLSC 465 | Advanced Landscape Plants | 2 |
| PLSC 485 | Arboriculture Science | 3 |
| PLSC 486 | Applied Crop Physiology | 3 |
| POLS 360 | Principles of Public Administration | 3 |
| PPTH 457 | Landscape Plant Pathology | 3 |
| SOIL 210 | Introduction to Soil Science | 3 |
| Plant Science Electives: Select 3 credits from the following: | 3 | |
| Field Experience | ||
| Plant Propagation | ||
| Nursery Production and Management | ||
| Greenhouse Production and Management | ||
PLSC | Elective | |
| Total Credits | 51 | |
Degree Requirements and Notes
- No more than 6 credits may be co-op.
Minor Requirements
Horticulture Minor
Minor Requirements
Required Credits: 18
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| PLSC 210 | Horticulture Science | 3 |
| PLSC 211 | Horticulture Science Lab | 1 |
| Elective Courses: Select 8 credits from the following: | 8 | |
| Woody Landscape Plants | ||
| Horticultural Food Crops | ||
| Herbaceous Landscape Plants | ||
| Plant Propagation | ||
| Advanced Landscape Plants | ||
| Select 6 credits from the courses listed below: | 6 | |
Any PLSC 300-400 level courses or any of the courses listed below are required to obtain the minimum of 18 credits. | ||
PLSC 300-400 level | ||
| General Entomology | ||
| Introductory Plant Pathology | ||
| Introduction to Soil Science | ||
| Total Credits | 18 | |
Minor Requirements and Notes
- A minimum of 8 credits must be taken at NDSU.
- Students must earn a minimum 2.00 GPA for the minor requirements.
