Program Coordinator/Contact
David Wright, Department Head
Brent Turnipseed, Assistant Department Head
Hani Ghosheh, Undergraduate Teaching Coordinator
Department of Agronomy, Horticulture, and Plant Science
Raven Precision Agriculture Center 140
605-688-5123 (Department Head, SRPAC 140)
605-688-4450 (Teaching Office, SNP 247)
Program Information
The Horticulture major is designed to prepare students for careers in nursery production, local food production, landscape, tree management, garden center operation, greenhouse production, or for entry into research and graduate study in horticultural science. Greenhouse facilities and extensive field plots in woody and herbaceous ornamentals, fruit, and vegetables provide students with the opportunity to experience all aspects of plant production and management.
Program Emphases
The Horticulture Major offers four areas of emphasis. Students with an interest in:
- Crop management and production technologies of greenhouse, nursery, fruit, or vegetable crops can tailor their program of studies using the Production Emphasis.
- Careers in managing nurseries, landscape maintenance, arboriculture, garden centers or greenhouse businesses should follow the Business Emphasis.
- Careers in food crop or local food production and marketing should follow the Food Crop Emphasis.
- Pursuing a graduate degree or laboratory science career should follow the Science Emphasis.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the Horticulture major, students will:
- Demonstrate a fundamental understanding of basic Horticultural principles and practices.
- Demonstrate the ability to think creatively and to apply critical thinking skills when evaluating and analyzing information.
- Demonstrate the ability to learn, develop, and apply skills for the application of existing and emerging knowledge and technologies in Horticulture.
- Demonstrate the ability to apply scientific principles, quantitative skills, and other problem solving skills in Horticulture.
- Demonstrate knowledge and application of ethical and sustainable practices in the Horticultural fields.
- Demonstrate a fundamental understanding of local food production principles and practices.
- Demonstrate a fundamental understanding of plant identification, selection, use, and maintenance of plant material best suited for conventional and sustainable landscapes.
- Demonstrate the ability to effectively communicate (written, listening and oral) with both scientific and non-scientific audiences.
Course Delivery Format
Students learn through hands-on and face-to-face learning in lecture, laboratory, and field-based experiences.
