2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
    Nov 21, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Horticulture (B.S.)

Location(s): Brookings Main Campus


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Students in a garden looking at plants.

Program Coordinator/Contact

David Wright, Maynard A. Klingbeil Endowed Department Head
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.

Course Delivery Format

Students learn through hands-on and face-to-face learning in lecture, laboratory, and field-based experiences.

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.

Requirements for Horticulture Major: 120 Credits


Bachelor of Science

Major Requirements


Electives


Taken as needed to complete any additional degree requirements.

Total Required Credits: 120


Summary of Program Requirements


Bachelor of Science

System General Education Requirements* 30-31 Credit Hours
Major Requirements 84 Credit Hours
Electives** 5-6 Credit Hours

*System General Education Requirements for students pursuing a baccalaureate degree shall include a minimum of 30 credit hours. Some general education coursework may be counted for Major Requirements and Supporting Coursework.
**Taken as needed to complete any additional degree requirements.

Academic Advising Guide Sheet


The goal of the academic advising guide sheets and sample plans of study is to promote undergraduate student success by guiding all students to timely completion of an undergraduate degree. Students are not limited to the course sequence provided for their academic program. Instead, the sample plan of study is one possible path to completing your degree and is meant to be used as a guide for planning purposes in consultation with an academic advisor. The plans also help students prepare for meetings with their academic advisor and track their progress in their selected academic program.