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Organic Horticulture Minor

Do You Want to Improve the Nutritional Sustainability of our Food Systems and Food Security?

Horticulture students study the scientific principles of growing, marketing, processing, and utilizing of fruits, vegetables, flower and foliage plants, trees, shrubs, and turf grasses. Horticulture is both a production and service industry and meeting the nutritional needs of the world population is a growing need. Well-educated horticulturists have the best opportunity for obtaining positions and moving up in the industry. Learn the science of organic agriculture with additional courses specifically focused on organic agriculture production techniques, business management, marketing, and decision making.

Students will be provided with frequent opportunities for gaining hands-on learning experiences. Students in the program are either required or encouraged to have student internships or apprenticeships. Many students are engaged in independent studies with faculty in lab and field research, and work study/hourly jobs in the field or greenhouse.

What will successful students be able to do?

  • Technical competence that includes understanding plant growth and development as influenced by the manipulations of horticulture technologies such as greenhouse management, fertility management, integrated pest management, etc.
  • Management and leadership skills that will allow them to become an entry-level supervisor in a specific business or research program.
  • Problem solving skills such as identifying the significance of a problem, researching realistic solutions using current literature, and organizing the materials to develop appropriate recommendations and actions.
Interest
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Related Interests

  • Agriculture
  • Business Management
  • Floriculture
  • Food Crops
  • Plants
  • Science
Career Icon
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Related Careers

  • Biotechnologist
  • Extension Specialist
  • Floriculturist
  • Fruit and Vegetable Producer
  • Greenhouse Production Specialist
  • Horticultural Therapist
  • Plant Breeder
Tracy Smith

Department Advisor

Tracy Smith 

For more information, contact Tracy Smith, Director of Undergraduate Advising for the Horticulture and Landscape Architecture Undergraduate majors.