College of Agriculture & Natural Resources Department of Horticulture

The undergraduate Horticulture program integrates plant and soil science, entomology, pathology, technology and business management to prepare students to meet the challenges of an expanding multi-billion dollar-industry in intensively cultivated, high-value crops.

Horticultural crops are diverse, including annual and perennial species, food and ornamental plants and plants grown outdoors and in controlled environments. The dynamic Horticulture program offers students hands-on and interactive learning experiences and opportunities inside and outside of the classroom.

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Core areas of study include:

• Applied plant physiology.
• Sustainable production.
• Horticulture management.
• Plant genetics.
• Soil science.

In addition to the core areas, students select a concentration to customize the program based on individual interests.

Concentrations include:

• Horticultural Science.
• Landscape Design, Construction and Management.
• Sustainable and Organic Horticulture.

Learn more about requirements and courses in Horticulture.

Also view the Department of Horticulture’s learning outcomes for more about the horticulture concentrations.

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Honors Option

All courses within the Department of Horticulture may be taken for honors credit (H-option) for students that are members of the MSU Honors College. The request is initiated by the student and a project description (e.g., format, timeline, and scope) is agreed upon, preferably no later than the end of the second week of the semester.

The Honors designation is awarded only for work that is of high quality and more intensive and/or extensive than is required of the non-honors students in this course. A minimum grade of 3.0 must be earned before the Honors credit associated with the H-Option can be awarded.

Horticulture Graduates

See career outcomes for MSU horticulture graduates, including salaries, top employers and employment locations.

Career Opportunities

Graduates with a degree in Horticulture enter a broad range of challenging and rewarding careers in production, management, marketing, education and research.

Horticulture prepares students for a variety of career paths:

• Production and sales.
• Public gardens management.
• Marketing and communications.
• Landscape construction and management.
• Landscape design.
• Pest management.

Required Internships

Horticulture students are required to complete an internship before graduation. Students, employers and faculty advisors work together to create internship experiences which are an appropriate and meaningful part of the degree program.

The Department of Horticulture also lists job opportunities that may be of interest to Horticulture students.

Schedule online advising appointments. (More details: MSU Student Information System resources.)

Student Life

In addition to student jobs and internships, there are education abroad and undergraduate research opportunities.

There are also a variety of student clubs and organizations including:

• MSU Student Horticulture Association (SHA).
• National Association of Landscape Professionals.
  • National Collegiate Landscape Competition (NCLC).
• Student Organic Farm.

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