Horticulture

The Horticulture graduate program area provides a meaningful educational opportunity for the student with career interests in any of the many fields of the diverse discipline of horticulture. The program addresses applied issues related to solving immediate production problems and basic questions related to plant biology. Current research programs emphasize turfgrass management, ornamental horticulture, tree fruit management and agroforestry.

The Horticulture program area emphasizes a customized approach towards the course of study. Each student will work with their adviser and graduate committee to develop a course of study best suited to the student’s educational and career goals.

  • During the Fall and Winter semesters, MS students and PhD students who have not completed their comprehensive exam must enroll for 9 credits to be considered a full time student.
  • Students must complete an approved teaching opportunity or an approved extension program. For more information review the graduate teaching requirement.

M.S. Requirements

To satisfy the course requirements for a Masters degree, a student must complete:

  • A minimum of 30 credit hours from courses numbered 7000 – 9000
  • 15 credit hours (towards the 30 credit hour requirement) must be from courses numbered at the 8000 or 9000 level, and at least 6 must be from formal courses, excluding Problems and other independent study courses.
  • Only 6 credit hours of research (Plnt S 8090) can count towards the 30 credit hour requirement, although additional hours of research can be taken.

The core requirements for the Masters degree in the Horticulture program are:

  • Plnt S 8010 Professionalism and Ethics (2 credits)
  • Participation in the student seminar series
  • Plnt S 8090 Thesis Research (1 – 9 credits per semester)

Ph.D. Requirements

To satisfy the course requirements for a doctoral degree, a student must complete:

  • A minimum of 72 credit hours from courses numbered 7000-9000 (this includes dissertation research credit hours – i.e. Plnt S 9090)
  • 15 credit hours (towards the 72 hour requirement) must be from courses numbered at the 8000 or 9000 level, exclusive of dissertation research, problems or independent study
  • All Doctoral students will have successfully completed the requirements for a Master’s degree before beginning a Doctoral program.
  • No more than 30 hours of dissertation research may be counted towards the 72 hr minimum.

The core requirements for the PhD degree in Horticulture program are:

  • Plnt S 8010 Professionalism and Ethics (2 credits)
  • Participation in the student seminar series
    • Plnt S 9087 (1 credit – Must enroll twice; only 1 credit counts towards the 15 credit hour requirement of 8000/9000 level courses)
    • Plnt S 7087 (1 credit – Must enroll 3 times)
  • Plnt S 9090 Dissertation Research (1 – 10 credits per semester)

Advisors

Andrew Thomas, horticultural crop production techniques

Dean Volenberg,  viticulture & winery operations

Michele Warmund, fruit & nut crop physiology

Xi Xiong, turfgrass management & physiology