Horticulture

Department of Plant, Soil, and Insect Sciences

Contact: Douglas Cox,
Program Coordinator
Office: 210 French Hall
Phone: (413) 545-5214
Email: dcox@pssci.umass.edu

Horticulture is a broad field of study encompassing the production, maintenance, sales, and service of bedding, flowering, ornamental, and nursery plants and food crops. This major has three distinct concentrations. Floriculture Crop Production stresses greenhouse production. General Horticulture allows students to design their own focus of study. Management of Woody Plants covers plant production and management in a nursery and the operation of a retail garden center.

Floriculture Crop Production Concentration

First Semester
Math by placement exam (2-3 cr)
PLSOILIN 102 Introductory Botany (4 cr)
PLSOILIN 105 Soils (4 cr)
*PLSOILIN 315 Greenhouse Management (4 cr)

Second Semester (7 wks)
PLSOILIN 101 Insects and Related Forms (2 cr)
PLSOILIN 103 Plant Science (1.5 cr)
PLSOILIN 104 Plant Nutrients (1.5 cr)
PLSOILIN 397F Pesticide Management of Greenhouse Crops (2 cr)
PLSOILIN 398G Greenhouse Practicum (1 cr)
RES-ECON 141 Consumer Marketing (2 cr)
*STOCKSCH 185 Internship (4 cr) (April-August)

Third Semester
ENGLISH 120 English Composition
ENVIRDES 335 Plants in Landscape (4 cr)
*PLSOILIN 111 Horticultural Plant Pathology
PLSOILIN 114 Plant Pathology Lab (1 cr)
*PLSOILIN 200 Plant Propagation
*PLSOILIN 321 Greenhouse Crop Production I

Fourth Semester
PLSOILIN 182 Principles of Pesticide Management (2 cr)
PLSOILIN 255 Herbaceous Plants
*PLSOILIN 335 Greenhouse Crop Production II (4 cr)
RES-ECON 140 Managing Your Own Business
RES-ECON 142 People in Organizations

* A grade of C or better must be earned in these courses.


General Horticulture Concentration

First Semester
Math course by placement exam (2-3 cr)
PLSOILIN 102 Introductory Botany (4 cr)
PLSOILIN 105 Soils (4 cr)
*PLSOILIN 315 Greenhouse Management (4 cr)

Second Semester (7 wks)
*PLSOILIN 101 Insects and Related Forms (2 cr)
PLSOILIN 103 Plant Science (1.5 cr)
PLSOILIN 104 Plant Nutrients (1.5 cr)
PLSOILIN 397F Pesticide Management of Greenhouse Crops (2 cr)
RES-ECON 141 Consumer Marketing (2 cr)
*STOCKSCH 185 Internship (4 cr) (April-August)

Third Semester
ENGLISH 120 English Composition
*PLSOILIN 111 Horticultural Plant Pathology
*PLSOILIN 113/114 Plant Pathology Lab (1 cr)
PLSOILIN 200 Plant Propagation
General Horticulture courses (6-8 cr)

Fourth Semester
PLSOILIN 182 Principles of Pesticide Management (2 cr)
RES-ECON 140 Managing Your Own Business
RES-ECON 142 People in Organizations
General Horticulture courses (6-9 cr)

Students must enroll in:
Minimum of 14 credits from the list of approved General Horticulture courses; two of these must be designated as major core courses; program coordinator approval is required.
ENVIRDES 335 or PLSOILIN 255
PLSOILIN 109 or PLSOILIN 397F
ENGLISH 120 and Math may be taken any semester


Management of Woody Plants Concentration

First Semester
*ENVIRDES 335 Plants in Landscape (4 cr)
Math by placement exam (2-3 cr)
PLSOILIN 102 Introductory Botany (4 cr)
PLSOILIN 105 Soils (4 cr)

Second Semester (7 wks)
ENGLISH 120 English Composition *PLSOILIN 101 Insects and Related Forms (2 cr)
PLSOILIN 103 Plant Science (1.5 cr)
PLSOILIN 104 Plant Nutrients (1.5 cr)
LANDCONT 105 Landscape Drafting (2 cr)
RES-ECON 141 Consumer Marketing (2 cr) *STOCKSCH 185 Internship (4 cr) (April-August)

Third Semester
PLSOILIN 109 Insects of Ornamentals
*PLSOILIN 111 Horticultural Plant Pathology
PLSOILIN 113 Plant Pathology (Woody Plants) Lab (1 cr)
*PLSOILIN 200 Plant Propagation
*PLSOILIN 315 Greenhouse Management (4 cr)

Fourth Semester
PLSOILIN 182 Principles of Pesticide Management (2 cr)
PLSOILIN 235 Pruning Fruit Crops (2 cr) PLSOILIN 255 Herbaceous Plants
*PLSOILIN 360 Nursery Management (4 cr)
RES-ECON 142 People in Organizations
ELECTIVE

* A grade of C or better must be earned in these courses.