Horticultural Science: Now What?
Quick Facts: Agricultural and Food Scientists and Specialists
Found on the Occupational Outlook Handbook
- 2021 Median Pay: $74,160 per year; $35.66 per hour
- Entry-Level Education: Bachelor's degree
- Work Experience in a Related Occupation: None
- On-the-job Training: Internship/residency
- Number of Jobs, 2020: 37,400
- Job Outlook, 2020-30: 9% (As fast as average)
- Employment Change, 2020-30: 3,200
What is Horticultural Science?
Concepts and practices vital to the preservation of natural resources in managed plant systems are stressed. This major provides students with the tools and knowledge to work in the horticultural field. Students receive scientific training in the production of herbaceous ornamentals, fruits, and vegetables. In addition, students have the option of taking business courses to complement their horticultural training or to further enhance their scientific training through more courses in basic science. The University-operated greenhouses, vegetable field, and orchard are used as laboratory spaces to provide hands-on experience related to knowledge acquired in the classroom. Successful graduates find employment in plant conservatories and arboreta as well as manage businesses, including direct-market farms, greenhouse operations, landscaping firms and nurseries, or they continue to graduate school for advanced degrees.
What Can I Do With A Degree In Horticultural Science?
- Allied Commercial Businesses
- Educator
- Extension Specialist
- Greenhouse Operator
- Ground Administrator
- Horticulturalist
- Horticultural Product Sales & Marketing
- Landscape Plant Production and Use
- Landscape Nurseries
- Landscape Operation
- Owner/Manager of Horticultural Business
- Plant Breeder
- Plant Grower
- Plant Production Technician
- Plant Propagator
- Pollination Specialist
- Public Outreach
- Researcher
- Retail Business
Where Can I Do An Internship?
- Bass Rocks Golf Course
- Oyster Harbors Club Inc.
- Center for Agriculture, Food & Environment
- Smith College Botanic Garden
- Trustees of Reservations
- Bay Natives Nursery
Selection of internship sites advertised by Stockbridge School of Agriculture:
- Abundance Farm
- Backyard Growers
- Bardwell Farm
- Book and Plow Farm
- Boston Area Gleaners
- Broadfork Permaculture
- Clark Organic Farm
- Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA)
- Essex Farm
- Fort River Farm
- Foxfire Farm
- Fungi Ally
- Gallatin Valley Botanical
- Green Rivers Farms
- Laughing Dog Farm
- Meeting Place Pastures
- Morning Glory Farm
- Natural Roots Farm Apprenticeship Program
- Nourse Farm
- Nourishing the North Shore (NNS)
- Orchard Hill Breadworks
- People’s Medicine Project
- Sampson Farm LP
- Share the Harvest Farm
- Simple Gifts Farm
- Sirius Eco-Village
- Small Ones Farm
- Stout Oak Farm
- The Farm School
- The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts
- UMass Amherst Student Farm
- UMass Hydrofarm
- Unadilla Farm
- Yard Birds Farm
What Do Employers Look For?
(Source: NACE Job Outlook 2022, Courtesy of the National Association of College and Employers | www.naceweb.org)
Top 10 Things Employers Look for on Your Resume
- Problem-solving skills
- Analytical/quantitative skills
- Ability to work in a team
- Communication skills (written)
- Initiative
- Strong work ethic
- Technical skills
- Flexibility/adaptability
- Detail-oriented
- Leadership
7 Things That Give You an Advantage in the Job Market
- Internship with the organization
- Internship within the industry
- Major
- Leadership position
- General work experience
- Extracurricular activities
- High GPA (3.0 or above)