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UMass Amherst

Horticulture - Courses

Students interested in gaining knowledge in a range of horticultural topics enroll in this major. Students specifically interested in Floriculture Crop Production or Management of Woody Plants can follow a list of suggested courses or students may design their own focus of study by choosing from a list of approved electives.

First Semester
Credits
MATH Based on Placement Exam Score
2-3
NATRES&E 191F First Year Seminar
1
PLSOILIN 102 Introductory Botany
4
PLSOILIN 105 Soils
4
PLSOILIN 315 Greenhouse Management
4
Total 15-16
Second Semester (seven weeks)  
PLSOILIN 101 Insects and Related Forms
2
PLSOILIN 103 Plant Science
1.5
PLSOILIN 104 Plant Nutrients
1.5
PLSOILIN 111 Horticultural Plant Pathology
2
PLSOILIN 198G Internship (April-August)
4
PLSOILIN 397F Pest Management for Greenhouse Crops
2
PLSOILIN 398G Greenhouse Practicum
1
RES-ECON 141 Consumer Marketing for Horticulture
2
Total 16
Third Semester  
ENGLISH 120 English Composition
3
PLSOILIN 113 Plant Pathology Lab-Horticulture
2
PLSOILIN 200 Plant Propagation
3
HORT courses Advisor Approved
7-8
Total 15-16
Fourth Semester  
PLSOILIN 182 Principles of Pesticide Management
2
RES-ECON 140 Managing Your Own Business
3
RES-ECON 142 People in Organizations
3
HORT courses Advisor Approved
8-9
Total 16-17
 Grand Total 62-65
 
Note: courses listed in bold require a minimum grade of C for graduation.

 

Students are required to enroll in:

  • a minimum of 15 credits from the list of Approved Horticulture Elective Courses; two of these courses will be designated as major core courses with the advisor's approval
  • a plant materials course (ENVIRDES 335 or PLSOILIN 255)
  • ENGLISH 120 and MATH may be taken any semester

Approved Horticulture Elective Courses

Choose from these courses if interested in Floriculture Crop Production:

PLSOILIN 255 Herbaceous Plants
spring
3 cr
PLSOILIN 321 Greenhouse Crop Production I
fall
3 cr
PLSOILIN 335 Greenhouse Crop Production II
spring
4 cr
PLSOILIN 398G Greenhouse Practicum
both
1 cr

 

Choose from these courses if interested in Management of Woody Plants:

ENVIRDES 335 Plants in Landscape
fall
4 cr
FOREST 232 Principles of Arboriculture
fall
3 cr
FOREST 310 Community Forestry
spring
3 cr
PLSOILIN 235 Pruning Fruit Crops
spring
2 cr

 

Choose from these courses if interested in designing your own course of study:

ENVIRDES 335 Plants in Landscape
fall
4 cr

FOREST 210

Arboricultural Field Techniques II
spring
2 cr
FOREST 232 Principles of Arboriculture
fall
3 cr
FOREST 310 Community Forestry
spring
3 cr
LANDARCH 294A Construction Materials
spring
3 cr
LANDARCH 294B Construction Materials Practicum
spring
1 cr
LANDCONT 105 Landscape Drafting
spring
2 cr
NRC 100 Environment and Society
fall
3 cr
PLSOILIN 109 Insects of Ornamentals
fall
3 cr
PLSOILIN 120 Organic Farming and Gardening
spring
3 cr
PLSOILIN 230 Introductory Turfgrass Management
fall
4 cr
PLSOILIN 234 Irrigation and Drainage
spring
2 cr
PLSOILIN 235 Pruning Fruit Crops
spring
2 cr
PLSOILIN 255 Herbaceous Plants
spring
3 cr
PLSOILIN 265 Sustainable Agriculture
fall
3 cr
PLSOILIN 275 Turfgrass Physiology and Ecology
spring
3 cr
PLSOILIN 280 Herbs, Spices and Medicinal Plants
spring
3 cr
PLSOILIN 300 Deciduous Orchard Science
fall, odd yrs
3 cr
PLSOILIN 305 Small Fruit Production
fall, even yrs
3 cr
PLSOILIN 310 Principles of Weed Management
fall
3 cr
PLSOILIN 321 Greenhouse Crop Production I
fall
3 cr
PLSOILIN 325 Vegetable Production
spring
4 cr
PLSOILIN 335 Greenhouse Crop Production II
spring
4 cr
PLSOILIN 340 Advanced Turfgrass Management
spring
3 cr
PLSOILIN 350 Soil and Crop Management
fall
3 cr
PLSOILIN 397C Community Food Systems
fall
3 cr