Major in Horticulture, Controlled Environment Horticulture Concentration

Program Overview

This Controlled Environment Horticulture Concentration prepares students for careers in managing controlled environment systems for horticulture crop production. Through hands-on experience and a comprehensive curriculum, students develop expertise in hydroponics, lighting, propagation, environmental control, and pest management for crops grown in controlled environments. The program also includes practicums, an internship, and the option to take technical electives, expanding students' knowledge and skills in various horticulture-related areas.

Program Outline

Program Details: Major in Horticulture, Controlled Environment Horticulture Concentration

Degree Overview:

Controlled environment agriculture (CEA) is a technology-based approach to crop production that focuses on optimizing an environment within a protected structure to facilitate desired plant growth and development. This concentration emphasizes the management of controlled environment systems for the production and improvement of both floriculture and food crops. Students will gain hands-on experience with advanced production technologies such as hydroponics and lighting.

Objectives:

• Study and gain practical experience in managing controlled environment systems for horticultural crop production.
• Develop expertise in areas like hydroponics, lighting, propagation, environmental control, physiology, and pest management for crops grown in controlled environments.
• Prepare for careers in controlled environment production, retail and wholesale floral businesses, controlled environment supply sales, construction and environmental control, and plant research.

Outline:

Program Structure:

• The program requires a total of 120 credits, with at least 42 credits being upper-division (300- to 400-level).
• The program is structured across four years, with a specific course schedule outlined for each semester.
• Students are required to participate in greenhouse practicums and an internship in their junior and/or senior years.

Course Schedule:

• Freshman Year:
• Semester 1: BZ 120, CO 150, HORT 192/LAND 192, MATH 117, MATH 118, MATH 124, CHEM 107/108 or CHEM 111/112
• Semester 2: HORT 100, CHEM 108/114 or CHEM 113, Arts and Humanities, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
• Sophomore Year:
• Semester 3: AREC 202, BZ 223, SOCR 240, Arts and Humanities
• Semester 4: CHEM 245, HORT 260, SPCM 200, Electives
• Junior Year:
• Semester 5: BSPM 302, BSPM 303B, HORT 310, HORT 322, Technical Elective
• Semester 6: BSPM 361, BZ 440, HORT 487, STAT 301, Advanced Writing
• Senior Year:
• Semester 7: HORT 412, HORT 417, HORT 486A, SOCR 330, Technical Elective
• Semester 8: HORT 347, HORT 454, HORT 486B, Electives

Individual Modules:

• BZ 120 Principles of Plant Biology: Introduces fundamental concepts of plant biology.
• CO 150 College Composition: Develops writing skills for academic and professional purposes.
• HORT 100 Horticultural Science: Provides an overview of horticultural principles and practices.
• HORT 192/LAND 192 Orientation to Horticulture/Landscape Arch: Introduces the fields of horticulture and landscape architecture.
• MATH 117/118/124 College Algebra in Context I/II, Logarithmic and Exponential Functions: Covers foundational mathematical concepts.
• AREC 202 Agricultural and Resource Economics: Explores economic principles related to agriculture and natural resources.
• BZ 223 Plant Identification: Develops skills in identifying various plant species.
• SOCR 240 Introductory Soil Science: Introduces the fundamentals of soil science.
• CHEM 245 Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry: Covers the principles of organic chemistry.
• HORT 260 Plant Propagation: Focuses on techniques for plant propagation.
• SPCM 200 Public Speaking: Develops public speaking skills.
• BSPM 302 Applied and General Entomology: Explores the principles of entomology.
• BSPM 303B Entomology Laboratory: Horticultural: Provides practical experience in entomological techniques.
• BSPM 361 Elements of Plant Pathology: Introduces the principles of plant pathology.
• BZ 440 Plant Physiology: Covers the physiological processes of plants.
• HORT 310 Greenhouse Management: Focuses on the management of greenhouse systems.
• HORT 322 Herbaceous Plants: Explores the characteristics and cultivation of herbaceous plants.
• HORT 487 Internship: Provides practical experience in a horticultural setting.
• STAT 301 Introduction to Applied Statistical Methods: Introduces statistical methods for data analysis.
• HORT 412 Floriculture Crops: Covers the production and management of floriculture crops.
• HORT 417 Indoor Crop Production and Physiology: Focuses on the production and physiology of crops grown indoors.
• HORT 486A Practicum: Floriculture: Provides practical experience in floriculture.
• SOCR 330 Principles of Genetics: Introduces the principles of genetics.
• HORT 347 Hydroponics: Covers the principles and practices of hydroponics.
• HORT 454 Horticulture Crop Production and Management: Focuses on the production and management of horticultural crops.
• HORT 486B Practicum: General: Provides practical experience in general horticultural practices.

Technical Electives:

• BC 351 Principles of Biochemistry
• HORT 321 Nursery Production and Management
• HORT 331 Landscape Design
• HORT 341 Turfgrass Management
• HORT 401 Medicinal and Value-Added Uses of Plants
• HORT 441 Turfgrass Science
• HORT 451 Vegetable Crop Management
• HORT 453 Principles of Fruit Crop Management
• HORT 460/SOCR 460 Plant Breeding and Biotechnology
• HORT 464A Arboriculture
• HORT 476 Environmental Plant Stress Physiology
• HORT 571 Soil-Plant-Water Relations/Water Stress
• MGT 305 Fundamentals of Management
• SOCR 500 Environmental Measurement Laboratory

Careers:

• Controlled environment production
• All phases of retail and wholesale floral business
• Controlled environment supply sales
• Controlled environment construction and environmental control
• Plant research

Other:

• Students are required to register for at least two credits of HORT 486A for one term.
• The program emphasizes hands-on experience and practical application of knowledge.
• The program is designed to prepare students for a variety of careers in the horticultural industry.