Program Overview
University of Florida Plant Science Program
The Plant Science major at the University of Florida enables students to apply principles associated with production and improvement of agronomic crops. Students will acquire knowledge about the scientific fundamentals of plant growth of field and forage crops. They will acquire knowledge about fungi, bacteria, and viruses, as well as environmental factors that cause plant disease. This program prepares students to work in the lab and field settings and to develop applied skills for research and extension.
About this Program
- College: Agricultural and Life Sciences
- Degree: Bachelor of Science
- Credits for Degree: 120
To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college, and major requirements.
Course Requirements
Courses for the major include introductory statistics, biology, chemistry, mathematics, economics, communications, humanities, Quest courses, and Civic Literacy. All students are required to take an introductory plant science course to explore the range of career options and opportunities offered by the major (PLS 3004C). Upper-division requirements include courses in soil science, plant pests and diseases, natural ecosystems or agroecosystems, physiology, genetics, plant production and propagation, lab skills, and a capstone experience. All students must also complete a guided internship or high impact practice (HIP) related to their area of interest.
Critical Tracking
Critical Tracking records each student’s progress in courses that are required for progress toward each major. Please note the critical-tracking requirements below on a per-semester basis.
Semester 1
- Complete 2 of 5 critical-tracking courses, excluding labs: BOT 2010C or BSC 2010/BSC 2010L; BOT 2011C or BSC 2011/BSC 2011L; CHM 2045/CHM 2045L; ECO 2013; MAC 1147
- 2.0 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 2
- Complete 1 additional critical-tracking course, excluding labs
- 2.0 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 3
- Complete 2 additional critical-tracking courses, excluding labs
- 2.0 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 4
- Complete all critical-tracking course, excluding labs
- 2.0 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 5
- Complete all critical-tracking courses, including labs
- Complete PLS 3004C
- 2.0 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
- 2.0 upper-division GPA required
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 6
- Complete AGR 4512 or HOS 4304
- 2.0 upper-division GPA required
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 7
- Complete PLS 3223 and PLS 3223L and approved elective in major
- Complete HOS 4918
- 2.0 upper-division GPA required
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 8
- Complete Plant Science capstone
- 2.0 upper-division GPA required
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Plan of Study Grid
The plan of study grid outlines the courses to be taken each semester. The grid includes the course list code, title, and credits.
Focus Areas
The Plant Science major has several focus areas, including:
- Natural Systems and Agroecosystems: Minimum 3 credits
- AGR 4212: Alternative Cropping Systems
- ALS 3153: Agricultural Ecology
- EVR 3323: Introduction to Ecosystem Restoration
- HOS 3281C: Organic and Sustainable Crop Production
- Plant Production Systems: Minimum 6 credits
- AGR 4212: Alternative Cropping Systems
- AGR 4214C: Applied Field Crop Production
- AGR 4231C: Forage Science and Range Management
- ALS 4210: Controlled Environment Plant Production
- ALS 4914: Project Team Research: Building Skills in Agrobiology
- FRC 3212: Introduction to Citrus Culture and Production
- FRC 3252: Tropical and Subtropical Fruits
- FRC 3274: Tree and Small Fruit Production
- FRC 3802: Viticulture for Table Grapes and Wine
- HOS 3020C: Principles of Horticultural Crop Production
- HOS 3222C: Greenhouse and Protected Agriculture
- HOS 3281C: Organic and Sustainable Crop Production
- HOS 3513C: Breeding and Production of Medicinal Plants and Herbs
- HOS 4283C: Advanced Organic and Sustainable Crop Production
- HOS 4332C: Principles of Postharvest Horticulture
- ORH 3222C: Turfgrass Culture
- ORH 3253C: Introductory Nursery Management
- ORH 3815C: Florida Native Landscaping
- ORH 4223: Golf and Sports Turf Management
- ORH 4236C: Ornamental Landscape Management
- ORH 4242C: Arboriculture
- ORH 4264: Greenhouse and Nursery Crop Culture
- ORH 4280: Orchidology
- ORH 4804 & 4804L: Annual and Perennial Gardening and Annual and Perennial Gardening Laboratory
- ORH 4848: Landscape Plant Establishment
- PLS 3421C: Hydroponic Systems
- PLS 3800C: Vegetable Production
- PLS 4242C: Micropropagation of Horticultural Crops
- Plant Pests and Diseases: Minimum 6 credits
- ENY 3005 & 3005L: Principles of Entomology and Principles of Entomology Laboratory
- ENY 3510C: Turf and Ornamental Entomology
- IPM 3022: Fundamentals of Pest Management
- IPM 4114: Insect Pest and Vector Management
- NEM 3002: Principles of Nematology
- PLP 3002C: Fundamentals of Plant Pathology
- PLP 3230: Survey of Plant Pathogens
- PLP 4104: Applied Plant Disease Management
- PLS 4601C: Principles of Weed Science
- PLS 4613: Aquatic Weed Control
- PLS 4630: Organic Weed Management
- PMA 4570C: Field Techniques in IPM
- Lab Skills, Field Skills, and Information Skills: Minimum 6 credits
- AGR 4304: Plant Chromosomes and Genomes
- ALS 3200C: AI in Agricultural and Life Sciences
- AOM 4434: Precision Agriculture
- BOT 3503L: Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants Laboratory
- BSC 2891: Python Programming for Biology
- BSC 4434C: Introduction to Bioinformatics
- ENY 2890C: Insect Research CURE
- ENY 4823: Molecular Biology of Insects and Nematodes
- HOS 4313C: Laboratory Methods in Plant Molecular Biology
- HOS 4241C: Genetics and Breeding of Vegetable Crops
- LDE 3410C: Residential Landscape Design
- LDE 4404C: Advanced Residential Landscape Design
- ORH 3773 & 3773L: Public Gardens and Public Gardens Laboratory
- PLP 4653C: Basic Fungal Biology
- PLS 4105: Genome Editing and Plant Biotechnology
- SWS 4720C: GIS in Soil and Water Science
Student Learning Outcomes
Students in the major will learn to:
- Describe plant growth and development in terms of plant morphology and physiology and evaluate the abiotic and biotic factors that affect plant growth and management.
- Recommend practices that growers and managers can implement to address the abiotic and biotic components of their cropping system.
- Analyze and apply science-based data to solve problems in plant production, distribution and/or utilization.
- Design and evaluate a project that addresses a problem or challenge related to their area of interest.
- Create, interpret and analyze written text and multimedia presentations.
- Communicate effectively through oral and multimedia presentations.
Assessment Types
- Standardized post-test
- Capstone and individual projects
- Final grades
Before Graduating
Students must:
- Complete a research paper and an oral presentation with satisfactory faculty evaluation.
- Achieve minimum grades of C in AEC 3030C and AEC 3033C. These courses are graded using rubrics developed by a faculty team.
- Complete requirements for the baccalaureate degree, as determined by faculty.