Horticulture Undergraduate Major (BS, HBS)
This program is available at the following locations:
- Corvallis
- Ecampus
Options available:
- Ecological Management of Turf, Landscape and Urban Horticulture
- General Horticulture
- Horticultural Research
- Plant Breeding, Genetics, and Genomics
- Sustainable Horticultural Production
- Therapeutic Horticulture
- Viticulture and Enology
Grow with us in the Horticulture Major. Our graduates enter careers in sustainable farming; vineyard management; greenhouse & nursery production; breeding of new plant varieties; therapeutic horticulture; ecological management of golf courses, athletic fields, parks, botanical gardens, landscapes, urban centers and natural environments; and research on horticultural crops and systems.
We emphasize active learning and stress broad knowledge, critical thinking, field-based problem solving, analysis of novel situations, and application and synthesis from many areas. Our courses tackle contemporary real-world decisions faced by professional horticulturists. They include hands-on labs, diagnostics, landscape construction, and student-managed projects. Research opportunities are available. You will become skilled at finding and synthesizing information in order to manage the novel situations you will face during your horticultural career.
For more information, visit the Horticulture website.
Major Code: 145
Upon successful completion of the program, students will meet the following learning outcomes:
- Find, interpret and integrate data and theory from horticultural systems and sciences, and related disciplines.
- Assess horticultural systems, diagnose horticultural problems and recommend solutions, and create novel systems based on data and theory from horticultural sciences and related disciplines.
- Integrate horticultural sciences with contemporary social, economic, political and environmental issues.
- Develop and articulate content knowledge and critical thinking in horticulture through frequent practice of oral and written communication.
Grade Requirements for Horticulture Major
Students pursuing a major in horticulture are required to receive a grade of C– or better in all HORT (horticulture) and PBG (plant breeding and genetics) courses that are required for completion of their major and option. If a grade below C– is received in a HORT or PBG course required for their major and option, a student will need to re-take the course and receive a grade of C– or better. If the grade below a C– was received for a course that is part of a group of courses where the student can select which courses to take (i.e., they do not need to take all of the courses, just a specified number of courses or credits) then it would be acceptable for the student to substitute a course for the one that they had received a grade below a C–. For example, in most of our options, a student needs to complete three of four plant identification courses. If a student received a grade lower than a C– in one of the classes, they could either re-take the same course or complete the other three courses with a grade of C– or better.
Grade Requirements for Horticulture Major – Plant Breeding and Genetics Option
Students pursuing an option in Plant Breeding, Genetics & Genomics, under the Horticulture Major, and under the Crop and Soil Science Major, are required to receive a grade of C– or better in all BOT, CROP, CSS, FOR, HORT, MB, PBG, SOIL and ST courses required within their major and option.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| General Science | ||
| Biology | ||
| Select one of the following biology series: | 15 | |
| Series A: Principles of Biology (required for Horticultural Research option) | ||
| +*PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY: CELLS and *PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY: ORGANISMS and *PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY: ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION | ||
| Series B: Introductory Biology | ||
| +*INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY I and *INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY II and *INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY III | ||
| Chemistry | ||
| Select one of the following chemistry series: | 15 | |
| Series A | ||
| +GENERAL CHEMISTRY and *GENERAL CHEMISTRY and *GENERAL CHEMISTRY | ||
| Series B (required for Horticultural Research option) | ||
| GENERAL CHEMISTRY I and +*GENERAL CHEMISTRY I LABORATORY | ||
| GENERAL CHEMISTRY II and *GENERAL CHEMISTRY II LABORATORY | ||
| GENERAL CHEMISTRY III and *GENERAL CHEMISTRY III LABORATORY | ||
| Mathematics | ||
| MTH 111Z | +*PRECALCULUS I: FUNCTIONS | 4 |
| Select one course from the following: | 4 | |
| +*PRECALCULUS II: TRIGONOMETRY | ||
| +*CALCULUS FOR MANAGEMENT AND SOCIAL SCIENCE | ||
| +*MATHEMATICS FOR MANAGEMENT, LIFE, AND SOCIAL SCIENCES | ||
| +*DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS (required for Horticultural Research option) | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICAL METHODS 1 | ||
| Agricultural Science | ||
| BOT 331 | PLANT PHYSIOLOGY | 4 |
| BOT 451 | PLANT PATHOLOGY | 4 |
| CROP 440 | WEED MANAGEMENT | 4 |
| ENT 311 | INTRODUCTION TO INSECT PEST MANAGEMENT | 4 |
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| SOIL SCIENCE and +*SOIL SCIENCE LABORATORY FOR SOIL 205 | ||
| +*SOIL SCIENCE | ||
| Orientation | ||
| Select one course from the following: | 1-2 | |
| +INTRODUCTION TO CROP, SOIL, AND INSECT SCIENCE (Plant Breeding, Genetics & Genomics option only) | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO HORTICULTURAL SYSTEMS, PRACTICES AND CAREERS | ||
| Horticultural Science | ||
| HORT 301 | GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF HORTICULTURAL CROPS | 3 |
| HORT 310 | PLANT PROPAGATION 2 | 3 |
| HORT 316 | PLANT NUTRITION | 4 |
| Experiential Learning and Beyond OSU | ||
| HORT 412 | +CAREER EXPLORATION: INTERNSHIPS AND RESEARCH PROJECTS | 1 |
| Select one course from the following: | 3-12 | |
| THESIS (required for Horticultural Research option) | ||
| INTERNSHIP | ||
| THESIS (Plant Breeding, Genetics & Genomics option only) 3 | ||
or PBG 410 | INTERNSHIP | |
| Writing Intensive Curriculum | ||
| HORT 318 | ^APPLIED ECOLOGY OF MANAGED ECOSYSTEMS 4 | 3 |
| Difference, Power, and Oppression - Advanced | ||
| Select one course from the following: | 3 | |
| +*INDIGENOUS AGRICULTURE AND SUBSISTENCE | ||
| +*POWER AND JUSTICE IN U.S. NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT | ||
| +*ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE | ||
| +*SUSTAINABILITY, JUSTICE, AND ENGAGEMENT | ||
| Remaining Core Ed, Required Option and Electives | 91-101 | |
| Total Credits | 180 | |
- *
Baccalaureate Core course. Applies to general education requirements for undergraduate students in a catalog year up to 2024-2025
- +
Core Education course. Applies to general education requirements for undergraduate students in catalog year 2025-2026 and beyond
- ^
Writing Intensive Curriculum (WIC) course
- 1
Plant Breeding, Genetics & Genomics option already requires ST 351. Students in that option will need to choose from one of the other math courses to fulfill this requirement
- 2
Some options require an attached laboratory course, HORT 312, in addition to HORT 310
- 3
Plant Breeding, Genetics & Genomics option requires PBG 403 or PBG 410
- 4
Students in the Horticultural Research option may select BOT 323, CROP 325/SOIL 325/SUS 325 or SOIL 395 as an alternative WIC course
Major Code: 145
Degree plans are subject to change and the following is only an example of how students may complete their degree in four years. Students should consult their advisor to determine the best degree plan for them. Contact details for advisors can be found on the Academic Advising page.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| HORT 112 | INTRODUCTION TO HORTICULTURAL SYSTEMS, PRACTICES AND CAREERS | 2 |
| CH 121 | +GENERAL CHEMISTRY or GENERAL CHEMISTRY I and +*GENERAL CHEMISTRY I LABORATORY | 5 |
| MTH 111Z | +*PRECALCULUS I: FUNCTIONS | 4 |
| Core Ed: Transitions | 2 | |
| Core Ed: Communication, Media & Society | 3-4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Winter | ||
| CH 122 | *GENERAL CHEMISTRY or GENERAL CHEMISTRY II and *GENERAL CHEMISTRY II LABORATORY | 5 |
| CSS 205 | +*SOIL SCIENCE or SOIL SCIENCE and +*SOIL SCIENCE LABORATORY FOR SOIL 205 | 4 |
| WR 121Z | +*COMPOSITION I | 4 |
| Core Ed: Arts & Humanities General | 3-4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| CH 123 | *GENERAL CHEMISTRY or GENERAL CHEMISTRY III and *GENERAL CHEMISTRY III LABORATORY | 5 |
| Core Ed: Arts & Humanities Global | 3-4 | |
| Option Course | 3 | |
| Option Course | 3 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| BI 221Z or BI 204 | +*PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY: CELLS or +*INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY I | 5 |
| Core Ed: Difference, Power & Oppression Foundations | 3-4 | |
| Option Course | 4 | |
| Option Course | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Winter | ||
| BI 222Z or BI 205 | *PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY: ORGANISMS or *INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY II | 5 |
| HORT 316 | PLANT NUTRITION | 4 |
| HORT 412 | +CAREER EXPLORATION: INTERNSHIPS AND RESEARCH PROJECTS | 1 |
| Option Course | 4 | |
| Option Course | 3 | |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| BI 223Z or BI 206 | *PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY: ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION or *INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY III | 5 |
| Core Ed: Social Science | 3-4 | |
| Option Course | 3 | |
| Option Course | 4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| HORT 301 | GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF HORTICULTURAL CROPS | 3 |
| Math or Statistics Course | 4 | |
| Option Course | 4 | |
| Option Course | 4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Winter | ||
| HORT 310 | PLANT PROPAGATION | 3 |
| Core Ed: Seeking Solutions | 3-4 | |
| Option Course or Elective | 4 | |
| Option Course or Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| AG 311 | +*INDIGENOUS AGRICULTURE AND SUBSISTENCE or +*POWER AND JUSTICE IN U.S. NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT or +*ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE or +*SUSTAINABILITY, JUSTICE, AND ENGAGEMENT | 3 |
| ENT 311 | INTRODUCTION TO INSECT PEST MANAGEMENT | 4 |
| Core Ed: Writing Elevation | 3-4 | |
| Option Course or Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| BOT 451 | PLANT PATHOLOGY | 4 |
| CROP 440 | WEED MANAGEMENT | 4 |
| Experiential Learning | 3 | |
| Option Course or Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Winter | ||
| BOT 331 | PLANT PHYSIOLOGY | 4 |
| HORT 318 | ^APPLIED ECOLOGY OF MANAGED ECOSYSTEMS | 3 |
| Option Course or Elective | 4 | |
| Option Course or Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| Option Capstone Course | 4 | |
| Option Course or Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Total Credits | 180 | |
- *
Baccalaureate Core course. Applies to general education requirements for undergraduate students in a catalog year up to 2024-2025
- +
Core Education course. Applies to general education requirements for undergraduate students in catalog year 2025-2026 and beyond
- ^
Writing Intensive Curriculum (WIC) course