• Skip to Content
  • AZ Index
  • Catalog Home
  • UFL Home

University of Florida

UF Logo

Catalog

  • Administration
  • Programs
    • Majors
    • Minors
    • Certificates
    • UF Online Majors
    • UF Online Minors
    • Academic Programs
  • Colleges & Schools
  • Departments
  • Courses
    • Course Search
    • A-Z
  • Academic Advising
  • Academic Regulations
  • Admission
  • Academic Catalogs
  • Dates & Deadlines
  • Student Life
  • Previous Catalogs
  • Print Options
  • Search
  • Registrar

Native Plant Conservation

  • Home
  • Undergraduate Catalog
  • Colleges and Schools
  • Agricultural and Life Sciences, College of 
  • Plant Science
  • Native Plant Conservation

Plant scientists sustain and improve our current and future world as they work with foods, fibers, fuel, flowers, pharmaceuticals, urban forests, soil health, plant pests, and our natural environs. Plant Science students study biology, plant morphology and physiology, chemistry, entomology, physics, soil and water sciences, plant identification, plant pathology, plant propagation, and environmental horticulture.

Undergraduate Catalog
  • Community Food Systems
  • General Plant Science
  • Greenhouse and Landscape Industries
  • Native Plant Conservation
  • Plant Breeding and Genetics
  • Plant Health and Protection
  • Soil Management and Plant Productivity
  • Sustainable Crop Production
  • Turfgrass Science

About this Program

  • College: Agricultural and Life Sciences
  • Degrees: Bachelor of Arts | Bachelor of Science
  • Specializations: Community Food Systems | General Plant Science | Greenhouse and Landscape Industries | Native Plant Conservation | Plant Breeding and Genetics | Plant Health and Protection | Soil Management and Plant Productivity | Sustainable Crop Production | Turfgrass Science
  • Credits for Degree: 120
  • More Info

To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college, and major requirements.

Related Programs 

  • Combination Degrees
  • Environmental Horticulture Management Certificate
  • Environmental Horticulture Minor
  • Golf and Sports Turf Management Minor
  • Overview
  • Critical Tracking
  • Model Semester Plan
  • Academic Learning Compact

The plant science degree offers diverse specializations that provide a wide range of professional opportunities. The specializations provide students with an interdisciplinary perspective of these areas and pursue coursework that tracks them into a variety of job opportunities.

The University of Florida offers some of the specializations in this major to transfer students who have the appropriate credentials through the statewide programs at the Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center in Ft. Lauderdale, the Mid-Florida Research and Education Center in Apopka, or the West Florida Research and Education Center in Milton.

Course Requirements

Bachelor of Science

Designed for students with different professional objectives. All students, regardless of degree or specialization, are required to take an introductory plant science course, an introductory statistics course, an economics course, a technical writing course, a speech course, a soil science course, a plant physiology course, a plant pathology course, a professional development course, and a capstone experience course. All students must also complete an internship related to their area of interest.

Bachelor of Arts

Designed for students who want to learn about contemporary food systems from an interdisciplinary perspective. All students are required to take an introductory plant science course, a capstone experience course, and must complete an internship related to their area of interest.

Each specialization has a specific set of required core courses and a number of upper-division electives to choose from that represent important interdisciplinary topic areas. Core courses provide students with the knowledge and fundamental concepts essential to the specialization. Upper-division electives are designed to build knowledge, competency and skills applicable to professional development.

Students should meet with an advisor as early as possible in their academic careers to choose their specialization and to plan their course of study.

Bachelor of Science | Native Plant Conservation

This specialization prepares students to apply concepts of plant conservation and ecology to control invasive plants and establish, manage, and protect native plant communities, primarily in natural areas. Students also develop skills necessary for native plant propagation for ecological restoration and sustainable landscapes.

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.

Equivalent critical-tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students.

Semester 1

  • Complete 2 of 6 critical-tracking courses, excluding labs: BOT 2010C or BSC 2010/BSC 2010L; BOT 2011C or BSC 2011/BSC 2011L; CHM 2045/CHM 2045L; CHM 2046/CHM 2046L; 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 1 additional 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
  • 2.0 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
  • 2.0 upper division GPA required
  • 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 6

  • Complete EVR 3323 and ORH 4933
  • 2.0 upper division GPA required
  • 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 7

  • Complete AGR 4512 or HOS 4304 and ORH 4848
  • 2.0 upper division GPA required
  • 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 8

  • Complete AEB 4126 and PLS 4950
  • 2.0 upper division GPA required
  • 2.0 UF GPA required

To remain on track, students must complete the appropriate critical-tracking courses, which appear in bold. These courses must be completed by the terms as listed above in the Critical Tracking criteria.

This semester plan represents an example progression through the major. Actual courses and course order may be different depending on the student's academic record and scheduling availability of courses. Prerequisites still apply.

Plan of Study Grid
Semester OneCredits
Select one: 3-4
BOT 2010C
Introductory Botany (Critical Tracking; State Core Gen Ed Biological Sciences and Physical Sciences)  
BSC 2010
& 2010L
Integrated Principles of Biology 1
and Integrated Principles of Biology Laboratory 1 (Critical Tracking; State Core Gen Ed Biological Sciences and Physical Sciences)
 
ENC 1101 Expository and Argumentative Writing (State Core Gen Ed Composition; Writing Requirement: 6,000 words) 3
MAC 1147 Precalculus Algebra and Trigonometry (Critical Tracking; State Core Gen Ed Mathematics) 4
MUL 2010 Experiencing Music (State Core Gen Ed Humanities and International) 3
 Credits13-14
Semester Two
Select one: 4
BOT 2011C
Plant Diversity (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Biological Sciences and Physical Sciences)  
BSC 2011
& 2011L
Integrated Principles of Biology 2
and Integrated Principles of Biology Laboratory 2 (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Biological Sciences and Physical Sciences)
 
ENC 2210 Technical Writing (Gen Ed Composition; Writing Requirement: 6,000 words) 3
STA 2023 Introduction to Statistics 1 (Gen Ed Mathematics) 3
Quest 1 (Gen Ed Humanities) 3
 Credits13
Semester Three
AEC 3030C
or SPC 2608
Effective Oral Communication
or Introduction to Public Speaking
3
AMH 2020 United States Since 1877 (Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences and Diversity) 3
CHM 2045
& 2045L
General Chemistry 1
and General Chemistry 1 Laboratory (Critical Tracking; State Core Gen Ed Biological and Physical Sciences)
4
ECO 2013 Principles of Macroeconomics (Critical Tracking; State Core Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences) 4
 Credits14
Semester Four
CHM 2046
& 2046L
General Chemistry 2
and General Chemistry 2 Laboratory (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Biological Sciences and Physical Sciences)
4
ENY 3005
& 3005L
Principles of Entomology
and Principles of Entomology Laboratory
3
SWS 3022
& 3022L
Introduction to Soils in the Environment
and Introduction to Soils in the Environment Laboratory (Gen Ed Biological and Physical Sciences)
4
WIS 3401 Wildlife Ecology and Management 3
 Credits14
Summer After Semester Four
BOT 3151C Local Flora of North Florida 3
Elective (Writing Requirement: 6,000 words) 3
 Credits6
Semester Five
BCH 3023 Elementary Organic and Biological Chemistry 3
ORH 3513C Environmental Plant Identification and Use (Gen Ed Biological and Physical Sciences) 3
PCB 2441 Biological Invaders (Gen Ed Biological and Physical Sciences) 3
PLP 3002C Fundamentals of Plant Pathology (Gen Ed Biological and Physical Sciences) 4
PLS 3004C Principles of Plant Science (Gen Ed Biological and Physical Sciences) 3
 Credits16
Semester Six
EVR 3323 Introduction to Ecosystem Restoration (Critical Tracking) 4
ORH 4933 Professional Seminar in Environmental Horticulture (Critical Tracking) 1
PCB 3601C Plant Ecology 3
PHY 2004
& 2004L
Applied Physics 1
and Laboratory for Applied Physics 1
4
 Credits12
Summer After Semester Six
PLS 4941 Practical Work Experience 3
 Credits3
Semester Seven
AGR 4512
or HOS 4304
Physiology and Ecology of Crops (Critical Tracking)
or Horticultural Physiology
3
ORH 4848 Landscape Plant Establishment (Critical Tracking) 2
PLS 3223
& 3223L
Plant Propagation
and Plant Propagation Laboratory
3
PLS 4601C Principles of Weed Science 3
PLS 4613 Aquatic Weed Control 3
 Credits14
Semester Eight
AEB 4126 Agricultural and Natural Resource Ethics (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Humanities or Social and Behavioral Sciences; Writing Requirement: 6,000 words) 3
PCB 4043C General Ecology 4
PLS 4950 Plant Science Capstone (Critical Tracking) 3
Approved electives 5
 Credits15
 Total Credits120

Approved Electives | Minimum 5 Credits

Students must consult with their advisor for assistance in selecting the designated listed electives in order to take applicable and appropriate courses for the students’ job and career aspirations. Consult an advisor for other options, which may include study abroad courses.

Course List
Code Title Credits
ALS 3133Agricultural and Environmental Quality3
ALS 3153Agricultural Ecology3
ALS 4154Global Agroecosystems3
AOM 3333Pesticide Application Techniques3
BOT 2710CPractical Plant Taxonomy3
BOT 3503Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants3
BOT 4650Plant Symbiosis3
BOT 4935/5225CSpecial Topics (Plant Anatomy)4
BSC 2862Global Change Ecology and Sustainability3
EES 4050Environmental Planning and Design3
EES 4103Applied Ecology2
EVS 3000Environmental Science3
FOR 3214Fire Ecology and Management2
FOR 4110Ecology and Restoration of Longleaf Pine Ecosystems3
FOR 3153CForest Ecology3
FOR 4090CUrban Forestry3
GIS 4121Geospatial Analysis3
LDE 4404CAdvanced Residential Landscape Design3
ORH 3815CFlorida Native Landscaping3
ORH 4932Special Topics in Environmental Horticulture (Hydroponic Systems)2
PLS 4242CMicropropagation of Horticultural Crops4
STA 3024Introduction to Statistics 23
SWS 4244Wetlands3
SWS 4720CGIS in Soil and Water Science3
SWS 4800Environmental Soil and Water Monitoring Techniques3
WIS 3402Wildlife of Florida3
WIS 4203CLandscape Ecology and Conservation3
WIS 4427CWildlife Habitat Management3
WIS 4934Topics in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation (Wetland Management and Research Techniques)3

The plant science major, offered jointly by the departments of Agronomy and Plant Pathology, 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.

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.

Students in the Major Will Learn to

Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)

Content

  1. Describe plant growth and development in terms of plant morphology and physiology and evaluate the abiotic and biotic factors that impact plant growth and management.
  2. Recommend practices that growers and managers can implement to address the abiotic and biotic components of their cropping system.

Critical Thinking

  1. Analyze and apply science-based data to solve problems in plant production, distribution and/or utilization.
  2. Design and evaluate a project that addresses a problem or challenge related to their area of interest.

Communication

  1. Create, interpret and analyze written text and multimedia presentations.
  2. Communicate effectively through oral and multimedia presentations.

Curriculum Map

I = Introduced; R = Reinforced; A = Assessed

Academic Learning Compact 6
Courses SLO 1 SLO 2 SLO 3 SLO 4 SLO 5 SLO 6
AEC 3030C I, R, A
AEC 3033C I, R, A
PLS 3004C I I I I
PLS 4932 A A A A A A
PLS 4941 R R R R R R

Assessment Types

  • Standardized post-test
  • Capstone and individual projects
  • Final grades
University of Florida UF Signature
UF Registrar on Facebook UF Registrar on Twitter UF Registrar on Instagram UF Registrar on YouTube

Office of the University Registrar
1478 Union Road
222 Criser Hall - P.O. Box 114000
Gainesville, FL 32611-4000
Phone: 352-392-1374; Fax: 352-846-1126
Hours: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., M-F

Take our Survey
Website Inquiries

Resources

  • Archives
  • Emergency Contact Info
  • Gator 1 Services
  • GatorLink
  • Student Information System FAQ
  • UF Directory
  • UFID
  • Update My Address
  • Video Gallery

Helpful Links

  • Admissions
  • Dean of Students Office
  • EM Business Services Office
  • Enrollment Management
  • Student Financial Affairs
  • Study Abroad
  • UF Compass Program
  • UF Curriculum Committee
  • University Bursar

Connect

  • Annual Report
  • Contact Information
  • Mission and Values
  • Written Complaint Policy
  • Site Map
  • Text-Only Version
Back to Top

Print Options

Send Page to Printer

Print this page.

Download PDF of this page

The PDF will include all information unique to this page.

Download PDF of the entire catalog

The PDF includes all undergraduate catalog information.

Cancel