This is an archived copy of the 2020-2021 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.ufl.edu.
About this Program
- College: Agricultural and Life Sciences
- Degree: Bachelor in Science
- Specializations: Organic Horticultural Systems | Plant Biotechnology and Improvement | Science and Technology of Horticultural Crops
- Credits for Degree: 120
- More Info
To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college, and major requirements.
Department Information
The Horticultural Sciences Department is a team of faculty, staff, and students dedicated to improving fruit and vegetable production for the benefit of farmers and consumers. Florida’s climatic diversity and the facilities at UF provide opportunities for cutting-edge research in plant breeding & genetics, plant and environmental physiology, fruit & vegetable production, postharvest physiology, biochemistry, and other disciplines.
Website
CONTACT
Email | 352.392.1928
P.O. Box 110690
2550 Hull Road
FIFIELD HALL
GAINESVILLE FL 32611-0690
Map
Curriculum
The department offers three specializations: science and technology of horticultural crops, organic horticultural systems, and plant biotechnology and improvement. These options provide a strong science background and flexibility when choosing elective courses. An academic advisor will help develop the curriculum that best suits your career and educational goals.
Organic Horticultural Systems
This specialization emphasizes the cultural practices that maintain ecological and economical balance in horticultural crop production systems. This is a flexible option with many electives available to meet education and career objectives. Graduates will be prepared for a range of careers related to conventional, sustainable and organic crop production.
Plant Biotechnology and Improvement
This is a comprehensive program focusing on the molecular aspects of crops, including crop growth, development and cultivar improvement. This specialization is geared toward preparing for careers in laboratory research and is also an excellent preparation for pursuing graduate studies.
Science and Technology of Horticultural Crops
This specialization offers a generalized program, covering growth and development of horticultural crops. This is a flexible option that can be tailored to individual interests and career objectives, ranging from applied production to basic biology. Career options include commodity production and management, research biologist, marketing, agricultural chemical sales, fertilizer sales, produce buyer for grocery stores or restaurants, retail flower sales, and a number of other opportunities.
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 1 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, MAC 1147, PHY 2004 or PHY 2020
- 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 1 additional critical-tracking course, excluding labs
- 2.0 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 4
- Complete 2 additional critical-tracking courses, 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
- Complete 1 of 4 upper division critical-tracking courses: HOS 3020C, HOS 4933, HOS 4304, HOS 4921
- 2.0 upper division GPA required
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 6
- Complete 1 additional upper division critical-tracking course
- 2.0 upper division GPA required
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 7
- Complete 1 additional upper division critical-tracking course
- 2.0 upper division GPA required
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 8
- Complete all upper division critical-tracking courses
- 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.
| Semester One | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| MAC 1147 | Precalculus Algebra and Trigonometry (Critical Tracking; State Core Gen Ed Mathematics) | 4 |
| Quest 1 (Gen Ed Humanities) | 3 | |
| State Core Gen Ed Composition; Writing Requirement | 3 | |
| State Core Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences | 3 | |
| Elective | 2 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Semester Two | ||
| Select one: | 3-4 | |
| Economic Issues, Food and You (Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences) | ||
| Principles of Macroeconomics (Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences) | ||
| Principles of Microeconomics (Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences) | ||
| CHM 2045 & 2045L |
General Chemistry 1 and General Chemistry 1 Laboratory (Critical Tracking; State Core Gen Ed Biological Sciences and Physical Sciences) |
4 |
| State Core Gen Ed Humanities | 3 | |
| Electives | 5 | |
| Credits | 15-16 | |
| Semester Three | ||
| AEC 3033C | Research and Business Writing in Agricultural and Life Sciences (Writing Requirement) | 3 |
| Select one: | 3-4 | |
| Introductory Botany (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Biological Sciences and Physical Sciences) | ||
| Integrated Principles of Biology 1 and Integrated Principles of Biology Laboratory 1 (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Biological Sciences and Physical Sciences) |
||
| Gen Ed Composition; Writing Requirement | 3 | |
| Gen Ed Mathematics | 2 | |
| Electives | 4 | |
| Credits | 15-16 | |
| Semester Four | ||
| AEC 3030C | Effective Oral Communication | 3 |
| Select one: | 4 | |
| Plant Diversity (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Biological Sciences) | ||
| Integrated Principles of Biology 2 and Integrated Principles of Biology Laboratory 2 (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Biological Sciences) |
||
| Select one: | 3 | |
| Applied Physics 1 (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Physical Sciences) | ||
| Introduction to Principles of Physics (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Physical Sciences) | ||
| Electives | 5 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Semester Five | ||
| ALS 3153 | Agricultural Ecology | 3 |
| HOS 3020C | Principles of Horticultural Crop Production (Critical Tracking) | 4 |
| HOS 3285 | The Organic Debate: Organic Agriculture Development & Regulations | 1 |
| STA 2023 | Introduction to Statistics 1 | 3 |
| SWS 3022 & 3022L |
Introduction to Soils in the Environment and Introduction to Soils in the Environment Laboratory |
4 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Semester Six | ||
| AGR 3303 | Genetics | 3 |
| ENY 3005 & 3005L |
Principles of Entomology and Principles of Entomology Laboratory |
3 |
| HOS 3430C | Nutrition of Horticultural Crops | 3 |
| HOS 4933 | Professional Development in Horticulture (Critical Tracking) | 1 |
| Approved electives | 5 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Semester Seven | ||
| HOS 3281C | Organic and Sustainable Crop Production | 3 |
| HOS 4304 | Horticultural Physiology (Critical Tracking) | 3 |
| HOS 4918 | Capstone Planning in Horticultural Sciences | 1 |
| PLP 3002C | Fundamentals of Plant Pathology | 4 |
| Approved elective | 3 | |
| Practical work experience | 1-2 | |
| Credits | 15-16 | |
| Semester Eight | ||
| HOS 4283C | Advanced Organic and Sustainable Crop Production | 3 |
| HOS 4332C | Principles of Postharvest Horticulture | 3 |
| HOS 4921 | Horticultural Sciences Capstone (Critical Tracking) | 2-4 |
| WDS 4001 | Organic Weed Management | 3 |
| Approved electives | 4 | |
| Credits | 15-17 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
Approved Electives
Commodity Electives | Select 19-20 Credits
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| FRC 3212 | Introduction to Citrus Culture and Production (fall semester odd years) | 3 |
| FRC 3252 | Tropical and Subtropical Fruits (fall semester even years) | 2 |
| FRC 3274 | Tree and Small Fruit Production (fall semester, odd years) | 3 |
| HOS 3222C | Greenhouse and Protected Agriculture (spring semester, even years) | 3 |
| VEC 3221C | Vegetable Production (fall semester) | 4 |
| For other approved electives, see advisor | ||
Practical Work Experience | Select One
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HOS 4905 | Independent Study in Horticultural Science | 1-6 |
| HOS 4941 | Practical Work Experience in Horticultural Sciences | 1-4 |
| Other practical work experience course options, such as relevant study abroad experiences, may be approved by the advisor | ||
The horticultural science major prepares students for a career in plant science, including management, production, research, marketing and sales. Students will gain knowledge ranging from commodity production and cropping systems to basic plant science and molecular biology. They will develop skills to describe how plant physiology and genetics relate to plant growth and development as well as developing knowledge of plant diseases and other factors that affect horticultural crops.
Before Graduating Students Must
- Pass the horticultural sciences competency test, given in three parts. One part will be given in each of these required courses:
Course List Code Title Credits HOS 3020C Principles of Horticultural Crop Production 4 HOS 4304 Horticultural Physiology 3 HOS 4341 Advanced Horticultural Physiology 3 - 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
- Describe fundamental concepts, skills and processes in horticultural science.
- Apply fundamental concepts, skills and processes in horticultural science.
Critical Thinking
- Critically analyze and interpret data in horticultural science.
- Solve problems in horticultural science.
Communication
- Communicate effectively in written form in a manner appropriate in the field of horticultural science.
- Communicate effectively orally in a manner appropriate in the field of horticultural science.
Curriculum Map
I = Introduced; R = Reinforced; A = Assessed
| Courses | SLO 1 | SLO 2 | SLO 3 | SLO 4 | SLO 5 | SLO 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AEC 3030C | I, R, A | |||||
| AEC 3033C | I, R, A | |||||
| AGR 3303 | I | I | ||||
| HOS 3020C | I, R, A | I | I | I | ||
| HOS 3430C | I, R | I, R | R | R | ||
| HOS 4304 | R | A | A | A | ||
| HOS 4341 | R | R | R | R | ||
| HOS 4933 | R | R |
Assessment Types
- Class project
- Writing assignments
- Exams
- Final grades