BS in Plant Sciences with Emphasis in Horticultural Science and Design
Degree Program Description
From the food on our plates to the homes we live in to the fuel in our vehicles, plants impact all aspects of our daily lives. As an ever-growing human population continues to increase the demand for crops and other plant products, so too does the demand for plant scientists. Plant Sciences addresses the challenges from the field to the laboratory.
The beauty of attractive indoor plant displays or ornamental species in landscapes adds value and satisfaction. Appreciating the plants around us and designing new ways to present them can lead to careers in nursery management, landscape designer, groundskeeper, or botanic gardener. Students in this area learn the basics in the classroom and advance their skills working locally (greenhouses, landscape firms) or nationally (Epcot Center, MO Botanical Gardens). Horticulturists use their knowledge of plant growth to sustainably produce flowers, vegetables and ornamental plants to enhance the environment. Careers include botanical gardens, commercial greenhouses and nurseries, landscape design firms, or life science companies.
Major Program Requirements
Students are required to completed the BS in Plant Sciences major program requirements in addition to the emphasis area requirements.
Emphasis Area Requirements
Trees, flowers and other ornamental plants add beauty to our landscape, preserve green space, and reduce the negative impacts of climate change. Other plants such as vegetables and fruits enhance human health. Career opportunities exist to design landscapes, improve the value and beauty of homes and businesses, as well as commercially grow horticultural crops in greenhouses and other settings.
| Horticultural Science & Design Emphasis Area Requirements | ||
| ABM 3223 | Relationship Selling: Creating Value for Customers | 3 |
| CHEM 1100 | Atoms and Molecules with Lab | 4 |
| PLNT_SCI 2075 | Environmental Horticulture | 3 |
| PLNT_SCI 2210 | Ornamental Landscape Plants I | 3 |
| PLNT_SCI 2215 | Ornamental Landscape Plants II | 3 |
| PLNT_SCI 3230 | Plant Propagation | 3 |
| PLNT_SCI 3250 | Green Industry Bidding | 2 |
| Select five: | ||
| AG_S_TCH 2340 | Pesticide Application Equipment | 3 |
| PLNT_SCI 2220 | Introduction to Floral Design | 2 |
| PLNT_SCI 2221 | Everyday Floral Design | 3 |
| PLNT_SCI 2250 | Landscape Site Analysis | 2 |
| PLNT_SCI 2254 | Landscape Design | 3 |
| PLNT_SCI 3110 | Horticultural Drainage and Irrigation Systems | 2 |
| AN_SCI 3213 | Genetics of Agricultural Plants and Animals | 3 |
| PLNT_SCI 3220 | Special Occasion Floral Design | 3 |
| PLNT_SCI 3221 | Wedding Floral Design | 3 |
| PLNT_SCI 3222 | Retail Floral Management | 3 |
| or PLNT_SCI 3222W | Retail Floral Management - Writing Intensive | |
| PLNT_SCI 3252 | Arboriculture and Pruning | 1 |
| PLNT_SCI 3254 | Digital Landscape Graphics | 3 |
| PLNT_SCI 3260 | Greenhouse Management | 4 |
| PLNT_SCI 3355 | Introductory Turfgrass Management | 3 |
| PLNT_SCI 4313 | Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition | 3 |
| PLNT_SCI 4345 | Principles of Viticulture and Winemaking | 3 |
| PLNT_SCI 4355 | Advanced Turfgrass Management | 3 |
| PLNT_SCI 4365 | Greenhouse Crops Production | 4 |
| PLNT_SCI 4975 | Advanced Landscape Design | 4 |
| SOIL 2106 | Soil Science Laboratory | 2 |
| Total | 30-38 | |
Semester Plan
Below is a sample plan of study, semester by semester. A student's actual plan may vary based on course choices where options are available.
| First Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| BIO_SC 1200 | 5 | CHEM 1100 | 4 | ||
| PLNT_SCI 1120 | 1 | ENGLSH 1000 | 3 | ||
| MATH 1100 | 3 | AGSC_COM 2220 | 3 | ||
| PLNT_SCI 2075 | 3 | State Requirement | 3 | ||
| ABM 1041 | 3 | Professional Development | 3 | ||
| 15 | 16 | ||||
| Second Year | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| PLNT_SCI 2210 | 3 | SOIL 2100 | 3 | ||
| Humanities | 3 | PLNT_SCI 2125 | 4 | ||
| Writing Intensive Course | 3 | ABM 3223 | 3 | ||
| Behavioral or Social Science Course | 3 | PLNT_SCI 2215 | 3 | ||
| Select Five Course | 3 | ||||
| 15 | 13 | ||||
| Third Year | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| PLNT_SCI 3210W | 4 | PLNT_SCI 3250 | 2 | Capstone: Internship or Research Experience | 0 |
| PLNT_SCI 3230 | 3 | Select Five Course | 3 | ||
| Select Five Course | 3 | Select Five Course | 3 | ||
| Humanities | 3 | Electives | 6 | ||
| Elective | 3 | ||||
| 16 | 14 | 0 | |||
| Fourth Year | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| PLNT_SCI 4500 | 4 | PLNT_SCI 3710 | 3 | ||
| PLNT_SCI 3355 | 3 | PLNT_SCI 4940, 4950, or 4975 | 3 | ||
| Select Five Course | 3 | Electives | 9 | ||
| Electives | 6 | ||||
| 16 | 15 | ||||
| Total Credits: 120 | |||||
Degree Audit
The degree audit is an automated report reflecting a student’s academic progress toward the completion of a degree.
MU students can request a degree audit by logging in to myDegreePlanner. Students may also access myDegreePlanner via myZou, in the Student Center, click on the Academic Progress Tile, then select Request Degree Audit. The audit automatically pulls in the student’s MU course work, transfer courses and courses in progress. This is available to current students, admitted students, and those who last attended less than three terms ago.
Past MU students can request a degree audit by contacting the Academic Advising Unit of the division in which they were last enrolled at MU. For contact information, go to https://advising.missouri.edu/contact/.
Prospective students, can access a preliminary MU degree audit via https://www.transferology.com. Information on the college credits already earned will have to be manually entered before it can be evaluated against current degree requirements.
For additional details on degree audits, go to https://registrar.missouri.edu/degrees-audits/degree-audits/.
Major and Career Exploration
The University of Missouri has many resources to assist you in exploring majors and career possibilities. For guidance, visit the Majors and Careers website or view specific resources below.
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If you are considering a change of major or are exploring multiple majors, schedule an appointment with an advisor in the Discovery Center by calling (573)884-9700 or through MU Connect Discovery Center service in you success network.
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If you have decided on a major, visit an academic advisor in the School or College that you are interested in to discuss the process of declaring the major.
- If you would like to learn more about your career interests, abilities, values and talents, visit the MU Career Center. No Appointment is necessary to explore career options with one of our staff members.
- If you would like information about MU majors and degree programs, visit:
- the Degrees, Majors (Degree Programs), Emphasis Areas, Minors and Certificates page in the catalog,
- the MU Majors website.
For additional major and career exploration resources, visit Major & Career Exploration in the catalog.