Degree Offered
- Bachelor of Science in Agriculture
Nature of the Program
Horticulture and Plant Sciences is the interdisciplinary study of horticultural and field crop production. The major provides students with a strong background in agricultural sciences with the option to select from two areas of emphasis.
In the Horticulture area of emphasis students will learn to propagate, produce, and market greenhouse, nursery, fruit, and vegetable crops. Students study the physiology, culture, harvesting, quality control, sales, and utilization of horticultural crops. Horticulture prepares students for careers as greenhouse and nursery managers, landscape contractors, supply company representatives, state and federal nursery inspectors, and educators in public gardens, schools and extension.
The Regenerative Agriculture area of emphasis focuses on sustainable and environmentally friendly approaches to agricultural production. This area of emphasis merges concepts of crop production with those of environmental protection to develop a balance between production and environmental issues with a focus on sustainability. Plant Science prepares students for careers such as farm and environmental consulting, organic farm production, and with agricultural supply companies, cooperative extension, and state and federal government support agencies.
Admissions for 2025-2026
- First-Time Freshman are admitted directly into the Horticulture and Plant Sciences major.
- Students transferring from another major within WVU are directly admitted to the Horticulture and Plant Sciences major if they are in good academic standing (2.0 or higher GPA).
- Students transferring from another institution are directly admitted to the Horticulture and Plant Sciences major if they are in good academic standing (2.0 or higher GPA).
Major Code: 1712
General Education Foundations
Please use this link to view a list of courses that meet each GEF requirement.
NOTE: Some major requirements will fulfill specific GEF requirements. Please see the curriculum requirements listed below for details on which GEFs you will need to select.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Foundations | ||
| F1 - Composition & Rhetoric | 3-6 | |
| Introduction to Composition and Rhetoric and Composition, Rhetoric, and Research | ||
or ENGL 103 | Accelerated Academic Writing | |
| F2A/F2B - Science & Technology | 4-6 | |
| F3 - Math & Quantitative Reasoning | 3-4 | |
| F4 - Society & Connections | 3 | |
| F5 - Human Inquiry & the Past | 3 | |
| F6 - The Arts & Creativity | 3 | |
| F7 - Global Studies & Diversity | 3 | |
| F8 - Focus (may be satisfied by completion of a minor, double major, or dual degree) | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 31-37 | |
Please note that not all of the GEF courses are offered at all campuses. Students should consult with their advisor or academic department regarding the GEF course offerings available at their campus.
Curriculum Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| University Requirements | 44 | |
| Horticulture and Plant Sciences Program Requirements | 34 | |
| Horticulture and Plant Sciences Major Requirements | 42 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
University Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Foundations (GEF) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 (31-37 Credits) | ||
| Outstanding GEF Requirements 1, 5, 6, and 7 | 15 | |
| ANRD 191 | First-Year Seminar | 1 |
| General Electives | 28 | |
| Total Hours | 44 | |
Horticulture and Plant Sciences Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 101 & 101L | General Biology 1 and General Biology 1 Laboratory (GEF 8) | 4 |
| BIOL 102 & 102L | General Biology 2 and General Biology 2 Laboratory (GEF 8) | 4 |
| CHEM 111 & 111L | Survey of General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry 1 and Survey of Chemistry 1 Laboratory (GEF 2) | 4 |
| CHEM 112 & 112L | Survey of General Organic Biological Chemistry 2 and Survey of Chemistry 2 Laboratory (GEF 8) | 4 |
| MATH 124 | Algebra with Applications (GEF 3) | 3 |
| PLSC 206 & 206L | Principles of Plant Science and Principles of Plant Science Laboratory | 4 |
| ESWS 202 & 202L | Principles of Soil Science and Principles of Soil Science Laboratory | 4 |
| A&VS 251 & 251L | Principles of Animal Science and Principles of Animal Science Laboratory | 4 |
| ARE 150 | Introductory Agricultural and Agribusiness Economics (GEF 4) | 3 |
| Total Hours | 34 | |
Horticulture and Plant Sciences Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PLSC 105 | Plants and People: Past and Present | 3 |
| or AGRN 120 | Principles of Agroecology | |
| GEN 101 | Beginner's Guide-Genetics | 3 |
| BIOL 350 & 350L | Plant Physiology and Plant Physiology Laboratory | 4 |
| ENTO 404 & 404L | Principles of Entomology and Principles of Entomology Laboratory | 4 |
| PPTH 401 & 401L | General Plant Pathology and General Plant Pathology Laboratory | 4 |
| Select one of the following (Restricted Elective 1): | 3-4 | |
| Pest Management | ||
| Insect Ecology | ||
| Soil Fertility | ||
| Principles of Weed Science and Principles of Weed Science Laboratory | ||
| Select one of the following (Restricted Elective 2): | 3 | |
| Professional Field Experience | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Senior Thesis | ||
| Research | ||
| HORT 480 | Case Studies in Horticulture | 3 |
| Area of Emphasis | 15 | |
Horticulture Production (15 Hours) | ||
Regenerative Agriculture (16 Hours) | ||
| Total Hours | 42 | |
Suggested Plan of Study
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| ANRD 191 | 1 | BIOL 102 & 102L (GEF 8) | 4 |
| BIOL 101 & 101L (GEF 8) | 4 | PLSC 206 & 206L | 4 |
| ENGL 101 (GEF 1) | 3 | MATH 124 (GEF 3) | 3 |
| GEN 101 | 3 | GEF 5 | 3 |
| PLSC 105 or AGRN 120 | 3 | ARE 150 (GEF 4) | 3 |
| 14 | 17 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| A&VS 251 & 251L | 4 | CHEM 112 & 112L (GEF 8) | 4 |
| CHEM 111 & 111L (GEF 2) | 4 | Free Elective | 3 |
| ENGL 102 (GEF 1) | 3 | GEF 7 | 3 |
| Area of Emphasis 1 | 3 | Area of Emphasis 2 | 3 |
| GEF 6 | 3 | ||
| 17 | 13 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| ENTO 404 | 3 | Restricted Elective 1 | 3 |
| ENTO 404L | 1 | Area of Emphasis 4 | 3 |
| ESWS 202 | 3 | Free Elective 3 | 3 |
| ESWS 202L | 1 | Free Elective 4 | 3 |
| Area of Emphasis 3 | 3 | Free Elective 5 | 3 |
| Free Elective 2 | 3 | ||
| 14 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| PPTH 401 | 3 | BIOL 350 & 350L | 4 |
| PPTH 401L | 1 | HORT 480 | 3 |
| Area of Emphasis 5 | 3 | Free Elective 8 | 3 |
| Restricted Elective 2 | 3 | Free Elective 9 | 4 |
| Free Elective 6 | 3 | ||
| Free Elective 7 | 3 | ||
| 16 | 14 | ||
| Total credit hours: 120 | |||
Areas of Emphasis
Horticulture Production Area of Emphasis
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| HORT 220 & 220L | General Horticulture and General Horticulture Laboratory | 3 |
| HORT 260L | Woody Plant Materials Laboratory | 3 |
| or HORT 262 & 262L | Herbaceous Plant Materials and Herbaceous Plant Materials Laboratory | |
| HORT 330 & 330L | Plant Propagation and Plant Propagation Laboratory | 3 |
| HORT 444 & 444L | Handling and Storage of Horticultural Crops and Handling and Storage of Horticultural Crops Laboratory | 3 |
| or HORT 443 & 443L | Fruit & Vegetable Crops and Vegetable Crops Laboratory | |
| HORT 441 | Garden Center Management | 3 |
| or HORT 445 & 445L | Greenhouse Management and Greenhouse Management Laboratory | |
| Total Hours | 15 | |
Regenerative Agriculture Area of Emphasis
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| AGRN 120 | Principles of Agroecology | 3 |
| ESWS 330 | Soil Health | 3 |
| HORT 443 & 443L | Fruit & Vegetable Crops and Vegetable Crops Laboratory | 3 |
| ENTO 412 | Pest Management | 4 |
| ENTO 450 | Insect Ecology | 3 |
| Total Hours | 16 | |
Major Learning Outcomes
Horticulture and Plant Sciences
The learning outcomes of the horticulture and plant science program are centered around mastering skills that will allow students to take on leadership functions and roles in all facets of horticulture and plant sciences. The program trains students to not only manage horticultural and agronomic plant materials but also to lead inter- and multi-disciplinary teams to solve current and future problems in the production, marketing, and use of crops.
Upon completion of the major the students should be able to:
- Demonstrate critical thinking skills and problem-solving abilities in areas such as:
- Basic business concepts
- Integrated Pest Management (weed science, entomology, plant pathology)
- Genetics
- Plant physiology
- Soil science
- Develop and implement sustainable and profitable production plans, systems and uses.
- Access, interpret, and synthesize relevant information from reliable sources (organizations, institutions, publications, and models) to address questions concerning improved productivity and efficiency.
- Be aware of and engage in current issues and people in sustainable management of horticulture and crop production, landscaping, public green space, and livable spaces.
- Communicate professionally (written and oral) and demonstrating mastery of interpersonal communication skills necessary to lead and engage diverse and interdisciplinary teams.