Environmental Horticulture

Bachelor of Science in Environmental Horticulture

Environmental Horticulture is a field of study that deals with the interaction of people and plants. Improvement of the human environment by proper selection and placement of plants in landscapes is the science and art learned by students who major in this field.

Horticulture is a very diverse and economically important enterprise. The production and marketing of foliage and landscape plants, landscape design and maintenance, golf course maintenance, research, and education are all very exciting and financially rewarding fields. Career opportunities in these fields include:

• Arboretum, Theme & Botanical Garden Staff
• Communications
• Government Service
• Horticultural Therapy
• Landscape Design
• Production, Retail & Landscape Management
• Research
• Teaching
• Turfgrass Management & Golf Course Supervision

The Environmental Horticulture Curriculum--under the Interdisciplinary Studies (IS) department--is divided into four specializations, depending upon the student’s career goals and interests:

• Landscape Management & Nursery Management Concentration
• Environmental Horticulture Operations Concentration
• Public Gardens Concentration
• Turfgrass Science Concentration
• General Course Listing

Landscape Management & Nursery Management Concentration

This concentration studies the improvement of the human environment through proper selection, propagation, production and placement of plants in the exterior and interior landscapes. It combines business and plant production courses to provide the skills needed to manage a nursery or landscape operation. The environmental plant industry is fast-growing and has an enormous potential for continued expansion.

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Environmental Horticulture Operations Concentration

This concentration is designed for students planning to pursue a graduate degree in the plant sciences field.

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Public Gardens Concentration

This specialization prepares students for careers working with people and plants. Florida boasts more than 150 public parks, botanical garden and theme parks. Majors will be exposed to many disciplines including horticulture, landscape architecture, business, communication and behavioral sciences.

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Turfgrass Science Concentration

This interdisciplinary major combines the study of grasses, soils, water and pests affecting turf with the study of business and management. Students select classes from the departments of Environmental Horticulture, Soil and Water Science, Entomology and Plant Pathology. Career opportunities include work with golf courses, athletic fields, lawn care companies, parks, agri-chemical industries, cemeteries, environmental consulting firms, sod farms, and governmental agencies, as well as preparation for graduate school.

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General Course Listing

• Annual & Perennial Gardening
• Arboriculture
• Biology & Identification of Urban Pests
• Ecology of Urban Landscapes
• Elementary Organic & Biological Chemistry
• Environmental Plant Identification & Use
• Fundamentals of Pest Management
• Fundamentals of Plant Pathology
• Golf & Sports Turf Management
• Greenhouse & Nursery Crop Culture
• Horticultural Physiology
• Identification & Ecology of Aquatic Plants
• Introduction to Soils in the Environment
• Insect Classification
• Introductory Nursery Management
• Landscape & Turfgrass Management
• Plant Propagation
• Principles of Composting Technology
• Principles of Entomology
• Principles of Nematology
• Retail Florist Shop & Garden Center Management
• Tropical Horticultural Entomology
• Weed Science

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