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Office of the University Registrar

2008-09 Undergraduate Catalog

Majors

Horticultural Science
College: Agricultural and Life Sciences
Degree: Bachelor in Science
Hours for the Degree: 120
Specializations: Horticultural Production, Horticultural Science, Organic Crop Production, Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology
Minor: Yes
Combined-Degree Program: No
Website: www.hos.ufl.edu/undergraduate

This major prepares students for careers in plant science, including management, production, applied research, molecular biology research, marketing, sales and a number of other areas. Students can receive training ranging from commodity production/cropping systems to basic plant science/molecular biology.

The department offers four specializations: horticultural sciences, horticultural production, organic crop production, and plant molecular and cellular biology. These options provide a strong science background and flexibility when choosing elective courses. Details of the specializations are outlined below. An academic adviser will help develop the curriculum that best suits your career and educational goals.

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

All Specializations except Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology
Specialization: Horticultural Production
Specialization: Horticultural Science
Specialization: Organic Crop Production
Specialization: Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology

All Specializations except Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology

Critical Tracking and Recommended Semester Plan

Semester 1:

  • 2.0 UF GPA required for semesters 1-5
  • 2.0 GPA required for all critical-tracking coursework for semesters 1-5
  • Complete 1 of 6 critical courses, excluding labs: CHM 2045/2045L, AEB 3103 or ECO 2023, MAC 1147, BOT 2010C or BSC 2010/2010L, BOT 2011C or BSC 2011/2011L, PHY 2004 or PHY 2020

Semester 2:

  • Complete 2 additional critical-tracking courses, excluding labs

Semester 3:

  • Complete 1 additional critical-tracking course, excluding labs

Semester 4:

  • Complete 2 additional critical-tracking courses, excluding labs

Semester 5:

  • Complete all critical-tracking courses, including labs

To remain on track, students must complete the appropriate critical-tracking courses, which appear in bold.

Recommended semester plan

Semester 1Credits
MAC 1147 Precalculus: Algebra and Trigonometry (GE-M)4
Composition (GE-C, WR)3
Humanities (GE-H)3
Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S) *3
Elective2
Total 15
Semester 2Credits
ECO 2023 Principles of Microeconomics (3) or
AEB 3103 Principles of Food and Resource Economics (4) (GE-S)
3-4
CHM 2045 and 2045L General Chemistry 1 (3) and Laboratory (1) (GE-P)4
Humanities (GE-H) or Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S)3
Elective4
Total 14-15
Semester 3Credits
BOT 2010C Introductory Botany (3) (GE-B) or
BSC 2010 and 2010L Integrated Principles of Biology 1 (3) and Laboratory (1)
3-4
MAC Mathematics or STA Statistics course (GE-M)3
Humanities (GE-H) *3
AEE 3033C Research and Business Writing in Agricultural and Life Sciences3
Electives3
Total 15-16
Semester 4Credits
BOT 2011C Plant Diversity (GE-B) or
BSC 2011 and 2011L Integrated Principles of Biology 2 and Laboratory
4
PHY 2004 Applied Physics 1 (3) (GE-P) or
PHY 2020 Introduction to Principles of Physics (GE-P)
3-4
AEE 3030C Effective Oral Communication3
Electives5
Total 15

Specialization: Horticultural Production

This is a comprehensive program for students planning careers in any phase of the fruit and/or vegetable industry. This specialization emphasizes crop production and management. Career options include production management, agricultural sales, marketing, technical representation and many other opportunities.

Semester 5Credits
HOS 3020 Principles of Horticulture Crop Production3
PLS 4601C Principles of Weed Science3
PLP 3002C Fundamentals of Plant Pathology4
Approved electives *6
Total 16
Semester 6Credits
AGR 3303 Genetics3
ENY 3005 and 3005L Principles of Entomology (2) and Laboratory (1)3
HOS 4933 Professional Development in Horticulture1
HOS 3430C Nutrition of Horticultural Crops3
Commodity elective **3
Approved elective *3
Total 16
Semester 7Credits
HOS 4304 Horticultural Physiology3
PLS 3221 and 3221L Plant Propagation (2) and Laboratory (1)3
Practical Work Experience ***1-3
Commodity electives **3-4
Approved electives *4
Total 14-17
Semester 8Credits
HOS 4341 Advanced Horticultural Physiology3
SOS 3022 and 3022L Introduction to Soils in the Environment (3) and Laboratory (1)4
Commodity electives **3-4
Approved electives *6
Total 16-17

* Electives must be approved.

** Choose any 3000+ FRC, VEC or HOS course.

*** Practical Work Experience courses (select one):

HOS 4905 Independent studyvariable
HOS 4941 Practical Work Experiencevariable
HOS 5330 Postharvest Technologies2

Specialization: Horticultural Science

This specialization offers students a generalized program, covering growth and development of horticultural crops. This is a flexible option that can be tailored to individual students' interests and career objectives, ranging from applied production to basic biology. Career options include commodity production/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.

Semester 5Credits
HOS 3020 Principles of Horticulture Crop Production3
ORH 3513C Environmental Plant Identification and Use3
Pest Management course **3-4
Approved electives *6
Total 15-16
Semester 6Credits
AGR 3303 Genetics3
HOS 3430C Nutrition of Horticultural Crops3
HOS 4933 Professional Development in Horticulture1
Pest Management course **3-4
Approved electives *6
Total 16-17
Semester 7Credits
HOS 4304 Horticultural Physiology3
PLS 3221 and 3221L Plant Propagation (2) and Laboratory (1)3
Approved electives *9
Total 15
Semester 8Credits
HOS 4341 Advanced Horticultural Physiology3
SOS 3022 and 3022L Introduction to Soils in the Environment (3) and Laboratory (1)4
Approved electives *8
Total 15

* Electives must be approved.

** Pest Management courses (select two):

ENY 3005 and 3005L Principles of Entomology and Laboratory3
PLS 3002C Fundamentals of Plant Pathology4
PLS 4601C Principles of Weed Science3
IPM 3022 Fundamentals of Pest Management3

Specialization: Organic Crop Production

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.

Semester 5Credits
HOS 3020 Principles of Horticulture Crop Production3
ORH 3513C Environmental Plant Identification and Use3
PLP 3002C Fundamentals of Plant Pathology4
Commodity or approved electives *4
Total 14
Semester 6Credits
AGR 3303 Genetics3
ENY 3005 and 3005L Principles of Entomology (2) and Laboratory (1)3
AGR 4212 Alternative Cropping Systems3
Commodity or approved electives *6
Total 15
Semester 7Credits
HOS 4304 Horticultural Physiology3
HOS 3281C Principles of Organic and Sustainable Production3
PLS 4601C Principles of Weed Science3
Practical Work Experience ***1-3
Commodity or approved electives *4
Total 14-16
Semester 8Credits
HOS 4341 Advanced Horticultural Physiology3
HOS 4283C Advanced Organic and Sustainable Production3
SOS 3022 and 3022L Introduction to Soils in the Environment (3) and Laboratory (1)4
HOS 4933 Professional Development in Horticulture1
Commodity or approved electives *5
Total 16

* Commodity Electives

FRC 3212 and 3213L Citrus Culture and Production (3) and Laboratory (1) FRC 3252 Tropical and Subtropical Fruits (2) FRC 3274 Trees and Small Fruit Production (3) HOS 3222C Greenhouse and Protected Agriculture (3) VEC 3221C Commercial Vegetable Production (4)

For other approved electives, see adviser.

** Practical Work Experience courses (select one):

HOS 4905 Independent studyvariable
HOS 4941 Practical Work Experiencevariable
HOS 5330 Postharvest Technologies2

Specialization: Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology

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 students for careers in laboratory research and is also an excellent preparation for students planning to pursue graduate studies.

Critical Tracking and Recommended Semester Plan

Semester 1:

  • 2.0 UF GPA required for semesters 1-5
  • 2.0 GPA required for all critical-tracking coursework for semesters 1-5
  • Complete 1 of 7 critical courses, excluding labs: CHM 2045/2045L,
    CHM 2046/2046L,AEB 3103 or ECO 2023, MAC 2311, BSC 2010/2010L,
    BSC 2011/2011L, PHY 2053/2053L or PHY 2048/2048L

Semester 2:

  • Complete 2 additional critical-tracking courses, excluding labs

Semester 3:

  • Complete 2 additional critical-tracking courses, excluding labs

Semester 4:

  • Complete 2 additional critical-tracking courses, excluding labs

Semester 5:

  • Complete all critical-tracking courses, including labs

To remain on track, students must complete the appropriate critical-tracking courses, which appear in bold.

Recommended semester plan

Semester 1Credits
CHM 2045 and 2045L General Chemistry 1 (3) and Laboratory (1) (GE-P)4
MAC 1147 Precalculus: Algebra and Trigonometry (GE-M)4
Composition (GE-C, WR)3
Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S) *3
Total 14
Semester 2Credits
PHY 2053 and PHY 2053L Physics 1 (4) and Laboratory (1) (GE-P) or
PHY 2048 and PHY 2048L Physics 1 with Calculus (3) and Lab (1) (GE-P)
4-5
CHM 2046 and 2046L General Chemistry and Quantitative Analysis (3) and Laboratory (1) (GE-P)4
Humanities (GE-H) or Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S)3
Elective3
Total 14-15
Semester 3Credits
BSC 2010 and 2010L Integrated Principles of Biology 1 (3) and Laboratory (1)4
MAC 2311 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1 (GE-M)4
Humanities (GE-H) *3
AEE 3033C Research and Business Writing in Agricultural and Life Sciences3
Electives3
Total 17
Semester 4Credits
BSC 2011 and 2011L Integrated Principles of Biology 2 (3) and Laboratory (1) (GE-B)4
ECO 2023 Principles of Microeconomics (3) or
AEB 3103 Principles of Food and Resource Economics (4) (GE-S)
3-4
AEE 3030C Effective Oral Communication3
Humanities (GE-H)3
Electives3
Total 16-17
Semester 5Credits
HOS 3020 Principles of Horticulture Crop Production3
CHM 2210 Organic Chemistry 13
HOS 3305 Introduction to Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology 3
AGR 3303 Genetics3
Approved electives *2
Total 14
Semester 6Credits
HOS 4313C Laboratory Methods in Plant Molecular Biology2
AGR 4321 Plant Breeding3
CHM 2211 and CHM 2211L Organic Chemistry 2 (3) and Laboratory (2)5
HOS 4933 Professional Development in Horticulture1
Approved electives *4
Total 15
Semester 7Credits
HOS 4304 Horticultural Physiology3
PLP 3002C Fundamentals of Plant Pathology4
BCH 3025 Fundamentals of Biochemistry or
BCH 4024 Introduction to Biochemistry/Molecular Biology
4
Approved electives *4
Total 15
Semester 8Credits
MCB 3020 Basic Biology of Microorganisms (3) and MCB 3020L Laboratory (1)4
Approved electives *11
Total 15

* Electives must be approved. See adviser.