Careers
Grow a career with Horticulture
What can you do with a Horticulture degree? A lot more than most people realize.
Horticulture combines plant science, technology, business, sustainability, creativity, and hands-on problem-solving. That combination prepares graduates for careers ranging from greenhouse production and plant breeding to floral design, public gardens, research, sales, food production, Extension, and entrepreneurship.
Some horticulturists work outdoors. Others work in laboratories, greenhouses, offices, gardens, classrooms, or highly technical controlled environments. Where you take the degree is up to you.
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Careers may include greenhouse manager, nursery manager, controlled-environment agriculture specialist, hydroponic grower, production manager, propagation specialist, crop consultant, and technical specialist.
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Careers may include fruit or vegetable grower, farm manager, urban agriculture manager, organic producer, vineyard manager, controlled-environment food producer, Extension professional, and agricultural entrepreneur.
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Careers may include floral designer, floral business owner, event floral designer, cut flower grower, floriculture production manager, wholesale floral specialist, floral buyer, and sales or marketing professional.
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Careers may include botanical garden horticulturist, arboretum horticulturist, plant collections manager, garden curator, public garden educator, plant conservation specialist, and community garden manager.
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Careers may include landscape manager, landscape designer, landscape contractor, urban horticulture specialist, plant health specialist, urban forestry professional, and sustainable landscape specialist.
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Careers may include plant breeder, research technician, research scientist, plant physiologist, crop improvement specialist, laboratory manager, university researcher, and graduate student. Many research-focused careers require graduate education.
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Careers may include technical sales representative, horticultural sales representative, product manager, marketing specialist, garden center manager, buyer, account manager, and business owner or entrepreneur.
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Careers may include Cooperative Extension agent, horticulture educator, outreach coordinator, industry educator, community agriculture specialist, and horticulture instructor.
Start building your career at UGA
Students are encouraged to complete internships, work with faculty on undergraduate research, participate in student organizations, attend industry events and professional conferences, study away, build relationships with faculty and professionals, choose career-focused electives, and gain paid or volunteer horticultural experience.
Find current opportunities
Use the Horticulture Jobs site to explore current jobs and internships. Students should also talk with their Faculty Mentor about career interests and professional opportunities.
UGA graduate Gray Simpson is a grower for Peace Tree Farm, a certified organic wholesale greenhouse company. Photo credit: Katie Endicott
Horticulture graduate Josh Neuman planting corn at the Shellman Multi-Crop Irrigation Farm in Shellman, GA. Josh works for the USDA-ARS.
UGA graduate Sierra Mcdonald is a product manager for Front Range Biosciences, a hemp biotech company in Lafayette, CO. In the photo she is evaluating field trials of hemp plants.
Horticulture graduate Kaylee South pictured at Ohio State University in the floriculture crop improvement lab.