Degree and Pathways
Build a Horticulture degree around your goals
The Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (B.S.A.) in Horticulture combines plant science with hands-on learning, professional experience, and the flexibility to explore the areas of horticulture that interest you most.
Students build a strong foundation in plant science while developing practical skills through laboratories, greenhouses, gardens, internships, research, field experiences, and industry-focused courses.
One of the strengths of the Horticulture major is flexibility. You can use electives, internships, research, certificates, minors, and other experiences to build a degree that supports your career goals.
What will you study?
Horticulture students develop knowledge and skills in plant growth and physiology, propagation, soils and plant nutrition, genetics and breeding, plant identification, horticultural crop production and management, business and professional skills, sustainable production systems, and current issues affecting horticulture and the green industry.
Students also complete an internship or undergraduate research experience, providing an opportunity to apply what they have learned outside the traditional classroom.
Hydroponics students grow tomatoes, HORT 3200
Make the degree your own
There is no single horticulture career, and there does not have to be a single path through the Horticulture major. Students can use major electives and experiences to build expertise in areas that match their interests.
Plant production and controlled environments
Explore greenhouse and nursery production, hydroponics, controlled-environment agriculture, propagation, plant nutrition, and sustainable production. Possible careers include greenhouse or nursery management, crop production, technical sales, controlled-environment agriculture, and production consulting.
Fruits, vegetables and sustainable food systems
Explore fruit and vegetable production, organic agriculture, hydroponics, sustainable production, vineyard management, postharvest biology, and plant nutrition. Possible careers include farm management, specialty crop production, urban agriculture, controlled-environment food production, Extension, research, and entrepreneurship.
Floral design and floriculture
Combine plants, creativity, production, and business through floral design, floriculture, greenhouse production, postharvest handling, marketing, and plant identification. Careers can include floral design and management, event florals, cut flower production, greenhouse production, sales, and entrepreneurship.
Public horticulture and gardens
Explore plant identification, herbaceous and woody plants, propagation, public gardens, internships, education, and outreach. Careers can include botanical gardens, arboreta, public gardens, collections management, Extension, and nonprofit organizations.
Plant science, research and graduate school
Students interested in research or graduate study can build a more science-intensive program using plant physiology, genetics, breeding, soil fertility and nutrition, postharvest biology, faculty-mentored research, and additional science coursework.
Horticultural business and entrepreneurship
Combine horticultural expertise with entrepreneurship, agribusiness, sales, marketing, professional horticulture, and management. Careers can include sales, marketing, product development, business management, entrepreneurship, and green-industry leadership.
Learn through experience
Horticulture students can participate in professional internships, faculty-mentored research, UGArden, the Trial Gardens at UGA, the State Botanical Garden of Georgia, study away, industry visits, service-learning, student organizations, professional conferences, and competitions.
Planning for graduate or professional school?
Students considering graduate school or other science-intensive careers should work with their Academic Advisor and Faculty Mentor early to incorporate the appropriate biology, chemistry, physics, statistics, and other coursework into their degree plan.
Transfer students
Transfer students should work with an Academic Advisor to determine how completed coursework applies toward the Horticulture B.S.A. Students can also use UGA's Transfer Equivalency Search to review how previous coursework may transfer.
Questions?
Savithri Nambeesan