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.
To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college, and major requirements.
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 advisor will help develop the curriculum that best suits your career and educational goals.
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Horticultural Production
Critical TrackingModel Semester Plan
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.
Critical Tracking
Note that critical tracking is the same for all specializations of this major except Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology.
Critical Tracking records each student’s progress in courses that are required for entry to each major. Please note the critical-tracking requirements below on a per-semester basis.
Equivalent critical-tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students.
Semester 1
- Complete 1 of 5 critical-tracking courses, excluding labs: BOT 2010C or BSC 2010/2010L, BOT 2011C or BSC 2011/2011L, CHM 2045/2045L, MAC 1147, PHY 2004 or PHY 2020
- 2.0 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 2
- Complete 1 additional critical-tracking course, excluding labs
- 2.0 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 3
- Complete 1 additional critical-tracking course, excluding labs
- 2.0 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 4
- Complete 2 additional critical-tracking courses, excluding labs
- 2.0 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 5
- Complete all critical-tracking courses, including labs
- 2.0 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
- 2.0 UF GPA required
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Model Semester Plan
To remain on track, students must complete the appropriate critical-tracking courses, which appear in bold.
This semester plan represents an example progression through the major. Actual courses and course order may be different depending on the student's academic record and scheduling availability of courses. Prerequisites still apply.
| Semester 2 |
Credits |
|---|
AEB 2014 Economic Issues, Food and You (3) or
ECO 2013 Principles of Macroeconomics (4) or
ECO 2023 Principles of Microeconomics (4)
GE-S |
3-4 |
CHM 2045 and 2045L General Chemistry 1 (3) and General Chemistry 1 Laboratory (1)
State Core GE-B/P |
4 |
| Electives |
5 |
Humanities
State Core GE-H |
3 |
| Total |
15-16 |
| Semester 3 |
Credits |
|---|
AEC 3033C Research and Business Writing in Agricultural and Life Sciences
WR |
3 |
BOT 2010C Introductory Botany (3) or
BSC 2010 and 2010L Integrated Principles of Biology 1 (3) and Integrated Principles of Biology 1 Laboratory (1)
GE-B/P |
3-4 |
| Electives |
4 |
Composition
GE-C; WR |
3 |
Mathematics
GE-M |
2 |
| Total |
15-16 |
| Semester 4 |
Credits |
|---|
| AEC 3030C Effective Oral Communication |
3 |
BOT 2011C Plant Diversity or
BSC 2011 and 2011L Integrated Principles of Biology 2 (3) and Integrated Principles of Biology 2 Laboratory (1)
GE-B |
4 |
PHY 2004 Applied Physics 1 or
PHY 2020 Introduction to Principles of Physics
GE-P |
3 |
| Electives |
5 |
| Total |
15 |
| Semester 5 |
Credits |
|---|
| HOS 3020 Principles of Horticulture Crop Production |
3 |
| PLP 3002C Fundamentals of Plant Pathology |
4 |
| PLS 4601C Principles of Weed Science |
3 |
| Approved electives |
4 |
| Total |
14 |
| Semester 6 |
Credits |
|---|
ENY 3005 Principles of Entomology, 2 credits, and
ENY 3005L Principles of Entomology Laboratory, 1 credit
|
3 |
| HOS 3430C Nutrition of Horticultural Crops |
3 |
| HOS 4933 Professional Development in Horticulture |
1 |
| Approved electives |
6 |
Commodity elective
Any FRC, VEC, or HOS course, 3000-level or above |
3 |
| Total |
16 |
| Semester 7 |
Credits |
|---|
| AGR 3303 Genetics |
3 |
| HOS 4304 Horticultural Physiology |
3 |
PLS 3223 Plant Propagation, 2 credits, and
PLS 3223L Plant Propagation Laboratory, 1 credit
|
3 |
Commodity electives
Any FRC, VEC, or HOS course, 3000-level or above |
4 |
Practical Work Experience
HOS 4905 Independent Study or HOS 4941 Practical Work Experience ♦ |
1-3 |
| Total |
14-16 |
| Semester 8 |
Credits |
|---|
| HOS 4341 Advanced Horticultural Physiology |
3 |
SWS 3022 Introduction to Soils in the Environment, 3 credits, and
SWS 3022L Introduction to Soils in the Environment Laboratory, 1 credit
|
4 |
| Approved electives |
6 |
Commodity electives
Any FRC, VEC, or HOS course, 3000-level or above |
3-4 |
| Total |
16-17 |
♦ Other practical work experience course options, such as relevant study abroad experiences, may be approved by the advisor.
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Horticultural Science
Critical TrackingModel Semester Plan
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.
Critical Tracking
Note that critical tracking is the same for all specializations of this major except Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology.
Critical Tracking records each student’s progress in courses that are required for entry to each major. Please note the critical-tracking requirements below on a per-semester basis.
Equivalent critical-tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students.
Semester 1
- Complete 1 of 5 critical-tracking courses, excluding labs: BOT 2010C or BSC 2010/2010L, BOT 2011C or BSC 2011/2011L, CHM 2045/2045L, MAC 1147, PHY 2004 or PHY 2020
- 2.0 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 2
- Complete 1 additional critical-tracking course, excluding labs
- 2.0 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 3
- Complete 1 additional critical-tracking course, excluding labs
- 2.0 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 4
- Complete 2 additional critical-tracking courses, excluding labs
- 2.0 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 5
- Complete all critical-tracking courses, including labs
- 2.0 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
- 2.0 UF GPA required
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Model Semester Plan
To remain on track, students must complete the appropriate critical-tracking courses, which appear in bold.
This semester plan represents an example progression through the major. Actual courses and course order may be different depending on the student's academic record and scheduling availability of courses. Prerequisites still apply.
| Semester 2 |
Credits |
|---|
AEB 2014 Economic Issues, Food and You (3) or
ECO 2013 Principles of Macroeconomics (4) or
ECO 2023 Principles of Microeconomics (4)
GE-S |
3-4 |
CHM 2045 and 2045L General Chemistry 1 (3) and General Chemistry 1 Laboratory (1)
State Core GE-B/P |
4 |
| Electives |
5 |
Humanities
State Core GE-H |
3 |
| Total |
15-16 |
| Semester 3 |
Credits |
|---|
AEC 3033C Research and Business Writing in Agricultural and Life Sciences
WR |
3 |
BOT 2010C Introductory Botany (3) or
BSC 2010 and 2010L Integrated Principles of Biology 1 (3) and Integrated Principles of Biology 1 Laboratory (1)
GE-B/P |
3-4 |
| Electives |
4 |
Composition
GE-C; WR |
3 |
Mathematics
GE-M |
2 |
| Total |
15-16 |
| Semester 4 |
Credits |
|---|
| AEC 3030C Effective Oral Communication |
3 |
BOT 2011C Plant Diversity or
BSC 2011 and 2011L Integrated Principles of Biology 2 (3) and Integrated Principles of Biology 2 Laboratory (1)
GE-B |
4 |
PHY 2004 Applied Physics 1 or
PHY 2020 Introduction to Principles of Physics
GE-P |
3 |
| Electives |
5 |
| Total |
15 |
| Semester 5 |
Credits |
|---|
| HOS 3020 Principles of Horticulture Crop Production |
3 |
| ORH 3513C Environmental Plant Identification and Use |
3 |
| Approved electives |
6 |
| Pest management course |
3-4 |
| Total |
15-16 |
| Semester 6 |
Credits |
|---|
| HOS 3430C Nutrition of Horticultural Crops |
3 |
| HOS 4933 Professional Development in Horticulture |
1 |
| Approved electives |
8 |
| Pest management course |
3-4 |
| Total |
15-16 |
| Semester 7 |
Credits |
|---|
| AGR 3303 Genetics |
3 |
| HOS 4304 Horticultural Physiology |
3 |
PLS 3223 Plant Propagation, 2 credits, and
PLS 3223L Plant Propagation Laboratory, 1 credit
|
3 |
| Approved electives |
6 |
| Total |
15 |
| Semester 8 |
Credits |
|---|
| HOS 4341 Advanced Horticultural Physiology |
3 |
SWS 3022 Introduction to Soils in the Environment, 3 credits, and
SWS 3022L Introduction to Soils in the Environment Laboratory, 1 credit
|
4 |
| Approved electives |
8 |
| Total |
15 |
Pest Management courses: choose two
ENY 3005 and 3005L Principles of Entomology and Laboratory (fall, spring and summer semesters, 3 credits)
IPM 3022 Fundamentals of Pest Management (spring semester, 3 credits)
NEM 3002 Principles of Nematology (spring semester, even years, 3 credits)
PLP 3002C Fundamentals of Plant Pathology (fall semester, 4 credits)
PLS 4601C Principles of Weed Science (fall semester, 3 credits)
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Organic Crop Production
Critical TrackingModel Semester Plan
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.
Critical Tracking
Note that critical tracking is the same for all specializations of this major except Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology.
Critical Tracking records each student’s progress in courses that are required for entry to each major. Please note the critical-tracking requirements below on a per-semester basis.
Equivalent critical-tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students.
Semester 1
- Complete 1 of 5 critical-tracking courses, excluding labs: BOT 2010C or BSC 2010/2010L, BOT 2011C or BSC 2011/2011L, CHM 2045/2045L, MAC 1147, PHY 2004 or PHY 2020
- 2.0 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 2
- Complete 1 additional critical-tracking course, excluding labs
- 2.0 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 3
- Complete 1 additional critical-tracking course, excluding labs
- 2.0 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 4
- Complete 2 additional critical-tracking courses, excluding labs
- 2.0 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 5
- Complete all critical-tracking courses, including labs
- 2.0 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Back to Top
Model Semester Plan
To remain on track, students must complete the appropriate critical-tracking courses, which appear in bold.
This semester plan represents an example progression through the major. Actual courses and course order may be different depending on the student's academic record and scheduling availability of courses. Prerequisites still apply.
| Semester 2 |
Credits |
|---|
AEB 2014 Economic Issues, Food and You (3) or
ECO 2013 Principles of Macroeconomics (4) or
ECO 2023 Principles of Microeconomics (4)
GE-S |
3-4 |
CHM 2045 and 2045L General Chemistry 1 (3) and General Chemistry 1 Laboratory (1)
State Core GE-B/P |
4 |
| Electives |
5 |
Humanities
State Core GE-H |
3 |
| Total |
15-16 |
| Semester 3 |
Credits |
|---|
AEC 3033C Research and Business Writing in Agricultural and Life Sciences
WR |
3 |
BOT 2010C Introductory Botany (3) or
BSC 2010 and 2010L Integrated Principles of Biology 1 (3) and Integrated Principles of Biology 1 Laboratory (1)
GE-B/P |
3-4 |
| Electives |
4 |
Composition
GE-C; WR |
3 |
Mathematics
GE-M |
2 |
| Total |
15-16 |
| Semester 4 |
Credits |
|---|
| AEC 3030C Effective Oral Communication |
3 |
BOT 2011C Plant Diversity or
BSC 2011 and 2011L Integrated Principles of Biology 2 (3) and Integrated Principles of Biology 2 Laboratory (1)
GE-B |
4 |
PHY 2004 Applied Physics 1 or
PHY 2020 Introduction to Principles of Physics
GE-P |
3 |
| Electives |
5 |
| Total |
15 |
| Semester 5 |
Credits |
|---|
ENY 3005 Principles of Entomology, 2 credits, and
ENY 3005L Principles of Entomology Laboratory, 1 credit
|
3 |
| HOS 3020 Principles of Horticulture Crop Production |
3 |
| PLP 3002C Fundamentals of Plant Pathology |
4 |
Commodity electives or
Approved electives |
6 |
| Total |
16 |
| Semester 6 |
Credits |
|---|
| AGR 3303 Genetics |
3 |
| AGR 4212 Alternative Cropping Systems |
3 |
| HOS 3430C Nutrition of Horticultural Crops |
3 |
Commodity electives or
Approved electives |
6 |
| Total |
15 |
| Semester 7 |
Credits |
|---|
| HOS 3281C Principles of Organic and Sustainable Production |
3 |
| HOS 4304 Horticultural Physiology |
3 |
SWS 3022 Introduction to Soils in the Environment, 3 credits, and
SWS 3022L Introduction to Soils in the Environment Laboratory, 1 credit
|
4 |
Commodity elective or
Approved elective |
3 |
| Practical Work Experience |
1-3 |
| Total |
14-16 |
| Semester 8 |
Credits |
|---|
| HOS 4283C Advanced Organic and Sustainable Production |
3 |
| HOS 4341 Advanced Horticultural Physiology |
3 |
| HOS 4933 Professional Development in Horticulture |
1 |
Commodity electives or
Approved electives |
5-6 |
Pest management course
HOS 4932 Organic Weed Management (spring semester even years) or
PLS 4601C Principles of Weed Science (fall semester) |
3 |
| Total |
15-16 |
Commodity electives: choose 20-21 credits
FRC 3212 Citrus Culture and Production (fall semester odd years, 3 credits)
FRC 3252 Tropical and Subtropical Fruit Production (fall semester even years, 3 credits)
FRC 3274 Trees and Small Fruit Production (fall semester, odd years, 3 credits)
HOS 3222C Greenhouse and Protected Agriculture (spring semester, even years, 3 credits)
VEC 3221C Commercial Vegetable Production (fall semester, 4 credits)
For other approved electives, see advisor.
Practical Work Experience: choose one
HOS 4905 Independent Study
HOS 4941 Practical Work Experience
Other practical work experience course options, such as relevant study abroad experiences, may be approved by the advisor.
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Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology
Critical TrackingModel Semester Plan
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
Note that critical tracking is the same for all specializations of this major except Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology.
Critical Tracking records each student’s progress in courses that are required for entry to each major. Please note the critical-tracking requirements below on a per-semester basis.
Equivalent critical-tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students.
Semester 1
- Complete 1 of 6 critical-tracking courses, excluding labs: BSC 2010/2010L, BSC 2011/2011L, CHM 2045/2045L, CHM 2046/2046L, MAC 2311, PHY 2048/2048L or PHY 2053/2053L
- 2.0 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 2
- Complete 1 additional critical-tracking course, excluding labs
- 2.0 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 3
- Complete 2 additional critical-tracking courses, excluding labs
- 2.0 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 4
- Complete 2 additional critical-tracking courses, excluding labs
- 2.0 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 5
- Complete all critical-tracking courses, including labs
- 2.0 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
- 2.0 UF GPA required
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Model Semester Plan
To remain on track, students must complete the appropriate critical-tracking courses, which appear in bold.
This semester plan represents an example progression through the major. Actual courses and course order may be different depending on the student's academic record and scheduling availability of courses. Prerequisites still apply.
| Semester 1 |
Credits |
|---|
BSC 2010 Integrated Principles of Biology 1, 3 credits, and
BSC 2010L Integrated Principles of Biology Laboratory 1, 1 credit
State Core GE-B/P |
4 |
IUF 1000 What is the Good Life
GE-H |
3 |
MAC 1147 Precalculus: Algebra and Trigonometry
State Core GE-M |
4 |
Composition
State Core GE-C; WR |
3 |
| Total |
14 |
| Semester 2 |
Credits |
|---|
BSC 2011 Integrated Principles of Biology 2, 3 credits, and
BSC 2011L Integrated Principles of Biology Laboratory 2, 1 credit
GE-B/P |
4 |
PHY 2053 Physics 1, four credits, and
PHY 2053L Laboratory for Physics 1, 1 credit
OR
PHY 2048 Physics 1 with Calculus, 3 credits, and
PHY 2048L Laboratory for Physics 1 with Calculus, 1 credit
GE-B/P |
4-5 |
| Elective |
3 |
Social and Behavioral Sciences
State Core GE-S |
3 |
| Total |
14-15 |
| Semester 3 |
Credits |
|---|
AEC 3033C Research and Business Writing in Agricultural and Life Sciences
WR |
3 |
CHM 2045 General Chemistry 1, 3 credits, and
CHM 2045L General Chemistry 1 Laboratory, 1 credit
GE-B/P |
4 |
MAC 2311 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1
GE-M |
4 |
| Elective |
2 |
Humanities
State Core GE-H |
3 |
| Total |
16 |
| Semester 4 |
Credits |
|---|
AEB 2014 Economic Issues, Food and You (3) or
ECO 2013 Principles of Macroeconomics (4) or
ECO 2023 Principles of Microeconomics (4)
GE-S |
3-4 |
| AEC 3030C Effective Oral Communication |
3 |
CHM 2046 General Chemistry 2, 3 credits, and
CHM 2046L General Chemistry 2 Laboratory, 1 credit
|
4 |
Composition
GE-C; WR |
3 |
| Elective |
3 |
| Total |
16-17 |
| Semester 5 |
Credits |
|---|
| AGR 3303 Genetics |
3 |
| CHM 2210 Organic Chemistry 1 |
3 |
| HOS 3020 Principles of Horticulture Crop Production |
3 |
| HOS 3305 Introduction to Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology |
3 |
| HOS 4313C Laboratory Methods in Plant Molecular Biology |
2 |
| Total |
14 |
| Semester 6 |
Credits |
|---|
CHM 2211 Organic Chemistry 2, 3 credits, and
CHM 2211L Organic Chemistry Laboratory, 2 credits
|
5 |
| HOS 4933 Professional Development in Horticulture |
1 |
| Approved electives |
10 |
| Total |
16 |
| Semester 7 |
Credits |
|---|
BCH 3025 Fundamentals of Biochemistry or
BCH 4024 Introduction to Biochemistry and Molecular Biology |
4 |
| HOS 4304 Horticultural Physiology |
3 |
| PLP 3002C Fundamentals of Plant Pathology |
4 |
| Approved elective |
3 |
| Total |
14 |
| Semester 8 |
Credits |
|---|
| AGR 4320 Plant Breeding |
3 |
MCB 3020 Basic Biology of Microorganisms, 3 credits, and
MCB 3020L Basic Biology of Microorganisms Laboratory, 1 credit
|
4 |
| Approved electives |
9 |
| Total |
16 |
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Related Horticultural Science Programs
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