technical career areas
Our graduates are not limited to entry-level positions in the Horticulture industry. Higher level positions are vast and vary in both the general industry as well as specialty areas within the industry. Graduates of our Horticulture program, who take post-graduate training and/or industry specialized training, might choose to specialize in one of the following examples of technical career areas below.
- Landscape architect (would require the ability to design outdoor spaces of campuses, recreational facilities, private homes, and other open spaces)
- Agricultural Engineer (would require the ability to solve agricultural problems concerning power supplies, the efficiency of machinery, the use of structures and facilities, pollution and environmental issues, and the storage and processing of agricultural products)
- Soil scientist (would require the ability to research ways to improve the efficiency and safety of establishments and products)
- Food scientist (would require the ability to conduct research and experiments to improve the productivity and sustainability of field crops and farm animals)
- Entomologist (would require the ability to focus on the scientific study of insects while focusing on a specific type of insect)
- Plant pathologist (would require the ability to work in laboratories and in the field and study conditions that can influence plant health, plant diseases, and nutrition)
- Botanist (would require expertise in the scientific study of plant evolution, reproduction, processes, and relationships with the environment and other forms of life)
- Curator of a botanical garden (would require the ability to maintain, develop, and control major plant collections, including living collections and herbarium and spirit-preserved collections)
- Curator for public gardens and parks (would require managing landscapes and plant collections in public gardens and conservatories)
- Ethnobotanist (would require expertise in the interrelationships between indigenous plants and humans)
- Extension agent (would require the ability to engage in agriculture and natural resource programs in the local community working with farmers and ranchers to improve productivity while protecting the environment)
- Landscape designer (would require the ability to create gardens with combinations of plant material and hardscapes; knowing the appropriate plants to use to achieve the desired aesthetic effect and possessing enough knowledge of soil science and plant physiology to know what plants are suited to the conditions present on a particular site)
- Grounds maintenance supervisor (would require the ability to oversee the activities of landscaping and grounds keeping crews)
- Landscaper (would require the ability to install residential and commercial hardscapes, and softscapes, including the interpretation of blueprints, estimating and bidding, sales, and installation of materials)
- Pest manager (would require an understanding of pest control while working with state and federal regulatory agencies, agricultural suppliers, processing corporations, large farm organizations, and agricultural agents)
- Golf course superintendent (would require the ability to maintain golf courses with a focus on intensive turf maintenance)
- Nursery and plant inspectors (would require certification in USDA Phytosanitary procedures for inspection of plants and/or seeds)
- Arborist (would require the ability to assess the condition of trees, provide a diagnosis for potential diseases, and offer recommendations on how to properly care and maintain the trees)
- Farm manager (on a crop farm would require the ability to supervise fertilizing, planting, spraying, cultivating, harvesting, and on a livestock farm would require the ability to supervise general care of animals and be diligent in control of illnesses)
- Hydroponics specialist (would require the ability to develop a system and time schedule for planting vegetables, herbs and other plants that can be grown cost-effectively, using water infused with nutrients as a growing medium instead of soil)
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