PLANT SCIENCES (PLSC)
College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
2102 Plant Sciences Building, 301-405-4355
www.psla.umd.edu/khunt@umd.edu
Chair: W. Kenworthy (Professor and Chair)
Director: J.H. Sullivan (Professor)
Professors: S. Cohan (Prof Of Practice), J. Culver, P. Dernoeden, K. Everts, W. Kenworthy, J. Lea-Cox, M. McIntosh, J. H. Sullivan, C. Walsh
Associate Professors: M. Carroll, G. Coleman, J. Costa, I. Forseth, D. Glenn, A. Grybauskas, R. Kratochvil, M. Neel, L. Slaughter, T. Turner, S. Xiao
Assistant Professors: Y. Balci, P. Chaverri, J. Zhu
The Major
Plant Sciences combines basic science courses with applied technical classes to prepare students for the many and varied careers in this growing field. Students seeking a Plant Sciences degree must complete a series of requirements in one of the following Areas of Concentration: Horticulture and Crop Production, Landscape Management, Plant Science, Turf and Golf Course Management, or Urban Forestry.
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Horticulture and Crop Production prepares students for advisory and managerial positions in agronomic, greenhouse, nursery, orchard and vegetable crops. Students in this Area focus their studies on plant growth and development and plant protection.
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Landscape Management trains students for management positions in the landscape industry. The curriculum combines plant science, design and business management courses enabling graduates to meet the challenges of careers in the green industry.
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Plant Science is designed to prepare students for a research career. Whether students are interested in working in plant biotechnology, breeding, conservation, genomics, or plant protection, this area provides a strong foundation for postgraduate education.
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Turf and Golf Course Management provides the skills needed to succeed as a turfgrass professional, stressing an interdisciplinary approach to this career.
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Urban Forestry, a relatively new program and candidate for accreditation by the Society of American Foresters (SAF) exposes students to a wide range of skills needed for managing urban forests and seeking employment in the tree-care industry.
The Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture also offers two additional degrees: the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Agricultural Sciences and Technology and the Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (BLA). These programs are described elsewhere in this catalog under "Agricultural Sciences and Technology" and "Landscape Architecture."
Courses offered by this department may be found under the following acronyms: PLSC and LARC.
Program Learning Outcomes
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Students will develop technical and knowledge-based skills in the required areas of study.
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Students will use technical and basic learned knowledge to collaborate, solve problems and then articulate conclusions.
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Students shall develop effective communication skills and demonstrate the ability to present ideas with clarity to an appropriate audience.
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Students will connect and build relationships with external groups in the appropriate fields of study.
Requirements for the Major
|
Requirements for all Areas of Concentration |
Credits |
|
CHEM131/132 |
General Chemistry I |
4 |
|
ENGL101 |
Introduction to Writing |
3 |
|
ENGL393 |
Technical Writing |
3 |
|
ENST200 |
Fundamentals of Soil Science |
4 |
|
MATH113 |
College Algebra with Applications, OR |
3 |
|
MATH115 |
Precalculus |
|
|
PLSC100 |
Introduction to Horticulture, OR |
|
|
PLSC101 |
Introductory Crop Science |
4 |
|
PLSC398 |
Senior Seminar |
1 |
|
|
With the exception of ENGL101 and ENGL393, a grade of 'C-' or better is required in the courses above. |
|
|
Area B: Horticulture and Crop Production |
|
|
Requirements |
Credits |
|
AREC250 |
Elements of Agricultural and Resource Economics |
3 |
|
AREC306 |
Farm Management |
3 |
|
BSCI337 |
Biology of Insects |
4 |
|
CHEM105 |
Fundamentals of Organic and Biochemistry |
3 |
|
ENST411 |
Principles of Soil Fertility |
3 |
|
PLSC201 |
Plant Structure and Function |
4 |
|
PLSC202 |
Management of Horticultural Crops, OR |
3 |
|
PLSC203 |
Plants, Genes and Biotechnology, OR |
|
|
PLSC271 |
Plant Propagation |
|
|
PLSC389 |
Internship |
1-3 |
|
PLSC400 |
Environmental Plant Physiology |
3 |
|
PLSC420 |
Principles of Plant Pathology |
4 |
|
PLSC453 |
Weed Science |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
Advanced Production Electives (Select four of the following) |
|
|
BSCI497 |
Insect Pests of Ornamentals and Turf |
4 |
|
ENST4xx |
Soils Courses (Minimum of two) |
6-8 |
|
PLSC305 |
Introduction to Turf Management |
3 |
|
PLSC432 |
Greenhouse Crop Production |
3 |
|
PLSC433 |
Technology of Fruit and Vegetable Crop Production |
4 |
|
PLSC452 |
Principles of Landscape Establishment and Maintenance |
3 |
|
PLSC456 |
Nursery Crop Production |
3 |
|
PLSC474 |
Physiology of Maturation and Storage of Horticultural Crops |
3 |
|
PLSC4xx |
Crops Courses (Minimum of two) |
6-8 |
|
|
|
|
|
Total General Education, PLSC and Horticulture and Crop Production Area |
104-108 |
|
University Electives |
12-16 |
|
Area C: Landscape Management Requirements |
Credits |
|
AREC250 |
Elements of Agricultural & Resource Economics, OR |
3/4 |
|
ECON200 |
Principles of Micro-Economics |
|
|
BMGT220 |
Principles of Accounting I |
3 |
|
BMGT350 |
Marketing Principles and Organization |
3 |
|
BSCI337 |
Biology of Insects |
4 |
|
CHEM105 |
Fundamentals of Organic and Biochemistry |
3 |
|
LARC140 |
Graphic Fundamentals Studio |
4 |
|
LARC160 |
Introduction to Landscape Architecture |
3 |
|
PLSC200 |
Land Surveying |
2 |
|
PLSC201 |
Plant Structure and Function |
4 |
|
PLSC202 |
Management of Horticultural Crops |
4 |
|
PLSC253 |
Woody Plants for Mid-Atlantic Landscapes I |
3 |
|
PLSC254 |
Woody Plants for Mid-Atlantic Landscapes II |
3 |
|
PLSC255 |
Landscape Design and Implementation |
4 |
|
PLSC271 |
Plant Propagation |
3 |
|
PLSC305 |
Introduction to Turf Management, OR |
3 |
|
ENST411 |
Principles of Soil Fertility |
|
|
PLSC320 |
Principles of Site Engineering |
4 |
|
PLSC321 |
Landscape Structures and Materials |
3 |
|
PLSC361 |
Commercial Principles of Landscape Management |
3 |
|
PLSC389 |
Internship |
1-3 |
|
PLSC420 |
Principles of Plant Pathology |
4 |
|
PLSC452 |
Environmental Horticulture |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
Total General Education, PLSC and Landscape Management Area |
105 |
|
University Electives |
15 |
|
Area D: Plant Science Requirements |
Credits |
|
BSCI337 |
Biology of Insects |
4 |
|
BSCI442 |
Plant Physiology, OR |
|
|
PLSC 400 |
Environmental Plant Physiology |
3 |
|
CHEM231/232 |
Organic Chemistry I |
4 |
|
CHEM241/242 |
Organic Chemistry II |
4 |
|
MATH140 |
Calculus I, OR |
3 |
|
MATH220 |
Elementary Calculus I |
|
|
PHYS121 |
Fundamentals of Physics I |
4 |
|
PLSC201 |
Plant Structure and Function |
4 |
|
PLSC202 |
Management of Horticultural Crops |
4 |
|
PLSC203 |
Plants, Genes and Biotechnology |
3 |
|
PLSC271 |
Plant Propagation |
3 |
|
PLSC399 |
Special Problems in Plant Science |
3 |
|
PLSC420 |
Principles of Plant Pathology |
4 |
|
|
|
|
|
Advanced Plant Science Electives (Select one of the following) |
|
|
PLSC403 |
Crop Breeding |
3 |
|
PLSC430 |
Water and Nutrient Planning for the Nursery & Greenhouse Industry |
3 |
|
PLSC432 |
Greenhouse Crop Production |
3 |
|
PLSC433 |
Technology of Fruit and Vegetable Production |
4 |
|
PLSC452 |
Principles of Landscape Establishment and Maintenance |
3 |
|
PLSC456 |
Nursery Crop Production |
3 |
|
PLSC474 |
Physiology of Maturation and Storage of Horticultural Crops |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
Advanced Science Electives (Select one of the following) |
|
|
BCHM261 |
Elements of Biochemistry, OR |
4 |
|
BSCI461 |
Biochemistry |
|
|
ENST411 |
Principles of Soil Fertility |
3 |
|
ENST417 |
Soil Hydrology and Physics |
3 |
|
ENST421 |
Soil Chemistry |
4 |
|
PHYS122 |
Fundamentals of Physics II |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
Total General Education, PLSC and Plant Science Area |
101-104 |
|
University Electives |
16-19 |
|
Area E: Turf and Golf Course Management Requirements |
Credits |
|
BSCI105 |
Principles of Biology I |
4 |
|
BSCI106 |
Principles of Biology II |
4 |
|
BSCI337 |
Biology of Insects |
4 |
|
CHEM104 |
Fundamentals of Organic and Biochemistry |
3 |
|
COMM100 |
Foundations of Oral Communication, OR |
|
|
COMM107 |
Oral Communication: Principles and Practices |
3 |
|
ENBE237 |
Design of Irrigation Systems |
1 |
|
ENST411 |
Principles of Soil Fertility |
3 |
|
PHYS117 |
Introduction to Physics, OR |
4 |
|
PHYS121 |
Fundamentals of Physics I |
|
|
PLSC305 |
Introduction to Turf Management |
3 |
|
PLSC389 |
Internship |
1-3 |
|
PLSC400 |
Environmental Plant Physiology |
3 |
|
PLSC401 |
Pest Management Strategies for Turfgrass |
3 |
|
PLSC402 |
Sports Turf Management |
3 |
|
PLSC410 |
Commercial Turf Maintenance and Production |
3 |
|
PLSC420 |
Principles of Plant Pathology |
4 |
|
PLSC453 |
Weed Science |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
Total General Education, PLSC and Turf and Golf Course Management Area |
99 |
|
University Electives |
21 |
|
Area F: Urban Forestry Requirements |
Credits |
|
AREC240 |
Introduction to Economics and the Environment |
3 |
|
BMGT220 |
Principles of Accounting I |
3 |
|
BSCI337 |
Biology of Insects, OR |
4 |
|
BSCI497 |
Insect Pests of Ornamentals & Turf |
4 |
|
CHEM105 |
Fundamentals of Organic and Biochemistry, OR |
3 |
|
CHEM231/232 |
Organic Chemistry I |
3 |
|
ENST411 |
Principles of Soil Fertility |
3 |
|
LARC160 |
Introduction to Landscape Architecture |
3 |
|
PLSC171 |
Introduction to Urban Ecosystems |
3 |
|
PLSC201 |
Plant Structure and Function |
4 |
|
PLSC253 |
Woody Plants for Mid-Atlantic Landscapes I |
4 |
|
PLSC254 |
Woody Plants for Mid-Atlantic Landscapes II |
3 |
|
PLSC272 |
Principles of Arboriculture |
3 |
|
PLSC361 |
Commercial Principles of Landscape Management |
3 |
|
PLSC389 |
Internship |
1-3 |
|
PLSC400 |
Environmental Plant Physiology |
3 |
|
PLSC420 |
Principles of Plant Pathology |
4 |
|
PLSC471 |
Forest Ecology |
3 |
|
PLSC472 |
Capstone - Urban Forest Project Management |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
Suggested general education courses and electives1 |
|
|
BIOM301* |
Introduction to Biometrics |
3 |
|
BSCI460 |
Plant Ecology, OR |
3 |
|
BSCI460/461 |
(Plant Ecology Lecture and Lab) |
5 |
|
CHEM241/242* |
Organic Chemistry Ii |
4 |
|
CHEM271/272* |
General Chemistry and Energetics |
4 |
|
COMM107 |
Oral Communication: Principles and Practices |
3 |
|
ENST413 |
Soil & Water Conservation |
3 |
|
ENST415 |
GIS Applications in Soil Science |
3 |
|
ENST444 |
Restoration Ecology |
3 |
|
GEOG201 |
Geography of Environmental Systems |
3 |
|
GEOG347 |
Introduction to Biogeography |
3 |
|
GVPT170 |
American Government |
3 |
|
GVPT273 |
Introduction to Environmental Politics |
3 |
|
LARC450 |
Environmental Resources |
3 |
|
MATH220* |
Elementary Calculus I |
3 |
|
NRMT460 |
Principles of Wildlife Management |
3 |
|
NRMT461 |
Urban Wildlife Management |
3 |
|
NRMT489B |
Field Experience: Park Management |
1 |
|
PHYS121*/122* |
Fundamentals of Physics I / II, OR |
8 |
|
PHYS141*/142* |
Principles of Physics |
|
|
PLSC200 |
Land Surveying |
2 |
|
PLSC203 |
Plants, Genes and Biotechnology |
3 |
|
PLSC320 |
Principles of Site Engineering |
3 |
|
PLSC473 |
Woody Plant Physiology |
3 |
|
PLSC475 |
Silviculture |
4 |
|
SOCY100 |
Introduction to Sociology |
3 |
|
SOCY105 |
Introduction to Contemporary Social Problems |
3 |
|
SOCY305 |
Scarcity and Modern Society |
3 |
|
SPAN223 |
United States Latino Culture |
3 |
|
URSP100 |
Challenge of the Cities |
3 |
|
URSP320 |
Planning of the Contemporary City |
3 |
|
URSP372 |
Diversity and the City |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
Total General Education, PLSC and Urban Forestry Area |
99 |
|
University Electives |
21 |
1 Note: Courses with an asterisk are suggested electives for students planning on graduate study in Forestry.
Requirements for the Minor
Minor in Landscape Management
The Landscape Management minor provides students with a foundation in plant sciences and business management. The required science courses lead to an integrative understanding of plant growth and development and the plant's responses to its environment. These courses also teach students the skills needed to recommend best management practices and to identify plant abnormalities in the landscape. The business courses in this minor foster an understanding of the business structure, human resource management and financial management associated with landscape management companies.
All courses presented in this minor must be passed with a grade of C- or better. To complete this minor, students will be expected to complete an 18-19 credit course sequence. Students should also be aware that many of the courses in this minor list PLSC100, Introduction to Horticulture, as a prerequisite.
Curriculum:
|
|
|
Credits |
|
PLSC253 |
Woody Plants for Mid-Atlantic Landscapes I |
3 |
|
PLSC254 |
Woody Plants for Mid-Atlantic Landscapes II |
3 |
|
PLSC305 |
Introduction to Turf Management |
3 |
|
PLSC361 |
Commercial Principles of Landscape Management |
3 |
|
PLSC452 |
Environmental Horticulture |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Select one of the following courses: |
|
|
AREC240 |
Introduction to Agriculture and the Environment |
4 |
|
AREC250 |
Elements of Agricultural and Resource Economics |
3 |
|
AREC306 |
Farm Management |
3 |
|
BMGT220 |
Principles of Accounting I |
3 |
Total Credits: A minimum of 18 or 19 credits is required to complete this minor. (Depending on which AREC or BMGT course is chosen)
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A student may use a maximum of six credits (or two courses) to satisfy the requirements of both a major and a minor. In the event that more than six credits of coursework listed above are required in the student's major, he or she should contact the Landscape Management faculty advisor for course substitutions.
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This minor is particularly relevant to students who are interested in pursuing a career in the landscape industry. Landscape architecture, environmental science and policy, and life science majors can readily complete these minor requirements within their four-year programs.
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Students from the business school and social sciences who are seeking managerial careers in this rapidly-expanding service industry would also find this minor to be relevant.
Advising
The Department has mandatory faculty advising for each of its major and minor programs. Students are required to meet with their faculty advisor at least twice a year. See the Program Management Specialist in Undergraduate Studies in 2102 Plant Sciences Building (301-405-4355) for additional information.
Internships
Internships with scientists are available at nearby federal and state agencies. Numerous internships also exist and can be readily arranged for students interested in private sector employment.
Student Societies and Professional Organizations
The department sponsors student teams that participate in regional and national contests. These teams prepare in the following areas: turf, weeds and crops, and landscape contracting.
Scholarships and Financial Assistance
Several scholarships and awards are available to PLSC students. Contact the Associate Dean's office at 301-405-2078 for additional information. The Department also maintains a listing of scholarships. Contact Kathy Hunt in 2102 Plant Sciences, 301-405-4355.
The Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA) administers all types of federal, state and institutional financial assistance programs and, in cooperation with other university offices, participates in the awarding of scholarships to deserving students. For information, visit: www.financialaid.umd.edu.
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