Agronomy and Horticulture

Graduate Degrees Offered

• Agricultural Meteorology
• Applied Ecology (Ph.D. only)
• Crop Physiology and Production
• Environmental Studies
• Great Plains Studies
• Plant Breeding and Genetics
• Plant Pathology
• Public Horticulture Administration (Horticulture only)
• Range and Forage Sciences
• Soil and Water Sciences
• Water Resources Planning and Management (M.S. only)
• Weed Science (Agronomy only)

Required by Agronomy and Horticulture in GAMES

After you apply, allow one business day for us to establish your access to GAMES, where you'll complete these departmental requirements:

• Entrance exam(s): GRE (M.S. with thesis and Ph.D. only)
• Minimum TOEFL:  
  Plant Pathology specialization:   Paper-550  Internet-80
  Otherwise:   Paper-550  Internet-79
• Three recommendation letters
• Curriculum vita
• Statement of interests and goals

Description

The Department of Agronomy and Horticulture offers graduate degree programs leading to an M.S. or Ph.D. in plant and soil sciences.

Agronomy is the application of plant and soil science to crop production. Agronomy emphasizes staple food crops, such as corn, rice, beans, and wheat, which are produced on a large scale and represent the foundation of our human food supply.

Horticulture is the science and art of cultivating fruits, vegetables, flowers, and ornamental plants. Horticultural crops are used to diversify human diets and to enhance our living environment. Vegetables, fruits, flowers, ornamentals, and lawn grasses are examples of horticultural crops and are typically produced on a smaller scale with more intensive management than agronomic crops.

The Department's pride is its excellent teaching, research, and extension programs carried out by more than 50 faculty members in six core areas: landscape ecology and design; ornamental horticulture; plant breeding and genetics; soil and water sciences; turf/range/forage science; and weed science. The Department also conducts research nationally and internationally in plant physiology, viticulture, plant breeding, nutrient cycling and management, rangeland ecology and management, renewable bioenergy, soil and water management, and on the environmental impact and sustainability of agriculture.

The Department has well-equipped laboratories, modern greenhouses, growth chambers, and field facilities, including four district research centers spanning several ecoregions, available to graduate students. For instance, the Plant Sciences Program combines integrative curriculum with collaborative research in highly specialized facilities. And our outstanding field research facilities located in several agro-climatic zones across the state provide a unique ability to conduct research at a production-scale. This increases the relevance of the findings to real-world agro-ecosystems and gives students an opportunity to work in a more realistic production environment.

Some online courses are available.

Courses and More

The Graduate Bulletin provides course descriptions, program requirements, and more:

• Agronomy
• Environmental Studies
• Great Plains Studies
• Horticulture
• Plant Pathology
• Water Resources Planning and Management