Career specialties

Program goals / Professional preparation Our curricula build upon the university-wide general education requirements with critical courses in botany, soils, and business. We then add a set of required departmental courses specific to each concentration. Students are able to customize their program by selecting electives. Students in all concentrations are trained to work knowledgeably in general plant culture. While firmly grounding students in the knowledge and skills of the plant sciences and arts, our curricula emphasize critical thinking and creative activity. Students are complement their training in plant sciences with relevant coursework in supporting departments (see Technical Electives). Our students also gain the theoretical education necessary for continuing on for advanced degrees in plant related fields. Students are encouraged to earn a minor degree in a supportive field to further enhance their academic training and professional competitiveness. Specific professional goals for each our our concentrations: Landscape Design & Construction. Graduates should be able to: Design residential landscapes. Select proper woody and herbaceous plant materials for specific sites. Specify specialty components dealing with landscape construction (irrigation, lighting, water features). Prepare materials lists and cost estimates for landscape installations. Manage landscape crews. Turfgrass Science & Management. Graduates should be able to: Work knowledgeably in the field of turfgrass management: fertilization, irrigation, integrated pest management, weed management. Select proper turfgrass cultivars for specific sites. Develop realistic business budgets. Manage personnel. Public Horticulture. Graduates should be able to: Understand and contribute to the role and mission of non-profit horticultural institutions. Write grants, and secure funding and community support. Communicate fluently in a variety of communication venues: e.g. paper, world wide web, radio, television, live oral presentations. Work knowledgeably in the broad facets of horticulture: selection and culture of plant materials, propagation, integrated pest management, weed management, greenhouse and nursery management. Communicate the value to society of plant collections and public horticulture. Plant Science, Biotechnology & Horticulture. Graduates should be able to:    Science & Biotechnology Emphasis: Perform "benchtop", laboratory plant science and biotechnology. Work knowledgeably in several of the following areas: tissue culture and transformation, recombinant DNA and molecular biology, protein and nucleic acid biochemistry, genomics, proteomics, and bioinformatics.    Production Horticulture Emphasis: Consult professionally on horticultural or agronomic topics. Work knowledgeably in the broad facets of horticulture or agronomy: plant culture, propagation, integrated pest management, weed management. Work in a variety of agribusinesses. Work in agricultural extension. Work as an educator (community college, high school).                                         See also: Fun stuff! Study areas/Specialties in Plant Sciences Courses:   Undergraduate   Graduate Course requirements for each concentration (by academic year) Financial Aid / Scholarships / Loans Tennessee Scholar Dollars Professional opportunities: jobs for our grads Application procedures Bursar / maps / housing / parking / VolCard / grades / transcripts / more... College Honors Research & Creative Achievements Program International Programs for Agriculture Sciences & Natural Resources Helpful online links for student information at UT Plant Sciences UG Committee Page