Horticulturists work to enrich our lives by integrating and applying plant science, environmental science, molecular biology, biotechnology, genetics, physiology, and management. Specifically, horticultural science deals with the development, production, growth, distribution, and use of fruits, vegetables, greenhouse crops, ornamentals, and specialty plant crops (used for flavoring and medicine). Horticultural science is one of the most diverse biological sciences one can study at a university. Not only are the biology and genetics of crop plants interesting, but the application of this knowledge is equally important in a myriad of situations. Undergraduate horticulture majors will obtain specialized training in greenhouse/field management and the production and use of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and herbaceous/woody ornamentals through the bachelor of science degree program.
In addition to obtaining a job with an undergraduate degree in horticulture, the major provides an excellent background for graduate study in the field of plant sciences. Areas of graduate study include plant breeding and plant genetics, horticulture, agronomy, plant pathology, or other related fields such as biology, environmental science, natural resource management, agroecology, and genetics.
Students with either undergraduate or graduate degrees in horticulture have a variety of career opportunities. Recent studies show that there are more jobs in agriculture in the US than there are students graduating with agricultural bachelor of science degrees to fill them. As our world grapples with the need to contribute science-based solutions to feeding 9 billion people by 2050, students trained in the agricultural and horticultural sciences will be called on to contribute.
Horticulture graduates may find opportunities to develop higher yielding crops or crops that can withstand more stressful growing conditions. Others may find opportunities working on improving qualities such as flavor, appearance, texture, and postharvest shelf life for a wide range of horticultural commodities from fruits to vegetables to flowers. Sustainable production is an area of growth where horticultural expertise can make a contribution.
The horticulture degree serves as excellent preparation for careers in food production, plant nurseries, community-supported agriculture (CSA), public gardens, greenhouse production, teaching, public parks, vegetable production, urban agriculture, extension- and community-based educational work, work in research labs, and the health sciences. In addition, many horticultural science majors go on to work in public sector jobs including city and state positions with the Department of Natural Resources, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, and the University of Wisconsin Division of Extension. Students with degrees in horticulture also work in hospitals (horticultural therapy), aerospace (food and recycling in space labs), and zoos (managing environments for animals and visitors). Although the career opportunities are numerous, horticulture students have a common desire to work intensively with plants to improve our environment and our health.
To declare this major, students must be admitted to UW–Madison and the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS). For information about becoming a CALS first-year or transfer student, see Entering the College.
Students who attend Student Orientation, Advising, and Registration (SOAR) with the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences have the option to declare this major at SOAR. Students may otherwise declare after they have begun their undergraduate studies. For more information, contact the advisor listed under the Advising and Careers tab.
University General Education Requirements
All undergraduate students at the University of Wisconsin–Madison are required to fulfill a minimum set of common university general education requirements to ensure that every graduate acquires the essential core of an undergraduate education. This core establishes a foundation for living a productive life, being a citizen of the world, appreciating aesthetic values, and engaging in lifelong learning in a continually changing world. Various schools and colleges will have requirements in addition to the requirements listed below. Consult your advisor for assistance, as needed. For additional information, see the university Undergraduate General Education Requirements section of the Guide.
| General Education |
* The mortarboard symbol appears before the title of any course that fulfills one of the Communication Part A or Part B, Ethnic Studies, or Quantitative Reasoning Part A or Part B requirements. |
College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Requirements
In addition to the University General Education Requirements, all undergraduate students in CALS must satisfy a set of college and major requirements. Courses may not double count within university requirements (General Education and Breadth) or within college requirements (First-Year Seminar, International Studies, Science, and Capstone), but courses counted toward university requirements may also be used to satisfy a college and/or a major requirement; similarly, courses counted toward college requirements may also be used to satisfy a university and/or a major requirement.
College Requirements for all CALS B.S. Degree Programs
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Quality of Work: Students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.000 to remain in good standing and be eligible for graduation. | ||
| Residency: Students must complete 30 degree credits in residence at UW–Madison after earning 86 credits toward their undergraduate degree. | ||
| First Year Seminar | 1 | |
| International Studies | 3 | |
| Physical Science Fundamentals | 4-5 | |
| General Chemistry I | ||
or CHEM 108 | Chemistry in Our World | |
or CHEM 109 | Advanced General Chemistry | |
| Biological Science | 5 | |
| Additional Science (Biological, Physical, or Natural) | 3 | |
| Science Breadth (Biological, Physical, Natural, or Social) | 3 | |
| CALS Capstone Learning Experience: included in the requirements for each CALS major (see "Major Requirements") | ||
Major Requirements
Courses may not double count within the major (unless specifically noted otherwise), but courses counted toward the major requirements may also be used to satisfy a university requirement and/or a college requirement. A minimum of 15 credits must be completed in the major that are not used elsewhere.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics and Statistics | ||
| Select one of the following (or may be satisfied by placement exam): | 5-6 | |
| Algebra and Trigonometry | ||
| Algebra and Trigonometry | ||
| Calculus with Algebra and Trigonometry I 1 | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3-5 | |
| Calculus | ||
| Calculus with Algebra and Trigonometry II 1 | ||
| Calculus and Analytic Geometry 1 | ||
| Calculus and Analytic Geometry 2 | ||
| Introduction to Statistical Methods | ||
| Introductory Applied Statistics for the Life Sciences | ||
| Programming II | ||
| Chemistry | ||
| Select one of the following: | 5-9 | |
| General Chemistry I and General Chemistry II | ||
| Advanced General Chemistry | ||
| Biology | ||
| Select one of the following options: | 10-12 | |
| Option 1: | ||
| General Botany | ||
| Animal Biology | ||
| Animal Biology Laboratory | ||
| Option 2: | ||
| Introductory Biology | ||
| Introductory Biology | ||
| Option 3: | ||
| Evolution, Ecology, and Genetics | ||
| Cellular Biology | ||
And select two of the following: | ||
| Evolution, Ecology, and Genetics Laboratory | ||
| Cellular Biology Laboratory | ||
| Principles of Physiology Laboratory | ||
| Agricultural Breadth | ||
| ENTOM/ZOOLOGY 302 | Introduction to Entomology | 3-4 |
| or ENTOM 351 | Principles of Economic Entomology | |
| GENETICS 466 | Principles of Genetics | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Plant Anatomy | ||
| Plant Morphology and Evolution | ||
| Plant Physiology | ||
| PL PATH 300 | Introduction to Plant Pathology | 3-4 |
| or PL PATH/F&W ECOL/HORT/LAND ARC 309 | Diseases of Trees and Shrubs | |
| SOIL SCI 301 | General Soil Science | 4 |
| Horticultural Core | ||
| HORT 120 | Survey of Horticulture | 3 |
| HORT 121 | Horticulture Colloquium | 1 |
| HORT 227 | Propagation of Horticultural Plants | 3 |
| HORT 320 | Environment of Horticultural Plants | 3 |
| HORT/AGRONOMY/SOIL SCI 326 | Plant Nutrition Management | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Greenhouse Cultivation and Survey of Controlled Environment Food Production | ||
| Greenhouse Cultivation and Greenhouse Cultivation Lab | ||
| Special Topics (Organic Vegetable Production) 2 | ||
| Select three of the following: | 9 | |
| Ornamental Plants | ||
| Sustainable Turfgrass Use and Management and Turfgrass Management Laboratory | ||
| Special Topics (Arboriculture and Landscape Maintenance) | ||
| Landscape Plants I | ||
| Fruit Crop Production (alternate years) 2 | ||
| World Vegetable Crops | ||
| Electives | ||
| Select 5 elective credits (see list below) | 5 | |
| Capstone | ||
| Students can complete a pre-approved course or an independent study or internship. Independent study and internship require individual pre-approval from the program, and students should talk to the Horticulture advisor to learn more about the process and forms. | ||
| Pre-approved course options: | ||
| Tropical Horticultural Systems and Tropical Horticultural Systems International Field Study | ||
| Plant Microbiomes | ||
| Independent Study or Internship options (require individual pre-approval): | ||
| Coordinative Internship/Cooperative Education | ||
| Special Problems | ||
| Independent Study in Organic Agriculture | ||
| Total Credits | 69-81 | |
Elective Courses
Students may not double count courses within the major requirements (Agricultural Breadth, Horticultural Core, Electives, Capstone)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Business and Economics | ||
| A A E 215 | Introduction to Agricultural and Applied Economics | 4 |
| A A E/ENVIR ST 244 | The Environment and the Global Economy | 4 |
| A A E 246 | Climate Change Economics and Policy | 3 |
| A A E 319 | The International Agricultural Economy | 3 |
| A A E 320 | Agricultural Systems Management | 3 |
| A A E 323 | Cooperatives and Alternative Forms of Enterprise Ownership | 3 |
| A A E/ECON/ENVIR ST 343 | Environmental Economics | 3-4 |
| GEN BUS 310 | Fundamentals of Accounting and Finance for Non-Business Majors | 3 |
| GEN BUS 311 | Fundamentals of Management and Marketing for Non-Business Majors | 3 |
| Ecology, Conservation, and the Environment | ||
| BOTANY/F&W ECOL/ZOOLOGY 460 | General Ecology | 4 |
| F&W ECOL/C&E SOC/SOC 248 | Environment, Natural Resources, and Society | 3 |
| F&W ECOL/ENVIR ST/ZOOLOGY 360 | Extinction of Species | 3 |
| F&W ECOL/BOTANY 455 | The Vegetation of Wisconsin | 4 |
| F&W ECOL 550 | Forest Ecology | 3 |
| F&W ECOL/LAND ARC/ZOOLOGY 565 | Principles of Landscape Ecology | 2 |
| F&W ECOL/BOTANY/ENVIR ST/ZOOLOGY 651 | Conservation Biology | 3 |
| GEOG/ENVIR ST 120 | Introduction to the Earth System | 3 |
| GEOG/ENVIR ST 127 | Physical Systems of the Environment | 5 |
| GEOG/ENVIR ST 139 | Global Environmental Issues | 3 |
| GEOG/BOTANY 338 | Environmental Biogeography | 3 |
| GEOG/ENVIR ST 339 | Environmental Conservation | 4 |
| GEOSCI/ENVIR ST 106 | Environmental Geology | 3 |
| HISTORY/ENVIR ST/GEOG 460 | American Environmental History | 4 |
| LAND ARC/ENVIR ST 361 | Wetlands Ecology | 3 |
| ZOOLOGY/ENVIR ST 315 | Limnology-Conservation of Aquatic Resources | 2 |
| ZOOLOGY 316 | Laboratory for Limnology-Conservation of Aquatic Resources | 2-3 |
| Food, Health and Human Well-being: | ||
| A A E/C&E SOC/SOC 340 | Issues in Food Systems | 3-4 |
| AGRONOMY/ENTOM/NUTR SCI 203 | Introduction to Global Health | 3 |
| AGRONOMY 300 | Cropping Systems | 3 |
| AGRONOMY/A A E/NUTR SCI 350 | World Hunger and Malnutrition | 3 |
| AGRONOMY 377 | Global Food Production and Health | 3 |
| C&E SOC/SOC 222 | Food, Culture, and Society | 3 |
| C&E SOC/SOC 650 | Sociology of Agriculture | 3 |
| FOOD SCI/AN SCI 321 | Food Laws and Regulations | 1 |
| GEOG/ENVIR ST 309 | People, Land and Food: Comparative Study of Agriculture Systems | 3 |
| HORT 345 | Fruit Crop Production | 3 |
| HORT 350 | Plants and Human Wellbeing | 2 |
| HORT/A A E/AGRONOMY/PL PATH 367 | Introduction to Organic Agriculture: Production, Markets, and Policy | 3 |
| HORT 370 | World Vegetable Crops | 3 |
| HORT 375 | Special Topics (Organic Vegetable Production) | 3 |
| HORT 380 | Indigenous Foodways: Food and Seed Sovereignty | 2 |
| NUTR SCI 132 | Nutrition Today | 3 |
| PL PATH 311 | Global Food Security (Food Systems, Sustainability, and Climate Change) | 3 |
| PL PATH 375 | Special Topics | 1-4 |
| Landscape Horticulture | ||
| BSE 243 | Operating and Management Principles of Off-Road Vehicles | 3 |
| BSE 301 | Land Information Management | 3 |
| F&W ECOL 375 | Special Topics (Tree Risk Assessment and Decay Detection) | 1-4 |
| HORT 234 | Ornamental Plants | 3 |
| HORT/PL PATH 261 | Sustainable Turfgrass Use and Management | 2 |
| HORT/PL PATH 262 | Turfgrass Management Laboratory | 1 |
| HORT/LAND ARC 263 | Landscape Plants I | 3 |
| HORT/SOIL SCI 332 | Turfgrass Nutrient and Water Management | 3 |
| HORT 334 | Greenhouse Cultivation | 2 |
| HORT 335 | Greenhouse Cultivation Lab | 1 |
| HORT 375 | Special Topics (Arboriculture and Landscape Maintenance) | 1-4 |
| LAND ARC 250 | Survey of Landscape Architecture Design | 3 |
| LAND ARC 260 | History of Landscape Architecture | 3 |
| LAND ARC 211 | Shaping the Built Environment | 3 |
| Pest Management | ||
| ENTOM/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 473 | Plant-Insect Interactions | 3 |
| ENTOM/F&W ECOL 500 | Insects in Forest Ecosystem Function and Management | 2 |
| PL PATH/BOTANY 332 | Fungi | 4 |
| Plant Biology | ||
| BOTANY 300 | Plant Anatomy | 4 |
| BOTANY 305 | Plant Morphology and Evolution | 4 |
| BOTANY 400 | Plant Systematics | 4 |
| BOTANY 401 | Vascular Flora of Wisconsin | 4 |
| BOTANY/ANTHRO/ZOOLOGY 410 | Evolutionary Biology | 3 |
| BOTANY 422 | Plant Geography | 3 |
| BOTANY/AMER IND/ANTHRO 474 | Ethnobotany | 3-4 |
| BOTANY 500 | Plant Physiology | 3-4 |
| F&W ECOL 415 | Tree Physiology | 3 |
| HORT 240 | The Science of Cannabis (The Science of Hemp) | 1 |
| Plant Breeding, Genetics, and Biotechnology | ||
| AGRONOMY/C&E SOC/MED HIST/PHILOS 565 | The Ethics of Modern Biotechnology | 3 |
| BIOCHEM 501 | Introduction to Biochemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 341 | Elementary Organic Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 342 | Elementary Organic Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 343 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| HORT/AGRONOMY 338 | Plant Breeding and Biotechnology | 3 |
| HORT/AGRONOMY/BOTANY 339 | Plant Biotechnology: Principles and Techniques I | 4 |
| HORT/AGRONOMY/BOTANY 340 | Plant Cell Culture and Genetic Engineering | 3 |
| HORT/AGRONOMY 360 | Genetically Modified Crops: Science, Regulation & Controversy | 2 |
| HORT 375 | Special Topics (Epigenetics) | 1-4 |
| HORT/AGRONOMY 501 | Principles of Plant Breeding | 3 |
| HORT/AGRONOMY 502 | Techniques of Plant Breeding | 1 |
| HORT/GENETICS 550 | Molecular Approaches for Potential Crop Improvement | 3 |
| HIST SCI 202 | The Making of Modern Science | 3 |
| Public Policy and Environmental Ethics | ||
| C&E SOC/SOC 541 | Environmental Stewardship and Social Justice | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/GEOG 439 | US Environmental Policy and Regulation | 3-4 |
| ENVIR ST/SOIL SCI 575 | Assessment of Environmental Impact | 3 |
| HORT/HIST SCI 301 | (Horti)Cultural Roots: Human Histories of Plants and Science | 4 |
| POLI SCI 272 | Introduction to Public Policy | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI/ECON/ENVIR ST/URB R PL 449 | Government and Natural Resources | 3-4 |
| Soil Science | ||
| SOIL SCI 305 | Field Study of Soil | 1 |
| SOIL SCI 321 | Soils and Environmental Chemistry | 3 |
| SOIL SCI 322 | Physical Principles of Soil and Water Management | 3 |
| SOIL SCI/PL PATH 323 | Soil Biology | 3 |
| SOIL SCI/ENVIR ST 324 | Soils and Environmental Quality | 3 |
| SOIL SCI 327 | Environmental Monitoring and Soil Characterization for Earth's Critical Zone | 4 |
| SOIL SCI/ENVIR ST 575 | Assessment of Environmental Impact | 3 |
| Weather and Climate Change | ||
| ATM OCN 101 | Weather and Climate | 4 |
| ATM OCN/ENVIR ST/GEOSCI 102 | Climate and Climate Change | 3 |
| ATM OCN/ENVIR ST 171 | Global Change: Atmospheric Issues and Problems | 2-3 |
| ATM OCN/ENVIR ST/GEOG 332 | Global Warming: Science and Impacts | 3 |
| ATM OCN/ENVIR ST 520 | Bioclimatology | 3 |
Honors in the Major
Students admitted to the university and to the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences are invited to apply to be considered for admission to the CALS Honors Program.
Admission Criteria for New First-Year Students:
- Complete program application including essay questions
Admission Criteria for Transfer and Continuing UW-Madison Students:
- UW-Madison cumulative GPA of at least 3.25
- Complete program application including essay questions
How to Apply
The application is available on the CALS Honors Program website. Applications are accepted at any time.
New first-year students with accepted applications will automatically be enrolled in Honors in Research. It is possible to switch to Honors in the Major in the student’s first semester on campus after receiving approval from the advisor for that major. Transfer and continuing students may apply directly to Honors in Research or Honors in the Major (after approval from the major advisor).
Requirements
All CALS Honors programs have the following requirements:
- Earn at least a cumulative 3.25 GPA at UW-Madison (some programs have higher requirements)
- Complete the program-specific requirements listed below
- Submit completed thesis documentation to CALS Academic Affairs
Requirements
To earn Honors in the Major, students are required to take at least 20 honors credits. In addition, students must take HORT 289 Honors Independent Study, HORT 681 Senior Honors Thesis and HORT 682 Senior Honors Thesis when completing their thesis project; please see the Honors in Major Checklist for Horticulture for more information. The Department of Horticulture also works collaboratively to strongly support students through the Honors in Research program.
University Degree Requirements
| Total Degree | To receive a bachelor's degree from UW–Madison, students must earn a minimum of 120 degree credits. The requirements for some programs may exceed 120 degree credits. Students should consult with their college or department advisor for information on specific credit requirements. |
| Residency | Degree candidates are required to earn a minimum of 30 credits in residence at UW–Madison. "In residence" means on the UW–Madison campus with an undergraduate degree classification. “In residence” credit also includes UW–Madison courses offered in distance or online formats and credits earned in UW–Madison Study Abroad/Study Away programs. |
| Quality of Work | Undergraduate students must maintain the minimum grade point average specified by the school, college, or academic program to remain in good academic standing. Students whose academic performance drops below these minimum thresholds will be placed on academic probation. |
- Acquire, integrate and apply knowledge of plant science to horticultural systems.
- Demonstrate interdisciplinary knowledge and competency in managing horticultural systems.
- Synthesize knowledge and use insight and creativity to better understand and improve horticultural systems.
- Appreciate and communicate the diverse impacts of horticulture on people.
- Demonstrate professionalism and proficiency in skills that relate to horticulture.
Four-year plan
Sample Horticulture Four-Year Plan (with BOTANY/BIOLOGY 130 in the first semester)
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| HORT 120 | 3 | MATH 113 | 3 |
| HORT 121 | 1 | BIOLOGY/ZOOLOGY 101 & BIOLOGY/ZOOLOGY 102 | 5 |
| BIOLOGY/BOTANY 1301 | 5 | Ethnic Studies | 3 |
| MATH 112 | 3 | Electives | 5 |
| COMM A Course | 3 | ||
| CALS First Year Seminar | 1 | ||
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| HORT 320 | 3 | CHEM 104 | 5 |
| CHEM 103 | 4 | HORT 227 | 3 |
| COMM B Course | 3 | HORT 334 & HORT 335 | 3 |
| Horticulture Breadth | 6 | Humanities | 3-4 |
| 16 | 14-15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Agricultural Breadth2 | 6 | Agricultural Breadth2 | 6 |
| Horticulture Breadth | 3 | Math / Statistics / Computer Science | 3 |
| CALS International Studies3 | 3 | Humanities | 3-4 |
| Electives | 4-5 | Elective | 3 |
| 16-17 | 15-16 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Agricultural Breadth2 | 3 | Agricultural Breadth2 | 3-4 |
| Horticulture Breadth | 6 | Electives | 9 |
| Horticulture Capstone | 3 | ||
| Social Sciences | 3-4 | ||
| 15-16 | 12-13 | ||
| Total Credits 120-125 | |||
Students must complete at least 120 total credits to be eligible for graduation.
- 1
BIOLOGY/BOTANY 130, BIOLOGY/ZOOLOGY 101, and BIOLOGY/ZOOLOGY 102 is the preferred biology track.
- 2
Please consult with a Horticulture advisor to discuss when specific courses are typically offered.
- 3
Students can choose to complete the CALS International Studies requirement using HORT 370 or HORT/AGRONOMY 376 & HORT 378, which also fulfill Horticulture major requirements.
Sample Horticulture Four-Year Plan (with CHEM 103 in the first semester)
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| HORT 120 | 3 | CHEM 104 | 5 |
| HORT 121 | 1 | BIOLOGY/BOTANY 1301 | 5 |
| CHEM 103 | 4 | MATH 113 | 3 |
| MATH 112 | 3 | Ethnic Studies | 3 |
| COMM A Course | 3 | ||
| CALS First Year Seminar | 1 | ||
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| HORT 320 | 3 | HORT 227 | 3 |
| BIOLOGY/ZOOLOGY 101 & BIOLOGY/ZOOLOGY 102 | 5 | HORT 334 & HORT 335 | 3 |
| Horticulture Breadth | 3 | Horticulture Breadth | 6 |
| COMM B Course | 3 | Humanities | 3-4 |
| 14 | 15-16 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Agricultural Breadth2 | 6 | Agricultural Breadth2 | 6 |
| Horticulture Breadth | 3 | Math / Statistics / Computer Science | 3 |
| CALS International Studies3 | 3 | Humanities | 3-4 |
| Electives | 3-4 | Elective | 3 |
| 15-16 | 15-16 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Agricultural Breadth2 | 3 | Agricultural Breadth2 | 3-4 |
| Social Sciences | 3 | Electives | 9 |
| Horticulture Capstone | 3 | ||
| Electives | 6-7 | ||
| 15-16 | 12-13 | ||
| Total Credits 117-122 | |||
Students must complete at least 120 total credits to be eligible for graduation.
- 1
BIOLOGY/BOTANY 130, BIOLOGY/ZOOLOGY 101, and BIOLOGY/ZOOLOGY 102 is the preferred biology track.
- 2
Please consult with a Horticulture advisor to discuss when specific courses are typically offered.
- 3
Students can choose to complete the CALS International Studies requirement using HORT 370 or HORT/AGRONOMY 376 & HORT 378, which also fulfill Horticulture major requirements.
Advising
Students interested in learning more about the Horticulture major should meet with Kathryn Jones, kjones26@wisc.edu, or schedule an advising appointment via Starfish.
Faculty Mentors
The Horticulture Department maintains a list of faculty mentors that are available to help current students with internships and careers, graduate school preparation, research opportunities, etc.
Careers
A degree in horticulture prepares students for numerous career paths, including plant breeding and genetics, applied plant science, food crop production, greenhouse production, urban agriculture, community-supported agriculture (CSA), gardening and landscaping, horticulture education, extension- and community-based education, horticultural therapy, and the health sciences. For sample career profiles in horticulture, see Career Opportunities on the department website.
Professors
Bamberg, Colquhoun, Goldman, Krysan (chair), Simon, Weng, Zalapa
Associate Professors
Atucha, Bethke, Dawson, Endelman, Jull
Assistant Professors
Ellison, Kovaleski, Wang
USDA Scientist
Mura
Instructional staff
Calderon, Luiken, Oosterwyk
Internships
Internships are a great way for Horticulture students to get hands-on horticultural experience. Many of our students intern at locations that vary from seed companies to wineries to public gardens. Horticulture students also have many opportunities to intern during the year on or near campus at facilities such as the Allen Centennial Garden, the UW Arboretum, and the Agricultural Research Stations.
Research
Horticulture students have many opportunities to get involved with research in the department. Students primarily find research opportunities by directly contacting faculty. Faculty can be found on the department’s website by the directory list, by crops studied, or by program area. Occasionally, research positions are posted on the Student Job Center.
Study Abroad
Horticulture students have unique opportunities to contextualize the learning acquired in traditional face-to-face courses on campus by participating in short-term field experiences abroad led by program leaders from the Department of Horticulture.
Some of these programs are:
UW Tropical Horticulture in Costa Rica – students enroll in AGRONOMY/HORT 376 Tropical Horticultural Systems in the fall then participate in a two-week intensive field experience in Costa Rica during winter break. Students have the opportunity to visit tropical crop plantations (for example—banana, pineapple, cacao, coffee, palm oil) and contrast different agricultural practices (small and large scale, organic, conventional).
UW Food Systems and the Environment in Northern Japan – this two-week field study takes place in mid-August. In this program, students from UW–Madison are partnered with students from Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, and through a combination of lectures and site visits, they will compare and contrast the landscape and ecology of Japan and Wisconsin.
Horticulture Society
Connect with other Hort majors and those interested in horticulture by joining the Horticulture Society. The Horticulture Society is a professional, social, and educational group which provides a common ground for all students interested in horticulture to meet other students with the same interests.