What Is Horticulture?

Horticulture is the art and science of growing and maintaining plants, fruits, and vegetables for people to eat, use, and enjoy. It is also a field of study filled with opportunity.

Turn Your Love of Plants into a Career

The world needs smart, motivated people to be caretakers of the land. And employers need leaders with a plant science background who can be effective managers.

Our Master of Professional Studies in Horticulture can teach you how to be both. The program is:

  • Highly customizable: Choose courses in agronomy to urban forestry
  • Applicable and practical: No research requirement
  • Accessible: No GRE or science undergraduate degree required
  • Supported: Study at the MN Landscape Arboretum, Horticulture Research Center, and in bee labs and trial gardens 
  • Connected: Notable faculty and alumni provide a valuable network

Sample Courses

  • Pollinator Protection
  • Horticulture Marketing
  • Public Garden Management
  • Organic Vegetable Production
  • Leading Projects and Teams
  • Honey Bees and Insects
  • Garden Design
  • Water Quality
  • Forest Ecology
  • Ethics

 

Steve Wicks head shot

You can email Steve, our graduate enrollment advisor, to learn more.

Or self-schedule an appointment:

Meet with Steve

Admission

Fall Application Deadline: March 15
Spring Application Deadline: October 15

The following items are required for admission:

  • a bachelor's degree from an accredited post-secondary US institution, or its foreign equivalent
  • a minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.8*
  • evidence of knowledge of current, introductory college level concepts of algebra and chemistry and biology or botany or plant propagation

* In exceptional circumstances, promising applicants with lower GPA or less work experience may be considered for the program. 

Advising

The College welcomes current U of M students, non-U of M students, and international students. We are here to help in whatever way works for you—online, via email, or over the phone. Chat with Steve Wicks, our graduate enrollment advisor, to get the answers you need to take the next step.

Meet with Steve

“If you don’t have a definite goal going into the program, don’t worry. You will quickly meet people and have experiences that will help you find exactly what it is you’re meant to do.” 
–Emily Tepe, alumna, author of The Edible Landscape