Master of Professional Studies in Horticulture

Prerequisite course work may be completed at the University of Minnesota or at other educational institutions and is subject to transfer review.

Algebra

Any one of the six math courses listed below satisfies the algebra requirement.

• MATH 1031 College Algebra and Probability (3 credits; prereq. 3 years of high school math and placement exam or GC 0731 with a grade of C or better)
• MATH 1051 Precalculus I (3 credits; prereq. 3 years of high school math and placement exam or GC 0731 with a grade of C or better)
• MATH 1142 Short Calculus (3 credits; prereq. 3−5 years of high school math or MATH 1031 with a grade of C or better)
• MATH 1151 Precalculus II (3 credits; prereq. 3−5 years of  high school math and placement exam or MATH 1051 with a grade of C or better)
• MATH 1155 Intensive Precalculus (5 credits; prereq. 3 years of  high school math and placement exam or GC 0731 with a grade of C or better. Equivalent to MATH 1051 plus 1151)
• MATH 1271 Calculus I (4 credits; prereq. 4 years of  high school math including trigonometry and placement exam or MATH 1151 or MATH 1155 with a grade of C or better)

Chemistry

Either of the two chemistry courses listed below satisfies the chemistry requirement:

• CHEM 1015/1017 (or CHEM 1011) Introductory Chemistry (4 credits; prereq. high school chemistry and 2 years of high school math; high school physics recommended; for students not passing placement exam)
• CHEM 1021 Chemical Principles I (4 credits; prereq. placement exam, or CHEM 1011, or CHEM 1015/1017)

Biology, Botany, or Plant Propagation

Any one of the three options below satisfies this requirement:

• BIOL 1009 General Biology (4 credits; prereq high school chemistry, one term of college chemistry recommended)
• BIOL 2022 General Botany (3 credits; prereq. BIOL 1001 or BIOL 1009)
• HORT 1001 Plant Propagation (4 credits; no prereq.)

Several of the courses listed above are also prerequisites for other classes you’ll likely take.

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

The GRE (Graduate Record Examination) is not required.

* In exceptional circumstances, promising applicants with lower GPA or less work experience may be considered for the program. An explanation for the GPA, and evidence that academic success at the graduate level is achievable, must be addressed in the application (extenuating circumstances).

1. First, access the online application. (In the application select University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, Continuing and Professional Studies, Horticulture - MPS)
2. All required application materials must be electronically attached to your application.

Applicant Statements

• Professional statement: Typically one to two pages, double-spaced, should describe your personal and/or career goals.
• Diversity statement: Optional.
• Extenuating Circumstances statement: If your undergraduate GPA is below 2.8 or you have less work experience, please provide an explanation.

Letters of Recommendation

Two letters of recommendation are required. Letters should be solicited from individuals who can provide a candid assessment of your abilities (including strengths and weaknesses), personality, character, and potential for graduate-level academic success and professional achievement. 

Transcripts

Unofficial transcripts or academic records for each institution (even if you didn’t receive a degree) should be uploaded directly to the online application. International students should also upload an English translation if the transcript is not in English. If possible, make sure the institution has put your name on the transcript/record. 

Resume or CV

Submit a current resume or CV.

GRE Scores

The GRE (Graduate Record Examination) is not required.

Application Fee

A nonrefundable application fee must be paid on submission. 

You may be able to transfer up to 10 credits of graduate-level coursework completed prior to admission, with the approval of the Director of Graduate Studies.

Transfer coursework requirements:

• Taken at the University of Minnesota or another accredited institution 
• Completed at the graduate level and listed on a graduate transcript
• Earned a grade of B or better
• Completed no more than five years prior to admission to the program 

Transfer Coursework Taken as an Undergraduate

You may be able to transfer up to 6 of the 10 transfer coursework credits taken as an undergraduate, with the approval of the Director of Graduate Studies and the Associate Director for Graduate Programs.

Prebaccalaureate transfer coursework requirements:

• Completed as a prebaccalaureate student pursing an undergraduate degree at the University of Minnesota and listed on your undergraduate transcript
• Taken at the graduate level
• Earned a grade of B or higher
• Completed no more than five years prior to admission to the program
• Not counted toward completion of a bachelor’s degree

In order to transfer your graduate-level credits completed as a prebaccalaureate student, submit:

1. A petition form, signed by an undergraduate program advisor confirming credits were not used toward undergraduate degree 
2. Syllabi from course(s), preferred
3. Full APAS report

The DGS and the Associate Director for Graduate Programs will review the information and jointly decide on the use of the credits in your graduate program.

If your native language is not English, please submit scores from the TOEFL, MELAB, or IELTS English proficiency examination. Read more about required scores.

• Required TOEFL scores are 84 or above, with section scores of at least 21 on writing and at least 19 on reading.
• Required IELTS score is 6.5, with section scores of at least 6.5 on both writing and reading.
• Required MELAB score is 84.

For information on visa status, contact the International Student and Scholar Service for information on visa status.

How to Register for Undergraduate Courses to Satisfy Prerequisites

Complete steps 1−5 found on the One Stop page for nondegree students. Please note that undergraduate courses used to satisfy prerequisites will not count toward your degree requirements. 

How to Register for Graduate-level Courses BEFORE Being Admitted to a Graduate Program

Credit courses taken before admission may be applied toward this degree. You can take a graduate-level course before being admitted if:

• the course is graduate-level (4xxx-level or above), and
• you register for credit as a nondegree graduate student and pay graduate-level tuition.

Follow these step to register:

1. Download and submit a Registration Request for Graduate Credit for Nondegree Students Form. Registration for nondegree students is not available online.
2. Send the form to the department offering the courses for authorization. This form must be used each term until you are admitted to a program.
3. Upon authorization, the department offering the graduate course will forward the form to the registrar or provide you with further instructions.
4. Check email and mail for confirmation and payment instructions.
    

• More information can be found on the registration page for nondegree students.
• More detailed course information can be found using the U of M Schedule Builder.