Academic Programs Catalog

College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences

Undergraduate Programs
Turfgrass Science and Management

The Bachelor of Science degree in Turfgrass Science and Management is designed to prepare students for career opportunities as golf course superintendents, sports turf managers, lawn care professionals, grounds managers for private and public businesses, green industry salespersons and managers, and positions within governmental and institutional entities.

Turfgrass Science and Management involves the application of biological, chemical, and physical science principles to establish and care for turfgrasses that are used to provide biological, structural, functional, and aesthetic benefits. This major provides students the opportunity to understand the challenges and opportunities to integrate scientific innovations with the science and art of turfgrass management. 

Requirements for the Bachelor of Science Degree in Turfgrass Science and Management

  1. The University requirements for bachelor's degrees as described in the Undergraduate Education section of this catalog; 120 credits, including general elective credits, are required for the Bachelor of Science Degree in Turfgrass Science and Management.

    The University's Tier II writing requirement for the Cropping Systems Science major is met by completing TURF 402. That course is referenced in item 3. below.

    Students who are enrolled in the Environmental Soil and Water Science major leading to the Bachelor of Science degree in the Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, may complete an alternative track to Integrative Studies in Biological and Physical Sciences that consists of the following courses: Plant Biology 105 and 106 combined; and Chemistry 141, 143, and 161. The completion of Plant Biology 106 and Chemistry 161 satisfies the laboratory requirement. Plant Biology 105 and 106 combined and Chemistry 141, 143, and 161 may be counted toward both the alternative track and the requirements for the major referenced in item 3. below.

    The completion of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources mathematics requirement may also satisfy the University mathematics requirement.
  2. The requirements of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources for the Bachelor of Science degree.

    Certain courses referenced in requirement 3. below may be counted toward College requirements as appropriate.
  3. The following requirements for the major:
    1. a. One of the following courses (3 to 5 credits):
      1. MTH 103 College Algebra (3)
      2. MTH 116 College Algebra and Trigonometry (5)
    2. b. One of the following courses (3 or 4 credits):
      1. STT 200 Statistical Methods (3)
      2. STT 201 Statistical Methods (4)
      3. STT 224 Introduction to Probability and Statistics (3)
      4. STT 421 Statistics I (3)
    3. c.  One of the following courses (4 credits):
      1. CEM 143 Survey of Organic Chemistry (4)
      2. CEM 251 Organic Chemistry I (4)
    4. d. All of the following courses (56 credits):
      1. CEM 141 General Chemistry (4)
      2. CEM 161 Chemistry Laboratory I (1)
      3. COM 100 Human Communication (3)
      4. CROP 110 Computer Applications in Agronomy (2)
      5. CROP 226L Weed Science Lab (1)
      6. CROP 326 Weed Science (2)
      7. ENT 264 Turfgrass Entomology (3)
      8. PLB 105 Plant Biology (3)
      9. PLB 106 Plant Biology Lab (1)
      10. PLP 266 Turf Pathology (3)
      11. SOIL 210 Fundamentals of Soil Science (3)
      12. TURF 178 Turf Irrigation (3)
      13. TURF 181 Pesticide and Fertilizer Application Technology (3)
      14. TURF 212 Turfgrass Biology (3)
      15. TURF 242 Turf Cultural Practices (2)
      16. TURF 262 Turf Management Seminar I (1)
      17. TURF 267 Performance Turf Design and Construction (2)
      18. TURF 269 Turf Management Strategies (2)
      19. TURF 272 Turf Soil Fertility (2)
      20. TURF 282 Turfgrass Physiology (2)
      21. TURF 402 Turf in the Environment and Society (W) (3)
      22. TURF 462 Turf Management Seminar II (1)
      23. TURF 469 Advanced Turf Management Strategies (1)
      24. TURF 472 Advanced Turf Soil Fertility (1)
      25. TURF 482 Advanced Turfgrass Physiology (1)
      26. TURF 493 Professional Internship in Turfgrass Science and Management (3)
    5. e. One of the following courses: (3 credits):
      1. CROP 350 Introduction to Plant Genetics (3)
      2. CROP 441 Plant Breeding and Biotechnology (3)
    6. f. One of the following courses: (3 credits):
      1. GEO 103 Introduction to Climate Change Studies (3)
      2. GEO 203 Introduction to Meteorology (3)
      3. GEO 402 Agricultural Climatology (3)
    7. g. Two of the following courses: (5 or 6 credits):
      1. ACC 230 Survey of Accounting Concepts (3)
      2. HB 425 Golf Operations and Management (3)
      3. MGT 325 Management Skills and Processes (3)
      4. TURF 171 Operations Budgeting for Golf Course Managers (2)
    8. h. A minimum of 3 credits from the following courses:
      1. CROP 451 Biotechnology Applications in Plant Breeding and Genetics (3)
      2. CROP 460 Plant-Microbe Interactions (3)
      3. CROP 485 Physiology in Plant Nutrition (3)
      4. CSUS 354 Water Resources Management (3)
      5. ENT 404 Fundamentals of Entomology (4)
      6. ENT 477 Pesticides in Pest Management (3)
      7. GLG 411 Hydrogeology (3)
      8. MGI 425 Microbial Ecology (3)
      9. PLP 405 Plant Pathology (4)
      10. PLP 407 Diseases and Insects of Forest and Shade Trees (4)
      11. SOIL 330 Soil Chemistry (2)
      12. SOIL 340 Applied Soil Physics (2)
      13. SOIL 360 Soil Biology (3)
      14. SOIL 455 Environmental Pollutants in Soil and Water (3)
      15. SOIL 470 Soil Resources (3)