Academic Programs Catalog

College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Institute of Agricultural Technology

Programs
Fruit, Vegetable, and Organic Horticulture Management

Horticulture is a complex and diversified, yet fully integrated discipline that encompasses the biological, molecular, physical, management and marketing sciences and the arts to improve the production of nutritious, high-quality and safe food, advance the development and use of new specialty crops, enhance human health and well-being, and positively impact the natural and built environments.

The Fruit, Vegetable, and Organic Horticulture Management program provides students an opportunity to gain the necessary skills for a successful career in the multibillion dollar fruit and vegetable industries. The program combines classroom instruction and theory with practical experience gained through field laboratories and a professional internship. Graduates of the program work as owners, managers, buyers, or salespersons in a wide variety of horticultural food crop industries: fruit and vegetable plant production; farmers’ markets; organic farms and community-supported agriculture programs; urban gardening; irrigation design, installation, and management; public and/or private botanical gardens; and more.

Students will have opportunities to be extensively involved in professional and social activities beyond the classroom including: working in research laboratories; assisting in field-based projects, assisting with food crop production; running the Student Horticulture Association's annual spring show and plant sale; and becoming involved with the Student Organic Farm.

The Fruit, Vegetable, and Organic Horticulture Management program is offered by the Institute of Agricultural Technology in cooperation with the Department of Horticulture.

Requirements for Fruit, Vegetable, and Organic Horticulture Management

Students must complete 48 credits from the following:

1. All of the following courses (23 credits):
AT 293 Professional Internship in Agricultural Technology 3
CSS 110 Computer Applications in Agronomy 2
CSS 210 Fundamentals of Soil Science 3
ENT 111 Basics of Applied Entomology 2
HRT 109 Introduction to Applied Plant Science 2
HRT 203 Introduction to Horticulture 3
HRT 204 Plant Propagation and Use 3
HRT 207 Horticulture Career Development 1
HRT 218 Irrigation Systems for Horticulture 2
PLP 105 Fundamentals of Applied Plant Pathology 1
PLP 105L Fundamentals of Applied Plant Pathology Lab  1
2. A minimum of 15 credits from the following courses:
AE 151 Fabrication Technology 2
AE 153 Engine and Equipment Technology 2
AFRE 100 Decision-making in the Agri-Food System 3
AFRE 130 Farm Management I 3
AFRE 222 Agribusiness and Food Industry Sales 3
AT 101 Spanish for the Agricultural Industry 2
AT 202 Agricultural Regulation, Compliance and Safety 3
CSS 124 Introduction to Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems 2
CSS 126 Introduction to Weed Management 2
CSS 135 Crop Scouting and Investigation 3
CSS 226L Weed Science Laboratory 1
HRT 218L Irrigation Systems for Horticulture Laboratory 1
HRT 242 Passive Solar Greenhouses for Protected Cultivation 1
HRT 243 Organic Transplant Production 1
HRT 251 Organic Farming Principles and Practices 3
HRT 253 Compost Production and Use 1
3. Completion of 10 additional elective credits in the college as approved by the program coordinator in the Institute of Agricultural Technology.
Students who do not demonstrate English proficiency through the IAT-administered placement test or college-level transfer credit must complete AT 045 Agricultural Communications (2 credits) or an equivalent course as approved by the program coordinator. 

Students who do not demonstrate math proficiency through the IAT-administered placement test or college-level transfer credit must complete AT 071 Technical Mathematics (2 credits) or an equivalent course as approved by the program coordinator.