Academic Programs Catalog

College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Institute of Agricultural Technology

Programs
Turfgrass Management

The growing demand for recreational areas and rededication to the maintenance of green spaces in America has created a shortage of turfgrass specialists. With an international reputation in turfgrass research and education, we offer two pathways in turfgrass management—Golf Course Management or Sports and Commercial Turf Management.
 
The Turfgrass Management – Golf Course program provides students with a solid foundation in plant science along with the specific expertise and skills needed for a career in golf course supervision and management. This program offers students hands-on learning experiences across numerous areas of study, such as soil and landscape science, pest management and golf course design and construction. Previous work experience on a golf course maintenance crew is expected. Upon completion of the program, graduates often achieve successful careers at the more than 14,000 golf courses in the United States, as senior crew members; superintendents; professional groundskeepers; golf course managers; turf specialists; licensed irrigators; or sales and marketing professionals.
 
The Sports and Commercial Turf Management program provides students with a solid foundation of knowledge in turfgrass management as it pertains to sports beyond golf. This program offers students hands-on learning experiences across numerous areas of study, such as soil and landscape science, plant biology, pesticide and fertilizer technology, and performance turf design and construction. Upon completion of the program, graduates often achieve successful careers in sports and turf management, as professional baseball groundskeepers; football and soccer turf managers; turf specialists in lawn-care and landscape-maintenance companies; licensed irrigators; sod production managers; or sales and marketing professionals.
 

Requirements for the Golf Course Emphasis

Students must complete 54 credits from the following:
1. All of the following courses (52 credits):
AE 153 Engine and Equipment Technology 2
AT 101 Spanish for the Agricultural Industry 2
AT 102 Turf and Landscape Analytical Practices 2
AT 293 Professional Internship in Agricultural Technology 3
CSS 110 Computer Applications in Agronomy 2
CSS 126 Introduction to Weed Management 2
CSS 171 Operations Budgeting for Golf Course Managers 2
CSS 178 Turfgrass Irrigation 3
CSS 181 Pesticide and Fertilizer Application Technology 3
CSS 210 Fundamentals of Soil Science 3
CSS 226L Weed Science Laboratory 1
CSS 232 Turfgrass Management 4
CSS 262 Turfgrass Management Seminar 2
CSS 264 Golf Course Design and Construction Techniques 2
CSS 267 Performance Turf Design and Construction 2
CSS 269 Turfgrass Strategies: Integration and Synthesis 2
CSS 272 Turfgrass Soil Fertility 2
CSS 282 Turfgrass Physiology 2
ENT 364 Turfgrass Entomology 3
HRT 109 Introduction to Applied Plant Science 2
HRT 213 Landscape Maintenance 2
HRT 213L Landscape Maintenance Field Laboratory 1
PLP 266 Turf Pathology 3
Students must enroll in two separate 1-credit sections of CSS 262.
2. Complete a minimum of 2 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 Accuplacer 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.

Requirements for the Sports and Commercial Turf Management Emphasis

Students must complete 54 credits from the following:
1. All of the following courses (52 credits):
AE 153 Engine and Equipment Technology 2
AT 101 Spanish for the Agricultural Industry 2
AT 102 Turf and Landscape Analytical Practices 2
AT 293 Professional Internship in Agricultural Technology 3
CSS 110 Computer Applications in Agronomy 2
CSS 126 Introduction to Weed Management 2
CSS 171 Operations Budgeting for Golf Course Managers 2
CSS 178 Turfgrass Irrigation 3
CSS 181 Pesticide and Fertilizer Application Technology 3
CSS 210 Fundamentals of Soil Science 3
CSS 226L Weed Science Laboratory 1
CSS 232 Turfgrass Management 4
CSS 262 Turfgrass Management Seminar 2
CSS 267 Performance Turf Design and Construction 2
CSS 269 Turfgrass Strategies: Integration and Synthesis 2
CSS 272 Turfgrass Soil Fertility 2
CSS 282 Turfgrass Physiology 2
ENT 364 Turfgrass Entomology 3
HRT 109 Introduction to Applied Plant Science 2
HRT 213 Landscape Maintenance 2
HRT 213L Landscape Maintenance Field Laboratory 1
HRT 214 Landscape and Turfgrass Business Operations 2
PLP 266 Turf Pathology 3
Students must enroll in two separate 1 credit sections of CSS 262.
2. Complete a minimum of 2 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 Accuplacer 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.

Program offerings in both emphasis areas are integrated with other areas in turfgrass and landscape and nursery.  Courses  include technical, communication, mathematics, and business content.  Placement training opportunities are offered at many leading industrial businesses.