Curriculum

As an Oregon State horticulture major, you'll study plant pathology, pest and weed management, soils, ecology, agricultural business and policy within the diverse field of horticulture. You'll also participate in applied, experiential learning, and OSU faculty members will share their knowledge and research of the latest technologies and trends in the horticulture field.

Degree requirements

A minimum of 180 quarter credits — at least 60 of which must be upper-division credits — are required to graduate with your bachelor's degree in horticulture, including:

• OSU's Baccalaureate Core (general education)
• Major requirements: Horticulture
  • Specialization option requirement: General horticulture 

Sample course topics

• Plant nutrition
• Weed management
• Plant propagation
• Landscape plant materials
• Organic farming and gardening
• Sustainable landscapes
• Urban forestry
• Applied ecology
• Environmental economics and policy

Additional program features

Internship or research project

As part of your horticulture studies, you will be required to complete a 360-hour internship or a research project in a horticulture-related position. The internship will provide important hands-on field experience and enable you to successfully apply the knowledge learned in your classes. If you are currently working in the horticultural industry, you may be able to use your employment to meet the internship requirement.

If you intend to continue to graduate school or work in a research setting, completing a research project is recommended.

Transfer credits

Some degree requirements may be transferred from other institutions. Please note that a minimum of 45 credits of the last 75 credits in this degree program must be completed at Oregon State (online or on campus) to meet the academic residency requirement.

Previously earned credits must be reviewed upon admittance to OSU for appropriate articulation. Find more information about transferring credits using the Office of Admissions’ single-course search tool.

Add a minor

As an OSU Ecampus student, you can add a minor to your degree program. OSU offers a diverse selection of minors online. You can combine horticulture with a minor in business or a second language to create an even more powerful résumé fit for today's competitive job market.