Horticulture is the propagation, culture, production, marketing, and postharvest physiology of growing fruits, nuts, vegetables, herbs, spices, ornamental plants, and medicinal plants.
The Horticulture major at UGA educates students in many aspects of plant science including physiology, nutrition, identification, soils, pest control, design, and sustainability. Students tailor their coursework around one of four specializations: 1) Landscape Contracting – ornamental plants and landscape design, installation, and maintenance; 2) General Horticulture – a broader range of study of fruits, vegetables, ornamentals, and greenhouse crops; 3) Sustainable Food Production – understanding how to grow fruits and vegetables using organic and other sustainable practices; or 4) Horticulture Science – a graduate student track that supplements foundational courses with chemistry, genetics, and statistics.
Career opportunities include management, production, marketing, or postharvest handling of vegetables, fruits, flowers, or ornamental plants; landscape contracting; sales or technical advisement with a commercial firm; field advisor or manager of nurseries, greenhouses, parks, arboretums, botanical gardens, and garden centers; high school or technical school teaching; horticultural journalist; agricultural extension agent; and others.
Study Abroad Options: Horticultural Study Tour of Europe (Italy, France, Britain), Viticulture and Enology in the Mediterranean Region (Italy)