Horticultural Science (BS): Plant Breeding and Biotechnology in Horticulture Concentration

To see more about what you will learn in this program, visit the Learning Outcomes website!

The Bachelor of Science in Horticultural Science: Plant Breeding & Biotechnology in Horticulture Concentration is one of the four concentrations offered in by the Department of Horticultural Science. Students are offered a unique look at various aspects of Horticulture.  

The Plant Breeding & Biotechnology in Horticulture concentration is a menu driven concentration that allows students to direct their education in either plant breeding or biotechnology. Students are required to take two Biology courses, Soil Science, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry I and II, Biochemistry, Genetics, and Whole Plant Physiology. The remaining courses for the major are selected from a series of topical menus: Plant Protection Electives, Business Electives, and Advised Electives. 

Students can follow paths toward research and biotechnology in academia or industry or pursue a graduate degree.

Coordinator

Dr. Helen Kraus
Director of Undergraduate Programs and Associate Professor.
Department of Horticultural Science
114 Kilgore Hall, Campus Box 7609
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC 27695-7609
919.515.1208

Plan Requirements

Orientation
ALS 103Freshman Transitions and Diversity in Agriculture & Life Sciences1
or ALS 303 Transfer Transitions and Diversity in Agriculture & Life Sciences
Communication3
Public Speaking
Interpersonal Communication
Small Group Communication
Mathematics & Sciences
MA 107Precalculus I3
MA 121Elements of Calculus3
or MA 131 Calculus for Life and Management Sciences A
or ST 311 Introduction to Statistics
BIO 181Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity4
BIO 183Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology4
CH 101
CH 102
Chemistry - A Molecular Science
and General Chemistry Laboratory
4
CH 221
CH 222
Organic Chemistry I
and Organic Chemistry I Lab
4
CH 223
CH 224
Organic Chemistry II
and Organic Chemistry II Lab
4
Select one of the following:3
Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics
Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics
Principles of Microeconomics
Fundamentals of Economics
Foundational Courses
BCH 351General Biochemistry3-4
or BCH 451 Principles of Biochemistry
CS 413Plant Breeding2
GN 311Principles of Genetics4
GN 312Elementary Genetics Laboratory1
HS 201The World of Horticulture: Principles and Practices3
HS 290Horticulture: Careers and Opportunities1
HS 301Plant Propagation4
HS 303Ornamental Plant Identification I3
HS 304Ornamental Plant Identification II3
or PB 403 Systematic Botany
PB 421Plant Physiology3
PB 480Introduction to Plant Biotechnology3
SSC 200
SSC 201
Soil Science
and Soil Science Laboratory
4
BIT 100Current Topics in Biotechnology3-4
or ES 200 Climate Change and Sustainability
or COM 289 Science Communication and Public Engagement
or CS 224 Seeds, Biotechnology and Societies
Select one of the following Internship/Research/Teaching courses:3
Horticulture Internship
Research Experience in Horticultural Science
Teaching Experience in Horticultural Science
Electives
Plant Protective Electives6
Business Elective 3
Broad-Scope Elective 3
Advised Electives9
GEP Courses
ENG 101Academic Writing and Research 14
GEP Humanities6
GEP Social Sciences3
GEP Health and Exercise Studies2
GEP Additional Breadth (Humanities/Social Sciences/Visual and Performing Arts)3
GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives2
GEP U.S. Diversity (verify requirement)
GEP Global Knowledge (verify requirement)
Foreign Language Proficiency (verify requirement)
Free Electives
Free Electives (12 Hr S/U Lmt) 25
Total Hours120

Plant Protective Electives

CS 414Weed Science4
CS 415Integrated Pest Management3
ENT 425General Entomology3
Select a maximum of one of the following:
Forest Pathology
Principles of Plant Pathology
Forest Pathology

Business Electives

ACC 280Survey of Financial and Managerial Accounting3
ARE 215Small Business Accounting3
ARE 306Agricultural Law3
ARE 309Environmental Law & Economic Policy3
ARE 311Agricultural Markets3
ARE 312Agribusiness Marketing3
ARE 332Human Resource Management for Agribusiness3
HS 475Horticulture Entrepreneurship 3
MIE 310Introduction to Entrepreneurship3
MIE 413New Venture Planning3

Advised Electives Categories

Broad-Scope Electives
BIO 414Cell Biology3
BIT 402Biotechnology Networking and Professional Development1
BIT 502Biotechnology Networking and Professional Development1
CS 411Crop Ecology3
FS 462Postharvest Physiology3
FS 562Postharvest Physiology3
HS 451Plant Nutrition3
HS 462Postharvest Physiology3
HS 476Crop Physiology and Production in Controlled Environments 3
HS 491Sustainable Agriculture Entrepreneurship Study Abroad3
HS 551Plant Nutrition3
HS 562Postharvest Physiology3
HS 576Crop Physiology and Production in Controlled Environments 3
PB 413Plant Anatomy2
PB 513Plant Anatomy2
Breeding Elective
BCH 453Biochemistry of Gene Expression3
BCH 553Biochemistry of Gene Expression3
BIT 467PCR and DNA Fingerprinting2
BIT 468Genome Mapping2
BIT 476Applied Bioinformatics2
BIT 567PCR and DNA Fingerprinting2
BIT 568Genome Mapping2
GN 423Population, Quantitative and Evolutionary Genetics3
GN 425Advanced Genetics Laboratory2
GN 427Introductory Bioinformatics3
GN 451Genome Science3
GN 461Advanced Bioinformatics3
Biotechnology Electives
BIT 410Manipulation of Recombinant DNA4
BIT 462Gene Expression Analysis: Microarrays2
BIT 471RNA Interference and Model Organisms2
BIT 474Plant Genetic Engineering2
BIT 562Gene Expression Analysis: Microarrays2
BIT 571RNA Interference and Model Organisms2
BIT 574Plant Genetic Engineering2
FS 402Chemistry of Food and Bioprocessed Materials4
FS 502Chemistry of Food and Bioprocessed Materials4
GN 421Molecular Genetics3
GN 521Molecular Genetics3

Semester Sequence

This is a sample.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall SemesterHours
ALS 103
Freshman Transitions and Diversity in Agriculture & Life Sciences
or Transfer Transitions and Diversity in Agriculture & Life Sciences
1
BIO 181 Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity 4
ENG 101 Academic Writing and Research 4
HS 201 The World of Horticulture: Principles and Practices 3
HS 290 Horticulture: Careers and Opportunities 1
MA 121
Elements of Calculus
or Calculus for Life and Management Sciences A
3
 Hours16
Spring Semester
BIO 183 Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology 4
CH 101 Chemistry - A Molecular Science 3
CH 102 General Chemistry Laboratory 1
Select one of the following: 3
Public Speaking  
Interpersonal Communication  
Small Group Communication  
ST 311 Introduction to Statistics 3
 Hours14
Second Year
Fall Semester
Select one of the following: 3
Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics  
Principles of Microeconomics  
Fundamentals of Economics  
CH 221 Organic Chemistry I 3
CH 222 Organic Chemistry I Lab 1
HS 303 Ornamental Plant Identification I 3
SSC 200 Soil Science 3
SSC 201 Soil Science Laboratory 1
 Hours14
Spring Semester
Advised Elective 3
CH 223 Organic Chemistry II 3
CH 224 Organic Chemistry II Lab 1
Select one of the following: 3-4
Current Topics in Biotechnology  
Climate Change and Sustainability  
Science Communication and Public Engagement  
Seeds, Biotechnology and Societies  
HS 304
Ornamental Plant Identification II
or Systematic Botany
3
GEP Health and Exercise Studies 1
 Hours14
Third Year
Fall Semester
Advised Elective 3
BCH 351
General Biochemistry
or Principles of Biochemistry
4
HS 301 Plant Propagation 4
Select one of the following: 3
Horticulture Internship  
Research Experience in Horticultural Science  
Teaching Experience in Horticultural Science  
Plant Protection Elective 3
 Hours17
Spring Semester
Advised Elective 3
Free Elective 3
GEP Humanities 3
GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives 2
GN 311 Principles of Genetics 4
GN 312 Elementary Genetics Laboratory 1
 Hours16
Fourth Year
Fall Semester
CS 413 Plant Breeding 2
GEP Additional Breadth 3
PB 421 Plant Physiology 3
GEP Social Sciences 3
PB 480 Introduction to Plant Biotechnology 3
 Hours14
Spring Semester
Advised Elective 3
Business Elective 3
Free Elective 3
GEP Health and Exercise Studies 3
Plant Protection Elective 3
 Hours15
 Total Hours120

Career Opportunities

Horticulture graduates fill positions in production, processing, sales, service, and outreach. Among these are:

  • County extension agents
  • Vocational agriculture teachers
  • Plant breeders
  • Landscape designers and landscape contractors
  • Floral crop grower or floral designer
  • Fruit and vegetable growers
  • Business owners
  • Orchard, nursery, greenhouse, and garden center managers
  • Research, production, and promotional specialists with commercial seed, fertilizer chemical, and food companies
  • Urban horticulture specialists
  • Garden writers
  • Quality control technologists
  • USDA specialists
  • County and state government planners
  • Leaders in other phases of agricultural and industrial developments
  • Students also prepare for careers in research, teaching or extension in horticulture