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.
Students learn the methods, processes, art, and science of horticulture. Courses in each concentration vary and are taught in classroom and laboratory settings or, for some classes, online. Internships are required, which provide hands-on experience and learning.
Students can follow paths toward industry, entrepreneurship, research, and an advanced degree.
Dr. Helen Kraus
Undergraduate Coordinator and Professor
Department of Horticultural Science
114 Kilgore Hall, Campus Box 7609
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC 27695-7609
Phone: 919-515-1208
Plan Requirements
Horticultural Science (BS): Plant Breeding and Biotechnology in Horticulture Concentration: 120 Total Units
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Orientation | ||
| ALS 103 | Freshman Transitions and Diversity in Agriculture & Life Sciences | 1 |
| or ALS 303 | Transfer Transitions and Diversity in Agriculture & Life Sciences | |
| Communication | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Public Speaking | ||
| Interpersonal Communication | ||
| Small Group Communication | ||
| Mathematics & Sciences | ||
| MA 107 | Precalculus I | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Elements of Calculus | ||
| Calculus for Life and Management Sciences A | ||
| Introduction to Statistics | ||
| BIO 181 | Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity | 4 |
| BIO 183 | Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology | 4 |
| CH 101 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science | 3 |
| CH 102 | General Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| CH 221 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CH 222 | Organic Chemistry I Lab | 1 |
| CH 223 | Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
| CH 224 | Organic Chemistry II Lab | 1 |
| 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 351 | General Biochemistry | 4 |
| or BCH 451 | Principles of Biochemistry | |
| CS 413 | Plant Breeding | 2 |
| GN 311 | Principles of Genetics | 4 |
| GN 312 | Elementary Genetics Laboratory | 1 |
| HS 201 | The World of Horticulture: Principles and Practices | 3 |
| HS 290 | Horticulture: Careers and Opportunities | 1 |
| HS 301 | Plant Propagation | 4 |
| HS 303 | Ornamental Plant Identification I | 3 |
| HS 304 | Ornamental Plant Identification II | 3 |
| or PB 403 | Systematic Botany | |
| PB 421 | Plant Physiology | 3 |
| PB 480 | Introduction to Plant Biotechnology | 3 |
| SSC 200 | Soil Science | 3 |
| SSC 201 | Soil Science Laboratory | 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 | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Horticulture Internship | ||
| Research Experience in Horticultural Science | ||
| Teaching Experience in Horticultural Science | ||
| Electives | ||
| Plant Protective Electives | 6 | |
| Business Elective | 3 | |
| Broad-Scope Elective | 3 | |
| Advised Electives | 9 | |
| GEP Courses | ||
| ENG 101 | Academic Writing and Research 1 | 4 |
| GEP Humanities | 6 | |
| GEP Social Sciences | 3 | |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 2 | |
| GEP Additional Breadth (Humanities/Social Sciences/Visual and Performing Arts) | 3 | |
| GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives | 2 | |
| 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) 2 | 5 | |
| Total Hours | 120-121 | |
| 1 | A grade of C- or higher is required. |
| 2 | Students should consult their academic advisors to determine which courses fill this requirement. |
Plant Protective Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CS 414 | Weed Science | 4 |
| CS 415 | Integrated Pest Management | 3 |
| ENT 425 | General Entomology | 3 |
| Select a maximum of one of the following: | ||
| Forest Pathology | ||
| Principles of Plant Pathology | ||
| Forest Pathology | ||
Business Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ACC 280 | Survey of Financial and Managerial Accounting | 3 |
| ARE 215 | Small Business Accounting | 3 |
| ARE 306 | Agricultural Law | 3 |
| ARE 309 | Environmental Law & Economic Policy | 3 |
| ARE 311 | Agricultural Markets | 3 |
| ARE 312 | Agribusiness Marketing | 3 |
| ARE 332 | Human Resource Management for Agribusiness | 3 |
| HS 475 | Horticulture Entrepreneurship | 3 |
| MIE 310 | Introduction to Entrepreneurship | 3 |
| MIE 413 | New Venture Planning | 3 |
Advised Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Broad-Scope Electives | ||
| BIO 414 | Cell Biology | 3 |
| BIT 402 | Biotechnology Networking and Professional Development | 1 |
| BIT 502 | Biotechnology Networking and Professional Development | 1 |
| CS 411 | Crop Ecology | 3 |
| FS 462 | Postharvest Physiology | 3 |
| FS 562 | Postharvest Physiology | 3 |
| HS 451 | Plant Nutrition | 3 |
| HS 462 | Postharvest Physiology | 3 |
| HS 476 | Crop Physiology and Production in Controlled Environments | 3 |
| HS 491 | Sustainable Agriculture Entrepreneurship Study Abroad | 3 |
| HS 551 | Plant Nutrition | 3 |
| HS 562 | Postharvest Physiology | 3 |
| HS 576 | Crop Physiology and Production in Controlled Environments | 3 |
| PB 413 | Plant Anatomy | 2 |
| PB 513 | Plant Anatomy | 2 |
| Breeding Elective | ||
| BCH 453 | Biochemistry of Gene Expression | 3 |
| BCH 553 | Biochemistry of Gene Expression | 3 |
| BIT 467 | PCR and DNA Fingerprinting | 2 |
| BIT 468 | Genome Mapping | 2 |
| BIT 476 | Applied Bioinformatics | 2 |
| BIT 567 | PCR and DNA Fingerprinting | 2 |
| BIT 568 | Genome Mapping | 2 |
| GN 423 | Population, Quantitative and Evolutionary Genetics | 3 |
| GN 425 | Advanced Genetics Laboratory | 2 |
| GN 427 | Introductory Bioinformatics | 3 |
| GN 451 | Genome Science | 3 |
| GN 461 | Advanced Bioinformatics | 3 |
| Biotechnology Electives | ||
| BIT 410 | Manipulation of Recombinant DNA | 4 |
| BIT 462 | Gene Expression Analysis: Microarrays | 2 |
| BIT 471 | RNA Interference and Model Organisms | 2 |
| BIT 474 | Plant Genetic Engineering | 2 |
| BIT 562 | Gene Expression Analysis: Microarrays | 2 |
| BIT 571 | RNA Interference and Model Organisms | 2 |
| BIT 574 | Plant Genetic Engineering | 2 |
| FS 402 | Chemistry of Food and Bioprocessed Materials | 4 |
| FS 502 | Chemistry of Food and Bioprocessed Materials | 4 |
| GN 421 | Molecular Genetics | 3 |
| GN 521 | Molecular Genetics | 3 |
Semester Sequence
This is a sample.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| ALS 103 or ALS 303 |
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 or MA 131 |
Elements of Calculus or Calculus for Life and Management Sciences A |
3 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| 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 |
| Hours | 14 | |
| 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 |
| Hours | 14 | |
| 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 or PB 403 |
Ornamental Plant Identification II or Systematic Botany |
3 |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| Hours | 14-15 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| Advised Elective | 3 | |
| BCH 351 or BCH 451 |
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 | ||
| Specialization Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| 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 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| CS 413 | Plant Breeding | 2 |
| GEP Additional Breadth | 3 | |
| PB 421 | Plant Physiology | 3 |
| GEP Social Science Requirement | 3 | |
| PB 480 | Introduction to Plant Biotechnology | 3 |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Departmental Elective | 3 | |
| Business Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 3 | |
| Plant Protection Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 120-121 | |
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