Agricultural Education (BS): Horticultural Science Concentration
The Agricultural Education major within the Department of Agricultural and Human Sciences prepares graduates to teach agriculture, serve as FFA advisors, and supervise agricultural experiences (SAE) in public and private schools.
The Horticultural Science concentration is one of seven concentrations offered for the Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education.
- Students interested in Agricultural Education may be eligible to apply for the North Carolina Teaching Fellows Program at NC State.
- Student teachers of agriculture may apply for Ed Scholars through NC State.
- Many alumni pursue careers in middle and high schools, universities and community colleges, county extension offices, and in the agricultural industry
Teacher Licensure
Completion of the B.S. program in Agricultural Education leads to teacher licensure in North Carolina for grades 6-12. Because of North Carolina’s reciprocity agreements, graduates also can pursue certification in about 35 states. Download the Teacher Licensure Checklist to review the requirements for admissions to teacher education candidacy and help you stay on course.
For more information about this program, visit our website.
Contact
Dr. Joseph L. Donaldson
Director of Undergraduate Programs, Agricultural and Human Sciences
919.515.1758
joseph_donaldson@ncsu.edu
Dr. Travis Park
Program Coordinator, Ag Education
919.515.9441
tdpark@ncsu.edu
Plan Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orientation | |||
| AEE 103 | Fundamentals of Agricultural and Extension Education | 1 | |
| or ALS 103 | Freshman Transitions and Diversity in Agriculture & Life Sciences | ||
| or ALS 303 | Transfer Transitions and Diversity in Agriculture & Life Sciences | ||
| Writing and Speaking | |||
| COM 110 | Public Speaking | 3 | |
| Sciences | |||
| BIO 181 | Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity | 4 | |
| BIO 183 | Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology | 4 | |
| CH 101 & CH 102 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science and General Chemistry Laboratory | 4 | |
| Agricultural Education | |||
| AEE 101 | Introduction to Career and Technical Education 1 | 1 | |
| AEE 206 | Introduction to Teaching Agriculture 1 | 3 | |
| AEE 226 | Computer Applications and Information Technology in Agricultural & Extension Ed 1 | 3 | |
| AEE 303 | Administration and Supervision of Student Organizations 1 | 3 | |
| AEE 322 | Experiential Learning in Agriculture 1 | 3 | |
| AEE 326 | Teaching Diverse Learners in AED 1 | 3 | |
| AEE 327 | Conducting Summer Programs in Agricultural Education | 1 | |
| AEE 424 | Planning Agricultural Educational Programs 1 | 3 | |
| AEE 426 | Methods of Teaching Agriculture 1 | 3 | |
| AEE 427 | Student Teaching in Agriculture 1 | 8 | |
| AEE 491 | Seminar in Agricultural Education | 1 | |
| Other Professional Education | |||
| EDP 304 | Educational Psychology 1 | 3 | |
| ELP 344 | School and Society 1 | 3 | |
| ED 311 | Classroom Assessment Principles and Practices 1 | 2 | |
| ED 312 | Classroom Assessment Principles and Practices Professional Learning Lab 1 | 1 | |
| Teaching Content Courses | |||
| BAET 201 | Shop Processes and Management | 3 | |
| or TDE 110 | Materials & Processes Technology | ||
| ANS 150 & ANS 151 | Introduction to Animal Science and Introduction to Animal Science Lab | 4 | |
| SSC 200 & SSC 201 | Soil Science and Soil Science Laboratory | 4 | |
| Select one of the following Economics Electives: | 3 | ||
| Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics | |||
| Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics | |||
| Principles of Microeconomics | |||
| Fundamentals of Economics | |||
| Horticulture Science Concentration | |||
| HS 201 | The World of Horticulture: Principles and Practices | 3 | |
| HS 203 | Home Plant Propagation | 3 | |
| or HS 301 | Plant Propagation | ||
| CS 211 | Plant Genetics | 3 | |
| or HS 215 | Agricultural Genetics | ||
| HS 411 | Nursery Management | 3 | |
| or HS 440 | Greenhouse Management | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | ||
| Temperate-Zone Tree Fruits: Physiology and Culture | |||
| Small Fruit Production | |||
| Vegetable Production | |||
| Horticulture Science Elective | 2 | ||
| GEP Courses In The Major | |||
| ENG 101 | Academic Writing and Research 1 | 4 | |
| GEP Humanities | 6 | ||
| GEP Mathematical Sciences | 6 | ||
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 2 | ||
| GEP US Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion | 3 | ||
| GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives | 5 | ||
| GEP Global Knowledge (verify requirement) | |||
| World Language Proficiency (verify requirement) | |||
| Free Electives | |||
| Select 12 hours of Free Electives | 5 | ||
Total hours of free electives vary in order to allow the minimum hours required for the degree to equal 120 hours. | |||
| Total Hours | 119 | ||
- 1
A grade of C- or higher is required.
Horticulture Science Electives
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| ANS 215 | Agricultural Genetics | 3 | |
| CS 410 | Community Food Systems | 3 | |
| CS 480 | Sustainable Food Production (capstone) | 1 | |
| CS 502 | Plant Disease: Methods & Diagnosis | 2 | |
| CS 541 | Plant Breeding Methods | 3 | |
| FS 462 | Postharvest Physiology | 3 | |
| FS 562 | Postharvest Physiology | 3 | |
| HS 200 | Home Horticulture | 3 | |
| HS 201 | The World of Horticulture: Principles and Practices | 3 | |
| HS 202 | Home Plant Identification | 3 | |
| HS 203 | Home Plant Propagation | 3 | |
| HS 204 | Home Landscape Maintenance | 3 | |
| HS 205 | Home Food Production | 3 | |
| HS 215 | Agricultural Genetics | 3 | |
| HS 242 | Introduction to Small Scale Landscape Design | 3 | |
| HS 250 | Home Landscape Design: Creating Garden Spaces | 3 | |
| HS 252 | Landscape Graphic Communication | 2 | |
| HS 272 | Landscape Design/Build | 6 | |
| HS 275 | Floral Design | 3 | |
| HS 280 | Hands-On-Horticulture | 3 | |
| HS 290 | Horticulture: Careers and Opportunities | 1 | |
| HS 301 | Plant Propagation | 4 | |
| HS 302 | Gardening with Herbaceous Perennials | 3 | |
| HS 303 | Ornamental Plant Identification I | 3 | |
| HS 304 | Ornamental Plant Identification II | 3 | |
| HS 357 | Landscape Grading and Drainage | 4 | |
| HS 400 | Residential Landscaping | 6 | |
| HS 410 | Community Food Systems | 3 | |
| HS 411 | Nursery Management | 3 | |
| HS 416 | Planting Design | 4 | |
| HS 418 | Digital Media Graphic for Landscape Designers | 3 | |
| HS 420 | Green Infrastructure | 3 | |
| HS 421 | Temperate-Zone Tree Fruits: Physiology and Culture | 3 | |
| HS 422 | Small Fruit Production | 3 | |
| HS 423 | 3 | ||
| HS 428 | Soil Management Principles for Sustainable Agriculture | 1 | |
| HS 431 | Vegetable Production | 4 | |
| HS 432 | Introduction to Permaculture | 3 | |
| HS 433 | Public Garden Administration | 3 | |
| HS 440 | Greenhouse Management | 3 | |
| HS 442 | Floriculture Crop Production | 3 | |
| HS 451 | Plant Nutrition | 3 | |
| HS 462 | Postharvest Physiology | 3 | |
| HS 471 | Landscape Ecosystem Management | 4 | |
| HS 475 | 3 | ||
| HS 476 | Crop Physiology and Production in Controlled Environments | 3 | |
| HS 480 | Sustainable Food Production (capstone) | 1 | |
| HS 491 | Sustainable Agriculture Entrepreneurship Study Abroad | 3 | |
| HS 492 | Horticulture Internship | 1-3 | |
| HS 493 | Research Experience in Horticultural Science | 1-3 | |
| HS 494 | Teaching Experience in Horticultural Science | 1-3 | |
| HS 495 | Experimental Courses in Horticultural Science | 1-6 | |
| HS 502 | Plant Disease: Methods & Diagnosis | 2 | |
| HS 516 | Planting Design | 4 | |
| HS 520 | Green Infrastructure | 3 | |
| HS 521 | Temperate-Zone Tree Fruits: Physiology and Culture | 3 | |
| HS 523 | 3 | ||
| HS 532 | Introduction to Permaculture | 3 | |
| HS 533 | Public Garden Administration | 3 | |
| HS 541 | Plant Breeding Methods | 3 | |
| HS 550 | Environmental Nursery Production | 3 | |
| HS 551 | Plant Nutrition | 3 | |
| HS 562 | Postharvest Physiology | 3 | |
| HS 576 | Crop Physiology and Production in Controlled Environments | 3 | |
| HS 590 | Special Problems in Horticultural Science | 1-6 | |
| PP 502 | Plant Disease: Methods & Diagnosis | 2 | |
| SSC 428 | Soil Management Principles for Sustainable Agriculture | 1 |
Semester Sequence
This is a sample.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| AEE 101 | Introduction to Career and Technical Education 1 | 1 |
| AEE 103 | Fundamentals of Agricultural and Extension Education 2 | 1 |
| BIO 181 | Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity | 4 |
| COM 110 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| ENG 101 | Academic Writing and Research | 4 |
| GEP Mathematical Sciences | 3 | |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| AEE 226 | Computer Applications and Information Technology in Agricultural & Extension Ed 1 | 3 |
| ANS 150 | Introduction to Animal Science | 3 |
| ANS 151 | Introduction to Animal Science Lab | 1 |
| BIO 183 | Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology | 4 |
| GEP Mathematical Sciences | 3 | |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| AEE 206 | Introduction to Teaching Agriculture | 3 |
| HS 201 | The World of Horticulture: Principles and Practices | 3 |
| BAET 201 or TDE 110 | Shop Processes and Management or Materials & Processes Technology | 3 |
| Economics Elective | 3 | |
| GEP Humanities | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| CH 101 & CH 102 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science and General Chemistry Laboratory | 4 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Plant Genetics | ||
| Agricultural Genetics | ||
| Agricultural Genetics | ||
| Horticulture Science Elective | 3 | |
| GEP US Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion | 3 | |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| AEE 322 | Experiential Learning in Agriculture | 3 |
| HS 301 | Plant Propagation | 4 |
| EDP 304 | Educational Psychology | 3 |
| SSC 200 | Soil Science | 3 |
| SSC 201 | Soil Science Laboratory | 1 |
| GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives | 3 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| AEE 303 | Administration and Supervision of Student Organizations | 3 |
| AEE 326 | Teaching Diverse Learners in AED | 3 |
| ED 311 | Classroom Assessment Principles and Practices | 2 |
| ED 312 | Classroom Assessment Principles and Practices Professional Learning Lab 1 | 1 |
| ELP 344 | School and Society 1 | 3 |
| Horticulture Science Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| AEE 327 | Conducting Summer Programs in Agricultural Education | 1 |
| AEE 426 | Methods of Teaching Agriculture 1 | 3 |
| HS 411 or HS 440 | Nursery Management or Greenhouse Management | 3 |
| GEP Humanities | 3 | |
| GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives | 2 | |
| Free Electives 3 | 4 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| AEE 424 | Planning Agricultural Educational Programs | 3 |
| AEE 427 | Student Teaching in Agriculture | 8 |
| AEE 491 | Seminar in Agricultural Education | 1 |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
- 1
A minimum grade of C is required for teacher licensure.
- 2
Incoming freshmen complete AEE 103 Fundamentals of Agricultural and Extension Education. Transfer students may complete ALS 103 Freshman Transitions and Diversity in Agriculture & Life Sciences or ALS 303 Transfer Transitions and Diversity in Agriculture & Life Sciences.
- 3
Total hours of free electives vary in order to allow the minimum hours required for the degree to equal 120 credit hrs.
Career Opportunities
The Agricultural Business Management Program prepares graduates for careers in management, marketing, sales, finance, supply chain, entrepreneurship, and related fields. The program has sufficient flexibility to provide more extensive course work in science and math for those students desiring to prepare for advanced graduate study. The concentration in biological sciences prepares graduates for management, marketing, and sales careers in fields such as biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, health care, environmental protection, and food processing. Graduates specializing in agribusiness entrepreneurship are trained in value creation and prepared to address the strong demand in agtech, biotech, and foodtech.
Career Titles
- Agricultural Inspector
- Agricultural Technician
- Aquaculture Specialist
- Bank and Branch Managers
- Buyer
- Farm and Ranch Manager
- Farm Management Advisor
- Farm Product Buyer
- Farm Products Purchasing Agent
- Farmers and Ranchers
- Financial Analyst
- Food & Drug Inspector
- Greenhouse and Nursery Manager
- Insurance Agent
- Loan Officer
- Market Research Analyst
- Purchasing Manager
- Real Estate Broker
- Sales Representative (Agricultural Products)
- Winemaker / Vinter
Learn More About Careers
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Agricultural and Applied Economics Association
AgCareers.com
National Agri-Marketing Association