University Catalog 2024-2025

Horticultural Science (BS): Landscape Design, Gardens & Urban Environments Concentration

The Bachelor of Science in Horticultural Science: Landscape Design, Gardens and Urban Environments 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 Landscape Design, Gardens and Urban Environments concentration is a menu driven concentration that allows students to direct their education in either landscape design or gardens and their uses in urban spaces. Students are required to take two Biology courses, Soil Science, General Chemistry, 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 residential landscape design, landscape construction and maintenance, public gardens and urban ecosystem management or pursue a graduate degree.

Coordinator

Ms. Jodi Songer
Director of Undergraduate Programs
Department of Horticultural Science
Kilgore Hall
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC 27695-7609

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 114Introduction to Finite Mathematics with Applications3
or MA 121 Elements of Calculus
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
or PB 200 Plant Life
CH 101Chemistry - A Molecular Science3
CH 102General Chemistry Laboratory1
ARE 201Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics3
or EC 201 Principles of Microeconomics
or EC 205 Fundamentals of Economics
Foundational Courses
HS 201The World of Horticulture: Principles and Practices3
HS 242Introduction to Small Scale Landscape Design3
HS 272Landscape Design/Build6
HS 290Horticulture: Careers and Opportunities1
HS 301Plant Propagation4
HS 303Ornamental Plant Identification I3
HS 304Ornamental Plant Identification II3
HS 471Landscape Ecosystem Management4
SSC 200Soil Science3
SSC 201Soil Science Laboratory1
PB 321Introduction to Whole Plant Physiology3
AEC 360Ecology4
or PB 360 Ecology
Select one of the following Career Experience courses:3
Horticulture Internship
Research Experience in Horticultural Science
Teaching Experience in Horticultural Science
Electives
Environmental Electives3
Plant Protective Electives3
Business Elective 3
Broad-Scope Elective 3
Advised Electives16
GEP Courses
ENG 101Academic Writing and Research 14
GEP Humanities6
GEP Social Sciences3
GEP Health and Exercise Studies2
GEP US Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion3
GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives2
GEP Global Knowledge (verify requirement)
World Language Proficiency (verify requirement)
Free Electives
Free Electives (12 Hr S/U Lmt) 26
Total Hours120
1

A grade of C- or higher is required.

2

Students should consult their academic advisors to determine which courses fill this requirement.

*

Students will have at least one computer-aided design course. HS 418 Digital Media Graphic for Landscape Designers gives an overview of AutoCAD, Photoshop, Illustrator, etc. as applied to a single semester-long project. If a student plans on pursuing an MLA degree, they should take LAR 210 Digital Drawing for Landscape Architecture and LAR 211 Digital Design Media for Landscape Architecture.

Environmental Electives

AEC 380Water Resources: Global Issues in Ecology, Policy, Management, and Advocacy3
ES 200Climate Change and Sustainability3
NR 303Humans and the Environment3
IDS 201Environmental Ethics3
IDS 203Humans and the Environment3

Plant Protective Electives

CS 414Weed Science4
CS 415Integrated Pest Management3
ENT 425General Entomology3
or FOR 402 Forest Entomology
FOR 318Forest Pathology3
or PP 315 Principles of Plant Pathology
or PP 318 Forest Pathology

Business Electives

ACC 280Survey of Financial and Managerial Accounting3
ARE 215Small Business Accounting3
ARE 304Agribusiness Management3
ARE 306Agricultural Law3
ARE 309Environmental Law & Economic Policy3
ARE 312Agribusiness Marketing3
ARE 321Agricultural Financial Management3
ARE 323Agribusiness Finance3
ARE 332Human Resource Management for Agribusiness3

Broad-Scope Electives

AEC 470Urban Ecology3
CS 200Introduction to Turfgrass Management4
HS 280Hands-On-Horticulture3
HS 420Green Infrastructure3
HS 432Introduction to Permaculture3
HS 451Plant Nutrition3
HS 491Sustainable Agriculture Entrepreneurship Study Abroad3
SSC 341Soil Fertility and Nutrient Management3
SSC 342Soil and Plant Nutrient Analysis1
PB 215Medicinal Plants3
PB 220Local Flora3

Advised Electives

Landscape Design Electives
HS 252Landscape Graphic Communication2
HS 357Landscape Grading and Drainage4
HS 400Residential Landscaping6
HS 416Planting Design4
HS 418Digital Media Graphic for Landscape Designers3
Gardens & Urban Environments
COM 289Science Communication and Public Engagement3
HS 357Landscape Grading and Drainage4
HS 418Digital Media Graphic for Landscape Designers3
HS 428Soil Management Principles for Sustainable Agriculture1
HS 433Public Garden Administration3
HS 533Public Garden Administration3
NPS 340Fundamentals of Grant Development for Nonprofits3
PS 203Introduction to Nonprofits3
SMT 202Anatomy and Properties of Renewable Materials3
SMT 203Physical Properties of Sustainable Materials4
SSC 428Soil Management Principles for Sustainable Agriculture1

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 107 Precalculus I 3
 Hours16
Spring Semester
BIO 183
Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology
or Plant Life
4
COM 110
Public Speaking
or Interpersonal Communication
or Small Group Communication
3
GEP Humanities 3
MA 114
Introduction to Finite Mathematics with Applications
or Elements of Calculus
or Calculus for Life and Management Sciences A
or Introduction to Statistics
3
 Hours13
Second Year
Fall Semester
CH 101 Chemistry - A Molecular Science 3
CH 102 General Chemistry Laboratory 1
GEP Humanities 3
GEP Social Sciences 3
HS 303 Ornamental Plant Identification I 3
PB/AEC 360 Ecology 4
 Hours17
Spring Semester
Advised Elective 2
ARE 201
Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics
or Principles of Microeconomics
or Fundamentals of Economics
3
HS 242 Introduction to Small Scale Landscape Design 3
HS 304 Ornamental Plant Identification II 3
SSC 200 Soil Science 3
SSC 201 Soil Science Laboratory 1
 Hours15
Third Year
Fall Semester
Business Elective 3
GEP Health and Exercise Studies 1
Free Elective 2 3
HS 272 Landscape Design/Build 6
HS 492
Horticulture Internship
or Research Experience in Horticultural Science
or Teaching Experience in Horticultural Science
1-3
 Hours16
Spring Semester
Advised Elective 4
Advised Elective 6
Environmental Elective 3
PB 321 Introduction to Whole Plant Physiology 3
 Hours16
Fourth Year
Fall Semester
Advised Elective 4
Advised Elective 3
GEP US Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion 3
HS 471 Landscape Ecosystem Management 4
 Hours14
Spring Semester
Plant Protection Elective 3
Free Elective 3
GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives 2
GEP Health and Exercise Studies 1
HS 301 Plant Propagation 4
 Hours13
 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

Career Titles

  • Agricultural Engineer
  • Agricultural Inspector
  • Agricultural Sciences Professor
  • Agricultural Technician
  • Botanist
  • Crop Workers Supervisor
  • Farm and Ranch Manager
  • Farm Management Advisor
  • Farm Products Purchasing Agent
  • Farmers and Ranchers
  • Food & Drug Inspector
  • Food Science Technicians
  • Golf Course Manager
  • Greenhouse and Nursery Manager
  • Horticultural Worker Supervisor
  • Horticulture Therapist
  • Horticulturist
  • Irrigation Engineer
  • Landscape Architect
  • Landscape Contractor
  • Plant Breeder
  • Sales Representative (Agricultural Products)
  • Winemaker / Vinter

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