Horticulture (B.S.)

FAST FACTS ›

  • Clemson’s Musser Fruit Farm is home to cutting-edge genetic research finding ideal varieties of fruit trees for various growing regions.
  • State-of-the-art greenhouses provide students with ample space for learning skills such as propagation or plant production.
  • Beautiful and diverse, the South Carolina Botanical Garden is just off the main campus.
  • Clemson’s campus is home to an award-winning arboriculture team that serves as a model for landscape installation and maintenance.
ABOUT.

It’s not easy being green. Green isn’t just the color of chlorophyll anymore; today it is also an adjective. Green now colors the way many industries demonstrate sustainability and eco-awareness. And plants are at the root of the green movement, making our world both healthy and beautiful. As a horticulture major, you might find yourself getting a little dirty in our expansive greenhouse complex as you learn about root physiology. You might choose to cultivate your knowledge of sustainable crop production at our student-run Organic Farm. Or maybe you’ll design an environmental sculpture in the South Carolina Botanical Garden. Some of our students even branch out and discover the opportunities available in arboriculture through the extensive variety of tree species here on campus and in the arboretum. From greenhouses to gardens and laboratories to landscapes, a horticulture degree at Clemson blends science, business, artistry and communications to produce graduates who are highly marketable.

CLASSES.

What you'll study:

Whether you are interested in growing your own business or developing drought-resistant plant cultivars, the courses you take as a horticulture major will prepare you well for a green future. The degree curriculum is extremely flexible and allows you to select courses that fit your goals and interests. This flexibility is what separates Clemson’s horticulture major from the competition.

Freshman year, you’ll be exposed to foundational science course work in biology and chemistry. These courses — along with math and English — build the foundation for upper-level course work in plant biology, landscape plants, plant propagation and soil science. Our freshmen enjoy that first semester, as they are able to dive right into introductory horticulture classes.

With the flexible curriculum, you’ll be able to choose from a long list of related course work that includes classes such as field botany, ecology, annuals and perennials, landscape design, turfgrass physiology, urban tree care, vegetable crops, genetics and plant disease.

Curriculum:

Popular Minors:

  • Agricultural Business Management
  • Agricultural Mechanization and Business
  • Business Administration
  • Crop and Soil Environmental Science
  • Entomology
  • Environmental Science and Policy
  • Urban Forestry

Similar Majors:

BEYOND THE CLASSROOM.

In a major like horticulture, students must leave the confines of the classroom. The landscapes of Clemson’s campus offer plant diversity, and professors utilize campus resources as well as the nearby South Carolina Botanical Garden, 17,500-acre Clemson Experimental Forest, Walker Golf Course and the arboretum.

Internships and Research Projects:

COMPETE:
Each year, horticulture students travel to the PLANET Annual Student Career Days competition, which brings together U.S. college students to compete in events pertaining to the landscape industry. This year, Clemson won eight top-20 finishes!
PLANTS:
Each spring, students in the Horticulture Club open up the greenhouses to sell unique and distinctive varieties of flowers, succulents, vegetable crops and hanging baskets. Proceeds support student travel expenses.
GARDENS:
Clemson is home to the diverse 295-acre S.C. Botanical Garden, which blends natural landscapes, display gardens, and miles of streams and nature trails. The gardens include an American Hosta Society Display Garden and a 70-acre arboretum.
INTERN:
Each student is required to complete an internship to learn on-the-job skills that support the classroom experience. Placement support is available through the college’s Student Services Center.

Connect with Other Students:

CAREERS.

What are students doing at graduation?*

57%

Employed

0%

Grad School

28%

Seeking Employment

15%

Other

Where are students headed at graduation?*

Recent employers and job titles*

  • Fafard — Research Leader
  • The Greenery — Residential Supervisory Manager
  • Woodleys Landscape — Design Consultant

Recent graduate schools and sought degree types*

  • Clemson University — Master’s
  • Ohio State University — Master’s
  • University of Florida — Master’s

Common Career Areas**

  • Landscape Design, Construction and Maintenance
    • Residential Design
    • Landscape Construction
    • Landscape Maintenance
    • Specialty Installation (Irrigation Systems, Ponds, Rockscapes, Lighting)
    • Sales and Contracting
    • Arboriculture
  • Turfgrass Science and Management
    • Golf Course Management
    • Sport Turf Management
    • Sod Production
    • Residential Lawn Installation and Management
    • Irrigation Systems
    • Research
  • Public Horticulture
    • Adult and Youth Education
    • Urban Horticulture
    • Plant Collections
    • Urban Forestry
    • Horticulture Therapy
    • Communications
    • Management
  • Plant Sciences, Horticulture and Biotechnology
    • Greenhouse and Nursery Management
    • Vegetable and Fruit Production
    • Plant Biotechnology
    • Plant Breeding and Genetics
    • Agronomy
*Represents only Clemson University graduates who completed Michelin® Career Center surveys from 2009 to 2011.
**Used w/permission from Univ. of Tennessee.
FIND OUT MORE.

Have more questions or want more information? Fill out the form below, which goes directly to the following department contact as well as our admissions office.

Katie Black, Student Recruitment Coordinator
888-472-5433 — hulse@clemson.edu