Flower care

High School Preparation High school students should prepare for college by completing courses in advanced math, plant biology, chemistry and horticulture. A minimum of two years of High School Spanish is highly recommended. Summer jobs with a greenhouse, golf course, nursery or landscaping firm are beneficial.

Extracurricular Activities and Student Exchange Programs The School of Agriculture has numerous clubs and organizations. Ornamental horticulture students have their own club and Pi Alpha Xi Chapter. The ornamental horticulture teams compete in the annual National Floral Crop Quality Evaluation and Design Competition, and North American Colleges and Teachers in Agriculture (NACTA) Conferences. These opportunities allow students to delve deeper into ornamental horticulture and travel across the United States to interact with their peers from other universities.Students in ornamental horticulture are encouraged to participate in the National and International Student Exchange Programs. These programs allow students to expand their educational opportunities and learn about diverse peoples throughout the globe. Participating in exchange programs demonstrates to potential employers that you are willing to go the extra mile.

Outstanding Career Opportunities UW-Platteville graduates that have completed a major in ornamental horticulture qualify for positions in landscape design and management, greenhouse management, horticultural therapy, plant breeding and genetics, plant tissue culture and biotechnology, plant inspection, education and research. Our job placement rates have been outstanding, exceeding 95% since the inception of the program. Graduates may also wish to further their education by pursuing a graduate study.

Internships and Independent Study Projects Ornamental horticulture students are required to complete on-the-job training (internship) while attending UW-Platteville. Students must complete at least one, three-credit internship during their undergraduate studies. Internships are available at nationally recognized greenhouses, nurseries, garden centers, botanical gardens and entertainment theme parks. For example, several of our students have participated in the student internship programs at Walt Disney World Florida. Internships provide students excellent practical experience while earning money and college credits. Students are also encouraged to participate in independent study projects with faculty. These are typically research projects in any area of ornamental horticulture or plant biotechnology.

Faculty and Facilities UW-Platteville has faculty that are knowledgeable in ornamental horticulture and plant science, and recognized for excellence in teaching. Courses for the ornamental horticulture major are taught by faculty in the School of Agriculture, Department of Biology, and Department of Business and Accounting. Average class size ranges from 10 to 50, allowing instructors to become acquainted with students and provide individualized attention. Students majoring in ornamental horticulture are provided handson practical experience and theoretical knowledge in the classroom. In addition to teaching, our faculty advise student organizations and judging teams, conduct research, consult with businesses and provide horticultural advice to the public. Facilities at UW-Platteville include modern laboratories for ornamental horticulture, plant tissue culture, soils analysis and crops. Students are encouraged to become actively involved in the operations of Pioneer Greenhouse, a state-of-the-art 6,000 sq ft greenhouse complex, and the development of Pioneer Gardens, a 30,000 sq ft collection of theme gardens used for educational purposes and to beautify our campus.

Emphasis Areas The Business and Marketing emphasis was created for students who wish to operate their own business or be a manager of a large firm. Students in this emphasis complete a minimum of 39 credits of ornamental horticulture and plant science plus 21 credits in agribusiness, business administration or computer science. An emphasis in Professional Landscape Management was created to meet the needs of students interested in careers in landscape design, landscape maintenance or turf science. Students in this emphasis complete a minimum of 48 credits of ornamental horticulture and plant science plus 12 credits in agribusiness, business administration, computer science or agriculture mechanics and industrial technology. The Plant Breeding and Genetics emphasis was created for students pursuing a career in plant breeding and molecular genetics research, or interested in graduate study. Students in this emphasis complete a minimum of 51 credits of ornamental horticulture, plant science, genetics and biotechnology plus nine credits in agribusiness, business administration, computer science or communications

Requirements Students in ornamental horticulture are required to complete a minimum of 36-credits in ornamental horticulture, soils and plant science. You can obtain a 60-credit Bachelor of Science degree in ornamental horticulture by completing the 36 credits of requirements plus one of the 24-credit emphases (see emphasis areas below). However, if you have other interests outside of horticulture, you may select a minor in another area such as soil and crop science (Agronomy), biotechnology, agribusiness, art, etc, or a second major.

What is Ornamental Horticulture? Ornamental horticulture is a branch of the broad field of horticulture that focuses on the art and science of floriculture (greenhouse management and interior design), landscape design and management, nursery management, turf management, and the development of recreational areas for public and private use.