B.S. in Plant Sciences: Turf and Golf Course Management
The Turf and Golf Course Management Program at the University of Maryland provides students with the broad based skills needed to succeed as a practicing turfgrass professional. The program focuses on golf turf management but also has been designed to expose students to all segments of the turfgrass industry.
Curriculum
The required course work stresses an interdisciplinary science approach to turfgrass management. The curriculum's applied courses integrate new product and research information into real world turfgrass management programs. The use of new technologies and the impact of turfgrass management on the environment is also stressed in the curriculum.
Career Opportunities
The management of turfgrasses is a highly specialized profession with numerous career opportunities for those possessing degrees in turfgrass management. Traditionally, the number of opportunities available to Turf and Golf Course Management students has exceeded the number of graduates. This trend is expected to continue in the future. Turf and Golf Course Management Program graduates are commonly employed as:
- Golf course superintendent
- Grounds superintendent
- Stadium and professional sports facility manager
- Parks and recreational facility manager
- Regional sales or manufacturing representative
- Sod production manager
- Lawn care company owner/manager
- Turfgrass facility construction specialists
- Governmental or private sector turfgrass environmental specialists
See career opportunities and internships in other programs.
Location
The University of Maryland is located nine miles from Washington DC in the heart of the turfgrass transition zone. The transition zone is widely viewed by turfgrass professionals as being one of the most difficult regions in which to manage turf. Our location provides unique opportunities for students to learn first hand how to manage both warm- and cool-season grasses in a challenging environment.The nearby cities of Washington D.C. and Baltimore are home to many golf and sports turf facilities recognized as being among the nation's best. These facilities provide numerous internship opportunities for our Turf and Golf Course Management Program students.
Facilities
The Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture is housed in the Plant Science Building and in H.J. Patterson Hall. Turf and Golf Course Management program courses are taught in both buildings. State of the art classrooms containing the latest in computer-aided teaching technology are paired with well-equipped teaching laboratories.
Students receive hands-on experience in many facets of turfgrass management in field laboratory exercises conducted at the University of Maryland Paint Branch Turfgrass Research and Education Facility. The Paint Branch facility contains 40 acres of turfgrass research studies and over 12,000 square feet of office, laboratory, conference, classroom and equipment storage space dedicated exclusively to turfgrass teaching and research. It is one of the largest on campus turfgrass research and education facilities in the nation.
Faculty
The turfgrass faculty are involved in many aspects of turfgrass management. Each turfgrass faculty team member teaches within the program, conducts turfgrass research of regional and national significance and actively participates in providing advisory services to local and national turfgrass industry organizations.