Plant Sciences Prospective Students

B.S. in Plant Sciences (PLSC)

The Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture offers a Bachelor of Science in Plant Sciences with five areas of specialization. See more information at curricula overview.

Why would our PLSC programs interest you?

Our curriculum appeals to students who have an interest in plants and their role in the environment. Student in this major come from a variety of backgrounds, ranging from rural to suburban and urban areas. Plant Science majors learn basic principles underlying plant growth and development along with a variety of hands-on skills required in growing and managing plants. Students begin by taking a variety of our introductory courses that also satisfy campus CORE requirements. In time students enroll in specialized upper-division courses, such as plant identification, propagation, pathology, and management.

The department stresses genuine connections between students and faculty. These connections are developed through in-class discussions, field trips, mandatory faculty advising, directed internships, and international experiences. The department maintains a well-managed internship program and currently offers four study-abroad courses. Our Plant Sciences curriculum culminates with a capstone course that is taken during the senior year.

After graduation, students take a variety of jobs. Some are led to work in service industries, such as: Landscape Management; Turf and Golf Course Management; Urban Forestry; Plant Production; and Greenhouse and Nursery Management. Students showing a strong scientific bent are well-prepared for graduate school at the University of Maryland and at other top-tier universities.

An Overview of the Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture Undergraduate Programs

For more information, contact Kathleen Hunt at khunt@umd.edu or 301-405-4355.

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