Botanical Garden: This study emphasis is intended for students wanting to work in a botanical garden. There are many types of opportunities in botanical gardens, ranging from maintenance of plant collections and plant exploration to conducting educational programs in gardening and plant science for the general public and presenting programs for special populations. Courses commonly used in this emphasis include: AGED 340, 425, 426, AGRO 105, BOTN 201, 327, 328, ENTO 405, GEOG 301, 305, 307, 435, EDTC 405, IDED 364, METR 204, PPHY 409, RENR 205, 215.
Business: The business emphasis is intended to provide students with a background in business management courses that would apply to any area of the horticultural industry. The specific choice of courses would depend, in part, on the area of horticulture that a student wanted to pursue. Emphasis on management courses would be common for students seeking managerial positions while emphasis on marketing courses would be common for students wanting positions in sales. Courses commonly used in this emphasis include: ACCT 209 or 229, 210 or 230, AGEC 105, 314, 316, 321, 325, 330, 344, 452, 489 (sales) AGED 340, ECON 202, 203, 323, FINC 341, MGMT 105, 211, 212, 363, 373, 470, MKTG 321, 322, 325, 347, 435.
Food Processing: Students pursuing an emphasis in food processing would be seeking careers as field men for processing plants, coordinators of crop production with plant operations, technical representatives for industries supplying the processing industry, and quality control. Courses commonly used in this emphasis include: AGEC 314, CHEM 102, 112, 242, BICH 303, 401, FSTC 213, 326, 327, MICR 206, MGMT 363, 373, VAPH 404.
Landscaping: Students pursuing the landscaping emphasis are usually seeking careers in interior and exterior landscape planning, construction, and maintenance. Nine semester hours should be taken from the business courses below and 12 hours from the other areas listed. Courses commonly used in this emphasis include: ACCT 209, 210, AGED 340, AGEN 201, 221, 335, 435, AGRO 302, 422, 428, 430, 432, 450, 452, BOTN 201, COSC 253, 254, CVEN 201, ECON 202, 203, ENDS 103, 104, 111, 170, ENTO 405, FINC 341, FRSC 420, 421, LAND 220, 221, 240, 250, 312, MGMT 212, 363, 373, MKTG 321, 322 325, 345, 347, PLPA 302, RENR 205.
Crop Production Systems: The emphasis in cropping systems is for students wanting to develop careers in production of greenhouse and nursery crops, field vegetable crops, fruit and nut crops, and many specialty crops. Courses commonly used in this emphasis include: ACCT 209, AGEC 105, 314, 325, AGEN 201, 221, 222, 325, 329, 335, 435, AGRO 303, 405, 422, 428, 430, 432, 450, 452, ANSC 107, 108, BOTN 201, ENTO 333, 405, MGMT 212, 470, PLPA 302, PPHY 409.
Science: The science emphasis is intended for students wanting to pursue a career in crop/plant oriented research. In most cases these students will go on to graduate study in the plant sciences. Horticultural teachers in colleges and specialists in extension both require advanced degrees and this is the emphasis most commonly used to prepare for graduate study. Many technical representative positions require advanced degrees as do an increasing number of positions in the horticultural supplies industries. Courses commonly used in this emphasis include: AGRO 318, 405, 422, 450, BICH 303, 410, 411, 412, 413, 431, BOTN 201, 453, CHEM 227, 228, 237, 238, 242, PHYS 201, 202, 213, PPHY 409, STAT 302.
Sociohorticulture: This study emphasis is intended to help students prepare for careers in horticultural therapy, urban horticulture, rural development, and international agricultural development. Students wanting to work for registration as a horticultural therapist must meet requirements of the American Horticultural Therapy Association. These change periodically and it is best to obtain a list of requirements for registration from the undergraduate coordinator. Courses commonly used in this emphasis include: ACCT 209, AGED 340, 426, 440, 441, AGEC 413, ANTH 205, 210, 300, 311, 314, NUTR 302, 401, SPED 212, 310, 420, HLTH 216, 217, 231, 353, ODED 326, IDED 364, 410, INST 410, PSYC 107, 306, REPK 340, SOCI 205, 321, 407.
Teaching: The teaching emphasis is intended for students who want to obtain a certificate to teach horticulture in the public secondary schools of Texas. Students in this area are jointly advised by both horticulture and agricultural education. Contact the undergraduate coordinator in horticulture to get the name and office of the Agricultural Education Dept. advisor for students wanting to teach horticulture in secondary schools. Requirements for teacher certification include the following:
General Education Requirements for Teacher Certification: English - 12 credits (6 of which must be writing courses), Speech - 3 credits, Mathematics - 3 credits, Science - 8 credits, History - 6 credits, Government - 6 credits, Fine Arts - 3 credits, Humanities - 3 credits, Social Science - 6 credits. Teaching Field Requirements: 48 credit hours of horticulture and other COALS courses. No course with a grade of D can be used. Professional Development Education: Students must successfully complete TASP and be admitted to Teacher Education through the Agricultural Education Department before taking courses listed below. Admission requires overall GPR of 2.5 on courses required for certification and on teaching field courses above. AGED courses include: AGED 301, AGED 427, *AGED 425, *AGED 426, *AGED 436, EDTC 405, INST 202, **INST 301, INST 410, TEED 323. (* Must be taken together in one block the Student Teaching Semester. ** Can be satisfied by EPSY 321 or PSYC 323 which can be used as part of Social Science elective in General Education Requirements for Teacher Certification.
Students wanting certification to teach other areas, such as biology, science composite or social science composite at the secondary school level must be advised by an advisor in the College of Education, Office of Student Affairs.