Horticulture B.S.

Earn your horticulture degree online with a concentration in horticultural business management

Build the knowledge to oversee horticultural operations. Study online, learn from experienced faculty, and get support from a department with a long-standing history in education and research in horticulture.

Horticulture remains central to how humans survive and thrive on the planet. Yet, there are currently not enough skilled horticulturalists to meet growing needs for a safe, healthy food supply, and sustainable green spaces.

By completing this online horticulture degree, you can develop the skills to pursue a career in an in-demand field.

Learn the science and business of growing plants

This program’s curriculum emphasizes both scientific and business concepts integral to the green industry, providing versatile knowledge with a global perspective. Study the system of horticulture — from seed to final product — ensuring you have a background that will help you succeed.

Improve your understanding of plant growth, development, and environmental response to better manage plant production and improve yield quality and quantity. Topics of study include:

• Horticultural science
• Pest management
• Plant cultivation
• Controlled environment agriculture

Additionally, agriculture-focused business courses train you in areas fundamental to managing a horticultural business. These courses focus on:

• Finance
• Marketing
• Economics
• Law

Online learning in a hands-on fashion

This program’s course of study allows students to maintain full-time employment and earn a degree at the same time.

Horticulture is by nature a hands-on field, and although this program is online, it provides plenty of active learning opportunities. Projects like developing greenhouse models and writing business plans give you the practical experience to succeed in the industry. Many careers in horticulture involve sales, management, and finance. This program helps you build these skills through courses with an agricultural focus. Apply what you learn in the online classroom in your current or future horticulture job.

Support from faculty and peers

Faculty make it a priority to facilitate meaningful conversations through email, online discussion forums, and video conferencing. Access in-depth information from researchers and practitioners who are passionate, knowledgeable, and experienced in all aspects of horticulture.

Learning online doesn’t mean learning alone. With an average class size of 21 students, this online horticulture bachelor's degree program allows you to interact closely with your peers, share ideas, and collaborate.

While an education may not be required for many entry-level jobs, more advanced, higher-paying horticulture careers require at least a bachelor's degree. When you earn your horticulture degree online with CSU, you gain scientific knowledge and business skills that will make you eligible for a wide variety of green industry jobs.

Potential job titles include:

• Plant technician
• Crew supervisor
• Superintendent of operations
• Sales person
• Manger of propagation (garden center)
• Inventory manager
• Field supervisor
• Landscape technician
• Equipment operator
• Grower manager
• Greenhouse manager
• Plant collections curator

Organizations that have a need for employees with an academic background in horticulture include:

• Garden centers
• City/county parks and recreation departments
• CSAs
• Nurseries
• Public gardens
• Landscape design firms
• Greenhouses
• Farms
• Vineyards

Heath Jorgenson

“CSU made a promise and delivered. I also delivered by putting in the effort. I’m now working as a horticulture and gardens consultant for private estates on the barrier islands. I use my CSU education every single day on the job and in my own garden. I’m finally respected as a horticulturist. I would absolutely recommend this program.”

Why Choose CSU?

As a student in CSU's online horticulture bachelor's program, you receive the same education, learn from the same faculty, and earn the same regionally accredited degree as students on campus. Additionally, you can expect:

• A Strong Foundation in Science: This degree is science-focused, giving you knowledge to not only cultivate and manage plants, but to deeply understand plant biology and physiology, and effectively investigate and solve problems.
• Practical Business Training: Many careers in horticulture involve sales, management, and finance, and this program helps you build your skills in these areas through courses with an agricultural focus.
• A Program Born from a Rich History: CSU is well known for its horticulture programs, which date back to the 1920s. This long-standing history has led to the attainment of highly qualified faculty, and strong relationships with industry and academic societies. These close ties keep faculty, and the curriculum they design, finely tuned to the topics and techniques most relevant to industry today.
• A Quality Learning Experience: With an average class size of 21 students, this program gives you the opportunity to interact closely with your instructors and your peers.
• Convenience and Flexibility: The online format allows you to earn your degree from a reputable research university while maintaining a busy work schedule and personal life.

Learn more about CSU's rankings and accolades.

Requirements to Graduate

A minimum of 120 credits are required to complete this degree. This includes:

• 42 upper-division (300-400 level) credits
• 30 upper-division credits completed through Colorado State University

The number of courses needed for completion of the program depends on:

• The number of transfer credits awarded
• Fulfillment of the All-University Core Curriculum
• Degree coursework requirements

Curriculum

The curriculum listed below is intended to inform prospective students about the overall theme of the program and should not be used as an example program of study. Students need to consult their advisor to develop a degree completion plan based on the credits transferred into this program. You have the option to use the Transferology website to conduct a self-review of your potential transfer courses. This tool will assist you in seeing how your previous college coursework may transfer to CSU. Please note, new online courses are in development to provide additional choices.

All-University Core Curriculum (AUCC) – 31 credits

Students are strongly encouraged to select AUCC courses in consultation with their academic advisor. The following courses are required as part of the 31 required AUCC credits for the horticulture degree.

Here are a few of the AUCC options required of this major:

• CO 150 – College Composition (3 cr.)
• MATH 117 – College Algebra in Context I (1 cr.)
• MATH 118 College Algebra in Context II (1 cr.)
• MATH 124 – Logarithmic & Exponential Function (1 cr.)
• HORT 100 – Horticultural Science (4 cr.)
• CHEM 107 – Fundamentals of Chemistry (4 cr.)
• BUS 220 – Ethics in Contemporary Organizations (3 cr.)

Required Horticultural Business Management Concentration Courses (around 75 credits depending on course choices)

Choose one of the following two computer courses: BUS 150, CS 110

• CS 110 – Personal Computing (4 cr.)
• BUS 150 – Business Computing Concepts and Applications (3 cr.)
• SPCM 200 – Public Speaking (3 cr.)
• AREC 202 – Agricultural & Resource Economics (3 cr.)
• STAT 204 – Statistics With Business Applications (3 cr.)
• ACT 205 – Fundamentals of Accounting (3 cr.)
• SOCR 240 – Introductory Soil Science (4 cr.)
• HORT 260 – Plant Propagation (4 cr.)
• FIN 305 – Fundamentals of Finance (3 cr.)
• MGT 305 – Fundamentals of Management (3 cr.)
• MKT 305 – Fundamentals of Marketing (3 cr.)
• HORT 310 – Greenhouse Management (4 cr.)
• HORT 325 – Native Plants in the Landscape (3 cr.)
• HORT 347 – Hydroponics (3 cr.)
• HORT 401 – Medicinal and Value-Added Uses of Plants (3 cr.)
• HORT 410 – Postharvest Biology and Technology (3 cr.)
• HORT 412 – Floriculture Crops (4 cr.)
• AB 420 – Horticulture Entomology (2 cr.)
• HORT 424 – Topics in Organic Agriculture (3 cr.)
• BZ 440 – Plant Physiology (3 cr.)
• HORT 441 – Turfgrass Science (3 cr.)
• HORT 453 – Principles of Fruit Crop Management (3 cr.)
• HORT 454 – Horticulture Crop Production & Management (2 cr.)
• HORT 462 – Viticulture Practices in Grape Production (3 cr.)
• HORT 476 – Environmental Plant Stress Physiology (3 cr.)
• AB 480A1 – Horticultural Entomology (2 cr.)
• HORT 487 – Internship (1-18 cr.)

Choose 15 Credits of Upper Division Horticulture Courses
Select any upper-division (300- to 400-level) HORT course not required or selected elsewhere in the program.

• Choose 6 credits of Upper Division Agricultural Economics, Business Coursework
  You will work with your advisor to select options for this coursework requirement.



Complete around 14 credits of electives

Students will work with their advisor to choose elective coursework to reach the minimum of 120 credits for a bachelor’s degree. Many transfer students will transfer in elective coursework that meets this requirement.

Enhance your degree with a minor

Broaden your degree by adding a minor that deepens your interests and builds valuable, career-ready skills. A minor helps you explore new ideas, gain focused expertise, and strengthen your education without significantly changing your degree plan. Many courses can count toward both your major and minor, including courses you’ve already completed, as long as all requirements are finished before graduation.

Explore all Minors

Application Deadlines

Planning to transfer credits from another college or university? Please review our FAQ page, then complete a Tentative Transfer Evaluation Form to see how your prior credits may transfer.