Horticulture Plant Science

Delaware State University’s Plant Sciences – Horticulture degree offers a unique blend of tradition and innovation. Our program addresses cutting-edge applications of Horticulture in modern industries such as medicine, energy, food production, ornamental plant selection and breeding. It also carries forward our institution’s 100-plus years of leadership in plant science education and research.

Delaware State offers far more hands-on experience than the typical horticulture program. Plant Science majors spend time in real-world learning environments, including our demonstration farms and greenhouses, extension programs, and herbarium. Our students get a practical first-hand education in subjects such as

• plant breeding and genetics
• soil and water management
• plant systematics
• weed, insect and disease management
• horticultural plant marketing

Professional Preparation

Graduates of Delaware State’s plant sciences program have an outstanding success rate in the job market, in part because the program emphasizes experiential learning. Students build up their resumes and develop professional contacts through participation in on-campus research projects, extension service work, and internships. Plant sciences – Horticulture graduates go into careers such as

• greenhouse management
• landscape design
• lawn and landscape maintenance
• pest control
• ornamental horticultural crop production
• plant merchandising

About 15 percent of our Horticulture students continue to graduate school.

Faculty

Faculty members in the College of Agriculture and Related Sciences combine a strong academic background with extensive industry ties and professional experience. As a result, they can offer career guidance and mentorship as well as classroom instruction. Many of our instructors are very active researchers, and they regularly provide undergraduates with opportunities to get involved in scientific investigations and research projects. Our small class sizes guarantee a high degree of direct faculty-student interaction.

Research and Experience

Horticulture majors at Delaware State have access to the Phillips Herbarium, one of the country’s most extensive collections of plant samples (and the largest herbarium at any HBCU). They also have the opportunity to get involved in Delaware State’s extension programs, which provide various forms of support to the wider agricultural community, including research, training, education, and public outreach. These programs enable Plant Science – Horticulture majors to collaborate with industry professionals on pilot programs, research projects, policy studies, and other initiatives. Undergraduates also enjoy opportunities to get involved in faculty-sponsored research programs.

All students in the Plant Sciences – Horticulture program perform a senior capstone project in sustainable agriculture. In this project, students perform a real-world agricultural analysis that integrates factors such as

• profit potential
• environmental impacts
• crop yields
• technological inputs
• labor requirements