Get Hyped About Horticulture

   I’ve noticed that students settle into a track without ever looking at the wider range of options available to them. I originally committed to environmental science and decided to change my major to horticulture the day before my class registration. This decision was made after I sat down and actually read what horticulture meant and found that it aligned better with my interests.

   Horticulture is the study of plant growth primarily in greenhouses and gardens. As the world changes through both climate change and population density, horticulture will become increasingly more significant to the future health of people and the landscapes. For anyone that is interested in plant production practices, this is the industry and major to be in. 

   Over the course of a few years, a horticulture student's knowledge will encompass botany, landscaping, gardening and a complex understanding of the biological and chemical processes within nature. I understand looking at the course load for horticulture and being a bit put off by the ratio of classes that seem interesting and the generic science and biology placeholder classes. With riveting inclusions such as genetics, statistics and organic chemistry, the major can be a difficult sell for many students. 

However, the resources and educational opportunities available for students provides a unique experience — one which is catered toward learning without the fear of an uncertain future in the industry. In my experience, the last three years have focused on guest speakers and hands-on work that are supplemented by lectures. This format helps smoothen the transition between college and the profession by introducing career options and skills over the course of four years. The use of the greenhouse facility and the Horticulture Farm, located just outside of campus, allows for a wealth of practical knowledge. For example, a class lecture about bees may be followed by the opening of a hive. 

   Access to networking opportunities and a wide range of experts makes a future in horticulture incredibly tangible. Teachers focus on demonstrating a range of opportunities through these guest speakers. Whether that be a culinary mushroom farmer or golf course groundskeeper, I am at ease with the knowledge that a broad range of opportunities exists within this field. 

   A love of plants is a great reason to dive into a horticulture major. After all, no one wants to kill their house plants so kill the university's plants instead at least until you have the knowledge to sustain your own precious green experiments. 

   A college education should be motivated by a student's passion for the subject rather than what they feel would grant them the highest pay. Fulfilling your passions is more satisfying than banking on a career you will be miserable in. You never know what you might find more interesting than the major you originally picked.