Agricultural Education (BS): Horticultural Science Concentration
The Agricultural Education major within the Department of Agricultural and Human Sciences prepares graduates to teach agriculture, serve as FFA advisors, and supervise agricultural experiences (SAE) in public and private schools.听
The Horticultural Science concentration is one of seven concentrations offered for the Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education.
- Students interested in Agricultural Education may be eligible to apply for the North Carolina Teaching Fellows Program at NC State.
- Student teachers of agriculture may apply for Ed Scholars through NC State.
- Many alumni听pursue careers in middle and high schools, universities and community colleges, county extension offices, and in the agricultural industry
Teacher Licensure
Completion of the B.S. program in Agricultural Education leads to teacher licensure in North Carolina for grades 6-12. Because of North Carolina鈥檚 reciprocity agreements, graduates also can pursue certification in about 35 states. Download the听听to review the requirements for admissions to teacher education candidacy and help you stay on course.
For more information about this program, visit our听.
Contact
Dr. Joseph L. Donaldson
Director of Undergraduate Programs, Agricultural and Human Sciences
919.515.1758
joseph_donaldson@ncsu.edu听
Dr. Travis Park
Program Coordinator, Ag Education
919.515.9441
tdpark@ncsu.edu听
Plan Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orientation | |||
| AEE听103 | Fundamentals of Agricultural and Extension Education | 1 | |
| or听ALS听103 | Freshman Transitions and Diversity in Agriculture & Life Sciences | ||
| or听ALS听303 | Transfer Transitions and Diversity in Agriculture & Life Sciences | ||
| Writing and Speaking | |||
| COM听110 | Public Speaking | 3 | |
| Sciences | |||
| BIO听181 | Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity | 4 | |
| BIO听183 | Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology | 4 | |
| CH听101 &听CH听102 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science and General Chemistry Laboratory | 4 | |
| Agricultural Education | |||
| AEE听101 | Introduction to Career and Technical Education 1 | 1 | |
| AEE听206 | Introduction to Teaching Agriculture 1 | 3 | |
| AEE听226 | Computer Applications and Information Technology in Agricultural & Extension Ed 1 | 3 | |
| AEE听303 | Administration and Supervision of Student Organizations 1 | 3 | |
| AEE听322 | Experiential Learning in Agriculture 1 | 3 | |
| AEE听326 | Teaching Diverse Learners in AED 1 | 3 | |
| AEE听327 | Conducting Summer Programs in Agricultural Education | 1 | |
| AEE听424 | Planning Agricultural Educational Programs 1 | 3 | |
| AEE听426 | Methods of Teaching Agriculture 1 | 3 | |
| AEE听427 | Student Teaching in Agriculture 1 | 8 | |
| AEE听491 | Seminar in Agricultural Education | 1 | |
| Other Professional Education | |||
| EDP听304 | Educational Psychology 1 | 3 | |
| ELP听344 | School and Society 1 | 3 | |
| ED听311 | Classroom Assessment Principles and Practices 1 | 2 | |
| ED听312 | Classroom Assessment Principles and Practices Professional Learning Lab 1 | 1 | |
| Teaching Content Courses | |||
| BAET听201 | Shop Processes and Management | 3 | |
| or听TDE听110 | Materials & Processes Technology | ||
| ANS听150 &听ANS听151 | Introduction to Animal Science and Introduction to Animal Science Lab | 4 | |
| SSC听200 &听SSC听201 | Soil Science and Soil Science Laboratory | 4 | |
| Select one of the following Economics Electives: | 3 | ||
| Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics | |||
| Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics | |||
| Principles of Microeconomics | |||
| Fundamentals of Economics | |||
| Horticulture Science Concentration | |||
| HS听201 | The World of Horticulture: Principles and Practices | 3 | |
| HS听203 | Home Plant Propagation | 3 | |
| or听HS听301 | Plant Propagation | ||
| CS听211 | Plant Genetics | 3 | |
| or听HS听215 | Agricultural Genetics | ||
| HS听411 | Nursery Management | 3 | |
| or听HS听440 | Greenhouse Management | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | ||
| Temperate-Zone Tree Fruits: Physiology and Culture | |||
| Small Fruit Production | |||
| Vegetable Production | |||
| Horticulture Science Elective | 2 | ||
| GEP Courses In The Major | |||
| ENG听101 | Academic Writing and Research 1 | 4 | |
| GEP Humanities | 6 | ||
| GEP Mathematical Sciences | 6 | ||
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 2 | ||
| GEP Elective | 3 | ||
| GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives | 5 | ||
| GEP Global Knowledge (verify requirement) | |||
| World Language Proficiency (verify requirement) | |||
| Free Electives | |||
| Select 12 hours of Free Electives | 5 | ||
Total hours of free electives vary in order to allow the minimum hours required for the degree to equal 120 hours. | |||
| Total Hours | 119 | ||
- 1
A grade of C- or higher is required.
Horticulture Science Electives
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| ANS听215 | Agricultural Genetics | 3 | |
| CS听410 | Community Food Systems | 3 | |
| CS听480 | Sustainable Food Production (capstone) | 1 | |
| CS听502 | Plant Disease: Methods & Diagnosis | 2 | |
| CS听541 | Plant Breeding Methods | 3 | |
| FS听462 | Postharvest Physiology | 3 | |
| FS听562 | Postharvest Physiology | 3 | |
| HS听200 | Home Horticulture | 3 | |
| HS听201 | The World of Horticulture: Principles and Practices | 3 | |
| HS听202 | Home Plant Identification | 3 | |
| HS听203 | Home Plant Propagation | 3 | |
| HS听204 | Home Landscape Maintenance | 3 | |
| HS听205 | Home Food Production | 3 | |
| HS听215 | Agricultural Genetics | 3 | |
| HS听242 | Introduction to Small Scale Landscape Design | 3 | |
| HS听250 | Home Landscape Design: Creating Garden Spaces | 3 | |
| HS听252 | Landscape Graphic Communication | 2 | |
| HS听272 | Landscape Design/Build | 6 | |
| HS听275 | Floral Design | 3 | |
| HS听280 | Hands-On-Horticulture | 3 | |
| HS听290 | Horticulture: Careers and Opportunities | 1 | |
| HS听301 | Plant Propagation | 4 | |
| HS听302 | Gardening with Herbaceous Perennials | 3 | |
| HS听303 | Ornamental Plant Identification I | 3 | |
| HS听304 | Ornamental Plant Identification II | 3 | |
| HS听357 | Landscape Grading and Drainage | 4 | |
| HS听400 | Residential Landscaping | 6 | |
| HS听410 | Community Food Systems | 3 | |
| HS听411 | Nursery Management | 3 | |
| HS听416 | Planting Design | 4 | |
| HS听418 | Digital Media Graphic for Landscape Designers | 3 | |
| HS听420 | Green Infrastructure | 3 | |
| HS听421 | Temperate-Zone Tree Fruits: Physiology and Culture | 3 | |
| HS听422 | Small Fruit Production | 3 | |
| HS听423 | 3 | ||
| HS听428 | Soil Management Principles for Sustainable Agriculture | 1 | |
| HS听431 | Vegetable Production | 4 | |
| HS听432 | Introduction to Permaculture | 3 | |
| HS听433 | Public Garden Administration | 3 | |
| HS听440 | Greenhouse Management | 3 | |
| HS听442 | Floriculture Crop Production | 3 | |
| HS听451 | Plant Nutrition | 3 | |
| HS听462 | Postharvest Physiology | 3 | |
| HS听471 | Landscape Ecosystem Management | 4 | |
| HS听475 | 3 | ||
| HS听476 | Crop Physiology and Production in Controlled Environments | 3 | |
| HS听480 | Sustainable Food Production (capstone) | 1 | |
| HS听491 | Sustainable Agriculture Entrepreneurship Study Abroad | 3 | |
| HS听492 | Horticulture Internship | 1-3 | |
| HS听493 | Research Experience in Horticultural Science | 1-3 | |
| HS听494 | Teaching Experience in Horticultural Science | 1-3 | |
| HS听495 | Experimental Courses in Horticultural Science | 1-6 | |
| HS听502 | Plant Disease: Methods & Diagnosis | 2 | |
| HS听516 | Planting Design | 4 | |
| HS听520 | Green Infrastructure | 3 | |
| HS听521 | Temperate-Zone Tree Fruits: Physiology and Culture | 3 | |
| HS听523 | 3 | ||
| HS听532 | Introduction to Permaculture | 3 | |
| HS听533 | Public Garden Administration | 3 | |
| HS听541 | Plant Breeding Methods | 3 | |
| HS听550 | Environmental Nursery Production | 3 | |
| HS听551 | Plant Nutrition | 3 | |
| HS听562 | Postharvest Physiology | 3 | |
| HS听576 | Crop Physiology and Production in Controlled Environments | 3 | |
| HS听590 | Special Problems in Horticultural Science | 1-6 | |
| PP听502 | Plant Disease: Methods & Diagnosis | 2 | |
| SSC听428 | Soil Management Principles for Sustainable Agriculture | 1 |
Semester Sequence
This is a sample.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| AEE听101 | Introduction to Career and Technical Education 1 | 1 |
| AEE听103 | Fundamentals of Agricultural and Extension Education 2 | 1 |
| BIO听181 | Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity | 4 |
| COM听110 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| ENG听101 | Academic Writing and Research | 4 |
| GEP Mathematical Sciences | 3 | |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| 听 | Hours | 17 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| AEE听226 | Computer Applications and Information Technology in Agricultural & Extension Ed 1 | 3 |
| ANS听150 | Introduction to Animal Science | 3 |
| ANS听151 | Introduction to Animal Science Lab | 1 |
| BIO听183 | Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology | 4 |
| GEP Mathematical Sciences | 3 | |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| 听 | Hours | 15 |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| AEE听206 | Introduction to Teaching Agriculture | 3 |
| HS听201 | The World of Horticulture: Principles and Practices | 3 |
| BAET听201 or TDE听110 | Shop Processes and Management or Materials & Processes Technology | 3 |
| Economics Elective | 3 | |
| GEP Humanities | 3 | |
| 听 | Hours | 15 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| CH听101 &听CH听102 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science and General Chemistry Laboratory | 4 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Plant Genetics | ||
| Agricultural Genetics | ||
| Agricultural Genetics | ||
| Horticulture Science Elective | 3 | |
| GEP Elective | 3 | |
| 听 | Hours | 13 |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| AEE听322 | Experiential Learning in Agriculture | 3 |
| HS听301 | Plant Propagation | 4 |
| EDP听304 | Educational Psychology | 3 |
| SSC听200 | Soil Science | 3 |
| SSC听201 | Soil Science Laboratory | 1 |
| GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives | 3 | |
| 听 | Hours | 17 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| AEE听303 | Administration and Supervision of Student Organizations | 3 |
| AEE听326 | Teaching Diverse Learners in AED | 3 |
| ED听311 | Classroom Assessment Principles and Practices | 2 |
| ED听312 | Classroom Assessment Principles and Practices Professional Learning Lab 1 | 1 |
| ELP听344 | School and Society 1 | 3 |
| Horticulture Science Elective | 3 | |
| 听 | Hours | 15 |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| AEE听327 | Conducting Summer Programs in Agricultural Education | 1 |
| AEE听426 | Methods of Teaching Agriculture 1 | 3 |
| HS听411 or HS听440 | Nursery Management or Greenhouse Management | 3 |
| GEP Humanities | 3 | |
| GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives | 2 | |
| Free Electives 3 | 4 | |
| 听 | Hours | 16 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| AEE听424 | Planning Agricultural Educational Programs | 3 |
| AEE听427 | Student Teaching in Agriculture | 8 |
| AEE听491 | Seminar in Agricultural Education | 1 |
| 听 | Hours | 12 |
| 听 | Total Hours | 120 |
- 1
A minimum grade of C is required for teacher licensure.
- 2
Incoming freshmen complete AEE听103 Fundamentals of Agricultural and Extension Education. Transfer students may complete ALS听103 Freshman Transitions and Diversity in Agriculture & Life Sciences or ALS听303 Transfer Transitions and Diversity in Agriculture & Life Sciences.
- 3
Total hours of free electives vary in order to allow the minimum hours required for the degree to equal 120 credit hrs.
Career Opportunities
The Agricultural Business Management Program prepares graduates for careers in management, marketing, sales, finance, supply chain, entrepreneurship, and related fields. The program has sufficient flexibility to provide more extensive course work in science and math for those students desiring to prepare for advanced graduate study. The concentration in biological sciences prepares graduates for management, marketing, and sales careers in fields such as biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, health care, environmental protection, and food processing. Graduates specializing in agribusiness entrepreneurship are trained in value creation and prepared to address the strong demand in agtech, biotech, and foodtech.
Career Titles
- Agricultural Inspector
- Agricultural Technician
- Aquaculture Specialist
- Bank and Branch Managers
- Buyer
- Farm and Ranch Manager
- Farm Management Advisor
- Farm Product Buyer
- Farm Products Purchasing Agent
- Farmers and Ranchers
- Financial Analyst
- Food & Drug Inspector
- Greenhouse and Nursery Manager
- Insurance Agent
- Loan Officer
- Market Research Analyst
- Purchasing Manager
- Real Estate Broker
- Sales Representative (Agricultural Products)
- Winemaker / Vinter
Learn More About Careers
Explore North Carolina鈥檚 central online resource for students, parents, educators, job seekers and career counselors looking for high quality job and career information.
Browse the Occupational Outlook Handbook published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to view state and area employment and wage statistics. You can also identify and compare similar occupations based on your interests.
View videos that provide career details and information on wages, employment trends, skills needed, and more for any occupation. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
(NC State student email address required)
This career, major and education planning system is available to current NC State students to learn about how your values, interests, competencies, and personality fit into the NC State majors and your future career. An NC State email address is required to create an account. Make an appointment with your to discuss the results.
(Available to prospective students)
A career assessment tool designed to support prospective students in exploring and choosing the right major and career path based on your unique personality, interests, skills and values. Get started with Focus 2 Apply and see how it can guide your journey at NC State.