Courses
Course requirements and recommendations for the Master of Horticultural Science are as follows:
- A minimum of twenty (20) hours must be at the 500-700 level.
- At least four (4) but no more than six (6) hours of HS 693 (Master’s Supervised Research) are required.
- Two (2) credits of HS 601 (Seminar Techniques and Technology) are required.
- Up to twelve (12) hours of 400-level courses can be taken as part of the MHS program; however, only six (6) hours of Horticultural Science 400-level courses are allowed.
- Students are encouraged, but not required, to fulfill four (4) credits of the Horticultural Science core course requirement (HS701-707, HS 717).
- Non-thesis Master’s Examination (HS 690) and Non-thesis Master’s Continuous Registration (HS 688 and HS 689) may NOT be used to satisfy credit hour requirements.
Students are allowed, even encouraged, to take courses from departments other than Horticultural Science. Horticulture is one area of a broad range of interconnected fields including soil science, plant biology, crop science, entomology, plant pathology, statistics, agricultural economics, agricultural engineering, and agricultural education.
When possible, we encourage MHS Online and Distance Education students to take courses on-campus for one semester, ideally during the Fall semester, when they can take HS 601 along with other incoming graduate students. The on-campus experience enables Online and Distance Education students to get to know their faculty advisors and committee members, interact with other graduate students and faculty in the department, and enhance the overall graduate experience.
Graduate Courses in Horticultural Science
The Horticultural Science Program offers a number of online horticulture courses. These may be taken as part of a certificate or degree program, or by non-degree-seeking students on a course-by-course basis. For those interested in taking individual courses without enrolling in a degree or certificate program, you must first enroll as a Post-Baccalaureate Studies (PBS) student.
Below is a partial list of applicable courses offered online. To reveal a course description, click the course in the list below. To view the most up-to-date course listings, please visit the Student Services website. Please note that not all courses are offered every semester, and may be cancelled due to low student enrollment. Not all courses listed in the NC State Course Catalog can be offered online.
HS 523 - Viticulture
Units: 3
A presentation of the commercial importance, distribution, anatomy, physiology, and production of Genus Vitis [grapes] including cultivars, propagation, canopy management, diseases, weed control, physiology, anatomy, irrigation, wine production, climates and soils. This course will not require students to provide their own transportation. Non-scheduled class time for field trips or out-of-class activities IS required for this class
Offered in Spring Only
YEAR: Offered Alternate Odd Years
HS 532 - Introduction to Permaculture
Units: 3
Permaculture means "permanent culture," and ..."is the conscious design and maintenance of cultivated ecosystems that have the diversity, stability, and resilience of a natural ecosystem." [Bill Mollison] This course will explore a design/thinking methodology that seeks to provide our essential physical needs, food, water, shelter, energy, etc., while doing so in an environmentally friendly, sustainable manner. This course is restricted to upper level undergraduate, graduate, or matriculated continuing education students. STUDENTS MAY NOT RECEIVE CREDIT FOR BOTH HS 432 AND HS 532.
Offered in Fall and Summer
HS 541 - Plant Breeding Methods
Units: 3
Overview of plant breeding methods for advanced undergraduate and beginning graduate students. Covers principles and concepts of inheritance, germplasm resources, pollen control, measurement of genetic variances, and heterosis. Special topics include heritability, genotype-environment interaction, disease resistance, and polyploidy. In-depth coverage on methods for breeding cross-pollinated and self-pollinated crops. Prepares students for advanced plant breeding courses.
Offered in Fall Only
HS 550 - Environmental Nursery Production
Units: 3
The course focuses on the impacts of the nursery industry on the environment and environmentally sound nursery practices. Exploration of the major challenges facing the nursery industry that drive decision making during production. Evaluation of past and current research addressing these challenges and sampling procedures and interpretation will be learned. Graduate status and an undergraduate nursery production or management course or working knowledge of nursery production required.
Offered in Fall Only
YEAR: Offered Alternate Odd Years
HS 562 - Postharvest Physiology
Units: 3
Preharvest and postharvest factors that affect market quality of horticultural commodities with an emphasis on technologies to preserve postharvest quality and extend storage life of fruits, vegetables and ornamentals.
Offered in Spring Only
HS 583 - Advanced Floral Crop Production and Handling
Units: 3
Principles and commercial practices for producing floral potted crops and cut flowers emphasizing the physical responses of plants to their environment and post-harvest physiology. Lab will be conducted at the student's home location and students will document plant growth with photos or video. Some live plants will be mailed to the student; however, the student will be required to purchase some plants [e.g. African violet]. Course is restricted to graduates students only.
Offered in Spring Only
YEAR: Offered Alternate Odd Years
HS 590 - Special Problems in Horticultural Science
Units: 1 - 6
Selection of a subject by each student on which to do research and write a technical report on the results. The individual may choose a subject pertaining to his or her particular interest in any area of study in horticultural science.
Offered in Fall Spring Summer
HS 601 - Professional Presentation Skills in Horticultural Science
Units: 2
The purpose of this course is to familiarize the students with the professional presentation skills they need to be successful. These skills include speaking, writing, poster and website development, based on the student's proposed research/project and literature review.
Offered in Fall Only
HS 693 - Master's Supervised Research
Units: 1 - 9
Instruction in research and research under the mentorship of a member of the Graduate Faculty.
Offered in Fall Spring Summer
HS 701 - Plant Metabolism
Units: 1
A brief introduction to various aspects of metabolism in plants including the basic biochemical processes including the syntheses, utilization and roles of amino acids, lipids, carbohydrates and secondary metabolites in plant growth, development and response to the environment. This course is taught as a 5-week mini course..
Offered in Fall Only
YEAR: Offered Alternate Even Years
HS 703 - Breeding Asexually Propagated Crops
Units: 1
Principles and problems associated with breeding clonally propagated crops and techniques used in overcoming these problems. Taught third five weeks of semester. Drop date is by last day of 3rd week of minicourse.
Offered in Fall Only
HS 705 - Physiology Of Flowering
Units: 1
Examination of physiological basis of flowering in plants such as: floral initiation, transition to reproductive growth; floral development; plant response to light, temperature, nutrition, water supply; plant age; chemical growth regulation and in vitro flowering. Taught first five weeks of fall semester. Drop date is by last day of 3rd week of minicourse.
Offered in Fall Only
HS 706 - Fruit Development and Postharvest Physiology
Units: 1
Theories of plant senescence, both physiological and biochemical, and postharvest changes in all types of plant parts. Emphasis on physiological principles underlying current postharvest handling and storage techniques. A study of fruit development from fruit set to senescence. Taught third five weeks of semester. Drop date is by last day of 3rd week of minicourse.
Offered in Fall Only
HS 707 - Environmental Stress Physiology
Units: 1
Physiology of plant responses to environmental stresses, with emphasis on current research in selected physiological, molecular, and biochemical mechanisms for tolerance to environmental stresses such as temperature extremes, drought, salt, pathogens and other plants.
Offered in Fall Only
YEAR: Offered Alternate Odd Years
HS 717 - Weed Management Systems
Units: 1
Weed management systems including integration of cultural, biological, mechanical and chemical methods for vegetables, fruits, ornamentals, turf, small grains, corn, tobacco, cotton, peanuts, aquatic and non-cropland settings. Taught second 5 weeksof semester. Drop date is by last day of 3rd week of minicourse.
Offered in Fall Only
HS 729 - Herbicide Behavior In Plants
Units: 2
Chemical, physiological and biochemical actions of herbicides in plants including uptake, translocation, metabolism and mechanism of action.
Offered in Fall Only
HS 790 - Special Problems in Horticultural Science
Units: 1 - 6
Selection of a subject by each student on which to do research and write a technical report on the results. The individual may choose a subject pertaining to his or her particular interest in any area of study in horticultural science.
Offered in Fall Spring Summer