undergraduate majors:
- Sustainable Agriculture
- Sustainable Plant Systems (choose your own specialization)
- Professional Golf Management
Undergraduate Minors:
An Agronomy minor is useful for students in Agriculture and Biological Sciences who plan to seek employment in areas of agronomic crop production, marketing, management, etc., where decision making requires a basic understanding of plant growth and crop production. Students taking this minor will gain insights into the environmental, genetic, and cultural factors that influence crop productivity. Such insights will enable the student to anticipate crop response under specific production regimes and environmental influences.
Minor courses sheets:
A Horticulture minor is useful for students with an interest in gardening or who plan to seek employment in areas of fruit, vegetable, and ornamental crop production, marketing, management, etc., where decision making requires a basic understanding of plant growth and development as well as fundamental techniques for growing plants. Students taking this minor will gain insights into the environmental, genetic, and cultural factors that influence plant productivity. Such insights will enable the student to anticipate plant response under specific production regimes or environmental conditions.
Minor courses sheets:
A Turfgrass Management minor is useful for students who expect to have positions that require: overseeing the management of grounds (for example public or private lawns, sports, or recreational areas, or golf courses (greens and fairways).
Minor courses sheets:
This minor is no longer offered - A Landscape Management minor is useful for students who plan to seek employment in areas where knowledge of landscape plant identification and cultural requirements, landscape design principles, as well as a basic understanding of plant growth and development are required for decision making.
Students currently finishing this minor please refer to these minor courses sheets:
Sustainable Agriculture
The Sustainable Agriculture major prepares you to think about farming holistically — to balance the environmental, social and economic dimensions. You’ll learn how to navigate multiple economic, social, and environmental goals when managing a farm, ranch, or any enterprise and its relationship with the surrounding landscape and neighboring communities. You will also develop the leadership skills and knowledge to pursue an entrepreneurial career in a wide range of public or private organizations.
Through interdisciplinary course work, Sustainable Agriculture will allow you to participate in hands-on farming experiences and learn to think critically about environmental sustainability, human-environment interactions, and our changing food system. You’ll develop a variety of transferable and professionally desirable skills. You’ll also get to find & complete at least one internship (many students choose to complete additional internships) in order to gain specialized experience & further build your network before you even graduate. You may look to gain more experience by working or volunteering at the Ohio State Student Farm (a four-acre farm on the Columbus campus) where you can engage in learning, research and collaborative projects. Additionally, you could join the Student Growing Collaborative and get to actively advocate for sustainable agriculture and food security.
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Policy Developer
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Farm Manager
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Agricultural Research Technician
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Environmental & Social Justice Non-Profit
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Agricultural Compliance Agent
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Corporate Sustainability Leader
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Agriculture Educator
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Certification Specialist
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Farmer
Do you want a once in a lifetime experience? Study abroad is a wonderful opportunity to make the world your classroom. Scholarships and financial aid assistance can help put these opportunities within any student’s reach, and having global experience will separate you from the rest when you apply for jobs.
The College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences offers over 1.5 million in scholarship dollars to its students each year. Learn more & apply
- Enrolled Autumn 2022 & later: Sustainable Agriculture
- Enrolled Autumn 2021: Sustainable Agriculture
Sustainable Plant Systems 
As a Sustainable Plant Systems (SPS) major you’ll get to specialize in one of five areas: agroecology, agronomy, horticulture, plant biosciences or turfgrass science. As the population continues to expand, there’s an increasing need to limit our reliance upon imports while protecting the environment and ecosystem. Each of these disciplines play a special role in providing the world with plants for food, pleasure and recreation, and environmental improvement.
Specializations:
Agroecology focuses on understanding and applying ecological principles in crop production to integrate natural biological cycles and controls, make efficient use of resources, enhance environmental quality, and increase biodiversity.
Agronomy is the application of biological, chemical and physical principles to crops and cropping systems to increase their efficiency in converting light and supplemental resources into food, feed and fiber products. You’ll learn to effectively regulate crop productivity through management decisions as you study the interrelationships among physical and biological factors.
Horticulture is the application of scientific principles to grow vegetables, fruits, ornamental plants, and landscape design, as well as business principles to sell the commodities. You’ll learn basic characteristics of a wide variety of plants; including how they grow, develop, reproduce and adapt to different environments. Using this knowledge, you’ll be able to create optimal growing conditions for a plant to have higher yield and reduce potential problems such as pests and diseases.
Plant Biosciences is a broad study of plant biology including plant form and function, diversity, reproduction, evolution, and uses of plants.
Turfgrass Science is an integrated program that studies the grasses used to enhance our environment. Turf reduces glare, noise, air pollution, heat buildup and visual pollution. Turf provides recreational benefits to sporting events as well as creates aesthetically attractive surrounds for homes, buildings and cities. You’ll learn to manage and maintain turf as you gain knowledge in plant biology, soil and turfgrass science.
In Sustainable Plant Systems you’ll participate in hands-on-learning including labs and interactive activities in nearly every course. You’ll get to find & complete at least one internship (many students complete more) in order to gain first-hand experience in specialized areas. We’ve had students intern near & far from local nurseries to international sports teams. The internship possibilities & eventual career options are limitless. You’ll also be encouraged to participate in research, working one-on-one with faculty and presenting your work at college and university level forums.
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Environmental Consultant
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Producer/Farm Manager
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Crop Consultant
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Plant Geneticist
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Vineyard Owner
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Molecular Biologist
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Golf Course Superintendent
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Landscape Designer
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Athletic Field Manager
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Plant Breeder
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County Extension Agent
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Agronomist
Do you want a once in a lifetime experience? Study abroad is a wonderful opportunity to make the world your classroom. Scholarships and financial aid assistance can help put these opportunities within any student’s reach, and having global experience will separate you from the rest when you apply for jobs.
The College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences offers over 1.5 million in scholarship dollars to its students each year. Learn more & apply
- Enrolled Autumn 2022 & later:
- Enrolled Autumn 2021:
You can learn more about SPS curriculum for students enrolled prior to Autumn 2021 here
Professional Golf Management
Majoring in Professional Golf Management (PGM) will set you up for a successful career in the golf industry. The goal of this program is to assist you in becoming a PGA member and is the only program of this type in the state of Ohio. You’ll gain real-world experience through classroom study and on Ohio State's Scarlet and Gray golf courses, internships at premier courses, and membership in the PGM Student Club.
In PGM you’ll get to refinine your golf skills at the OSU Scarlet, Gray and Hawks Nest Courses, as well as the PGA Tour Simulator. You’ll learn how to repair golf clubs in the state-of-the-art club repair lab, socialize and network in the PGM student lounge, work with PGA professionals on staff & volunteer with golf-related charities and community groups. You’ll have the chance to intern at prestigious clubs in Ohio and nationwide. You’ll complete five internships to gain real world experience, and no we’re not talking about seasonal jobs each summer, you will get experience and mentoring at careers directly related to golf, helping to best prepare you for transitioning seamlessly into your career post-graduation.
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Director of Golf
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Head Golf Professional
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General Manager
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Teaching Professional
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Assistant Golf Professional
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Golf Manufacturer Sales Representative
Do you want a once in a lifetime experience? Study abroad is a wonderful opportunity to make the world your classroom. Scholarships and financial aid assistance can help put these opportunities within any student’s reach, and having global experience will separate you from the rest when you apply for jobs.
The College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences offers over 1.5 million in scholarship dollars to its students each year. Learn more & apply
Additionally, we offer several scholarships dedicated to PGM students - learn more & apply
- Enrolled Autumn 2022 & later: Professional Golf Management
- You can learn more about PGM curriculum for students enrolled prior to Autumn 2022 here
For a comprehensive look at our PGM program visit pgm.osu.edu