Plant Biosciences Specialization & Curriculum

Plant Biosciences is a broad study of plant biology including plant form and function, diversity, reproduction, evolution and uses of plants.

Core topics: biochemical processes, plant biochemistry, plant breeding, applied plant biotechnology, medicinal plants, managed plant systems, organic chemistry, genetics, plant physiology and data analysis.

Major coursework

Select all from:

• HCS 2202: Form and Function in Cultivated Plants (4 credit hours)
• HCS 2204: Ecology of Managed Plant Systems** (3 credit hours)
• HCS 2205: Ecology of Managed Plant Systems Lab (1 credit hour)
• HCS 2260: Data Analysis and Interpretation for Decision Making (3 credit hours)
• HCS 3100: Intro to Agronomy (3 credit hours)
  • -or- 3200: Intro to Horticulture (3 credit hours)
  • -or- 3470: Intro to Turfgrass Mgmt. (3 credit hours)
• HCS 3220: Crop Origins and Diversity (2 credit hours)
• HCS 3310: Crop Responses to the Environment (3 credit hours)
• HCS 5325: Plant Genetics (3 credit hours)
  • -or- MOLGEN 4500: General Genetics (3 credit hours)
• HCS 5621: Physiology of Cultivated Plants (3 credit hours)
• HCS 5622: Biochemical Processes in Cultivated Plants (3-4 credit hours)
  • -or- BIOCHEM 4511: Introduction to Biological Chemistry (3-4 credit hours)
• ENR 3000: Soil Science (3 credit hours)
• ENR 3001: Soil Science Laboratory (1 credit hour)
• Select one capstone course (3 credit hours)
  • HCS 5100: Advanced Cropping Systems
  • HCS 5200: Advanced Horticultural Principles and Practices
  • HCS 5602: The Ecology of Agriculture

Major electives

Select 10 credit hours from:

• HCS 2307: Sustainable Agr Practical Exp (2 credit hours)
• HCS 3320: Plant Propagation (3 credit hours)
• HCS 3420: Seed Science (3 credit hours)
• HCS 3521: Greenhouse Systems and Management (2 credit hours)
• HCS 4193: Individual Studies (1-3 credit hours)
• HCS 4300: Hydroponic Crop Production (2 credit hours)
• HCS 4301: Hydroponic Crop Production Lab (1 credit hour)
• HCS 4520: Medicinal Plants (2 credit hours)
• HCS 4570: Turfgrass Management and Science (3 credit hours)
• HCS 4998, 4999, or 4999H^c: Undergraduate Research, Research with Distinction, or Honors Research with Distinction (1-6 credit hours)
• HCS 5097.01-.04 & 5797.01-.04: Study Abroad Pre-Departure & Study Abroad (4 credit hours)
• HCS 5100^d: Advanced Cropping Systems (3 credit hours)
• HCS 5200^d: Advanced Horticultural Systems (3 credit hours)
• HCS 5411: Domestication and Utilization of Agronomic Crops (3 credit hours)
• HCS 5412: Agroecology of Grasslands and Prairies (3 credit hours)
• HCS 5422: Biol & Mgmt. of Weeds and Invasive Plants (3 credit hours)
• HCS 5450: Vegetable Crop Production and Physiology (3 credit hours)
• HCS 5460: Fruit Crop Physiology and Production (3 credit hours)
• HCS 5602^d: Ecology of Agriculture (3 credit hours)
• HCS 5625: Applied Plant Biotechnology (2 credit hours)
• HCS 5825: Plant Breeding (2 credit hours)
• HCS 5887: Introduction to Experimental Design (3 credit hours)

Major-supporting coursework 

Select all from:

• BIOLOGY 1114: Biological Sciences: Form, Function, Diversity, and Ecology (4 credit hours)
• CHEM 2310 or 2510^e: Introductory Organic Chem or Organic Chem I (4 credit hours)

Please note

• ** Theme courses
• ^c Only up to 6 credits of any combination of 4193, 4998, 4999, or 4999H can count towards major electives.
• ^d Review prerequisites
• ^eStudents interested in a chemistry-enriched minor curriculum should plan to take CHEM 1220 and CHEM 2510.
  • CHEM 2310: prerequisites: CHEM 1110, 1220 (122), 1250 (125), 1620, or 1920H
  • CHEM 2510: prerequisites: CHEM 1220 (123), 1620 or 1920H (203H)

General education requirements

Select all from:

• GE Launch Seminar: GENED 1201 (1 credit hour)
• Writing and Information Literacy: Student Choice (3 credit hours)
• Mathematical & Quantitative Reasoning/Data Analysis: Major requirement: MATH 1130, 1148, 1150, 1151, or 1156* (or Student Choice – see below) (4-5 credit hours)
• Literary, Visual and Performing Arts: Student Choice (3 credit hours)
• Historical & Cultural Studies: Student Choice (3 credit hours)
• Natural Science: Major requirement: BIOLOGY 1113* (or Student Choice – see below) (4 credit hours)
• Social & Behavioral Sciences: Major requirement: AEDECON 2001 or ECON 2001.01* (or Student Choice – see below) (3 credit hours)
• Race, Ethnic and Gender Diversity: Student Choice (3 credit hours)
• Theme: Citizenship for a Diverse & Just World^a: Student Choice (4-6 credit hours)
• Theme: Student Choice^a: Student Choice (4-6 credit hours)
• GE Reflection: GENED 4001 (1 credit hour)

B.S. in Agriculture degree requirements

Select all from:

• College & Department Survey: FAES 1100 (0.5) & HCS 1100 (0.5) (1 credit hour)
• Oral Expression: AGRCOMM 3130 or COMM 2110 (3 credit hours)
• Additional Science: CHEM 1110, 1210, or 1220 (5 credit hours)
• Internship: FAES 3191 & HCS 4191.01 (2 credit hours)
• Minor Equiv.^b: Minor requirements below (15-18 credit hours)

Please note

• * Indicates a pre/corequisite course for this major that also satisfies this GE category. If a student makes an alternative selection in this GE category, they must also complete this course.
• ^a Students complete either a 4-credit course or two 3-credit courses in each of two General Education Theme areas: Citizenship for a Diverse & Just World (required), and the student’s choice of available GE Themes. If any major-required courses are identified as a GE Theme course, one course in each GE Theme area may double count in the GE and major hours. Theme courses are identified with a ** symbol.
• ^b Students in this program complete a group of courses called a minor equivalent. Declaring an additional minor is not required.

Students interested in a Molecular Genetics enriched minor curriculum should plan to take MOLGEN 4500 and students interested in an advanced plant pathology (5000-level) minor curriculum should plan to take PLNTPTH 3001 and 3002.

Select all from:

• EEOB 3310.01 or .02: Evolution (4 credit hours)
• EEOB 3410: Ecology (4 credit hours)

Select an additional 7-10 credit hours from:

• HCS/AGSYSMT 3585: Digital Agriculture** (3 credit hours)
• HCS/AGSYSMT 3586: Digital Agriculture Laboratory** (1 credit hour)
• AGSYSMT 5560: UAS and Remote Sensing in Agriculture (3 credit hours)
• CHEM 2520: Organic Chemistry II (4 credit hours)
• CHEM 2540: Organic Chemistry Laboratory I (2 credit hours)
• CHEM 2550: Organic Chemistry Laboratory II (2 credit hours)
• EEOB 3320: Organismal Diversity (3 credit hours)
• EEOB 4240: Ecology and Evolution- Plants and People (3 credit hours)
• EEOB 5450: Population Ecology (3 credit hours)
• ENR 3321: Biology and Identity of Woody Forest Plants (3 credit hours)
• ENR 3700: Introduction to Spatial Information for ENR (3 credit hours)
• ENR 5261: Environmental Soil Physics (3 credit hours)
• ENR 5263: Biology of Soil Ecosystems (3 credit hours)
• ENR 5273: Environmental Fate & Impact of Contaminants in Soil & Water (3 credit hours)
• ENR 5274: Ecosystem Simulation (3 credit hours)
• ENTMLGY 4000: General Entomology (3 credit hours)
• ENTMLGY 5420: Insect Behavior (3 credit hours)
• ENTMLGY 6410: Insect Ecology & Evolution (3 credit hours)
• GEOG 5900: Weather, Climate, & Global Warming (3 credit hours)
• MOLGEN 4501: General Genetics Laboratory (1 credit hour)
• MOLGEN 4502: Expanded General Genetics Laboratory (2 credit hours)
• MOLGEN 5623: Genetics and Genomics (2 credit hours)
• MOLGEN 5630: Plant Physiology (3 credit hours)
• MOLGEN 5643: Plant Anatomy (3 credit hours)
• MOLGEN 5701: DNA Transactions and Gene Regulation (3 credit hours)
• MOLGEN 5735: Plant Biochemistry (3 credit hours)
• PLNTPTH 3001: General Plant Pathology (3 credit hours)
• PLNTPTH 3002: General Plant Pathology Lab (2 credit hours)
• PLNTPTH 5010: Phytobacteriology (2 credit hours)
• PLNTPTH 5020: Introductory Plant Virology (2 credit hours)
• PLNTPTH 5030: Plant Nematology (2 credit hours)
• PLNTPTH 5040: Science of Fungi: Mycology Lecture (3 credit hours)

Please note

• ** Theme courses

Credit breakdown

• General Education (33-38 credit hours)
• Degree Requirements (26-29 credit hours)
• Major Supporting Courses (8 credit hours)
• Major (45-46 credit hours)
• Open Electives (0-9 credit hours)
• Minimum Total Credit Hours (121 credit hours)

Read all policies and general requirements for undergraduate degree programs and minors/minor equivalents

• Plant Geneticist
• Molecular Biologist
• USDA Researcher
• Plant Breeder
• Plant Physiologist
• Herbarium Curator
• Plant Biotechnologist

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Find the right global program for you

As an HCS undergraduate, an internship isn't just a necessity - it’s your built-in advantage. You'll graduate with specialized experience already on your resume, a clear sense of what you enjoy (and what you'd rather skip) and a professional network ready to hire you.

Choose your destination:

• Stay local: Build deep roots within the thriving Ohio agricultural and green industry.
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Ready to map out your journey? Check out our internship course and internship requirements

College is an investment in your future. We’re here to help you understand your options, find support and make a plan that works for you and your family.

Explore scholarship and funding opportunities

Additionally, our department is thrilled to offer scholarships of up to $10,000 for the top teams and top individual winners in select State FFA Career Development Events - check if you're eligible.

Student researchers are a valuable part of our department. Undergraduate students in HCS have a variety of opportunities to gain valuable hands-on research experience while learning new skills and techniques, which can be broadly applied across fields.

Get started with undergraduate research

Our only requirement in general admission to The Ohio State University - we have no separate application required. Please select the Horticulture and Crop Science major when applying to Ohio State if you are interested in our Plant Biosciences specialization.

We're happy to welcome new first-year students into our HCS program.

We're happy to welcome campus changers into our HCS program.

We're happy to welcome major changers and transfer students into our HCS program.

We welcome international students to enroll in our HCS program. Please note all HCS students must complete all aspects of the HCS program including the internship. It is important that the proper work visa is in place to allow for this employment in the United States.