Plant Science – Environmental Horticulture Concentration
Sample Course Sequence
UConn Graduation Requirements – including major and Common Curriculum requirements – can be found at UConn’s Undergraduate Catalog.
Students normally average 15 credits per semester over a 4-year period (fall/spring only) to meet the 120 academic credits required.
First Year
Fall Semester
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| PLSC 1120 – Introduction to Plant Science | 4 |
| BIOL 1108 – Principles of Biology II OR BIOL 1110 – Introduction to Botany | 4 |
| TOI/Gen Ed or Elective | 3 |
| ENGL 1007 or 1010 or 1011 – First Year English | 4 |
| UNIV 1800 OR 1810 – First Year Experience course | 1 |
| Total Credits: 16 | |
Spring Semester
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| PLSC 2430 – Herbaceous Ornamental Plants | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| CHEM 1122 or 1124Q or 1127Q – General Chemistry | 4 |
| MATH 1020Q (or higher) | 3 |
| TOI/Gen Ed or Elective | 3 |
| Total Credits: 16 | |
Second Year
Fall Semester
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| PLSC 2110W – Sustainable Plant Pest Management | 1 |
| PLSC 3410 – Woody Plants: Common Trees, Shrubs, and Vines | 3 |
| TOI/Gen Ed | 3 |
| TOI/Gen Ed | 3 |
| TOI/Gen Ed or Foreign Language* | 3 |
| Major Elective or TOI/Gen Ed (Recommended: PLSC 1125 – Insects, Food, and Culture (TOI 2, 4)**) | 3 |
| Total Credits: 16 | |
Spring Semester
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| PLSC 2120 – Environmental Soil Science | 3 |
| PLSC 2125 – Soils Lab (TOI 6L) | 1 |
| PLSC 3640 – Plant Propagation | 3 |
| TOI/Gen Ed | 3 |
| TOI/Gen Ed or Foreign Language* | 3 |
| Major Elective or TOI/Gen Ed (Recommended: PLSC 1150 – Agricultural Technology and Society (TOI 2, 5)*** OR ARE 1150 – Principles of Applied and Resource Economics) | 3 |
| Total Credits: 16 | |
Third Year
If considering Education Abroad, the Spring semester of the junior year is recommended in some majors.
Fall Semester
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| PLSC 3810 – Fundamentals of Plant Pathology | 3 |
| PLSC 3820 – Ecology and Control of Weeds OR PLSC 3830 – Horticultural Entomology | 3 |
| PLSC 3620 – Soil Fertility | 3 |
| TOI/Gen Ed | 3 |
| Elective or PLSC 3990 – Field Study Internship1 | 3 |
| Total Credits: 15 | |
Spring Semester
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| PLSC 3550 – Urban Systems Construction and Maintenance | 3 |
| PLSC 3660 – Nursery Production | 3 |
| PLSC 3540 – Garden Center Management | 3 |
| TOI/Gen Ed (Recommended: STAT 1100Q) | 4 |
| Elective or PLSC 3670 – Greenhouse Technology and Operations | 3 |
| Total Credits: 16 | |
Fourth Year
Fall
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| Major Elective | 3 |
| Major Elective | 3 |
| Major Elective (Recommended: PLSC 3990 – Field Study Internship1) | 3 |
| TOI/Gen Ed | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Total Credits: 15 | |
Spring Semester
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| PLSC 4210 – Plant Physiology: How Plants Work | 3 |
| Major Elective (Recommended: PLSC 3440 – Small Fruit Production) | 3 |
| Major Required/Related Elective | 3 |
| Elective or PLSC 3670 – Greenhouse Technology and Operations | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Total Credits: 15 | |
*Required if student has not met the University requirement of 3 years of a single foreign language in high school.
**Only offered in the fall of odd years | ***Only offered in the spring of even years
1Internships may be done in the Fall or Spring semester. For internships done in the summer, students may enroll in PLSC3081 Summer Internship Experience (for 0 credit) in the summer, and in the subsequent fall enroll in PLSC 3990 Field Study Internship for credit and submission of report. Students should discuss options with major advisor.
Students can elect to enroll in Summer/Winter sessions. Course options can be found at the Summer Session and Winter Session sites.
Students interested in Education Abroad should discuss options (semester, winter or summer) with major advisor.
All students beginning in Fall 2025 will be taking courses that fall into six Topics of Inquiry (TOIs) and three Competencies, while students who matriculated prior to Fall 2025 will continue to follow the General Education Curriculum. Transfer students will have the option to follow either the TOI requirements or the General Education Curriculum. Please consult with your advisor if you have questions.