HORTICULTURAL

Welcome to the Horticulture Graduate program. The Department of Horticulture, Forestry, and Recreation Resources offers graduate programs in horticulture leading to master of science and doctor of philosophy degrees in horticulture. The department has 24 faculty involved in teaching, research, and extension, and maintains a horticulture field research facility of 57 acres and a turfgrass research farm of 7 acres near the campus. In addition, the department operates a 120-acre research center in Wichita, an 80-acre pecan experimental field near Chetopa, and a research/education center of 260 acres in eastern Kansas near DeSoto. Excellent greenhouse and controlled environmental facilities of nearly 25,000 square feet are available for teaching and research.

Research in basic and applied areas of horticulture is supported by modern and well-equipped field and laboratory facilities. The department is located in the Throckmorton Plant Sciences Center with new state-of-the-art research and teaching facilities. Research is conducted in a wide range of areas including crop production, crop improvement, crop adaptation, horticultural therapy, in vitro culture, biotechnology, plant-environment interactions, stress physiology, and molecular biology. The research encompasses all the commodity areas in horticulture such as ornamental crops, floriculture, turfgrass, and food crops.

The graduate program prepares students to pursue leadership and excellence in academic careers in research, teaching and outreach. It also trains students to be leaders in horticulture industry and private sector. Typically students, after graduation, find careers in academic and research institutions and in a wide range of areas in horticulture industry involving landscape and turfgrass management, floriculture and ornamental crops, food crops, and therapy-based fields such as elderly and disabled care, and hospitals.

K-State offers master of science and doctor of philosophy degree programs in a diverse number of horticultural commodity and discipline areas. Specializations include ornamental horticulture, floriculture, turfgrass, vegetable crops, fruit crops, horticulture therapy, and horticultural disciplines including environmental stress physiology, molecular biology, tissue culture, and plant growth regulators.

Master of Science degree is offered with thesis or non-thesis (Report) option. As a part of the program, students choosing thesis option must conduct original research (6-8 credit hours) which is followed by a dissertation whereas those opting for non-thesis option are involved in a selected problem or research project (2 credit hours) to be followed up by a written report. Both M.S and Ph.D programs require completion of appropriate academic course work in addition to conducting thesis research.

Independent and original research is the key integral part of a graduate thesis and can be accomplished within the department and/ or in other cooperating departments. Graduate students work closely with a major advisor and a supervisory committee for guidance in course work and research activities.

Graduate students participate in activities of the Graduate Club, the American Horticultural Therapy Association, the American Society for Horticulture Science, and Pi Alpha Xi (national honorary in floriculture, landscape and ornamental horticulture).

Students seeking admission into the horticulture graduate program must have a degree in horticulture, botany, biology, or related agricultural science; those specializing in horticultural therapy may have degrees in horticultural therapy, plant sciences, education, medicine or social/behavioral sciences. All graduate students must have adequate background in horticulture, plant physiology, mathematics, and physical sciences.

(1) Completed application form (form downloadable at www.ksu.edu/grad/) or submit on-line.

(2) A statement of academic interest to indicate the specific area of research interest in horticulture.

(4) Three letters of recommendation preferably from academic or professional sources. Click here

(6) Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores for students whose native language is not English (minimum acceptable score - 550 or 213).

(7) Affidavit of financial support for international students indicating financial support for the first year of graduate school ($18,925); form downloadable at www.ksu.edu/grad/application/gsa.doc

(8) An application fee of $30 for domestic students and $55.00 for international students in the form of a money order or Certified Bank Check made out to the KSU Graduate School.

Please visit the Graduate School web site at www.ksu.edu/grad/ for additional information and downloadable forms. Click here for Virtual Orientation

A limited number of assistantships (GRA and GTA) is available to qualifying students. The assistantships are awarded based on students academic standing (GPA and GRE scores). The application for assistantships should be made before Feb. 1 along with application materials for fall admission. Click here for availability.

A limited number of assistantships (GRA and GTA) is available to qualifying students. The assistantships are awarded based on students academic standing (GPA and GRE scores).

The application for assistantships should be made before Feb. 1 along with application materials for fall admission. Click here for availability.

RESEARCH AREAS OF EMPHASIS

Agroforestry: Wayne Geyer

Molecular Biology: C. B. Rajashekar

Floriculture: Kim Williams

Environmental Stress Physiology: Jack Fry, Dale Bremer, C. B. Rajashekar

Soil & Water Quality: Rhonda Janke, Charles Barden

Fruit Crops: Sorkel Kadir

Tissue Culture: Houchang Khatamian, C. B. Rajashekar

Horticultural Therapy: Richard Mattson, Candice Shoemaker

Turfgrass Management: Jack Fry, Steve Keeley, Dale Bremer

Human-Wildlife Interaction: Ted Cable

Vegetable Crop Production: Chuck Marr, Ted Carey

Landscape Design: Greg Davis

Woody Ornamentals: Houchang Khatamian, Ken Schroeder

Medicinal Plants: Rhonda Janke, Ted Carey

GRADUATE FACULTY

Charles J. Barden, Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University (Water quality, Environmental stress in woody plants)

Dale Bremer, Ph.D., Kansas State University (Turfgrass science, environmental physics, instrumentation and water conservation in turfgrass).

Ted T. Cable, Ph.D., Purdue University (Human dimension of natural resources management).

Edward E. Carey, Ph.D., University of Illinois (Vegetable crops and medicinal plants).

Gregory L. Davis, Ph.D., Kansas State University (Horticulture design applications, uses of adapted landscape plants and landscape
plant establishment).

Jack D. Fry, Ph.D., Colorado State University (Turfgrass science).

Wayne A. Geyer, Ph.D., University of Minnesota (Agroforestry)

Rhonda R. Janke, Ph.D., Cornell University (Soil and water quality, medicinal herbs and alternative crops).

Sorkel Kadir, Ph.D., Kansas State University (Fruit Crops).

Steven J. Keeley, Ph.D., Colorado State University (Turfgrass Management).

Houchang Khatamian, Ph.D., University of Guelph (Ornamental physiology, culture and nutrition and tissue culture).

Charles W. Marr, Ph.D., University of Tennessee (Evaluation of containerized vegetable transplants under field and greenhouse
environments; intensive vegetable crop production technologies).

Richard H. Mattson, Ph.D., University of Minnesota (Human mental and physiological responses to horticultural activities within
institutional, community-based, vocational rehabilitation programs, horticulture therapy).

C. B. Rajashekar, Ph.D., Colorado State University (Environmental stress physiology, cold tolerance, and molecular biology)

Kenneth Schroeder, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison (Woody Ornamentals).

Candice Shoemaker, Ph.D., Michigan State University (People-plant relationships focusing on geriatric population).

Kim A. Williams, Ph.D., North Carolina State University (Floriculture nutrition, soilless root media, insect/diseases and cultural
production practices).

Undergraduate and graduate credit in minor field

HORT 508. Landscape Maintenance. (3) I. Fundamentals of maintaining ornamental plant materials such as trees, shrubs,
turf, annual color, perennials, vines and roses in residential, commercial, and golf course landscapes. Two hours lec. and two hours lab a week.
Pr.: HORT 201 or BIOL 210; HORT 374 or HORT 375 or FOR 330, or FOR 340; and AGRON 305.

HORT 510. Horticultural Design. (3) II. Reinforcement of the horticultural design process as applied to the use of native and introduced
plant materials. Emphasis on functional and aesthetic arrangement of plants in small scale design to meet site design objectives and adaptation
to microclimates. Two three-hour studio periods per week. Pr.: HORT 275 and two plant materials courses.

HORT 515. Turfgrass Management. (3) I. Turfgrass identification and adaptation; establishment and maintenance of lawn and recreational
turf areas; turfgrass pests and their control. Two hours rec. and two hours lab each week. Pr.: HORT 201 and AGRON 305.

HORT 517. Golf Course Operations. (3) II. Strategies involved in golf course operation, including development of cultural practices, adherence
to environment regulations, personnel management, and budgeting. Two hours lec. and two hours lab. a week. Pr.: HORT 515.

HORT 519. Turfgrass Pest Management. (3) I. Biology, diagnosis and integrated control of turfgrass diseases, insect pests, and weeds.
Two hours lec. and two hours lab a week. Pr.: HORT 515 and one of the following: AGRON 330, ENTOM 320, or PLPTH 500.

HORT 520. Fruit Production. (3) II, in even years. Principles and practices of cultivating fruit and nut crops commercially and in the home
grounds. Laboratory offers experiences in pomological practices. Two hours rec. and two hours lab a week.
Pr.: HORT 201 or equiv. and HORT 350.

HORT 525. Horticulture for Special Populations. (3) I. An intensive study of the concepts and methods of using plants and gardening as
therapeutic activities with developmentally disabled, geriatric, economically and socially disadvantaged, emotionally disturbed, or educationally
deprived clients. Two hours rec. and two hours lab a week. Pr.: BIOL 210 or HORT 201.

HORT 530. Horticultural Therapy Case Management. (1) II. Guest lecturer and student presentations of topics relating to professionalism,
current issues, or goals of horticultural therapy. The course is intended to help students focus expectations and assumptions about a professional
career in horticultural therapy and to give them practice in articulating their understanding of the field. Client case management is used as part of
career practice. One hour rec. a week. Pr.: HORT 256 and 525.

HORT 535. Horticultural Therapy Field Techniques. (3) I, II. Students under supervision will plan, conduct, and evaluate horticultural therapy
activities at Manhattan institutional sites selected according to student's interest. A weekly discussion session addresses evaluation and issues of
professionalism. Two hours rec. and two hours lab a week. Pr.: HORT 525.

HORT 540. Horticultural Therapy Field Experiences. (3 or 6) I, II, S. Supervised training at institutions with horticultural therapy programs to
gain experience in the application and use of horticultural activities for special populations. Six months (1,000) hours continuous internships required
in psychiatric and correctional programs. Two 3-month (500 hours) internships may be completed at different sites. Students are required to
complete 6 credits of field experience before graduation. Pr.: HORT 535.

HORT 545. Computer Applications in Horticultural Design. (3) I. Introduction to a variety of computer software packages which students
may encounter in the nursery/garden center environment. These include planning, routing, and estimating packages. One hour rec. and four hours
lab per week. Pr.: HORT 510, or instructor permission.

HORT 550. Landscape Irrigation Systems. (3) I. Application of the principles and practices of landscape irrigation which involve sprinkler
system installation, maintenance and scheduling, electrical troubleshooting, basic hydraulics, and drip irrigation as these topics pertain to residential
and commercial landscapes and golf courses. Two hour lec. and two hours lab a week. Pr.: MATH 100; HORT 201 or BIOL 210; and AGRON 305.

HORT 551. Landscape Contracting and Construction. (3) II. The use, interpretation, and development of planting plans (including contracting,
construction, and specifications) as applied to landscape horticulture. Two hours rec. and two hours lab a week. Pr.: HORT 450.

HORT 555. Landscape Irrigation Contracting. (3) II. Irrigation contracting in the landscape industry. Major topics include landscape irrigation
installation and maintenance; scheduling and troubleshooting; and developing basic design skills. Basic principles of hydraulics; job safety requirements,
national codes/licensing that impact the irrigation industry, and the principles of good business practices will also be discussed. Two hours lec. and two hours lab
per week. Pr.: HORT 550 or two years of irrigation experience related field work approved by the instructor.

HORT 560. Vegetable Crop Production. (3) II, in odd years. Study of production principles and cultural practices involved in the growing of vegetable
crops. Two hours lec. and two hours lab or field trips a week. Pr.: HORT 201.

HORT 570. Greenhouse Operations Management. (3) I. Greenhouse systems operations and management including greenhouse layout; structures;
glazing materials; heating, ventilation, irrigation, lighting, benching, growing medium handling, and fertilization systems; traffic flow; crop handling, processing and
shipping. Two hours rec. and two hours lab a week. Pr.: HORT 201.

HORT 575. Nursery and Garden Center Operations. (3) II. A study of the various practices and methods of operating a commercial nursery for the
production of ornamental woody plants used for landscaping purposes. Garden center layout, pricing, mark-up, inventory, plant maintenance, and financing
will be discussed. Two hours rec. and three hours lab a week. Pr.: BIOL 210, HORT 350 and AGRON 305.

HORT 580. Advanced Horticultural Design. (3) II. Emphasis is on horticultural design projects with clients, working with the design process, design
articulation and communication with the clients. By appointment. Pr.: HORT 510.

HORT 582. Horticultural Pest Management. (3) II. Strategies involved in horticultural pest management including types, calibration and operation
of application equipment, pesticides, legal and safety issues, and non-pesticide control methods. Two hours lec. and three hours lab. a week.
Pr.: HORT 201 or BIOL 210, MATH 100, and an entomology, plant pathology, or weed science course.

HORT 585. Arboriculture. (3) II. Principles and practices of maintaining shade and ornamental trees under urban environments. Two hours lec. and
three hours lab a week. Pr.: HORT 201 or BIOL 210; HORT 374 or HORT 375 or FOR 330, or FOR 340; and AGRON 305.

HORT 590. Horticulture Internship. (2-5) I. Principles of commercial or public horticulture activity including exposure to multiple phases of the working
horticulture operation. Students will be placed according to specific interest. Required for horticulture majors after having completed 60 hours.
Pr.: HORT 190, HORT 201, plus one 500-level horticulture commodity course.

Undergraduate and graduate credit

HORT 625. Floral Crops Production and Handling. (4) II. The principles and commercial practices for producing floral crops emphasizing the physical
responses of plants to their environment. Aspects of postharvest physiology are also covered. Three hours lec. and three hours lab a week. One Saturday field
trip will be taken. Pr.: BIOL 500, HORT 350 and 570.

HORT 640. Horticultural Problems. (Var.) I, II, S. Problems and reports in floriculture, olericulture, ornamental horticulture, pomology, turfgrass and
horticultural therapy. Pr.: Consent of instructor.

HORT 706. Turfgrass Science. (3) II, in even years. Water, temperature, light, soil, and management stresses affecting turfgrass growth; cultural practices
that reduce injury. Three hours lec. a week. Pr.: HORT 515.

HORT 725. Postharvest Technology and Physiology of Horticultural Crops. (3) I, in even years. A study of the principles and practices involved in the
harvesting, handling and storage of horticultural products. The relationship of plant structure and physiology will be emphasized in discussing effects of postharvest
handling and storage to maximize quality and shelf life of products. Three hours lec. a week. Pr.: One horticulture commodity course and BIOL 500.

HORT 751. Human Issues in Horticultural Therapy. (3) I, in odd years. New developments and applications of gardening or horticultural activities for
special populations will be emphasized. Procedures for management of horticultural therapy programs, designing therapeutic or rehabilitation activities, and
evaluation methods will be discussed. Reading of selected research publications relating to horticultural therapy will be assigned. Three hours rec. a week.
Pr.: HORT 525 and a course in statistics.

HORT 775. Plant Nutrition and Nutrient Management. (3) II, in even years. Focuses on the macro and micronutrient elements and their function in the
growth and development of plants. Emphasis will be placed on the roles of single elements, interactions/balances between elements, and nutrient deficiency/toxicity
symptoms as they affect the physiology of the whole plant and management of nutrient applications. The relationships between crop nutrition and production and
environmental considerations (yield, drought, temperature, pests) will be explored. This course will utilize instructional technologies which may include electronic
chat rooms, satellite video, compressed video, and other technologies. Two hours lec. and two hours discussion a week. Pr.: AGRON 305 and BIOL 500.

Graduate credit

HORT 800. Horticultural Physiology. (3) II. Discussions of recent advances in horticultural crop plant physiology, including improvements in horticultural crops
resulting from applications of molecular biology and biotechnology. Three hours rec. a week. Pr.: BIOL 800.

HORT 846. Plant Research Methods. (3) I. Review of history and forms of plant science literature. Discussion on selecting experimental procedures, interpreting data,
and reporting results. Two hours rec. and two hours lab a week. Pr.: One statistics course or consent of instructor.

HORT 880. Topics in Horticulture. (Var.) I, II, S. Discussion and lectures of important papers and contributions in this field. Pr.: Consent of instructor.

HORT 898. Master's Report. (Var.) I, II, S. Investigations in pomology, olericulture, floriculture, ornamental horticulture, turfgrass, or horticultural therapy
for preparation of master's report. Pr.: Consent of instructor.

HORT 899. Research-M.S. (Var.) I, II, S. Investigations in pomology, olericulture, floriculture, ornamental horticulture, turfgrass, or horticultural therapy for
preparation of master's thesis. Pr.: Consent of instructor.

HORT 940. Plant Regulators in Horticulture. (3) I, in even years. A study of synthetic plant regulators used to initiate, induce, promote, inhibit, or alter
characteristics of horticultural plants and crops. Included are kinds and types of exogenous plant regulators used on crops, their activity, plant responses, benefits
and problems, and application technology. One hour lec. and two hours rec. a week. Pr.: BIOCH 510 or BIOL 500, and one graduate plant commodity course.

HORT 951. Horticulture Graduate Seminar. (1) I, II. Student presentations and discussion of investigational works in the various branches of horticulture.

HORT 960. Environmental Plant Stress. (3) I, in odd years. Physiological, biochemical and morphological factors involved in stress development and resistance
will be discussed. Pr.: BIOL 800.

HORT 970. Topics in Horticultural Therapy. (V) I, II, S. Discussion and lectures on important papers and contributions in horticultural therapy.
Pr.: Permission of instructor.

HORT 999. Research in Horticulture, Ph.D. (Var.) I, II, S. Investigations in pomology, olericulture, floriculture, ornamental horticulture, and turfgrass.
Data collected may form basis for a thesis or dissertation. Pr.: Consent of instructor.

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