About the Plant Science Program
The Plant Science Program prepares students for careers and further study in the fulfilling and increasingly important areas encompassed by Plant Science (also known as Botany and/or Plant Biology), where knowledgeable graduates are in high demand. The curriculum provides students with a strong foundation in the life sciences from which they can further explore this interdisciplinary field. Topics of study include different aspects of plant biological processes, identification and taxonomy, agricultural and horticultural production, along with plant natural products to name a few.
The curriculum also includes coursework in plant breeding and genetics, plant pathology, turfgrass management, and horticultural therapy (an allied health profession). During their studies students learn in a variety of environments, including on/off campus greenhouses, botanical and vegetable gardens, research labs, and farms, while receiving instruction from faculty with expertise and demonstrated research excellence in Plant Biology. Students are exposed to current and evolving problems in our world, such as climate change resilience, food security, the globalization of pests and diseases, and are equipped with the knowledge and skills to help solve them.
The Plant Science Program offers one major with three options, five minors, and three certificates, providing students with a fully customizable education that demonstrates excellence and expertise to future employers. Student success is facilitated by more than 30 courses that help students fulfill the requirements of these programs on time. Our immersive teaching spaces, including research labs, farms, and greenhouses, provide a wide variety of programming for diverse student interests. The interdisciplinary curriculum in the Plant Science Program offers courses and career development services to prepare students for careers in the agricultural, horticultural, and personal care industries relevant to New Jersey and the Mid-Atlantic region.
In addition to the academic curriculum offerings, the Plant Science Program facilitates student access to several world class Plant Science research labs, botanical gardens, greenhouses, and herbariums for hands on training in fulfilment of the SEBS requirement for experiential learning. This requirement helps students gain invaluable technical and interpersonal skills in fields of their interest that are directly transferable to the plant related careers they wish to pursue. Research programs within the Plant Biology Department and associated New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Stations (NJAES) also offer research and employment opportunities to undergraduate students during the semester as well as over the summer, helping students gain practical work experience which aids them in gaining employment in post-graduation as well as admission to graduate school.
Our graduates find themselves in fulfilling careers in government, academia, and industry, as well as continuing their education in graduate schools around the country.
Program Learning Goals
Students completing degree requirements will be able to:
- Technical Proficiency: Describe basic knowledge about plant structure and function, fundamentals of plant growth and physiology, and principles of horticulture.
- Context: Summarize broadly the impact of plants in agriculture, society, and the environment, and their role in plant related careers.
- Communication: Communicate, in written and oral form, plant science knowledge to peers and others in society.
- Critical Thinking: Critically formulate hypotheses, interpret data, and apply basic principles and practices of plant science to solve fundamental and practical problems.
Program Director
Dr. Nrupali Patel
Foran Hall, Rm. 372
848-932-6392
Email: npatel@sebs.rutgers.edu
Martin Hall, Suite 109
848-932-3516
For Prospective Students Contact
Dr. Harna Patel
Teaching Instructor
Foran Hall, Rm. 386
Email: harna.patel@rutgers.edu