concentration.
a. Demonstrate an understanding of the theoretical sciences upon which horticulture and agronomy are based.
i Utilize a basic knowledge of chemistry, botany, entomology, plant pathology, physical science, and soils to evaluate and adapt plant production and maintenance practices.
b. Demonstrate knowledge of important food and fiber crops. i Recognize/identify a minimum of 30 species of fruit,
vegetable, or field crops.
ii Discuss basic cultural practices and requirements of important food and fiber crops.
iii Discuss economic uses of important food and fiber crops.
c. Demonstrate knowledge of the design principles employed in the use of ornamental horticultural products.
i Design residential and small business landscapes. ii Create floral designs.
d. Demonstrate an ability to produce fruits, vegetables, and field crops using modern and sustainable methods.
i Prepare land for direct seeding or transplanting. ii Utilize soil and plant tissue analyses to optimize plant
nutrition.
iii Establish populations of trees, vines, or annual crops in the field.
iv Utilize irrigation technology and other cultural practices to optimize the efficiency of water use. v Utilize integrated pest management (IPM) to protect
crops in a sustainable manner.
vi Utilize harvest and post-harvest techniques appropriate to individual crop requirements. e. Demonstrate an ability to produce ornamental plants
utilizing modern and sustainable techniques. i Produce, utilize and adapt plant media. ii Utilize environmental modification techniques to
produce plants.
iii Propagate plants in a variety of ways including seeds, cuttings, grafting, and tissue culture.
iv Utilize soil and foliar analysis to optimize plant nutrition.
v Utilize integrated pest management techniques to produce plants in a sustainable manner.
vi Evaluate and apply appropriate plant production practices in the context of individual plant cultural requirements.
f. Demonstrate an ability to design, install, and maintain a landscape.
i Draft a landscape design utilizing both manual and computerized techniques.
ii Install a landscape employing appropriate soil management, construction, irrigation, plant installation and sustainable landscape techniques.
iii Utilize sustainable pruning, fertilizer, irrigation, and pest management techniques to maintain a landscape.
g. Demonstrate knowledge of the uses and cultural requirements of ornamental plants.
i Recognize, appropriately utilize, and maintain a minimum of 400 different landscape plants. ii Utilize knowledge of plant taxonomy and appropriate
references to identify and research unfamiliar landscape plants.
h. Demonstrate an ability to diagnose and resolve plant-health problems.
i Identify common pests and utilize knowledge of pest/ host-plant biology to manage them in a sustainable manner.
ii Develop sustainable pest management plans in production and landscape settings.
iii Diagnose abiotic plant problems and utilize scientific principles to correct them in a sustainable manner. iv Utilize natural enemies, low-risk plant protection
products, conventional pesticides, and a variety of application techniques to control pest problems. 2. HCS graduates will have knowledge of the business aspects of
their concentration.
a. Demonstrate a basic knowledge of accounting. i Utilize basic small business software to maintain
business records.
ii Manually maintain business records utilizing basic double-entry bookkeeping practices.
b. Demonstrate knowledge of licensing requirements. i Discuss the branches of horticulture and crop science
with licensing requirements and the steps necessary to obtain licenses.
c. Demonstrate a basic knowledge of business practices and ethics.
i Articulate the relationship between productivity and profit.
ii Discuss the ethical basis or lack thereof of business practices.
3. HCS graduates will possess the appropriate management skills that will enable effective leadership, planning, and decision- making.
a. Prioritize goals and objectives.
i Clearly state primary and subsidiary objectives. b. Consider others’ points-of-view
c. Critically evaluate multiple options and decide on the best course for goal completion.
i Distinguish between factors influencing and not influencing the problem.
ii Evaluate those factors affecting goal completion. d. Evaluate the steps necessary to accomplish a goal and
plan for their completion.
i Determine the steps to reach the goal. ii Prioritize the steps to goal completion.
e. Inspire others to actively participate in accomplishing a goal.
i Clearly explain the importance of the goal to others. ii Convince others of the importance of their
contributions in the attainment of the goal. 4. HCS graduates will have excellent interpersonal and
communication skills that will facilitate their working in teams in a diverse work environment. They will:
a. Demonstrate an ability to clearly convey an idea or point of view in a written format.
i Write high quality scientific papers/technical reports. ii Write effective factual and persuasive essays. iii Edit essays written by others.
b. Demonstrate an ability to clearly convey an idea or point of view in an oral format.
i Deliver effective factual and persuasive oral presentations.
ii Effectively utilize presentation software in oral presentation.
iii Effectively utilize other media techniques.
c. Demonstrate an ability to work effectively with people from diverse backgrounds.
i Work in teams to complete professional projects. ii Demonstrate an appreciation of the variety of
cultural, racial, economic, and sexual identities in the population so that the work environment is accepting and safe for everyone.
iii Develop an appreciation of a foreign language. d. Consider viewpoints from a variety of perspectives.
i Demonstrate an ability to gather and integrate information in order to successfully participate in a respectful and informed intellectual debate.
Degree Requirements and Curriculum
In addition to the program requirements listed on this page, students must also satisfy requirements outlined in more detail in the Minimum Requirements for Graduation section of this catalog, including:• 60 units upper division • GWR
• 2.0 GPA
• U.S. Cultural Pluralism (USCP)
Note: No major, support or concentration courses may be taken as credit/no credit unless so listed.
MAJOR COURSES
HCS 110 Orientation to Horticulture and Crop Science 2 HCS 120 Principles of Horticulture and Crop Science 4
HCS 124 Plant Propagation 4
HCS 304 Plant Breeding 4
HCS 327 Abiotic Plant Problems 3
HCS 410 Crop Physiology 4
HCS 461 Senior Project I 2
HCS 462 Senior Project II 2
HCS 463 Senior Seminar 1
PPSC 311 Agricultural Entomology 4
PPSC 321 Weed Biology and Management 4
BOT 121 General Botany (B2 & B4) 1 4
BOT 323 Plant Pathology 4
SS 121 Introductory Soil Science 4
Concentration courses (see below) 42
SUPPORT COURSES
BRAE 340 Irrigation Water Management (Area F) 1 4
BUS 212 Financial Accounting for Nonbusiness Majors 4 CHEM 111 Survey of Chemistry (B3 & B4) 1 5
CHEM 312 Survey of Organic Chemistry 5
ECON 201 Survey of Economics (D2) 1 4
MATH 118 Precalculus Algebra (B1) 1 4
SPAN 111 Elementary Hispanic Language and Culture (USCP)
4
SS 221 Fertilizers and Plant Nutrition 4 STAT 218 Applied Statistics for the Life Sciences (B1) 1 4
GENERAL EDUCATION (GE)
(See GE program requirements below.) 48 FREE ELECTIVES
Free Electives 6
Total units 180
1 Required in Support; also satisfies GE
Concentrations (select one)
• Crop Science (p. 51)• Fruit Science (p. 51)
• Greenhouse and Nursery Plant Production (p. 52) • Plant Protection Science (p. 52)
• Public Horticulture (p. 53)
• Sustainable Landscape Management and Design (p. 53) • Turfgrass and Sports Field Management (p. 54)
General Education (GE) Requirements
• 72 units required, 24 of which are specified in Major and/or Support. • See the complete GE course listing (http://catalog.calpoly.edu/academicstandardsandpolicies/
generalrequirementsbachelorsdegree/#generaleducationtext). • Minimum of 12 units required at the 300 level.
Area A Communication
A1 Expository Writing 4
A2 Oral Communication 4
Area B Science and Mathematics (no additional units required)
B1 Mathematics/Statistics (8 units in Support) 1 0
B2 Life Science (4 units in Support) 1 0
B3 Physical Science (4 units in Supoort) 1 0
B4 One lab taken with either a B2 or B3 course
Area C Arts and Humanities
C1 Literature 4
C2 Philosophy 4
C3 Fine/Performing Arts 4
C4 Upper-division elective 4
Area C elective (Choose one course from C1-C5) 4 Area D/E Society and the Individual
D1 The American Experience (Title 5, Section 40404 requirement)
4
D2 Political Economy (4 units in Support) 1 0
D3 Comparative Social Institutions 4
D4 Self Development (CSU Area E) 4
D5 Upper-division elective 4
Area F Technology
F Upper-division elective (4 units in Support) 0
Total units 48
1 Required in Support; also satisfies GE