Overview
The Bachelor of Science in Horticulture is offered by the Department of Architecture and Environmental Design (AED). Courses for the BS in Horticulture are offered at the Ambler Campus with a portion of the coursework also available on Temple's Main and Center City campuses. The Horticulture program has access to the Ambler Arboretum of Temple University, Temple Ambler Field Station, and the Temple University Ambler Campus Greenhouse Education and Research Complex. Faculty and students use these resources in coursework and research.
Horticulture is a broad discipline that encompasses the science, art, technology and business of plant cultivation. Careers in the field of horticulture can be in the built landscape or in natural environments and encompasses a myriad of different occupational opportunities. The Temple horticulture curriculum includes both technical coursework and hands-on learning experiences and is designed to educate students using a broad array of courses that encompasses the breadth of the discipline. In order to further broaden and deepen knowledge and understanding of the natural and cultural world, students also receive solid education in the liberal arts.
Students learn the relationships between horticulture, technology and natural ecological processes, and develop a responsible horticultural approach toward the environment. The department encourages students to consider ways to eliminate many outmoded, environmentally damaging practices.
Campus Location: Ambler
Program Code: TA-HORT-BS
Admissions
For information on how to apply, please visit Tyler's Landscape Architecture and Horticulture admissions page.
Study Abroad
Students who plan to study abroad should arrange to meet with their academic advisor and the Education Abroad and Overseas Campuses office as early as possible, preferably during the freshman year, in order to explore options and plan the sequence of courses that would be most appropriate.
Career Opportunities
Careers in horticulture are available in both the public and private sector. Graduates with a degree in horticulture could be involved in the production, use, installation and management of plants. They may:
- Work in public horticulture in arboreta, botanic gardens, parks or golf courses;
- Teach in a high school, community college or at the university level;
- Pursue an advanced degree and conduct research in plant propagation or stormwater management;
- Produce plants in greenhouses and nurseries for sale and landscape use;
- Design, install and/or maintain residential, commercial or public landscapes;
- Research new technologies and plants in private and public institutions;
- Work toward registration as a horticultural therapist;
- Write about plants and horticulture for articles, books and copy on web sites;
- Work as an extension agent or specialist helping residential and commercial clients;
- Work in interior landscaping or floral design;
- Work as a sales representative for horticultural or allied industries; and/or
- Own and operate their own business.
Continuing Studies
The Department of Architecture and Environmental Design offers a variety of credit courses and certificate programs. These courses and certificates are available to degree-seeking students as well as others interested in horticulture. For many, these courses are a means of advancing careers; for others, they are a source of personal enrichment. It is also possible, over a period of years, to complete all of the requirements for some credit certificate programs and for the associate's and the bachelor's degrees in Horticulture by attending late afternoon, evening and weekend classes.
The Certificate in Horticultural Therapy can be completed as part of the Bachelor of Science in Horticulture. Consult an academic advisor about how the required courses fit into specific academic and career plans.
Contact Information
Sasha W. Eisenman, PhD, Architecture and Environmental Design Department Chair
Tyler School of Art and Architecture
Dixon Hall, Room 201
580 Meetinghouse Road
Ambler, PA 19002
267-468-8168
eisenman@temple.edu
These requirements are for students who matriculated in academic year 2025-2026. Students who matriculated prior to fall 2025 should refer to the Archives to view the requirements for their Bulletin year.
Summary of Requirements for the Degree
The degree of Bachelor of Science in Horticulture may be conferred upon a student by recommendation of the faculty and upon the satisfactory completion of a minimum of 124 semester hours of credit with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 overall and in the major.
University Requirements
- MATH 0701 (4 s.h.) and/or ENG 0701 (4 s.h.), if required by placement assessment.
- All Temple students must take a minimum of two writing-intensive courses as part of the major. LARC 2496 and HORT 4896 are the specific writing-intensive courses required for Horticulture majors.
- Students must complete the requirements of the General Education (GenEd) program (29-30 s.h.)
Major Requirements
No more than one grade below a C- is allowed in any course in either Landscape Architecture or Horticulture.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BOT 1111 | General Botany (fall only) | 4 |
| BOT 1112 | Plant Ecology (spring only) | 3 |
| BOT 2121 | Plant Physiology (spring only) | 4 |
| BOT 3122 | Applied Plant Physiology (fall only) | 3 |
| CHEM 1021 & CHEM 1023 | Introduction to Chemistry I and Introduction to Chemistry Laboratory I (fall only) | 4 |
| CHEM 1022 & CHEM 1024 | Introduction to Chemistry II and Introduction to Chemistry Laboratory II (spring only) | 4 |
| HORT 1211 | Woody Plants I (fall only) | 3 |
| HORT 1212 | Woody Plants II (spring only) | 3 |
| HORT 1566 | Horticulture Business Management | 3 |
| HORT 2114 | Soils (spring only) | 3 |
| HORT 2221 | Herbaceous Plants I (fall only) | 3 |
| HORT 2222 | Herbaceous Plants II (spring only) | 3 |
| HORT 2323 | Greenhouse Management (fall only) | 3 |
| HORT 2324 | Plant Propagation (spring only) | 3 |
| HORT 2334 | Food Crops I (spring only) | 3 |
| HORT 2575 | Introduction to Public Horticulture | 3 |
| HORT 3423 | Applied Entomology (fall only) | 3 |
| HORT 3424 | Applied Plant Pathology (spring only) | 3 |
| HORT 3514 | Landscape Restoration (spring only) | 3 |
| HORT 3523 | Landscape Management (fall only) | 3 |
| HORT 4896 | Senior Seminar (Capstone (WI), fall only) | 3 |
| LARC 2496 | Landscape Traditions (WI) | 3 |
| Select four of the following: | 12 | |
Landscape Architecture Elective (LARC 1000-level or higher) | ||
Horticulture Elective (HORT 1000-level or higher) | ||
Botany Elective (BOT 1000-level or higher) | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 82 | |
Suggested Academic Plan
Please note that this is a suggested academic plan. Depending on your situation, your academic plan may look different.
Bachelor of Science in Horticulture
Suggested Plan for New Students Starting in the 2025-2026 Academic Year
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Note: The symbol after the course number indicates that the class is offered ONLY in the semester indicated. | ||
| (F) = offered only in fall semester | ||
| (S) = offered only in spring semester | ||
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| BOT 1111 | General Botany (F) | 4 |
| CHEM 1021 & CHEM 1023 | Introduction to Chemistry I and Introduction to Chemistry Laboratory I (F) 1 | 4 |
| ENG 0802 | Analytical Reading and Writing [GW] or Analytical Reading and Writing: ESL [GW] or Honors Analytical Reading and Writing [GW] | 4 |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| BOT 1112 | Plant Ecology (S) | 3 |
| CHEM 1022 & CHEM 1024 | Introduction to Chemistry II and Introduction to Chemistry Laboratory II (S) 1 | 4 |
| IH 0851 or IH 0951 | Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY] or Honors Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY] | 3 |
| GenEd Quantitative Literacy Course [GQ] | 4 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 17 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| HORT 1211 | Woody Plants I (F) | 3 |
| HORT 2323 | Greenhouse Management (F) | 3 |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| IH 0852 or IH 0952 | Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ] or Honors Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ] | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
Horticulture Elective (HORT 1000-level or higher) | ||
Landscape Architecture Elective (LARC 1000-level or higher) | ||
Botany Elective (BOT 1000-level or higher) | ||
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| BOT 2121 | Plant Physiology (S) | 4 |
| HORT 1212 | Woody Plants II (S) | 3 |
| HORT 2114 | Soils (S) | 3 |
| HORT 2324 | Plant Propagation (S) | 3 |
| HORT 2575 | Introduction to Public Horticulture | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| HORT 2221 | Herbaceous Plants I (F) | 3 |
| HORT 3523 | Landscape Management (F) | 3 |
| LARC 2496 | Landscape Traditions [WI] (F) | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
Horticulture Elective (HORT 1000-level or higher) | ||
Landscape Architecture Elective (LARC 1000-level or higher) | ||
Botany Elective (BOT 1000-level or higher) | ||
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| HORT 2222 | Herbaceous Plants II (S) | 3 |
| HORT 2334 | Food Crops I (S) | 3 |
| HORT 3514 | Landscape Restoration (S) | 3 |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| HORT 1566 | Horticulture Business Management | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| BOT 3122 | Applied Plant Physiology (F) | 3 |
| HORT 3423 | Applied Entomology (F) | 3 |
| HORT 4896 | Senior Seminar [WI] (Capstone, F) | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
Horticulture Elective (HORT 1000-level or higher) | ||
Landscape Architecture Elective (LARC 1000-level or higher) | ||
Botany Elective (BOT 1000-level or higher) | ||
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| HORT 3424 | Applied Plant Pathology (S) | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
Horticulture Elective (HORT 1000-level or higher) | ||
Landscape Architecture Elective (LARC 1000-level or higher) | ||
Botany Elective (BOT 1000-level or higher) | ||
| Electives | 9 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 124 | |