2025-2026 Academic Catalog
Welcome to Virginia Tech! We are excited that you are here planning your time as a Hokie.
Welcome to Virginia Tech! We are excited that you are here planning your time as a Hokie.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Plant Science Degree Core Requirements | ||
| ALS 1234 | CALS First Year Seminar | 1 |
| or SPES 1004 | First Year Seminar | |
| ALCE 3634 | Communicating Ag and Life Sciences in Speaking | 3 |
| or ALCE 3624 | Communicating Ag and Life Sciences in Writing | |
| BIOL 1105 | Principles of Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 1106 | Principles of Biology | 3 |
| ENSC 1015 | Foundations of Environmental Science | 3 |
| or ENSC 1016 | Foundations of Environmental Science | |
| HORT/BIOL 2304 | Plant Biology | 3 |
| PPWS 2104 | Plants, Genes, and People | 3 |
| PPWS 4104 | Plant Pathology | 4 |
| Subtotal | 23 | |
| Environmental Horticulture Major Requirements | ||
| HORT 2224 | Horticulture Science and Industry | 2 |
| HORT 2234 | Environmental Factors in Horticulture | 3 |
| HORT 2244 | Plant Propagation | 3 |
| HORT 4334 | Greenhouse and Controlled Environment Agriculture Management | 3 |
| HORT 3324 | Herbaceous Landscape Plants | 3 |
| HORT 3325 | Woody Landscape Plants | 3 |
| or HORT 3326 | Woody Landscape Plants | |
| ENSC 3134 | Soils in the Landscape | 3 |
| ENT 4254 | Insect Pest Management | 3 |
| Subtotal | 23 | |
| Professional Development Requirements | ||
| SPES 2014 | Professional Development Skills | 1 |
| SPES 3900 | Bridge Experience | 0 |
| SPES 4014 | Career Development and Planning | 1 |
| Subtotal | 2 | |
| Business Requirements | ||
| AAEC 2434 | Foundations of Agribusiness | 3 |
| AAEC 3454 | Small Business Management and Entrepreneurship | 3 |
| HORT 4614 | Ornamental Plant Production and Marketing | 3 |
| or HORT 4344 | Production of Food Crops in Controlled Environment Agriculture | |
| Subtotal | 9 | |
| Restricted Electives | ||
| Select 12 credits of the following: | 12 | |
| Environmental Law | ||
| Agricultural Production and Consumption Economics | ||
| Agricultural Law | ||
| Sustainable Food Systems | ||
| Ecological Agriculture: Theory and Practice | ||
| Genetics | ||
| General Chemistry Laboratory | ||
| General Chemistry Laboratory | ||
| Organic Chemistry | ||
| Organic Chemistry | ||
| Organic Chemistry Laboratory | ||
| Organic Chemistry Laboratory | ||
| Foundations of Precision Agriculture | ||
| Agronomic Crops | ||
| Turfgrass Management | ||
| Crop Physiology and Ecology | ||
| Soil Microbiology | ||
| Soil Fertility and Management | ||
| Insects and Human Society | ||
| Bees and Beekeeping | ||
| Bees and Beekeeping Laboratory | ||
| Pesticide Usage | ||
| Indoor Plants | ||
| Floral Design | ||
| Plants and Greenspaces in Urban Communities | ||
| Plants, Places, and Cultures in a Global Context | ||
| Sustainable Agriculture Practicum | ||
| Wines and Vines | ||
| Trees in the Built Environment | ||
| Hardscape Materials and Installation | ||
| Landscape Contracting | ||
| Small Scale and Residential Landscape Design | ||
| Small Scale and Residential Landscape Design | ||
| Viticulture | ||
| Vegetable Crops | ||
| Vegetable Seed Production | ||
| Medicinal Plants and Herbs | ||
| Public Gardens Maintenance and Management | ||
| Public Gardens Maintenance and Management | ||
| Cannabis - Science, Industry, and Culture | ||
| World Crops: Food and Culture | ||
| Topics: StudyAway: Production, Culture and Social Aspects US Agriculture | ||
| Up to 3 credit hours can be selected from the following courses: | ||
| Study Abroad (1-3) | ||
| Field Study (1-3) | ||
| Independent Study (1-3) | ||
| Undergraduate Research (1-3) | ||
| These courses can count as a Restrictive Elective if NOT taken for Major Requirement or Business Requirement. | ||
| Woody Landscape Plants | ||
or HORT 3326 | Woody Landscape Plants | |
| Production of Food Crops in Controlled Environment Agriculture | ||
or HORT 4614 | Ornamental Plant Production and Marketing | |
| Free Electives | ||
| Select credits to reach 120 Total Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Subtotal | 18 | |
| Pathways to General Education | ||
| Pathways Concept 1 - Discourse | ||
| ENGL 1105 | First-Year Writing (1F) | 3 |
| ENGL 1106 | First-Year Writing (1F) | 3 |
| Select three credits in Pathway 1a | 3 | |
| Pathways Concept 2 - Critical Thinking in the Humanities | ||
| Select six credits in Pathway 2 | 6 | |
| Pathways Concept 3 - Reasoning in the Social Sciences | ||
| AAEC 1005 | Economics of the Food and Fiber System | 3 |
| or ECON 2005 | Principles of Economics | |
| Select three credits in Pathway 3 | 3 | |
| Pathways Concept 4 - Reasoning in the Natural Sciences | ||
| CHEM 1035 | General Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 1036 | General Chemistry | 3 |
| Pathways Concept 5 - Quantitative and Computational Thinking | ||
| MATH 1014 | Precalculus with Transcendental Functions (5F) | 3 |
| or MATH 1025 | Elementary Calculus | |
| Select three credits in Pathway 5f | 3 | |
| Select three credits in Pathway 5a | 3 | |
| Pathways Concept 6 - Critique and Practice in Design and the Arts | ||
| Select three credits in Pathway 6d | 3 | |
| Select three credits in Pathway 6a | 3 | |
| Pathways Concept 7 - Critical Analysis of Identity and Equity in the United States | ||
| Select three credits in Pathway 7 (may be double-counted with another Pathways concept) | 3 | |
| Subtotal | 45 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
Upon having attempted 60 credits (including transfer, advanced placement, advanced standing and credit by examination), "satisfactory progress" toward a BS PLSC degree will include passing the following:
SPES 1004 First Year Seminar : Any University approved First Year Experience (FYE) Course
A sequence of two foreign language courses (Classical or ASL) is required unless two years of the same high school foreign language or 6 transfer credits of the same foreign language are completed. These credits do not count toward graduation requirements.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Credits | |
| BIOL 1105 | Principles of Biology | 3 |
| ENGL 1105 | First-Year Writing | 3 |
| ENSC 1015 or ENSC 1016 | Foundations of Environmental Science or Foundations of Environmental Science | 3 |
| HORT 2224 | Horticulture Science and Industry | 2 |
| MATH 1014 or MATH 1025 | Precalculus with Transcendental Functions or Elementary Calculus | 3 |
| SPES 1004 or ALS 1234 | First Year Seminar or CALS First Year Seminar | 1 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| BIOL 1106 | Principles of Biology | 3 |
| ENGL 1106 | First-Year Writing | 3 |
| HORT 2244 | Plant Propagation | 3 |
| HORT 2234 | Environmental Factors in Horticulture | 3 |
| Pathways Concept 5 - Quantitative and Computational Thinking | 3 | |
| SPES 2014 | Professional Development Skills | 1 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| AAEC 1005 | Economics of the Food and Fiber System | 3 |
| HORT 2304 | Plant Biology | 3 |
| CHEM 1035 | General Chemistry | 3 |
| Pathways Concept 1 - Discourse | 3 | |
| Pathways Concept 5 - Quantitative and Computational Thinking | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| AAEC 2434 | Foundations of Agribusiness | 3 |
| CHEM 1036 | General Chemistry | 3 |
| PPWS 2104 | Plants, Genes, and People | 3 |
| Pathways Concept 2 - Critical Thinking in the Humanities | 3 | |
| Pathways Concept 6 - Critique and Practice in Design and the Arts | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| AAEC 3454 | Small Business Management and Entrepreneurship | 3 |
| ALCE 3624 or ALCE 3634 | Communicating Ag and Life Sciences in Writing or Communicating Ag and Life Sciences in Speaking | 3 |
| HORT 3324 | Herbaceous Landscape Plants | 3 |
| Restricted Electives | 3 | |
| Pathways Concept 6 - Critique and Practice in Design and the Arts | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ENSC 3134 | Soils in the Landscape | 3 |
| ENT 4224 | Integrated Pest Management | 3 |
| HORT 3326 | Woody Landscape Plants | 3 |
| Restricted Electives | 3 | |
| Pathways Concept 2 - Critical Thinking in the Humanities | 3 | |
| SPES 3900 | Bridge Experience | 0 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| HORT 4334 | Greenhouse and Controlled Environment Agriculture Management | 3 |
| Restricted Electives | 3 | |
| Restricted Electives | 3 | |
| Pathways Concept 3 - Reasoning in the Social Sciences | 3 | |
| Pathways Concept 7 - Critical Analysis of Identity and Equity in the United States | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| HORT 4614 or HORT 4344 | Ornamental Plant Production and Marketing or Production of Food Crops in Controlled Environment Agriculture | 3 |
| PPWS 4104 | Plant Pathology | 4 |
| Free Electives | 6 | |
| SPES 4014 | Career Development and Planning | 1 |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
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