Topics on this page:

• Overview
• Admission requirements
• Master of Science (M.S.) requirements
• Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) requirements
• Master of Professional Studies (M.P.S) requirements - including Public Garden Leadership and Masters International Program (formerly the Peace Corps option)
• Dual degrees with Landscape Architecture

Overview

The Field of Horticulture offers qualified students the opportunity to pursue advanced study leading to three different degrees:

• Master of Science (M.S.)
• Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
• Master of Professional Studies (M.P.S)

In addition, the Field offers three dual degrees in association with the Department of Landscape Architecture:

• Master of Science in Horticulture and Master of Landscape Architecture (MS/MLA)
• Master of Landscape Architecture and Master of Professional Studies in Horticulture (MLA/MPS)
• Bachelor of Landscape Architecture and Master of Professional Studies in Horticulture (BLA/MPS)

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Admission requirements

In general, to meet the minimum requirements for admission applicants should:

• Be within the top 1/3 of their graduating class, or
• Have a grade point average of "B" or the equivalent for the last two years.
• Have a score of writing: 20, listening: 15, reading: 20, speaking: 22 in the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), if native language is not English or college or secondary school instruction was not in English.

Graduate students entering the Field of Horticulture for a Masters or Doctorate degree are expected to have completed the equivalent of an undergraduate degree in biology, horticulture, or agriculture. If they do not have such a background, they are expected to make up any deficiencies with appropriate undergraduate courses, as determined by the student's special committee. Students who are seeking a Masters of Professional Studies (M.P.S.) may be admitted from many undergraduate disciplines.

Detailed requirements are listed in the Announcement of the Graduate School. See the Application FAQ and the Cornell University Graduate School website for more information and application procedures.

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Master of Science (M.S.) requirements

• Students select a Special Committee composed of one professor representing the major field and one professor representing the minor field.
• Coursework and credits required for the M.S. degree are determined by the student's Special Committee.
• Committee members advise students in the selection and conduct of research problems for the thesis.
• Candidates must submit an acceptable hypothesis-driven thesis based on a research project and pass a final oral exam.
• Teaching experience is required and can be satisfied by assisting a faculty member in teaching a course.
• Fulfill a minimum of 2 residence units. Candidates are expected to complete degree requirements in two years, but have up to 4 years to complete requirements.

Students for the Master of Science degree majoring in horticulture are expected to demonstrate competence in the three core areas of Horticultural Biology, Horticultural Production and Management, and Horticultural Methods, as listed in Suggested Courses. See Coursework for more information.

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Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

• Students select a Special Committee composed of one professor representing the major field and at least two other professors from different graduate fields. This approach permits the student to work with those faculty members who can best direct the student's graduate study, regardless of college, department, or field affiliation.
• Coursework and credits required for the Ph. D. degree are determined by the student's Special Committee.
• Committee members advise students in the selection and conduct of dissertation research.
• Candidates must submit an acceptable dissertation based on a research project.
• Pass the "Q" conference, an oral qualifying conference that includes critical examination of proposed research and an evaluation of qualifications, scheduled early in the residency.
• Pass the "A" exam, an oral exam reviewing the student's mastery of subject matter related to his/her thesis topic and the course work taken.
• Candidates must earn two additional residence units before taking the final "B" examination.
• Pass the "B" exam, or final examination, which covers the subject of the dissertation.
• Teaching experience is required and can be satisfied by assisting a faculty member in teaching a course.
• Fulfill a minimum of 6 residence units. While it is possible to complete Ph.D. degree requirements in three years, the nature of your research may require more time, in which case, you have up to seven years to complete.

Doctoral students majoring in the Field of Horticulture are expected to develop broad competence in each of three core areas: Horticulture Biology, Horticultural Production and Management, and Horticultural Methods during their course of study or show evidence of having attained that competence previously.

The large number of courses suggested for each concentration will allow students, working with their special committee, to tailor to individual needs. It is expected that all graduate students attend the weekly Horticulture seminar (Hort 600).

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Master of Professional Studies (M.P.S)

M.P.S. degrees are offered within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. It is primarily a course-driven degree where candidates complete a problem-solving project instead of a hypothesis-driven thesis. In addition, there is a 30 credit hour course requirement. The M.P.S. degree is most useful for those students who wish to acquire greater subject-matter expertise in an aspect of horticulture or who are changing their field to horticulture.

• The M.P.S. student selects a Special Committee composed of a minimum of two faculty members. The student selects a faculty member from his or her chosen field to chair the Special Committee. The second member of the committee may represent either another field or another concentration in the same field as the chair.
• Satisfactory completion of a minimum of 30 credit hours of coursework related to the candidate's professional interest, as agreed upon with the Special Committee. At least 24 credits must be in courses numbered 400 or higher. A maximum of 6 of the required 30 credit hours may be earned through the student's problem-solving project.
• Satisfactory completion of a problem-solving project under the supervision of the Special Committee. This project may be an action program, the development of a plan of attack for a pertinent problem, or the development and execution of research appropriate to the profession. A formal project report must be submitted to and approved by the candidate's Special Committee.
• A minimum grade point average of 2.5.
• Completion of a minimum of 2 units of residence credit. Finishing in one to two years is the norm. However, requirements must be completed within four years of admission.

Two other M.P.S. programs have slightly different requirements:

• Public Garden Leadership - A four-semester program through Cornell Plantations, with an internship required between the first and second year. A BS in botany, horticulture, landscape architecture, agricultural economics, natural resources, or another related discipline is a must for this program. Fall admission only. Fellowships are available on a highly competitive basis. Find more information at the Cornell Plantations website.
• Masters International Program (formerly the Peace Corps Option) - Combines academic coursework with Peace Corps field experience. Requires enrollment for two full academic semesters and satisfactory completion of 24 credit hours followed by a Peace Corps assignment. Student then returns to Cornell to complete the M.P.S. degree. Find more information at the Cornell International Programs website.

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Dual degrees with Landscape Architecture

These dual degree options are for students seeking to combine a professional degree in Landscape Architecture with greater expertise in some aspect of horticultural science. Students must be accepted into the Field of Landscape Architecture and the Field of Horticulture (only one application is necessary).

In the case of the MS/MLA, students are accepted into both fields prior to commencing their graduate studies. This is a highly rigorous degree requiring all the required courses in Landscape Architecture with coursework and formal research in Horticulture. Only students who have a strong Bachelors degree in Horticulture may apply for this option.

In the cases of the BLA or MLA followed by an MPS in Horticulture, student admittance into the Field of Horticulture can take place during their final year of their Landscape Architecture degree. It is highly advisable that students seeking this type of degree begin discussion of an MPS with the Director of Graduate Studies in Horticulture during the beginning of their final year in Landscape Architecture, if not earlier.

• Master of Science in Horticulture and Master of Landscape Architecture (MS/MLA) - Minimum of three and half years, typically longer. Requires a strong background in Horticultural science. Formal hypothesis-driven research in horticulture with combined degree thesis is required.
• Bachelor of Landscape Architecture and Master of Professional Studies in Horticulture (BLA/MPS) - four-year BLA program plus one-year MPS program, minimum. Prior to the senior year of the BLA, the student will begin to develop an MPS project in Horticulture with Horticulture faculty to be completed in the final MPS year in Horticulture.
• Master of Landscape Architecture and Master of Professional Studies in Horticulture (MLA/MPS) - three-year MLA program plus one-year MPS program, minimum.

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