Greenhouse with Jamie Holden and flowers for the Horticulture Club plant sale

Judges at Good Housekeeping named Washington State University's own Cosmic Crisp® apple a Healthy Snack Award winner for the second summer in a row.

Strawberries grow on plastic mulch, above. WSU scientists are studying how to help organic farmers replace traditional plastic with a more sustainable, economical option.

Stone fruit breeder Per McCord grows seedlings at WSU’s Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center at Prosser. Partnering with an international fruit company, Sun World, McCord and colleagues are raising cherry seedlings using shared genetic material, searching for the next high-flavored WSU cherry.

Healthy cherries not affected by frost damage

Department of Horticulture

The Department of Horticulture at Washington State University is among the top programs in the U.S. Together with students, our faculty members are driving biological discovery and practical applications using our strengths that include breeding, crop management, genetics and genomics, bioinformatics, biochemistry, and physiology.

Degree Options

PhD or MS in Horticulture

The Master of Science and PhD degrees in Horticulture are research-based degrees. For the MS degree, the objectives are to train students in the experimental method and to prepare students for handling major projects after graduation or for entering a doctoral program. All doctoral candidates conduct independent research leading to a dissertation, with the objective of making a major contribution to the body of scientific knowledge in Horticulture.

Agriculture Biotechnology Undergraduate Major

The Agricultural Biotechnology major provides students with a comprehensive understanding of genetics, plant pathology, entomology, organic and biochemistry, crops and soil sciences, horticulture, and micro and cell biology. The program emphasizes the development and application of new technology to ensure a safe and abundant food and fiber supply. Hands-on opportunities for students to partake in research are abundant.

Landscape, Greenhouse and Nursery Management Undergraduate Major

The Nursery and Greenhouse Management major is a horticulture-based program that prepares students for opportunities in plant propagation, the production and marketing of potted crops, bedding plants, trees, shrubs, and cut flowers, and in landscape plant management.

Fruit and Vegetable Management Undergraduate Major

The Fruit and Vegetable Management major offers specialization in the science and practice of growing, harvesting, handling, storing, processing, and marketing tree fruits, small fruits, and vegetables. Students will learn the most efficient and sustainable management practices involving state-of-the-art production systems for the diverse fruit and vegetable crops produced in the Pacific Northwest and beyond.

Undergraduate Minor in Horticulture

To minor in Horticulture you must complete a minimum of 16 credit hours in HORT courses. At least 9 hours must be in 300- or 400-level courses, excluding Hort 399 and 499, and taken in residence at WSU or through WSU-approved education abroad or educational exchange courses. Hort/Crops 202 and 351 are highly recommended.

Online MS in Agriculture

The Department of Horticulture participates in the Master of Science in Agriculture degree program offered by the College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS). The MS in Agriculture degree is fully online and provides practitioners the opportunity to further their education while they continue employment anywhere in the world. Students have the opportunity to direct their learning experience and tailor their coursework to help them meet their professional goals.