MS Degree – Plant and Agroecosystem Sciences

Horticulture M.S.

Master of Science in Horticulture provides a complete introduction to the scientific research process. This degree offers a flexible curriculum that allows students to pursue their individual horticultural interests under the guidance of a faculty mentor.

Master of Science in Horticulture with an Emphasis on Organic and Sustainable Production provides an introduction to the scientific research process and the opportunity to complete an integrated research project relevant to the increasingly complex organic industry. This degree offers more focused coursework and a research project designed to explore the areas of organic and sustainable production.

For more information on the Horticulture graduate programs, please contact: Kathryn Jones, Student Services Coordinator at kjones26@wisc.edu

Students must complete a minimum of 30 credits and 15 of these credits must be graduate level (up to 3 credits of 990 may be used to satisfy this 15 credit requirement, but Hort 699 may not be used to satisfy this requirement). This requirement for 15 graduate-level credits can only be satisfied by classes taken while the student is enrolled in the Master’s Program. Students who enter the program without undergraduate coursework in botany and horticulture may be required to completed additional credits.
All students must successfully complete 14 credits of Horticulture courses and 11 credits of Botany courses during their enrollment in the undergraduate and/or graduate program(s). It is possible to fulfill these horticulture and botany course credits from coursework at another institution, provided the student’s graduate committee approves the courses. No more than 3 credits of HORT 699 Special Problems may be counted towards this requirement.
1 credit Graduate Level Seminar
- Seminars offered by other departments may be used to satisfy this requirement.
Master’s thesis approved by the student’s Master’s Committee
- Under special circumstances, a student’s graduate committee may, with the written approval of the department chair, allow a student to complete their M.S. degree with an approved report instead of a thesis or with coursework only.

Students must complete a minimum of 30 credits and 15 of these credits must be graduate level (up to 3 credits of 990 may be used to satisfy this 15 credit requirement, but Hort 699 may not be used to satisfy this requirement). This requirement for 15 graduate-level credits can only be satisfied by classes taken while the student is enrolled in the Master’s Program. Students who enter the program without undergraduate coursework in botany and horticulture may be required to completed additional credits.
Master’s thesis approved by the student’s Master’s Committee
- A minimum of 6 credits of Research (e.g. Hort 990) and a thesis based on original research related to organic systems are required.
Completion of the Recommended Curriculum