Cornell University

The program in Plant Sciences helps students understand how plants work from the molecular to ecosystem level so graduates can make new discoveries in the lab and field, produce enough food for a growing world population; breed plants to tolerate the heat- and drought-stress of climate change; develop sustainable cropping practices to produce healthful and nutritious food; investigate new methods to fight disease; and transform sterile urban environments into vibrant microcosms of nature.

Plant Sciences courses are taught by faculty in the School of Integrative Plant Science, which is the administrative home for the Sections of Horticulture, Plant Biology, Plant Breeding and Genetics, Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology, and Soil and Crop Sciences. Together, they represent one of the strongest groups of plant scientists in the world. Students in the program share a common interest in learning about topics associated with plant growth and development in the broadest sense, but beyond that common thread, individual career goals vary widely. Some have their sights set on careers in applied agriculture or teaching, others plan to contribute to advancements of our knowledge through research, and still others see study in plant science as a stepping-stone to specialized training in business, government, law or medicine.

More than 150 courses that deal directly with some area of plant science are offered in the School of Integrative Plant Science. There are also opportunities to engage in internships, undergraduate teaching, and research experiences. Students expecting to go on for a graduate degree are encouraged to participate in one or more of those experiences. Students who are planning to enter the workforce immediately upon completion of the B.S. degree are encouraged to obtain practical experience. This may involve summer employment in field research or in a plant production or maintenance-related industry such as a lawn and tree care company, commercial greenhouse, nursery, orchard, vineyard or winery, botanical garden or arboretum, crop production farm, or with Cooperative Extension.

In addition to classrooms and laboratories in five buildings on the Cornell campus proper, research and teaching facilities adjacent to the campus are freely available to students for hands-on practice, technical training, independent research projects, and internships. These facilities include research orchards and vineyards, golf courses and a turf research facility, the Cornell Botanic Gardens (including an arboretum and thousands of acres of natural areas), and vegetable and field crop farms. Demonstration/research facilities in Aurora (Cayuga County), Geneva (Ontario County), Highland (Ulster County), Lake Placid (Essex County), Middletown (Orange County), Odessa (Tioga County), and Riverhead (Suffolk County) are also available for undergraduate and graduate field study.