Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture

Graduate Degrees

We offer graduate degrees in Horticulture and Landscape Architecture.

M.S. and Ph.D. in Horticulture

• Master of Science Plan A – thesis (30 credits)
  Plan A requires data collection and analysis based on laboratory or field research.
• Master of Science Plan B – non-thesis (33 credits)
  Plan B requires a paper based on library research.
• Ph.D. (72 credits) 30 credits from transfer

Topics for thesis or dissertation research are determined through consultation with the student's adviser and graduate advisory committee. Research may have a commodity focus (e.g. floriculture, landscape, nursery, pomology, turf, vegetable crops, viticulture), but should also have a discipline (e.g. plant physiology, environmental and soil sciences, plant genetics, plant biochemistry, landscape design/planning) emphasis.

Areas of specialization and strength in the Department include environmental stresses, plant breeding/germplasm biodiversity/conservation, greenhouse crop production, irrigation management, postharvest physiology/senescence, plant antioxidants/ free radical scavenging, dietary intervention /cancer prevention, root elicitation /bioactive compounds, rhizosphere biology, plant secondary metabolism, sustainable design /planning, and tissue culture, among others. There is ample opportunity to obtain multidisciplinary research training encompassing collaboration with programs in biochemistry, chemistry, microbiology, plant biotechnology, plant physiology, natural resources, storm-water engineering and construction management.

Possible areas of focus for horticulture graduate degrees - and corresponding advisors:

• Bioactive plant components-- Dr. Jorge Vivanco
• Dietary intervention/cancer prevention-- Dr. Henry Thompson
• Ecophysiology-- Dr. Bill Bauerle
• Environmental and stress physiology--Dr. Bill Bauerle
• Floriculture-- Dr. Steve Newman
• Fruit-- Dr. Harrison Hughes
• Germplasm conservation-- Dr. Harrison Hughes
• Greenhouse technology-- Dr. Steve Newman
• Landscape ecology-- Dr. Patrick Martin
• Landscape/ornamental plants-- Dr. Jim Klett
• Landscape water conservation/xeriscapes-- Dr. Jim Klett, Dr. Tony Koski,
  or Dr. Yaling Qian
• Organic/sustainable production/vegetable-- Dr. Frank Stonaker
• Plant antioxidants--
• Plant tissue culture-- Dr. Harrison Hughes
• Potato Breeding-- Dr. Dave Holm
• Potato Certification-- Dr. Rob Davidson
• Potato Production Management-- Dr. Samuel Essah
• Potato Storage Physiology-- Dr. Sastry Jayanty
• Rhizosphere biology/ecology-- Dr. Jorge Vivanco
• Turfgrass science-- Dr. Tony Koski or Dr. Yaling Qian
• Viticulture/Enology-- Dr. Horst Caspari and Dr. Stephen Menke

Master of Landscape Architecture

For The MLA at CSU accomodates those receiving their first professional degree (MLA-I) or their second professional degree (MLA-II) in landscape architecture. For additional information please see the Master of Landscape Architecture website.