UGA Career Center

UGA Specific Information for Horticulture

Horticulture is the study of the science and art of growing fruits, vegetables, herbs, and ornamentals. The horticulture degree provides a background in the science of plant growth and development, as well as management of economic crops and enterprises. Many horticulture courses provide experiential and service learning. The curriculum provides flexibility to allow students to specialize in areas related to career and personal goals, complete a second degree, or complete one of many certificate programs offered at UGA. Within the degree, students can focus on areas such as sustainable food production, landscape contracting, and greenhouse/nursery production.

Horticulture graduates find jobs in all aspects of sustainable food production, greenhouse management, plant breeding, nursery, landscape design, gardens and urban environments, native plant restoration, and medicinal herb cultivation. Many choose the education side of horticulture and become county agents, agriculture teachers, botanical garden educators, or horticulture therapists. The horticulture degree can also be an excellent foundation for graduate work or professional degree programs.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW EMPLOYERS/POSITION TITLES and GRADUATE SCHOOLS/PROGRAMS REPORTED FOR THIS MAJOR

Class of 2021 Career Outcomes for Horticulture*

** Includes Self-Employed

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Typical Horticulture Jobs

Horticulturists can specialize in a number of fields. As a result, what you will actually be doing in your job will vary depending on the field you are in. A few areas you can specialize in include:

Landscaping: Designing and maintaining commercial and residential grounds using your eye for design and knowledge of irrigation, plants, flowers, and trees.
Nurseries: People in this profession grow plants from seedlings and make sure they make it through their entire lifecycle.
Research: In this field, you may study plant genetics or develop plants that have natural immunity to diseases and resist environmental damage.
Horticultural Therapy: You would use your knowledge of plants and design to help patients with cognitive and physical disabilities. There are many other areas that may be more or less appealing to you. It is best to determine what your interests are and find the area of specialty that fits your preferences

Other Horticultural Fields

If you are a highly creative person but landscaping just doesn’t appeal to you, you can become a floral designer. People in these jobs use their eye for art and design to create colorful floral arrangements for a variety of events like funerals, weddings, and anniversaries. No formal education is required to enter the field, though you can earn a number of credentials to prove your expertise. Those with horticulture degrees would do very well in this field since you will be cultivating and maintaining an assortment of flora. There is a high turnover rate in floral design, so job opportunities will be plentiful.

Another interesting horticulture career is botany. This is for people who are deeply interested in how plants work. Botanists don’t get their hands dirty handling plants. Rather, they study their inner workings and may specialize in plant diseases, the life cycle, or how plants interact with their environment. You can get started in the field with just a bachelor’s degree, but most high-level positions require a master’s or doctorate degree. Unfortunately, job opportunities are limited because the field of botany is so small.

There are numerous opportunities in horticulture. Follow your passions for a rewarding career.

If you are interested in pursuing a graduate degree, check out our website for assistance with this process

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Additional Career Research Resources

O*NET (click on Find Occupations)
Occupational Outlook Handbook (type in general term for career of interest)
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Employers/Position Title Reported by Class of 2021 Horticulture majors

The information below represents employers and position titles from the Class of 2021 Career Outcomes Survey. To view historical Career Outcomes for this major, click here and select "Historical Data" from the navigation menu.

Employer	Position Title(s)
Callahan Landscape Services	Horticulturalist and Account Manager
Chicago Botanic Garden	Labeling Coordinator
Coastal GA Botanical Gardens	Extension Education Specialist (Intern)
Douglas County	Deputy Clerk
Gaia Herbs	Farm Crew Leader
Middle Georgia State University	Grounds Manager
Pike Nurseries	Houseplant Department Head
Silverleaf Health Alternative	Cannabis Cultivator
Smyly Farms LLC	Farm Owner

* denotes no responses received.

*Source: Areas above marked with an Asterisk (*) have been created utilizing data taken from the UGA Career Outcomes Survey. The "Employers Hiring...," "Job Titles of...," "Career Outcomes for...," and "Graduate/Professional Schools and Programs..." information listed above represent UGA Class of 2021 Graduates. The lists are not exhaustive and therefore do not represent all potential career options. Click here for more detailed Career Outcomes information regarding this major.

Graduate/Professional Schools attended by Class of 2021 Horticulture majors

The information below represents graduate/professional schools and programs reported through the Class of 2020 Career Outcomes Survey. To view historical Career Outcomes for this major, click here and select "Historical Data" from the navigation menu.

Graduate School	Program(s)
University of Georgia	Entomology, MS