Universities that teach Horticulture

I am puttering around with the idea of going back to school for something that I might actually enjoy doing for 50% of my waking hours. lol Now I'm wondering, what are the best colleges for a Masters in Horticulture? I know that the University of Georgia is a good one, but I'm biased, I live here. For all I know there are many other wonderful universities out there for this major. Anyone know of some good ones? All the published 'best college' lists are for Business, Education, Law, etc.etc. etc....
Thanks! :)

Michigan State, Cornell, Prudue, University of Missouri all have excellent horticulture programs.

Being from Michigan I've heard there's another one in Columbus, Ohio but I just can't say the name :).

Paul

This message was edited Mar 15, 2005 4:30 PM

lol, thanks Paul, I'll check those out. :)

Boise State University in Boise Idaho has a very good hort program. I don't know about the master's degree though. It would be an entirely different world from where you live now which might be fun if you are into adventure. Nice campus in a nice area with a view of the mountains too.

Good luck in your pursuits.

Lani

Dang Lani, I was hoping you'd tell me the University of Hawaii was the place to go! lol :)

Anyone know anything about any programs in New Mexico?

U of Maryland has wonderful Agriculture and Horticultue programs, both grad and undergrad.
http://www.agnr.umd.edu/
http://www.nrsl.umd.edu/

The weather isn't that much different than yours ;) Maybe just a tad more snow/cold but not much.

Thanks Jody, I'm accepting all bidders!! :)

Angie, the University of Tennessee here in Knoxville has a great Plant Sciences department. http://plantsciences.utk.edu/

Plus you could come "practice" in my yard on the weekends.
:-) Nat

I'm afraid if I try to put myself through school, I'll have to 'practice' some place that pays me! lol

Ecobioangie...have you checked out the University of Hawaii. They have two (?) campuses...Manoa on oahu and Hilo (no question, choose Hilo...). You could write to a friend of mine who graduated in Botany from Hilo and ask him? email me if you want to....

Carol

Sweeeeet...finally someone suggests Hawaii! lol If life continues to take me in this direction then I will definitely email you Carol. Things are taking the Murphy's Law of twists and turns right now of course. lol

Angie, there's a plan - move to Hawaii, go to school and live in a low income housing project - what a life!!!

Naw, I really don't want you to move that far away.

Hmm Brenda, I can't tell if you are being sarcastic or not. LOL I mean, low income project sounds like a bad thing, but in Hawaii...lol Maybe I'll need a 'roomie'? ;)

Angie... low cost housing? Where?

UofH at Hilo is still the lowest cost of living area...

Not a bad choice...

Carol

I wonder if you go to school in a particular climatic zone, if you put yourself in a position where you are only an expert in horticulture for that particular place in the world? In other words, if you go to school in the tropics, do you learn enough about growing plants in colder zones to ever work anywhere else? lol

Though I'm a Gator hater by choice, the University of Florida has an excellent hort program.

Chris

Our hort agent here in my county in Michigan got her degree in Southern Flordia. She is well versed in all of North American plants.

Basic Plant Science is the same no matter what zone you're in.
She worked for a few years in a tropicial nursery there before moving up here

Paul

Angie, not being sarcastic really. I worked with a guy in insurance and he and his wife lived in a housing project when he was stationed in Hawaii. I used to think what a grand idea - me and the kids move there, live in the "project" - my mom would never fly and I figured the ex wouldn't come there either. Sounded like the life to me!! Still sounds pretty good or does Costa Rica have a project? They supposedly have the best education system.

I saw a Lonely Planet (or Globe Trekker or whatever it is now?) on Costa Rica this weekend. Gorgeous isn't it? I always used to joke with a high school friend that we were going to be old spinsters and move to Patagonia and make seafoam green polyester nun habits for money. LOL I have NO idea how we decided on that profession, but Patagonia still looks good!

Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va has a great horticulture/agriculture program. Tech is the head quarters for the Virginia Cooperative Extention (which includes the Master Gardener program).

http://www.enviroeducation.com/s/uw-cfr/ The University at Washington was the hort program that started the master gardener program across the US. They DO offer a Doctorate program for several types of degrees in plant sciences. I know they do teach a broad range of plants so you would be well rounded in plants from around the world plus they have a good research department according to a friend who got her masters there.

Hawaii sounds good too. Of course I haven't been there since I was a little kid but I am sure it would be a good program. You might get lucky and get hired there too and not have to leave. :)

Lani