Major map:
Horticulture Science
Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (B.S.A.) - View all program options
Learn how to get the most out of your degree and prepare for your future career.
Horticulture contributes to our quality of life through the food we eat and the environment we live in. It includes the sustainable production, improvement and use of fruit, vegetable, greenhouse, and ornamental crops. The Horticulture Science major integrates biology, production, aesthetics and plant breeding within a context of sound economic and environmental principles. Especially in our increasingly urbanized world, the supply and maintenance of horticulture crops as well as biopharmaceuticals are growth areas with excellent opportunities for entrepreneurs.
Not a USask student?
Learn more about studying horticulture science at USask and apply for admission.
Explore your major
Learn more about some of the required major-specific courses for this degree. View the course and program catalogue or meet with an academic advisor to understand all major requirements.
The courses listed here and in the Course and Program Catalogue are not necessarily offered each year and do not represent the totality of your requirements.
AGRC 110.3 | Scientific Literacy and Communication for the Agricultural Sciences
AGRC 111.3 | Discovery in Plant and Soil Sciences
AGRC 112.3 | Animal Agriculture and Food Science
AGRC 113.3 | Agri Food Issues and Institutions
BIOL 120.3 | The Nature of Life
BIOL 121.3 | The Diversity of Life
CHEM 112.3 | General Chemistry I Structure Bonding and Properties of Materials
You choose
- AREC 220.3, History of Indigenous Agriculture in Canada OR INDG 107.3, Introduction to Canadian Indigenous Studies
- 3 cu from a variety of courses in social sciences, humanities and fine arts to fulfill your degree requirements
- 3 cu from open elective courses to fulfill your degree requirements
Academic tips
- Explore information about your major in the course and program catalogue
- Meet with an academic advisor for help choosing your courses and planning your degree
- Connect with AgBio Student Services for advice and guidance throughout your first year of study
- Visit the student Learning Hub for help developing your academic skills
What will I learn?
- Gain practical skills in horticulture science along with an integrated understanding of biological, ecological, and economic principles
- Develop integrative thinking to solve horticultural problems
- Learn about how to make local food accessible and create more livable urban spaces through an economically and environmentally sustainable approach
- Understand the sustainable production, improvement and use of fruit, vegetable, greenhouse, and ornamental crops while minimizing waste
- Acquire skills to improve food security and sovereignty in Indigenous communities
Gain relevant experience
- Sign up for an AgBio Learning Community
- Consider a study abroad experience or to earn credit toward your degree
- Explore undergraduate research opportunities
- Consider enrolling in an experiential learning course
Create local and global connections
- Visit the USask Community Centre to make connections and build community
- Get involved in your campus community through student groups, USask Rec and USask events
- Before you register in your first-year courses, sign up to be a part of a Learning Community
- Get to know your faculty and their research interests
- Join the USask Horticulture Club or another AgBio student club
Get career ready
- Meet with a career educator at Career Services to explore your career possibilities
- Take a career assessment to learn more about your strengths, personality, interests, and values
- Create your résumé and cover letter to take advantage of part-time and summer job opportunities
- Develop your LinkedIn profile to begin building your professional brand
Featured courses
- PLSC 220.3 Fundamentals of Horticulture
- PLSC 235.3 Urban Agriculture
- PLSC 433.3 Greenhouse Crop Production
- PLSC 441.3 Fruit Science
- PLSC 451.3 Vegetable Agronomy
Explore your major
Learn more about some of the required major-specific courses for this degree. View the course and program catalogue and meet with an academic advisor to understand all major requirements.
The courses listed here and in the Course and Program Catalogue are not necessarily offered each year and do not represent the totality of your requirements.
BIOL 222.3 | The Living Plant
CHEM 250.3 | Introduction to Organic Chemistry
PLSC 213.3 | Principles of Plant Ecology
PLSC 220.3 | Fundamentals of Horticulture
PLSC 235.3 | Urban Agriculture
PLSC 260.3 | Principles of Plant Protection
SLSC 240.3 | Agricultural Soil Science
You choose
- 3 cu from additional courses to fulfill your degree requirements
- 3 cu from MATH 104.3, MATH 110.3, OR MATH 125.3
- PLSC 214.3 OR STAT 245.3
Academic tips
- Check DegreeWorks and meet with an academic advisor to ensure your degree is on track
- Apply for scholarships and bursaries. There are many scholarships and bursaries available to horticulture science majors, including:
- 100th Anniversary Scholarship in Horticulture Science ($1000/year), available to 2nd or 3rd year students
- Saskatoon Horticulture Society Bursary ($1500/year), available to 2nd or 3rd year students
- Declare your major by contacting agbio.studentservices@usask.ca
Add to your major
Choose from a variety of minors and certificates to complement your major.
- Agribusiness (minor)
- Food and Bioproduct Sciences (minor)
- Nutrition (minor)
- Soil Science (minor)
- Entrepreneurship (certificate)
- Prairie Horticulture (non-degree level certificate)
- Professional Communication (certificate)
- Sustainability (certificate)
- Urban Design (certificate)
Gain relevant experience
- Explore undergraduate research opportunities
- Meet with the Study Abroad Coordinator or an International Student and Study Abroad Centre (ISSAC) International Education Officer to explore your study abroad and exchange program options
- Become a peer mentor through the University Library or Peer Health
- Sign up for a Student Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE)
- Consider enrolling in AGRC 311.3 (International Study Tour) to interact with and see agro ecosystems in other countries firsthand
- Apply to work as a summer student with the Department of Plant Sciences
Create local and global connections
- Engage with your community through volunteering and Co-Curricular Record activities
- Meet with new people and grow your cultural understanding through Building Bridges and the Global Connections Network
- Become a member of the executive of the USask Horticulture Club
- Consider joining the Saskatoon Horticulture Society, Saskatchewan Perennial Society, Prairie Water Gardening Society, Canadian Prairie Lily Society, Saskatchewan Horticultural Society, as well as CHEP and the Garden Patch
Get career ready
- Discover job opportunities, explore career options, and meet professionals at Career Services events and career fairs
- Explore experiential learning opportunities to gain relevant experience and skills
- Expand your professional network on LinkedIn
- Get a better understanding of your career possibilities through career informational interviews
- Conduct occupational research through Job Bank and LinkedIn
Career readiness competencies
Career Readiness Competencies are transferable skill sets that will prepare you for the world of work and include the top attributes that employers are looking for:
- Career & Self-Development
- Communication
- Critical Thinking
- Equity & Inclusion
- Leadership
- Professionalism
- Teamwork
- Technology
Explore your major
Learn more about some of the required major-specific courses for this degree. View the course and program catalogue and meet with an academic advisor to understand all major requirements. NOTE: some courses are only offered on odd/even years
The courses listed here and in the Course and Program Catalogue are not necessarily offered each year and do not represent the totality of your requirements.
BIOL 226.3 | Genes to Genomics
PLSC 317.3 | Plant Metabolism
PLSC 330.3 | Ornamental Plants
PLSC 433.3 | Greenhouse Structures and Crops
PLSC 441.3 | Fruit Science
PLSC 451.3 | Vegetable Agronomy
PLSC 461.3 | Post Harvest Management of Horticultural Crops
PLSC 470.3 | Plant Propagation
You choose
- BIOL 331.3 OR PLSC 411.3
- PLSC 492.3 OR PLSC 494.6
- 12 cu from open elective courses to fulfill your degree requirements
- 18 cu from a variety of courses to fulfill your degree requirements
Academic tips
- Apply for scholarships and bursaries. There are many scholarships and bursaries available to horticulture science majors, including:
- 100th Anniversary Scholarship in Horticulture Science ($1000/year), available to 2nd or 3rd year students
- Saskatoon Horticulture Society Bursary ($1500/year), available to 2nd or 3rd year students
- Karen Tanino Horticulture Science Scholarship ($1000/year), available to students entering 4th year
- Canadian Prairie Lily Society Horticulture Bursary ($1000/year), available to 3rdand 4th year students
- Fredeen Bursary in Agriculture ($400/year), available to 3rd or 4th year students
Gain relevant experience
- Consider running for a leadership position with the Agricultural Student's Association (ASA) or the USask Students’ Union (USSU)
- Join the Global Skills Opportunity program for an experiential learning opportunity to learn how other countries approach agriculture and horticulture – contact randy.kutcher@usask.ca or karen.tanino@usask.ca for more information
- Consider enrolling in AGRC 311.3 (International Study Tour) to interact with agro ecosystems in other countries firsthand
- Consider enrolling in AGRC 445.3, Experiential Learning in the Workplace
- Apply to work as a summer student with the Department of Plant Sciences
Create local and global connections
- Join the USask Alumni and Friends community
- Become a member of the executive of the USask Horticulture Club
- Consider joining the Saskatoon Horticulture Society, Saskatchewan Perennial Society, Prairie Water Gardening Society, Canadian Prairie Lily Society, Saskatchewan Horticultural Society, as well as CHEP and the Garden Patch
Get career ready
- Update your cover letter, résumé, and/or CV to apply for jobs
- Meet with Career Services to prepare for your interview
- Explore experiential learning opportunities to gain relevant experience and skills
- If you are new to Canada, take time to learn about how to search for a job in Canada
- Discover employment opportunities through Ag Careers
Career readiness competencies
Career Readiness Competencies are transferable skill sets that will prepare you for the world of work and include the top attributes that employers are looking for:
- Career & Self-Development
- Communication
- Critical Thinking
- Equity & Inclusion
- Leadership
- Professionalism
- Teamwork
- Technology
Possible destinations
People with a horticulture science degree take their knowledge and skills into many different industries and occupations. Some of the career paths listed here require further education and training.
Career paths
- Agrologist
- Atrium Management
- Botanist
- Crop/Food Inspection
- Entrepreneur
- Extension Agent
- Golf Course Management
- Government Staff
- Graduate Student
- Greenhouse Operator
- Grower Associate
- Horticulture Manager
- Horticulture Marketing
- Horticulturist
- Irrigation Sales Rep
- Landscaper
- Market Gardener
- Nursery Operator
- Parks Technician
- Plant Breeder
- Plant Broker/Buyer
- Plant Propagator
- Producer
- Produce Broker/Buyer
- Research Scientist
- Research Technician
- Tree Care Professional
- Tree Nursery Producer
- University Professor
- University Staff
- Urban Forester
- Urban Planner
- Writer
Graduates in horticulture science are knowledgeable in plant science, adapt quickly to the work environment, and apply their knowledge to their work tasks effectively.
—Ruojing Wang, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Ph.D. in plant sciences '04
Where do USask alumni work?
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
- BASF
- Bayer
- BrettYoung Seeds
- Canopy Growth Corporation
- CFIA
- City of Saskatoon
- Corteva Agriscience
- Federated Co-op
- Government of Saskatchewan
- Meewasin Valley Authority
- Nutrien
- PPS Fruit Trees
- University of Saskatchewan
Explore Canadian salaries for various occupations using the Job Bank Career Planning Tool
"I am personally glad that I have obtained a degree in Horticulture Science as I feel that there will never cease to be a demand for jobs in the agriculture/horticulture industry as the population continues to grow and humans require food to eat. Thus, I feel that simply having this type of degree will help me either find a respectable job in the industry or lead to me starting my own entrepreneurial career growing local food."
—Kate, fourth-year horticulture science student
"The various hands on labs in the agriculture greenhouse along with the various field trips I have been on within my program (especially in PLSC 220) have been the most valuable to me, as they have provided real life examples of the horticulture industry and valuable knowledge of how the industry works, and what future jobs could entail."
—Erin, fourth-year horticulture science student
"Through the course of my major I have greatly enhanced my critical thinking skills and understanding of both basic and complex scientific concepts. The connections I have made and mindset I have developed through my education will be critical for success in this rapidly evolving, multi-disciplinary industry."
—Michael, Bachelor of Science in Agriculture ’21 in horticulture science