skip to content

banner-image
Horticultural Science | Teaching | Courses

Graduate Courses

In general, no two graduate programs are alike. A distinctive feature of graduate training is that it can be structured for the individual student's needs. A listing of Horticultural Science courses follows. One hour of HS 601 (Seminar Techniques and Technology) is required for MHS and MS students, and 4 (MS) or 3 (PhD) hours of the core courses (HS 701-707, HS 717) are required of all students, except those in the Interdisciplinary Plant Physiology Program.

The courses offered at the 500, 600, 700, and 800-level are as follows:

  • HS(CS,PP) 502
    • Plant Disease: Methods and Diagnosis
    • UNITS: 2 - Offered in Fall
    • Preq: PP 315
    • Introduction to the basic principles of disease causality in plants and the methodology for the study and diagnosis of plant diseases caused by fungi. Identification of plant-pathogenic fungi. Research project, disease profiles and field trips are required.
  • HS 525
    • Advanced Plant Propagation
    • UNITS: 3 - Offered Alternate Even Years; Offered in Spring Only
    • Preq: HS 301, PB 421
    • For graduates or advanced undergraduates
    • Study of physiological processes influencing propagation by micropropagation (tissue culture), cuttings, seeds and grafting. Current techniques in plant propagation with attention to experimental application.
  • HS(CS) 541
    • Plant Breeding Methods
    • UNITS: 3 - Offered in Fall
    • Preq: ST 511
    • Coreq: ST 512
    • Overview of plant breeding methods for advanced undergraduate and beginning graduate students. Covers principles and concepts of inheritance, germplasm resources, pollen control, measurement of genetic variances, and heterosis. Special topics include heritability, genotype-environment interaction, disease resistance, and polyploidy. In-depth coverage on methods for breeding cross-pollinated and self-pollinated crops. Prepares students for advanced plant breeding courses.
  • HS 542
    • Advanced Vegetable Crop Management
    • UNITS: 3
    • Preq: BS in plant sciences
    • Cultural systems for the major vegetable crops with the basic components and crops specifics covered through lecture, readings, and discussion of current literature.  Optional field trip to Florida during Spring Break.
  • HS 543
    • Food Production in Greenhouses and High Tunnels
    • UNITS: 3
    • Preq: HS 431, 440, 451
    • Several food crops and technologies are discussed, but the focus is hydroponic production of greenhouse tomatoes and soil production of tomatoes and cool-season crops in high tunnels. Pest management emphasizes biocontrol, IPM and reduced risk pesticides. Climate control is discussed mainly as it contributes to environmental stress and physiological disorders. Students are introduced to current research as well as specialized topics such as organic production, aquaponics and grafting. A multi-day field trip is required unless special arrangements are made.
  • HS(FS) 562
    • Postharvest Physiology
    • UNITS: 3 - Offered in Spring Only
    • Pre- and postharvest factors that affect market quality of horticultural commodities with an emphasis on technologies to preserve quality and extend storage life of crops.
  • HS 590
    • Special Problems in Horticultural Science
    • UNITS: 1-6 - Offered in Fall, Spring, Summer
  • HS 601
    • Seminar Techniques and Technology
    • UNITS: 1 - Offered in Fall
    • Preq: Graduate Standing
    • Required of all graduate students with a major or minor in horticultural science (optional for PhD students). Preparation and presentation of posters, web pages, and presentation software for research, teaching and extension. Techniques include library databases, digital photography, drama skills, and other subjects useful for training in scientific presentation. Students required to give one seminar.
  • HS 610
    • Special Topics in Horticultural Science
    • UNITS: 1-6 - Offered in Fall, Spring, Summer
    • Investigation of special theoretical problems at 600 level in horticultural science not related to a thesis problem; new 600-level courses during developmental phase.
  • HS 615
    • Advanced Special Topics
    • UNITS: 1-6 - Offered in Fall, Spring, Summer
    • Investigation of theoretical problems at the 600 level in horticultural science not related to a thesis problem; new 600-level courses during the development phase.
  • HS 685
    • Master's Supervised Teaching
    • UNITS: 1-3 - Offered in Fall, Spring, Summer
    • Preq: Master's Student
    • Teaching experience under the mentorship of faculty who assist the student in planning for the teaching assignment, observe and provide feedback to the student during the teaching assignment, and evaluate the student upon completion of the assignment.
  • HS 688
    • Non-Thesis Masters Continuous Registration - Half Time Registration
    • UNITS: 1 - Offered in Fall, Spring, Summer
    • Preq: Master's Student
    • For students in non-thesis master's programs who have completed all credit hour requirements for their degree but need to maintain half-time continuous registration to complete incomplete grades, projects, final master's exam, etc.
  • HS 689
    • Non-Thesis Masters Continuous Registration - Full Time Registration
    • UNITS: 3 - Offered in Fall, Spring, Summer
    • Preq: Master's Student
    • For students in non-thesis master's programs who have completed all credit hour requirements for their degree but need to maintain full-time continuous registration to complete incomplete grades, projects, final master's exam, etc. Students may register for this course a maximum of one semester.
  • HS 690
    • Master's Examination
    • UNITS: 1-6 - Offered in Fall, Spring, Summer
    • Preq: Master's Student
    • For students in non-thesis master's programs who have completed all other requirements of the degree except preparing for and taking the final master's exam.
  • HS 693
    • Master's Supervised Research
    • UNITS: 1-9 - Offered in Fall, Spring, Summer
    • Preq: Master's Student
    • For students in non-thesis masters program.  Instruction in research and research under the mentorship of a member of the Graduate Faculty.
  • HS 695
    • Master's Thesis Research
    • UNITS: 1-9 - Offered in Fall, Spring, Summer
    • Preq: Master's Student
    • Thesis research.
  • HS 696
    • Summer Thesis Research
    • UNITS: 1 - Offered in Summer
    • Preq: Master's Student
    • For students whose programs of work specify no formal course work during a summer session and who will be devoting full time to thesis research.
  • HS 699
    • Master's Thesis Preparation
    • UNITS: 1-3 - Offered in Fall, Spring, Summer
    • Preq: Master's Student
    • For students who have completed all credit hour requirements and full-time enrollment for the masterís degree and are writing and defending their theses.
  • HS 701
    • Carbohydrate Metabolism and Transport
    • UNITS: 1 - Offered in Spring Only
    • Preq: PB 421
    • Historical and current research related to regulation of aspects of carbohydrate metabolism important to plant growth, yield and quality. Taught first five weeks of semester.
  • HS 702
    • Biology of Plant Hormones
    • UNITS: 1 - Offered in Fall Only
    • Preq: PB 421 (BCH 451, GN 411)
    • Recent developments and current literature on the physiology, biochemistry, molecular biology, and practical applications of the primary plant hormones. The biosynthesis, signal transduction pathways, and biological functions of specific plant hormones will be examined. Taught as a five-week core course.
  • HS 703
    • Breeding Asexually Propagated Crops
    • UNITS: 1 - Offered in Fall
    • Preq: CS 413
    • Principles and problems associated with breeding clonally propagated crops and techniques used in overcoming these problems. Taught third five weeks of semester.
  • HS 704
    • Plant Nomenclature
    • UNITS: 1 - Offered in Spring Only
    • Preq: PB 421
    • A practical foundation in plant nomenclature references. Emphasis on evolution of international rules for naming plant taxa and their application to both wild and cultivated plants. Nomenclatural applications used in patents, cultivar releases and journal articles. Taught mid-semester.
  • HS 705
    • Physiology of Flowering
    • UNITS: 1 - Offered in Fall
    • Preq: PB 421
    • Examination of physiological basis of flowering in plants such as: floral initiation, transition to reproductive growth; floral development; plant response to light, temperature, nutrition, water supply; plant age; chemical growth regulation and in vitro flowering. Taught first five weeks of semester.
  • HS 706
    • Fruit Development and Postharvest Physiology
    • UNITS: 1 - Offered in Spring Only
    • Preq: PB 421
    • Theories of plant senescence, both physiological and biochemical, and postharvest changes in all types of plant parts. Emphasis on physiological principles underlying current postharvest handling and storage techniques. A study of fruit development from fruit set to senescence. Taught third five weeks of semester.
  • HS 707
    • Environmental Stress Physiology
    • UNITS: 1 - Offered in Fall
    • Preq: PB 421
    • Physiology of plant responses to environmental stresses, with emphasis on current research in selected physiological, molecular, and biochemical mechanisms for tolerance to environment stresses such as temperature extremes, drought, salt, pathogens and other plants. Taught second five weeks of semester.
  • HS(CS) 715
    • Weed Science Research Techniques
    • UNITS: 1 - Offered in Fall
    • Preq: CS 414
    • Bioassay techniques for detection of herbicide residues in soils, chemical analytical (GLC, HPLC) techniques for identifying herbicide residues in soils and plants, procedures for studying adsorption and leaching in soils, procedures for measuring herbicide interference of photosynthesis and use of 14C-labeled herbicides for following uptake, transport and metabolism of herbicides in plants.
  • HS(CS) 717
    • Weed Management Systems
    • UNITS: 1 - Offered in Fall
    • Preq: CS 414
    • Weed management systems including integration of cultural, biological, mechanical and chemical methods for vegetables, fruits, ornamentals, turf, small grains, corn, tobacco, cotton, peanuts, aquatic and non-cropland settings. Taught second 5 weeks of semester.
  • HS(CS,PB) 718
    • Biological Control of Weeds
    • UNITS: 1 - Offered in Fall
    • Preq: CS 414
    • Concepts and methods in use of biological agents for control of weeds. Primary emphasis on weed biocontrol with insects and plant pathogens. Taught third 5 weeks of semester.
  • HS(CS,GN) 720
    • Molecular Biology in Plant Breeding
    • UNITS: 3 - Offered Alternate Years; Offered in Spring Only
    • Preq: CS(GN,HS) 741
    • Theory and principles of molecular biology applied to plant breeding. Experimental approaches to induce genetic change, cytoplasmic recombination, haploid utilization and potentials of molecular techniques for solving breeding problems.
  • HS 722
    • Mineral Nutrition in Plants
    • UNITS: 3 - Offered Alternate Years; Offered in Spring Only
    • Preq: PB 751, 752
    • A comprehensive study of functional roles of nutrients essential to plant growth, their interrelationships and their mode of influence on quality indices of crops. Consideration of complexity of mineral nutrition experimentation and evaluation of results. A detailed look at establishment and application of foliar analysis, foliar fertilization and slow-release fertilizers. A general view of nutrient uptake process in plants.
  • HS(CS,SSC,TOX) 725
    • Pesticide Chemistry
    • UNITS: 1 - Offered in Spring Only
    • Preq: CH 201, 221
    • Chemical properties of pesticides including hydration and solvation, ionization, volatilization, lipophilicity, molecular structure and size, and reactivity and classification according to chemical description, mode of action or ionizability. Taught during the first 5 weeks of semester.
  • HS(CS,SSC,TOX) 727
    • Pesticide Behavior and Fate in the Environment
    • UNITS: 2 - Offered in Spring Only
    • Preq: CS(HS,SSC,TOX) 725, SSC 200
    • Sorption/desorption, soil reactivity, movement, volatilization, bioavailability, degradation and stability of pesticides in the environment. Taught during the last 10 weeks of semester. Drop date is last day of 3rd week of the core course.
  • HS(CS) 729
    • Herbicide Behavior in Plants
    • UNITS: 2 - Offered in Spring Only
    • Preq: PB 751, PB 752, CS(HS,SSC) 725
    • Chemical, physiological and biochemical actions of herbicides in plants including uptake, translocation, metabolism and mechanism of action.
  • HS 732
    • Vegetable Crop Physiology
    • UNITS: 2 - Offered Alternate Years; Offered in Fall
    • Preq: PB 421, HS 431, SSC 341
    • Physiological aspects of field and greenhouse vegetable production: germination, photoperiod, nutrition, growth regulations, fruit quality, physiological disorders, source-sink interactions, environmental physiology and physiological aspects of plant protection. Emphasis on current areas of research and the physiological implications of new production techniques.
  • HS(CS,GN) 745
    • Quantitative Genetics in Plant Breeding
    • UNITS: 1 - Offered Alternate Years; Offered in Spring Only
    • Preq: CS(GN,HS) 741, ST 512, course in quantitative genetics recommended 
    • Theory and principles of plant quantitative genetics. Experimental approaches of relationships between type and source of genetic variability, concepts of inbreeding, estimations of genetic variance and selection theory.
  • HS(CS,GN) 746
    • Breeding Methods
    • UNITS: 2 - Offered Alternate Years; Offered in Spring Only
    • Preq: CS (GN,HS) 741, ST 512
    • Theory and principles of plant breeding methodology including population improvement, selection procedures, genotypic evaluation, cultivar development and breeding strategies.
  • HS(CS,GN,PP) 748
    • Breeding for Pest Resistance
    • UNITS: 2 - Offered Alternate Years; Offered in Fall
    • Theory and principles of breeding for pest resistance. Experimental approaches for examining genetics of host-parasite interactions, expression and stability of pest resistance and breeding strategies for developing pest-resistant cultivars.
  • HS 790
    • Special Problems in Horticultural Science
    • UNITS: 3 - Offered in Fall, Spring, Summer
  • HS 815
    • Advanced Special Topics
    • UNITS: 1-6 - Offered in Fall, Spring, Summer
    • Preq: Consent of Instructor
    • Investigation of theoretical problems at 600 level in horticultural science not related to a thesis problem; new 600-level courses during development phase.
  • HS(CS,GN) 860
    • Plant Breeding Laboratory
    • UNITS: 1 - Offered Alternate Even Years; Offered in Spring Only
    • Preq: CS (GN,HS)741
    • Visitation of plant breeding projects in the Departments of Crop Science and Horticultural Science at NC State, along with commercial seed companies. Discussion and viewing of breeding objectives, methods and equipment, and teaching and practice of hybridization methods.
  • HS(CS,GN) 861
    • Plant Breeding Laboratory
    • UNITS: 1 - Offered Alternate Even Years; Offered in Fall
    • Preq: CS(GN,HS) 741
    • Visitation of plant breeding projects in the Departments of Crop Science and Horticultural Science at NC State, along with commercial seed companies. Discussion and viewing of breeding objectives, methods and equipment, and teaching and practice of hybridization methods.
  • HS 885
    • Doctoral Supervised Teaching
    • UNITS: 1-3 - Offered in Fall, Spring, Summer
    • Teaching experience under the mentorship of faculty who assist the student in planning for the teaching assignment, observe and provide feedback to the student during the teaching assignment, and evaluate the student upon completion of the assignment.
  • HS 890
    • Doctoral Preliminary Examination
    • UNITS: 1-9 - Offered in Fall and Spring
    • Preq: Doctoral Student
    • For students who are preparing for and taking written and/or oral preliminary exams.
  • HS 891
    • Research Principles
    • UNITS: 1-6 - Offered in Fall, Spring, Summer
  • HS 893
    • Doctoral Supervised Research
    • UNITS: 1-9 - Offered in Fall, Spring, Summer
    • Preq: Doctoral Student
    • Instruction in research and research under the mentorship of a member of the Graduate Faculty.
  • HS 895
    • Doctoral Dissertation Research
    • UNITS: 1-9 - Offered in Fall, Spring, Summer
    • Preq: Doctoral Student
    • Dissertation research.
  • HS 896
    • Summer Dissertation Research
    • UNITS: 1 - Offered in Summer
    • Preq: Doctoral Student
    • For students whose programs of work specify no formal course work during a summer session and who will be devoting full time to thesis research.
  • HS 899
    • Doctoral Dissertation Preparation
    • UNITS: 1-3 - Offered in Fall and Spring
    • Preq: Doctoral Student
    • For students who have completed all credit hour requirements, full-time enrollment, preliminary examination, and residency requirements for the doctoral degree, and are writing and defending their dissertations.

Courses that cannot be listed on MHS, MS or PhD Plans of Graduate Work:

    • HS 690
    • HS 696
    • HS 699
    • HS 890
    • HS 896
    • HS 899

If you register for HS 699 or HS 899, you cannot register for any other courses.  The Graduate School rules prohibit registration in HS 699 or HS 899 if currently registered for any other course and vice versa.