Horticultural Science
The Horticultural Science specialization features a wide variety of opportunities ranging from basic laboratory studies at the cellular level to applied field and greenhouse production studies. Students may investigate issues related to public horticulture including botanical gardens and outreach program development and delivery for consumers and industry employees. Subject matter areas are flexible and currently emphasize topics such as: plant stress physiology including investigation of high and low temperature stress at the cellular and whole plant level, plant propagation by tissue culture, seed and cuttings; postharvest physiology including improving mechanisms for shelf life extension, crop quality, and enhanced fruit and plant characteristics/properties; sustainable production systems; water quality, runoff, and conservation during production and after out-planting into landscapes; integrated pest management systems; and plant selection and performance studies. Commodity areas being investigated include tree and small fruits, nuts, vegetables, herbaceous and woody ornamental plants. Nationally recognized faculty direct student research.
Landscape Architecture (M.S. only)
The Landscape Architecture program at OSU is part of the Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, which gives the program an emphasis in the natural sciences. The M.S. in Horticulture with a Landscape Architecture specialization captures this interdisciplinary synergy. The Landscape Architecture specialization includes areas such as urban and environmental planning and design, including low impact development, sustainable landscapes, conservation, and related green applications. Water use and management is a major area of emphasis. Water-related studies will include testing ways to retain water on the land, studying effective water harvesting techniques in Oklahoma, evaluating the design of effective bio-swales to handle storm water runoff from hard surface areas, and studying effective designs for concealed in-ground retention structures to cleanse runoff and manage peak flow.
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Phytochemistry
The phytochemistry specialization focuses on the biochemistry of plants and plant products with an emphasis on the recovery and utilization of bioactive plant chemicals such as antioxidants and nutraceuticals as well as antimicrobials and other functional extracts, isolates, and derivatives. Courses and projects are designed to provide students with hands-on experience in both basic science and applied technology including state of the art extraction and processing equipment. Students pursuing the phytochemistry option will be well positioned to pursue Ph.D. studies in programs such as Environmental Science, Food Science, and Plant Science. Graduates will also be poised to compete for career opportunities in areas related to the use of natural compounds such as functional food/dietary supplement development and processing as well as organic/natural crop production.
Turfgrass Science
The Turfgrass Science option features a wide variety of opportunities ranging from basic laboratory studies at the cellular level to applied field production, turf management and landscape performance studies. Nationally recognized faculty direct student research. Topics of study are flexible. Current areas of emphasis include: physiological responses of turfgrasses to high and low temperature stress; plant performance studies of sexually and asexually propagated turfgrass cultivars during production and on sports turf playing surfaces; sustainable production systems; water quality, runoff and conservation studies; integrated pest management; and turf management and technology systems including weed control and highway vegetation management systems. The OSU turfgrass team has been responsible for releasing several new turfgrass cultivars over the past few years. These grasses are now being used on professional and college sports fields, golf courses and home lawns.
"I had always heard the Horticulture and Landscape Architecture Department had a strong turf program and upon learning the OSU Turf Program is highly respected in the industry definitely supported my decision to attend Graduate School at OSU." —Justin Moss, McAlester, OK |
