Plant Science
About the Major
In the Plant Science major, students learn about conventional large-scale farming, organic agriculture, new sustainable production practices, medicinal plants, greenhouse management, and turf and lawn management.
You'll do all this in the classroom, online, in greenhouses, in the field, and possibly through study abroad.
Career Outcomes
Where do students work after graduation?
Where do students work after graduation?
| Job Title | Organization | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Assistant Grower | Drummers Garden Center & Floral Shop | Mankato, MN |
| Assistant Grower | Len Busch Roses | Plymouth, MN |
| Assistant Superintendent | Somerset Country Club | Mendota Heights, MN |
| Associate Consulting Arborist | Rainbow Tree Care | Minnetonka, MN |
| Associate Crop Advisor | Centra Sota Cooperative | Little Falls, MN |
| Au Pair | Self-Employed | Minneapolis, MN |
| Chemical Technician | Ecolab | St. Paul, MN |
| Crop Nutrients Wholesale Representative | CHS Inc. | Inver Grove Heights, MN |
| Environmental Scientist Analyst | Kimley-Horn | Apple Valley, MN |
| Executive Account Manager | University of Minnesota | Minneapolis, MN |
| Farm Hand | Prokosch Farms | Bird Island, MN |
| Farm to School Coordinator | Green Mountain Farm to School | Newport, VT |
| Laboratory Technician | Ecolab | Eagan, MN |
| Nursery Production Administrative Assistant | Gerten Greenhouses | Inver Grove Heights, MN |
| Outreach Educator | Three Rivers Park District | Plymouth, MN |
| Receiving Administrator | Kennicott Brothers | Roseville, MN |
| Research Technician | University of Minnesota | St. Paul, MN |
| Researcher | University of Minnesota | Oakdale, MN |
| Senior Gardener | University of Minnesota | St. Paul, MN |
| Wildlife Farm Bill Biologist | Pheasants Forever | Long Prairie, MN |
Where do students continue education after graduation?
Where do students continue education after graduation?
| Program | School |
|---|---|
| Law | Drake University |
| Plant Genetics | University of Minnesota Twin Cities |
| Plant Pathology | University of Minnesota Twin Cities |
Where students interned and gained experience during school
Where are alumni 5 years after graduation?
Where are alumni 5 years after graduation?
| Job Title | Employer |
|---|---|
| Agriculture Research Technician | KWS Group |
| Assistant Golf Course Superintendent | Midland Hills Country Club |
| Crop Consultant | Nutrien Ag Solutions |
| Data Specialist | Bachman's |
| Horticulturist | City of St. Paul |
| Research Assistant | University of Wyoming |
| Software Developer | University of Minnesota |
Where are alumni 10 years after graduation?
Where are alumni 10 years after graduation?
| Job Title | Employer |
|---|---|
| Access Consultant | University of Minnesota - Disability Resource Center |
| Account Executive | Curious Plot |
| Founder | Reaching Roots |
| Guideline Monitoring Program Consultant | MN DNR |
| Horticulturist | Food and Drug Administration |
| Owner | Stem & Stone |
| Owner | Wilde North |
| Plant Physiologist | USDA - Agricultural Research Services |
| Postdoctoral Researcher | USDA - Agricultural Research Services |
| Postdoctoral Researcher Geneticist | USDA - Agricultural Research Services |
| Sales Operations Manager | DC Group |
| Senior Environmental Specialist | Otter Tail Power Company |
| Senior Manager of Digital Merchandise Operations Strategy | Tractor Supply Company |
| Window Washing Tech and Lead | Derk's Windows |
Full outcomes report including salary, locations, satisfaction, and more
Common Entry-Level Job Titles
- Agronomist
- Greenhouse Manager
- Horticulturist
- Plant Biologist
- Plant Researcher
- Sales Representative
- Turfgrass Manager
Top Employers
- Bachman's
- Bayer
- Cargill
- CHS
- Ecolab
- General Mills
- Gertens
- Len Busch Roses
- Rainbow Tree Care
- Syngenta
- U.S. Department of Agriculture
- University of Minnesota
Types of Employers
- Agricultural businesses
- Arboretums
- Environmental agencies
- Golf courses
- Government agencies
- Greenhouses/Nurseries
- Seed companies
- Universities and colleges
Top Career Resources
- Plant Science Job Postings in Handshake
- Crop and Soil Science Societies
- TurfNet
- Plant Science Department Job & Scholarship Postings
- Plant Science Department Internship Postings
- AgCareers
- American Society of Plant Biologists - Plantae Careers
- Botanical Society of America Careers
- Federal Government Including USDA and ARS
- Hire Horticulture
- National Association of Plant Breeders Postings
- Seed Your Future - Internships
- State of Minnesota Including Dept of Ag
Meet Your Career Consultant
Maddie (she/her) can assist you with
- Major and career exploration
- Internship planning
- Job searching
- Interview prep and practice
- Grad school planning and more...
Additional Resources
In addition to these resources we recommend the following strategies to locate more information about careers related to your major:
- O*NET and Careerwise. These tools provide comprehensive information about a wide range of careers including typical duties, salaries, employment outlook, skills and interests.
- Locate professional associations related to your major or career interests by conducting a Google Search on “(Name of major/career area/industry) professional associations.” Try these keywords: plant science, horticulture, greenhouse, turf, agronomy, arboriculture, plant production, floriculture, plant pathology, seed.
- Get involved in one of the many industry-related student groups on campus. These groups provide links to experiences, guest speakers, and discussion with like-minded students.
- Study Abroad Information for Plant Science