Graduate Curriculum
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General | Horticulture Systems | Plant Breeding and Genetics | Plant Biotechnology | Interdisciplinary Programs | Courses in Horticulture 

General

The following courses are required for all graduate students in Horticulture:

  • Hort 511 (2) Research and Education Perspectives in Horticulture. This course acquaints students with the graduate faculty in Horticulture and their current activities.
  • Hort 512 (1) Discussions in Plant Science. This course provides students with experience in oral communications and discussion of current research topics in the plant sciences. Students enroll once in each academic year.
  • Hort 507 (1) Department Seminar.

Further course work is determined by the student and the program committee. Presently, graduate students in Horticulture study in one of three broad areas, Horticultural Systems, Plant Breeding and Genetics, or Plant Biotechnology. The following are lists of recommended courses for each area.

Horticulture Systems

Horticultural Systems integrates basic plant sciences (biochemistry, physiology, and ecology) with crop management (soils, pest management, etc.). Basic tools including statistics, field-plot techniques, modeling, and information systems provide a basis for research and design of improved systems. Additionally, students are encouraged to pursue political, social, and educational issues related to horticulture.

Core courses:

Statistics (6-8 credits):

  • ST 511 (4) Methods of Data Analysis
  • ST 512 (4) Methods of Data Analysis
  • ST 515 (3) Design and Analysis of Planned Experiments
  • CSS 590 (3) Field-Plot Techniques

Basic biological sciences (at least 6 credits for M.S. and 12 for Ph.D. to integrate molecular, whole plant, ecological, and genetic sciences):

  • BB 590 (3) General Biochemistry
  • BB 591 (3) General Biochemistry
  • BB 592 (3) General Biochemistry

-or- (select either General Biochemistry series)

  • BB 550 (4) General Biochemistry
  • BB 551 (3) General Biochemistry
  • BOT 655 (3) Plant Water Relations
  • BOT 542 (3) Plant Population Ecology
  • BOT 543 (3) Plant Community Ecology
  • CSS 530 (3) Plant Genetics
  • HORT 550 (4) Plant Breeding

Horticulture (6 credits):

  • HORT 505 Reading and Conference
  • HORT 520 (3) Topics in Horticultural Research
  • HORT 541 (4) Plant Tissue Culture
  • HORT 552 (4) Small Fruit and Grape Physiology and Culture
  • HORT 575 (2) Agricultural Management of Oregon Soil Resources
  • HORT 577 (4) Agroecology
  • HORT 580 (4) Case Studies in Crop Systems
  • HORT 629 (3) Plant Dormancy/Stress

Other relevant courses:

  • HORT 521 (3) Research Techniques
  • HORT 585 (3) Consensus and Natural Resource Issues
  • AG 541 (3) Community Programs in Agriculture
  • AG 592 (3) Technology Transfer in Agriculture
  • AED 556 (3) Linking Research, Teaching, and Practice
  • CSS 515 (3) Soil Fertility Management
  • CSS 520 (5) Seed Science and Technology
  • CSS 525 (3) Sustaining Soil Productivity
  • CSS 535 Soil Ecosystem Properties
  • CSS 540 (4) Weed Control
  • CSS 555 (4) Biology of Soil Ecosystems
  • CSS 630 (3) Plant Nutrient Availability
  • CSS 670 (3) Physiology of Crop Yield
  • AREC 651 (3) Natural Resource Economics
  • BB 653 (3) Plant Biochemistry
  • BB 654 (3) Proteins
  • BRE 533 (4) Irrigation Systems Design
  • BRE 571 (3) Biosystems
  • BRE 672 (3) Biosystems Modeling Applications
  • BOT 514 (4) Agrostology
  • BOT 515 (5) Forest Insect and Disease Management
  • BOT 521 (4) Advanced Plant Systematics
  • BOT 525 (3) Plant Taxonomy
  • BOT 550 (4) Plant Pathology
  • BOT 551 (3) Plant Pathogenesis
  • BOT 552 (4) Plant Disease Management
  • BOT 553 (3) Plant Disease Diagnosis
  • BOT 554 (2) Plant Nematology
  • BOT 555 (3) Plant Virology
  • BOT 556 (3) Plant Pathogenic Fungi
  • BOT 557 (2) Bacterial Diseases of Plants
  • ENT 515 (5) Forest Insect and Disease Management
  • ENT 520 (3) Insect Ecology
  • ENT 521 (3) Insect-Plant Communities
  • ENT 586 (3) Biological Control
  • FST 523 (5) Food Analysis
  • FS 548 (2) Weed Ecology and Management
  • GEO 518 (3) Photo Interpretations
  • GEO 522 (3) Biotic Resource Geography
  • GEO 540 (4) Remote Sensing
  • GEO 545 (3) Computer Assisted Cartography
  • GEO 546 (3) Advanced Landscape Ecology
  • GEO 588 (3) Introduction to GIS
  • ANTH 581 (3) Natural Resources and Community Values
  • PHL 543 (3) Values and Human Ecology
  • PHL 544 (4) Bioethics
  • SOC 580 (3) Environmental Sociology
  • SOC 581 (3) Society and Natural Resources
  • RNG 550 (3) Landscape Ecology and Analysis
  • RNG 577 (3) Agroforestry

Plant Breeding and Genetics

Plant Breeding and Genetics encompasses a range of approaches to genetic improvement and understanding of crop plants. Courses in statistics, biochemistry, plant breeding, genetics, and biotechnology are recommended for all students in this area. To assist the incoming student with additional information, a number of other relevant courses are also listed.

Core Courses:

Statistics (8 credits)

  • ST 511 (4) Methods of Data Analysis
  • ST 512 (4) Methods of Data Analysis

Biochemistry (7-8 credits)

Two series of general biochemistry courses are offered and need to be taken in sequence:

BB 550 (4) and BB 551 (4)
or BB 590 (3) and BB 591 (4)

Plant Breeding and Genetics (7-8 credits for M.S.,11 credits for Ph.D.)

  • HORT 550 (4) Plant Breeding
  • GEN 555 (4) Eukaryotic Molecular Genetics
  • HORT 573 (4) Cytogenetics
  • HORT 611 (3) Plant Genetics

Biotechnology: (3-4 credits for M.S., 7 credits for Ph.D.)

  • HORT 541 (4) Plant Tissue Culture
  • MCB 525 (3) Techniques in Molecular and Cellular Biology
    or BB 594 (3) Biochemistry Laboratory

 Other Relevant Courses:

  • HORT 505B (1) Breeding Vegetatively Propagated Crops
  • HORT 513 (3) Plant Genetic Engineering
  • HORT 516 (4) Advanced Plant Nutrition
  • HORT 552 (4) Small Fruit and Grape Physiology and Culture
  • ST 515 (3) Design and Analysis of Planned Experiments

        or CSS 590 (3) Field Plot Techniques

  • CSS 630 (3) Advanced Plant Breeding I
  • CSS 650 (3) Advanced Plant Breeding II
  • MCB 524 (1) Molecular and Cellular Biology Techniques
  • MCB 554 (4) Microbial Genetics
  • MCB 556 (4) Molecular and Cellular biology
  • BOT 521 (4) Advanced Plant Systematics
  • BOT 525 (3) Plant Taxonomy
  • BOT 550 (4) Plant Pathology
  • BOT 555 (3) Plant Virology
  • BOT 556 (3) Plant Pathogenic Fungi
  • BOT 557 (2) Plant Pathogenic Bacteria
  • BOT 625 (3) Plant Molecular Genetics
  • ENT 516 (3) Insect Physiology
  • FS 523 (4) Natural Resource Data Analysis
  • FS 544 (4) Forest Genetics

Plant Biotechnology

Molecular biology and biotechnology are increasingly useful to help understand and modify plant growth and productivity. In combination with more conventional techniques, we now have the ability to address a range of important problems in novel ways. For students in this area, the core courses focus on developing competence in biochemistry, molecular biology and genetics. Additional relevant courses are listed to help the student and Program Committee assemble a program.

Core Courses:

Statistics (4 credits for M.S., 8 credits for Ph.D.).

  • ST 511 (4) Methods of Data Analysis
  • ST 512 (4) Methods of Data Analysis

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (6 credits for M.S., 9 credits for Ph.D.)

  • BB 550 (4), 551 (3), or 590 (3), 591 (3), 592 (3) General Biochemistry
  • BB 653 (3) Plant Biochemistry

    (6 credits for M.S., 9 credits for Ph.D.)

  • BB 593 (3), 594 (3), 595 (3) Biochemistry Laboratory
  • MCB 525 (3) Techniques in Molecular and Cellular Biology

(BB 594 or MCB 525 and one additional course for M.S.; BB593, BB 594 or MCB 525, and BB 595 for Ph.D.).

Biotechnology:

  • HORT 541 (4) Plant Tissue Culture
  • HORT 513 (3) Plant Genetic Engineering

Genetics and Breeding (7 credits):

  • GEN 555 (3) Eukaryotic Molecular Genetics
  • HORT 550 (4) Plant Breeding

Other Relevant Courses:

  • HORT 505B (1) Breeding Vegetatively Propagated Crops
  • HORT 573 (4) Cytogenetics
  • HORT 611 (3) Plant Genetics
  • HORT 552 (4) Small Fruit and Grape Physiology and Culture
  • MCB 553 (3) Structure and Function of Eukaryotic Cells
  • MCB 554 (4) Microbial Genetics
  • MCB 556 (4) Cell Signaling and Development
  • BOT 550 (4) Plant Pathology
  • BOT 555 (3) Plant Virology
  • BOT 556 (3) Plant Pathogenic Fungi
  • BOT 557 (2) Plant Pathogenic Bacteria
  • BOT 625 (3) Plant Molecular Genetics
  • ENT 516 (3) Insect Physiology
  • PHL 544 (4) Bioethics

Interdisciplinary Programs

Students may elect to major in the following interdisciplinary programs with horticulture faculty having joint appointments in those programs.

Courses in Horticulture

Course Name Credits/Terms Instructor Description
Hort 501/601 Research 1-12 Credits, Fall, Winter, Spring Staff This is for research that is not a part of the thesis.
Hort 503/603 Thesis 1-12 Credits, Fall, Winter, Spring Staff This is for thesis research and writing, students generally use this course as "filler" credits in order to carry an acceptable credit load.
Hort 505/605 Reading and Coference 1-12 Credits, Fall, Winter, Spring Staff Used for special course work not given under a formal course number.
Hort 507/607 Seminar 1 Credit, Fall, Winter, Spring Staff (Students should register for this course only after approval by the Seminar Chairman.)
Hort 511 Research and Education Perspectives in Horticulture 2 Credits, Fall Staff Highlights the research and education programs in the department (Students are encouraged to enroll in this course at the beginning of their graduate studies.)
Hort 512 Discussions in Plant Science 1 Credit, Fall, Spring Staff Student presentations dealing with selected topics in the plant sciences and examined in the context of contemporary research.
Hort 513 Plant Genetic Engineering 3 Credits, Spring, alternate years Tony Chen Principles, methods, and recent developments in the genetic engineering of higher plants (Spring 2008).
Hort 514 Information Systems in Agriculture 4 Credits Tim Righetti Introduction to precision farming tools (GIS, image processing, GPS, and computer-linked agricultural equipment)
Hort 516 Advanced Plant Nutrition 4 Credits Tim Righetti Factors influencing nutrient absorption and composition; techniques for determing nutritional status and effects of fertility programs
Hort 517 Diagnosis of Nutritional 1 Credit Tim Righetti Factors influencing the interpretation of soil and plant testing are discussed
Hort 520 Topics in Plant Growth and Development 2 Credits, Fall Staff Interpretation of Scientific Literature.
Hort 521 Research Techniques 1 Credit, Fall, Winter, Spring Staff Electrophoresis and spectroscopy
Hort 530 Plant Genetics 3 Credits, Winter Pat Hayes Introduction to the principles of plant genetics with an emphasis on the structure and function of economically important plant genomes (crosslisted as CSS 430/530)
Hort 531 Plant Genetics Recitation 1 Credit, Winter Pat Hayes Review and demonstration of plant genetic principles (crosslisted as CSS 431/531)
Hort 541 Plant Tissue Culture 4 Credits, Spring Staff Principles, methods, and applications of tissue culture.
Hort 550 Plant Breeding 4 Credits, Spring Shawn Mehlenbacher Genetic improvement of self-pollinated, cross-pollinated, and clonally propagated crops.
Hort 552 Small Fruit and Grape Physiology Culture 4 Credits, Fall (alternate years) Bernadine Strik Plant growth and development in relation to production of winegrapes, caneberries, strawberries, blueberries, and cranberries (Fall 2009).
Hort 564 Advanced Seed Biology 3 Credits, Fall (alternate years) Hiro Nonogaki Plant growth and development in relation to production of wine grapes, cranberries, strawberries, blueberries, and craneberries (Fall 2009).
Hort 573 Cytogenetics 4 Credits, Winter (alternate years) Staff Effects of variation in chromosome structure and number (Offered 2009)
Hort 575 Agricultural Management of Oregon's Soil Resources 2 Credits, Spring Jack Stang Field course examining soil management in agriculture through the experiences of farmers, ranchers, and foresters in Oregon.
Hort 580 Case Studies in Cropping Systems Management 3 Credits, Spring Jack Stang Discussion of decision cases involving the production of field and horticultural crops.
Hort 599X Research Methodologies for Agriculture and Forestry 3 Credits, Fall Ray William/Anita Azarenko Examine the variety of research approaches and methodologies that engage the scales of complexity ranging from molecular biology to human ecology.
Hort 611 Plant Genetics 3 Credits, Spring (alternate years) Staff Specific topics in genetics of higher plants (Offered 2009)
Hort 630 Current Topics in Plant Breeding 3 Credits, Winter (alternate years) Pat Hayes Extensive reading and discussion of literature relevant to current and timely topics in applied plant breeding and genetics (crosslisted as CSS 630/FS 630)

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