Introduction
The plant science program prepares students for careers or further study in areas related to food, fiber, turfgrass, ornamental plant production, pest management, plant breeding, plant pathology, or plant science education. The curriculum offers three options: horticulture and turf industry, for students intending to pursue business careers; research, for students intending to pursue careers in laboratories or graduate study; and professional preparation, for students intending to pursue careers in education or horticultural therapy. Agronomists and crop scientists help increase productivity and study ways to improve the nutritional value of crops and the quality of seed. Some crop scientists study the breeding, physiology and management of crops and use genetic engineering to develop crops resistant to pests and drought. In addition, the study of plants often has direct applications to the study of human cells and ultimately the understanding of the human body and its functions.
A bachelor's degree is sufficient for advanced technician jobs in the medical field, lab research assistant positions, or testing and inspection jobs. An advanced degree is required for most other positions in the scientific field. While most plant science graduates work in related occupations and eventually obtain advanced degrees, others choose different directions. Many careers do not require a specific major but rather a wide range of demonstrated skills and accomplishments. Regardless of your career choices, increase your marketability to employers through internships, responsible work experience, good grades, and involvement in college activities.
A Sample of Related Occupations
| Agronomist | Forest Engineer | Physician |
| Botanist | Forester | Plant Geneticist |
| Community Agency Worker | Horticulturist | Plant Quarantine Specialist |
| Consumer Advocate | Irrigation Engineer | Public Health Administrator |
| Cooperative Extension Agent | Journalist | Quality Control Specialist |
| Crop Physiologist | Lab Technician | Research Assistant |
| Ecologist | Landscape Architect | Sales Representative |
| Environmental Health Educator | Natural Resources Manager | Scientific Librarian |
| Field Contractor | Naturalist | Taxonomist |
| Food & Drug Inspector | Patent Specialist | Teacher/Professor |
| Food Buyer | Pest Control Inspector | Technical Writer |
| Food Technologist | Pharmaceutical Sales Rep. | Wine Maker (Enologist) |
Types of Employers
| Private & Non-profit Organizations | ||
| Biological supply houses | Fermentation organizations | Nurseries |
| Biotechnology firms | Floral organizations | Petrochemical firms |
| Botanical gardens | Food manufacturers | Pharmaceutical firms |
| Chemical manufacturers | Forest management agencies | Public/Private schools |
| Colleges/Universities | Laboratories | Research facilities |
| Conservation organizations | Lumber/Paper companies | Weed control industry |
| Consulting firms | Museums | Wholesale distributors |
| Crop/Soil mgmt. firms | Nature Conservancy | |
| Government Agencies | ||
| Agricultural Research Station | NASA | Teach for America |
| Consumer Affairs Department | Peace Corps | US Dept. of Agriculture |
| County Extension Service | Public Health Service | US Food & Drug Admin. |
| Department of Interior | Shade Tree Commission | US Forest Service |
| Dept. of Environmental Protection | Smithsonian Institution | US Public Health Service |
| Municipal Government | State Department | |
Jobs Obtained by Rutgers Graduates
| First Jobs of Recent Graduates | |
| Assistant Scientist, Hoffmann-LaRoche, Inc. | Park Ranger, Somerset County Park Commission |
| Assistant Scientist, Roche Diagnostic Systems | PPQ Officer, USDA-APHIS-PPQ |
| Greenhouse Worker/Floral Designer, Dale C. Davis | Sales & Service Rep., Grass Roots Inc. |
| Grounds Maintenance Intern, Baltusrol Golf Club | Science Teacher, Regional High School District #1 |
| Horticulturist, Manasquan River Golf Club | Technician, CT Agricultural Experiment Station |
| Jobs of Experienced Alumni | |
| Agricultural Program Associate, Rutgers Univ. Coop. Ext. | Owner/Chief Designer, Flora Design Associates |
| Assistant Architect, Port Authority of NY & NJ | Program Officer, National Research Council |
| Chemist-Quality Control, Givudan-Roure Co. | Project Manager, Priority One Testing Lab |
| Director of Education, Golfcourse Supts. Assn. of America | Research Scientist, Schering-Plough Corp. (MS Plant Sci.) |
| Environmental Engineer, Buchart Horn | Senior Biologist, NJ Division of Fish & Game |
| Farm Manager, East Gate Farms | Senior Copywriter, MWW/Strategic Communications |
| General Manager, New Jersey Tomato Council | Supervisor, Jones Tree Farm |
| Greenhouse Supervisor, EniChem Americas, Inc. | Supervisor-Data Center, First Security Bank |
| Horticultural Therapist, Franklin Convalescent Center (MS Plant Sci.) | Tax Manager, M.S. Ackerman & Co., (MBA, M.A. Accounting) |
| Manager, Customer Service, MSO, Inc. | Vice President, Chile Today - Hot Tamale |
| Owner, Randolph's Nursery |
Graduate Schools Attended
| Rutgers University, MBA, Management | Texas A&M, MS, Agricultural Sciences |
Additionally, you may:
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Last Updated: 04/24/2009
Last Updated: 04/24/2009