Growing a healthier World
Plants sustain our food systems, shape the places where we live and work, and support healthy environments. The Plant Sciences major prepares you to grow, protect and manage plants through hands-on learning, innovation and environmental stewardship.
What You'll Study
Feeding the world requires the knowledge, skills and experience to advance sustainable farming and horticultural practices while balancing environmental, economic and social impacts.
What You'll Take Away
At Cal Poly, you’ll gain hands-on experience solving real-world challenges — from drought management to sustainable plant production in indoor and outdoor environments.
Expand Your Possibilities
Explore concentrations aligned with your career goals, interests and passions through hands-on learning and professional experiences.
Environmental Horticulture
Students in this concentration explore sustainable nursery production and landscape horticulture through learning in the field and greenhouse. Coursework includes ornamental and food crops, integrated pest management and more.
Fruit and Crop Science
Students study the growth and production of fruits, nuts, vegetables, row crops and forages while exploring emerging areas including beekeeping, biotechnology, postharvest technology, integrated pest management and precision agriculture.
Plant Protection Science
Students in this concentration study entomology, plant pathology, weed control and vertebrate pest management while developing an understanding of crop production, soil and crop ecology, biological control and biotechnology.
Coursework Highlights
Through hands-on coursework and applied learning experiences, students develop the technical knowledge and practical skills needed to lead in modern agriculture.
Classes and Labs
You’ll learn about the use of GIS, GPS, remote sensing and variable rate technology for site-specific management and the economic and environmental benefits versus whole field management.
You’ll learn about plant disease impact on California's agriculturally important crops as well as how to diagnosis and integrate sustainable practices for disease management.
You’ll learn artistic and mechanical systems in sustainable horticulture including site design and planning with hands-on work on irrigation and sustainable construction materials.
You’ll gain hands-on experience in the growing, production, harvest, management, marketing and sales of fruit and vegetable crops.
You’ll learn about the problems faced and practices of the commercial horticulturalist as well as the operation and equipment used, and the effect of the environment on plant growth.
Experience Plant Sciences
Learning extends beyond the classroom through professional, social and international experiences that help students grow personally and professionally.
Find Your People
Connect with classmates, build friendships and get involved through student clubs, teams and leadership opportunities.
Give back through the Crops or Horticulture clubs, join the Pi Alpha Xi honor society, or compete on the Floral Design Team.
Industry Experience and Connections
We prepare students with hands-on experience, real-world internships and industry connections that create leaders in the field.
Living Laboratories
With 70 acres of orchards and vineyards, an organic farm, greenhouses, shade houses and a four-acre arboretum, you’ll be surrounded by living laboratories that support hands-on learning, discovery and innovation.
Dig into Plant Sciences
There is always more to learn about the major, courses you’ll take, what you’ll learn, concentrations and more.