Undergraduate Studies In Turfgrass Science
The Turfgrass Science major, offered by the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, combines business and management courses with the study of grasses, soils, ornamentals, and various pests affecting turf and provides students with the academic background they need for careers in the turfgrass and landscape industry. Turfgrass managers are involved with the production and maintenance of grass plants for recreational, aesthetic, and environmental uses.
Students in Turfgrass Science take courses in basic and applied sciences, including:
- Business management
- Plant pathology
- Entomology
- Soil science
- Weed science
- Turfgrass science
Students can combine the Turfgrass Science major with a minor or elective courses such as:
- Business
- Environmental resources
- Farm management
- Computer applications
- Horticulture
- International agriculture
Career opportunities include:
- Management, sales, and services
- Golf courses
- Lawn care and landscape companies
- Sports turf operations
- Turf Industries
- Parks and recreation facilities
- Environmental consulting firms
- Sod Farms
- Government agencies
Students can be involved in many extracurricular activities in the College of Agricultural Sciences. The Turfgrass Club and the Agronomy Club, for example, provide opportunities to meet fellow students, hear about career opportunities, attend seminars by leading professionals in the turfgrass industry, and participate in field trips, athletic events, and fund-raising activities.
ON-THE-JOB EXPERIENCE
Students are encouraged to gain on-the-job experience through internships and summer positions. Training for the student's internship is supervised by the student's employer and is usually completed the summer prior to graduation. The Department of Crop and Soil Sciences office maintains up-to-date job lists that contain over 200 opportunities available at golf courses, athletic fields, or other turf industries all over the world.
STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITIES
- Classrooms and laboratories
- Greenhouses
- Fully-equipped turfgrass facility
- University libraries
- Computer centers
- Research institutes
Penn State is among the leading research and teaching institutions in the country. More than 39,000 students are located on the University Park campus in State College, the cultural center of the region. Excellent recreational opportunities are available both on campus and in the surrounding open countryside and mountain forests.
TURFGRASS FACULTY
- David R. Huff (Ph.D. University of California), Associate Professor of Turfgrass Breeding and Genetics.
- Peter J. Landschoot (Ph.D. Rhode Island), Professor of Turfgrass Management.
- Andrew McNitt (Ph.D. Penn State), Assistant Professor of Turfgrass Science.
- Max Schlossberg (Ph.D. Georgia) Assistant Professor of Turfgrass/Soil Science.
- A.J. Turgeon (Ph.D. Michigan State), Professor of Turfgrass Management.
- Thomas L. Watschke (Ph.D. Virginia Polytechnic), Professor of Turfgrass Science and adviser and undergraduate coordinator for the Turfgrass Science Major.
FINANCIAL AID
The Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, the College of Agricultural Sciences, and the University offer loans, grants, scholarships, and work-study opportunites to qualified students. Contact the Department if you would like information about financial aid programs.
ADMISSION
To apply for admission to Penn State and the College of Agricultural Sciences, call the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences at (814) 865-6541 or contact:
Susan E. EisenhauerDepartment of Crop and Soil Sciences
The Pennsylvania State University,
115 Agricultural Sciences and Industries Building
University Park, PA 16802
E-mail: sed1@psu.edu
We will be happy to arrange a conference with an adviser. Come meet our academic advisers and see our research centers, laboratories, and classrooms. If you would like to schedule a campus visit or receive more information on the Turfgrass Science Program at Penn State, please complete the online form with the requested information.