Bachelor of Science Degree Program

Contact: Scott Ebdon
Office: Paige Lab
Phone: 413-545-2506
Email: sebdon@umass.edu

Turfgrass Science and Management is an applied science program that focuses on the production and maintenance of grassed areas, including home lawns, parks, and golf courses and other athletic surfaces. This concentration integrates scientific theory with practical experience, and covers such topics as grass and seed identification, turfgrass culture and physiology, pest control, and equipment maintenance. Students in this concentration will have the option of selecting a science or business management focus. Many graduates find employment in the golf course industry, while others choose to specialize in sports turf management. The lawn care industry also employs many graduates in jobs as varied as research, sales, and direct lawn maintenance. Excellent career opportunities exist in turf management, and job placement of graduates is nearly 100 percent.

Core Requirements (Total: 27-30 credits).

Biological Science (8 credits)
STOCKSCH 105 Soils
STOCKSCH 108 Introductory Botany

Chemistry (4 credits)
CHEM 110 or CHEM 111
(Students selecting Science focus should complete CHEM 111)

Ecosystems Studies - one of the following (3-4 credits):
BIOLOGY 287 Introductory Ecology
ENVIRSCI 101 Introductory Environmental Biology
ENVIRSCI 214 Ecosystems, Biodiversity and Global Change
NRC 100 Environment and Society
STOCKSCH 115 Environmental Biology

Integrative Experience (3 credits)
NATSCI 494I Global Issues in Applied Biology

Junior Year Writing (3 crecits)
NATSCI 397A CNS Junior Writing

Mathematics, Statistics and Reasoning—two semesters in mathematics, statistics and/or analytic reasoning (6-8 credits).

Major Requirements (Total: 53-57 credits)
Choose from a selection of Required courses in Pest Management, Plant Nutrition, Plant Physiology, and Turf.

Choose minimum 12 credits from Restricted Electives (at least 6 credits at or above 500 level and maximum 6 credits from outside the major).

Choose Business or Science focus.