1. Horticulture
at Virginia Tech
For more information contact:
Dr. Alex Niemiera
Undergraduate Coordinator
(540) 231-6723
Email: niemiera@vt.edu
401A Saunders Hall (0327)
490West Campus Drive
Blacksburg,VA 24061
www.hort.vt.edu
Facebook:VirginiaTechHorticulture
VirginiaTech does not discriminate against employees,
students or applicants on the basis of race, sex, handicap,
age, veteran status, national origin, religion, political
affiliation or sexual orientation.
Horticulture —
A Bountiful Career Choice
• Earn a Bachelor of Science in Environmental
Horticulture or Landscape Contracting.
• The Horticulture curriculum includes the
science, culture, business, and art of plants and
landscapes.
• Numerous horticultural internship and
scholarship opportunities offer real world
experience and financial support.
Career Resources:
hort.vt.edu/careers.html
landscapeprofessionals.org
jobs.ashs.org
thelandlovers.org
hortjobs.com
Making the world
a better place...
one plant at a time
Career Possibilities
Our students have a great variety of career options
once they graduate fromVT.Those opportunities
include:
• Landscape Contractor or Designer
• Nursery Grower or Manager
• Greenhouse Grower or Manager
• Municipal Horticulturist
• Botanical Gardens Curator
• Vegetable or Fruit Specialist
• Horticultural Educator
• Sustainable/OrganicVegetable Producer
• Extension Agent
• Research and Development
• Graduate School

2. “The small department provided a family
atmosphere while at the same time I benefited
from the resources that only a large university
can provide.”
- Mark Sutphin, Extension Agent and Unit Coordinator,
Virginia Cooperative Extension
Minors
We currently offer two minors, the Horticulture
Minor and the newViticulture Minor (wine grape
production and marketing).
Specialty Classes
• OrganicVegetable Production
• Medicinal Plants and Herbs
• Residential Landscape Design
• Greenhouse Management
• Globalization and Horticulture
• Spanish for the Green Industry
• Indoor Plants
• Floral Design
• Viticulture
• Public Garden Maintenance and Management
• Ornamental Plant Production and Marketing
• Plants and Greenspaces in Urban Communities
Beyond the Classroom
• Scholarships to help with expenses
• Undergraduate research
• Paid internships and student jobs
• Study abroad and other travel opportunities
• Horticulture Club
• Pi Alpha Xi Honor Society for Horticulture
• Facilities such as the Hahn Horticulture
Garden and the Urban Horticulture Center
Beyond Graduation
In recent years over 90% of graduates have found
jobs that they consider an excellent fit for their
career goals. 10-20% of our students continue on
to graduate school or plan to do so in the future.
The most recent survey reveals graduating
seniors in horticulture earned a median salary
near the top for graduates of the College of
Agriculture and Life Sciences and competitive
with other majors across the university.
Horticulture
at Virginia Tech
Degrees:
Landscape Contracting
Design, build and manage
beautiful and functional
landscapes using sustainable
practices. Landscape
Contracting majors gain business
experience, preparing them for
success in the green industry.
Environmental Horticulture
Students can specialize in the
production and marketing of
greenhouse/field-grown fruits,
vegetables, and ornamental
plants. Course work can also be
designed to focus on education,
botanical garden, and science-
related careers.