College of Agriculture & Natural Resources Department of Horticulture

The Undergraduate Programs Committee led an update of the Program Learning Outcomes for our Bachelors of Science (B.S.) in Horticulture and Institute of Agricultural Technology (IAT) Certificate programs during 2026.

The following represent our updated Program Learning Outcomes:

1. Define and communicate horticultural concepts through writing, visualization, oral presentations, and problem‑solving.
2. Apply foundational plant science knowledge (e.g., biology, physiology, ecology) to explain how horticultural plants grow, develop, and interact with their environments.
3. Design, manage, and evaluate horticultural systems using scientific principles, data analysis, and disciplinary techniques.
4. Apply knowledge of horticulture to develop sustainable, ethical, and economically viable strategies to address societal and environmental challenges, human health and well-being, and natural resource limitations.
5. Integrate science, art, and enterprise to horticultural systems, including principles of design, business management, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

What are Program Learning Outcomes?

Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs) are the key component of a degree assessment plan.  These are concise statements that indicate the knowledge, skills, and abilities that students in a degree program are expected to demonstrate at pre-determined points in their studies, as well as at the conclusion of their program.  Our B.S. in Horticulture and IAT certificate Program Outcomes were originally developed in 2016 and were based upon an American Society for Horticultural Science publication (Pritts and Park, 2013). This latest update reflects changes in our program and the discipline over the last decade and were evaluated to make sure they aligned with MSU’s undergraduate learning goals.

Outcomes assessment is a continuous curriculum improvement process that develops the connections between course outcomes and assessments and overall program assessment to drive continuous program improvement. As an initial step in this process, Horticulture faculty have aligned their course learning outcomes to our updated Program Learning Outcomes. Next steps will include an in-depth analysis of how each instructor, and the Department will assess Program Learning Outcomes in each class.

Updated August 24, 2026