Graduate Field
Horticulture
Program Description
As the only horticulture program in the Ivy League, our faculty, staff, and students work to shape the food systems and landscapes of today and tomorrow.
Our faculty work across New York to make discoveries and share knowledge about fruits, vegetables and landscape plants. Members of the graduate field of horticulture reside in the section of horticulture on the Ithaca campus, and at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva. They are called on by farmers, golf course managers, urban foresters, government officials and many others to solve problems around the globe.
If you've ever been shaded by trees on a city street, enjoyed an apple in winter, visited a farmer's market, or watched a sporting event on natural grass, then it is likely you have been touched by our work.
The field of horticulture offers three graduate student degree options: M.S., M.S./Ph.D., Ph.D. For more information please visit the CALS website.
Research Facilities
At the Ithaca campus, research facilities include laboratories equipped for studies of all aspects of plant physiology, including photosynthesis, pre- and postharvest physiology, biochemistry, biotechnology, photobiology, analysis for chemical elements, and tissue culture. Extensive greenhouse and growth chamber facilities permit varying degrees of plant environmental control. Facilities for postharvest research include rooms for refrigerated and controlled atmosphere storage. Field facilities include two research orchards for study of fruit crops, two vegetable research farms, an outdoor nursery, turfgrass research areas, and the Cornell Botanic Gardens, an extensive botanical garden. At the Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva, laboratories, greenhouses and growth chamber facilities similar to those in Ithaca are found. In addition, 600 acres of orchards and 200 acres of vegetable experimental farmland are available for research purposes. A wide range of apple, grape, and vegetable germplasm is maintained by the USDA Plant Introduction Station, the National Clonal Repository and the fruit and vegetable breeders. Research is also conducted at the Hudson Valley Lab (fruit research), the Long Island Horticultural Research and Extension Center (grape and vegetable research), and the Fredonia Grape Research Station.
Concentrations
- Breeding of horticultural crops
- Horticultural crop management systems
- Human-plant interactions
- Physiology and ecology of horticultural crops
Program Information
- Program Mode of Delivery: In Person
- Program Location: Ithaca, NY
Program Requirements
- Minimum Semesters for Degree: 2
Graduate School Milestones
- Responsible Conduct of Research Training: Required
- Open Researcher and Contributor ID (ORCID): Required
- Student Progress Reviews (SPR) begin: Second Year
- Masters Exam (M Exam): Spring of second year
- Thesis: Spring of second year
Field Specific Milestones
- Field progress review every year
- One semester teaching assistantship required
Course Requirements
- Course requirements are determined by the student’s Special Committee.
- Enrollment in a GRAD research course or the equivalent field specific research course is expected of all students.
Graduate School Enrollment Requirements
Course Requirements
- Course requirements are determined by the student’s Special Committee.
- Enrollment in a GRAD research course or the equivalent field specific research course is expected of all students each semester through graduation. These courses include:
University Graduation Requirements
Requirements for All Students
In order to receive a Cornell degree, a student must satisfy academic and non-academic requirements.
Academic Requirements
A student’s college determines degree requirements such as residency, number of credits, distribution of credits, and grade averages. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of the specific major, degree, distribution, college, and graduation requirements for completing their chosen program of study. See the individual requirements listed by each college or school or contact the college registrar’s office for more information.
Non-academic Requirements
Conduct Matters. Students must satisfy any outstanding sanctions, penalties or remedies imposed or agreed to under the Student Code of Conduct (Code) or Policy 6.4. Where a formal complaint under the Code or Policy 6.4 is pending, the University will withhold awarding a degree otherwise earned until the adjudication process set forth in those procedures is complete, including the satisfaction of any sanctions, penalties or remedies imposed.
Financial Obligations. Outstanding financial obligations will not impact the awarding of a degree otherwise earned or a student’s ability to access their official transcript. However, the University may withhold issuing a diploma until any outstanding financial obligations owing to the University are satisfied.
Admissions
Application Requirements and Deadlines
Application Deadlines
Fall, November 16; Spring, check with field
Requirements Summary
A strong background in life sciences is important, as evidenced by grades, coursework, and research projects undertaken. Three letters of recommendation are required. For all applicants submitting TOEFL scores, a minimum TOEFL of reading 20, writing 20, listening 15, and speaking 22 (internet-based test) is required, and a cumulative score is not acceptable. We urge serious candidates to contact our graduate faculty to introduce themselves, to discuss mutual research interests, and if appropriate, to plan a visit to Cornell. All application materials must be received by Dec. 1 for the fall term, or Sept. 15 for the spring term.
Admissions Contact Information
Email: hortgrad@cornell.edu
Phone: 607-255-9573
Campus Address: 134A Plant Science Building
Website: https://cals.cornell.edu/school-integrative-plant-science/school-sections/sips-horticulture-section
