About the Program
Grow your career and feed the future. We emphasize high-impact teaching to develop a skilled, inclusive workforce in sustainable fruit, vegetable, agronomic, and tree crops; urban and controlled environment agriculture; and plant science fields like irrigation, arboriculture, sports turf, botanical gardens, and natural resource conservation.
The Polytechnic Experience
In the plant science program, you’ll learn hands-on in fields, greenhouses, and labs. Study plants and soils while tackling real-world challenges like sustainable farming and irrigation. Working with advanced techniques and technologies, you’ll gain skills to shape agriculture’s future through internships, community projects, and collaborative learning.
Career Outcomes
Courses
Cal Poly Pomona’s Bachelor of Science in Plant Science emphasizes environmental sustainability and the efficient use of natural resources, integrating economic principles essential for maintaining successful plant science businesses. The curriculum includes all coursework needed to fulfill the California Department of Pesticide Regulation’s Agricultural Pest Control Adviser (PCA) education requirements for professional licensure. Graduates are well-prepared for diverse careers across horticulture, landscape management, agronomy, specialty crop industries, golf course and sports turf management, as well as roles in government, research, consulting, and further academic pursuits.
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Orange County Farm Bureau Scholarship
The Orange County Farm Bureau Scholarship was funded by the Orange County Farm Bureau, a non-profit non-governmental organization that promotes Orange County agriculture, to provide scholarships to newly admitted or continuing Huntley College of Agriculture students majoring in Agribusiness and Food Industry Management, Agricultural Science, Animal Health Science, Animal Science, Food Science and Technology, Nutrition and/or Plant Science.
Featured Faculty
“[As] Department Chair ... a position I held for the next 10 years ... I very gratefully received a large amount of support from many, many industry partners — it turned out that most of them were alumni of the program!”Dr. Valerie Mellano Professor Emerita, Department of Plant Science, Huntley College of Agriculture
Alumni Success
"Without the Plant Science Department, I would have never gone into agriculture. It was their willingness to listen to students, provide support and resources for projects, and allow myself and others to explore our passions that made the program special.”Aaron Thormodsen, ‘21