Plant Science and Landscape Architecture

College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
2139 Plant Sciences Building
301-405-4359 
dcortez@umd.edu
www.psla.umd.edu/

The Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture (PSLA) educates students in cutting edge science focusing on sustainable food (fruit, vegetable, and grain), ornamental crops, fiber and fuel production, designing environmentally sustainable landscapes that benefit human health, educating the extension educators of the future, and conducting fundamental plant-based research to solve pressing worldwide issues such as mitigating climate change, promoting food nutrition, safety, and access, protecting our environmental resources, and maximizing crop yield through PSLA’s three majors.   Students interested in sustainable fruit, vegetable, grain, feed, fuel, and fiber production (agronomy and environmental horticulture), controlled environment and urban agriculture, ornamental crop production (environmental horticulture), and agricultural extension education enroll in the ‘Agricultural Science and Technology’ major.  Students interested in conducting fundamental research using cutting-edge techniques and technologies in molecular biology and genetics, plant breeding, plant pathology, ecology, food safety and plant physiology to solve critical issues in agriculture, turfgrass science, forestry, plant growth and development, and protecting our environment enroll in the ‘Plant Sciences’ major.  Students interested in designing and planning built environments that minimize negative environmental impacts, restore natural ecosystems and positively impact human health interested in becoming landscape architect professionals enroll in the ‘Landscape Architecture’ major.

Administration

Chair: J. Erwin (Professor & Chair)

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 

Field Crop Production, Fruit, Vegetable and Ornamental Crop Production, Controlled Environment and Urban Agriculture and Food Safety

Faculty members in Plant Science and Landscape Architecture may also teach courses for this degree program. Courses taught under Plant Sciences (PLSC) may be prerequisites.

Director: B. Phillips

Professors: J. Erwin, A. Murphy, J. Lea-Cox, J. Sullivan, S. Xiao, C. Beyrouty, K. Everts.

Professors Emeritus: S. Cohan, C. Walsh

Assistant Professors: M. Farcuh, D. Cochran, B. Phillips, M. Hu, N. Fiorellino, N. Rawat, VJ Tiwari.

Instructors: C. Allen (Agent Associate), A. Ferelli (Agent Associate), A. Ristvey (Affiliate Senior Agent)

AGRICULTURAL AND EXTENSION EDUCATION

Faculty members in Agricultural Science & Technology, Plant Science and Landscape Architecture may also teach courses for this degree program. Courses taught under Plant Sciences (PLSC) and Landscape Architecture (LARC)  may be prerequisites.

Director: M. Welsh (Assistant Clinical Professor)

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

Community Design, Creative Design, Ecological Design, Urban Design

Faculty members in Agricultural Science & Technology and Plant Sciences may also teach courses for this degree program. Courses taught under Plant Sciences (PLSC) may be prerequisites.

Directors: C. Ellis (MLA Program Chair & Professor), D. Nola (BLA Program Chair & Instructor)

Professors: C. Ellis

Associate Professors: B. Kweon, D. Myers, J.B. Sullivan

Assistant Professors: N. Sachs

Instructor: D. Nola

Lecturer: P. Cho, T. Mateya, A. Sametshaw, C. Sametshaw, B.Tauber, J. Trach Tongson, C. Vacelet, J. Westwater, J. Wray, C. Yglesias, S. Russell, B. Boyd

Majors

Minor

The department has mandatory faculty advising for each of its major and minor programs.  Students are required to meet with their faculty advisor at least twice a year.

Faculty Advisors

See Diana Cortez, Lecturer & Academic Advisor for Undergraduate Studies, in 2139 Plant Sciences Building (301-405-4359), or email dcortez@umd.edu for additional information.

Undergraduate Research Experiences

Students have abundant opportunities to conduct research with faculty from this department as well as related programs on campus.  Research opportunities are also available at government laboratories such as USDA, NIH, etc.

Internships

A great variety of internships are available that range from with scientists at nearby federal and state agencies, to working with farmers, greenhouse growers and fruit and vegetable producers, to working with urban planners and other landscape professionals.

Student Societies and Professional Organizations

Students from this major as well as any interested students on campus may participate in the Horticulture and Agronomy Clubs sponsored by the Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture.

Scholarships and Financial Assistance

Many scholarships and awards are available to PSLA students. Contact the Associate Dean's office at 301-405-2078 for additional information. The department also maintains a listing of scholarships. Contact the executive administrative assistant in 2104A Plant Sciences, 301-405-4356 for additional information on these scholarships.

The Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA) administers all types of federal, state and institutional financial assistance programs and, in cooperation with other university offices, participates in the awarding of scholarships to deserving students. For information, visit: www.financialaid.umd.edu.