Interdepartmental Program
No
Students engage in hands-on research and practical experiences in state-of-the-art facilities, learning from faculty who are leaders in their fields. Whether your interests lie in plant breeding, greenhouse management, urban agriculture, or environmental horticulture, our program provides the knowledge and skills to thrive in diverse horticultural careers.
We strive to be a graduate major in which inquisitive students meet their educational goals within a stimulating environment for discovery. Top research faculty, excellent facilities, and a supportive, research-focused campus make Iowa State’s graduate program in horticulture an excellent venue for scholarship. Our graduates compete favorably for challenging positions in the job market and have a long-standing tradition of accomplishment in the plant sciences and related professions.
Degrees Offered:
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
- Master of Science (M.S.)
How long does it take to earn a degree?
- Median time to earn the doctorate: 4.6 years (Methods)
- Median time to earn the master’s: 2.6 years (Methods)
Learning Goals
- Through coursework and research, be familiar with and understand scholarly literature in the area of study.
- Be able to formulate testable hypotheses and justify research objectives.
- Conduct laboratory and/or field research by working effectively with appropriate instrumentation, equipment, technologies and experimental systems.
- Interpret research results via appropriate acquisition and analysis of data, and integrate them into the existing knowledge in the discipline.
- Conduct scholarship, in teams or independently, in ways that demonstrate ethical practice and professionalism.
- Clearly and accurately communicate research findings orally and in writing through scholarly presentations.
515-294-2751
Rajeev Arora
rarora@iastate.edu
Horticulture
106 Horticulture
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011-1100
Program Homepage
Program Handbook
Application Requirements
Application Deadlines:
No specific deadlines. Applications will be reviewed and processed as received.
Application Details:
This program is open to domestic and international students.
Application Instructions
Admission Requirements
Graduate College Requirements:
- 4 year Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent)
- Academic Records/Transcripts
- Minimum 3.0 GPA (Program may alter requirement.)
- Proof of English Proficiency.
Program Specific Requirements:
- Program Requires GRE: No
- Program Requires GMAT: No
- Program Will Review Without TOEFL or IELTS: No
International Requirements:
- Financial Statement: Application
- English Proficiency Minimum:
| TOEFL Paper (PBT) |
550 |
| TOEFL Internet (iBT) |
79 |
| IELTS |
6.5 |
| PTE |
53 |
| Duolingo (approved through spring 2026) |
115 |
Does this Program Offer a Distance Option?
No
Program offers a Coursework Only?
No
Program Director
rarora@iastate.edu
Program Staff
kimgaul@iastate.edu
kahein@iastate.edu
