Environmental Horticulture and Turfgrass Management
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Outcome Statements for Environmental Horticulture and
Turfgrass Management Majors
KNOWLEDGE
DEPTH AND APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE –
acquire knowledge and skills necessary to obtain or pursue a professional position or graduate/professional training in your discipline. By the time you complete your degree you will:
• know the principles of producing, establishing and managing a variety of turfgrasses and amenity plants including ornamental trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants.
• be able to identify key landscape plants, economic crops and turfgrasses and have a basic knowledge of their environmental needs and function in managed landscapes.
• be aware of environmental issues associated with the production and management of landscape plants and the principles and practices of sustainable landscape management.
• know how to identify and manage key pests of managed landscapes.
• know principles of plant biology, particularly as they apply to the propagation and management of landscape plants.
• have extensive practical experience in plant production, establishment, and management, including fertilization, irrigation and pest management.
• have the opportunity to obtain professional certifications in pesticide application, arboriculture, and horticulture.
QUANTATIVE COMPETENCE -
identify and use appropriate quantitative methods to analyze physical, biological, or social phenomena. By the time you complete your degree you will:
• use basic mathematical operations, statistical procedures and quantitative reasoning to solve problems in landscape management
• understand the application of mathematics in properly proportioning and applying seed, plant growth regulators, fertilizers and other agricultural chemicals.
• understand basic mathematical operations and statistical concepts used in data analysis
• use computer hardware and software to quantitatively analyze data
• accurately comprehend and draw appropriate inferences from numeric data, statistical analysis, and quantitative models.
METHODS OF INQUIRY –
understand and use methods of inquiry appropriate to your discipline. By the time you complete you degree you will:
• use observation, exploration, experimentation, and simulation to build a personal body of knowledge about landscape management issues and solutions.
• devise methods of inquiry to distinguish cause and effect, and to solve relevant problems in environmental horticulture and turfgrass management.
• understand the value of different research designs and approaches.
• formulate testable hypotheses or models in environmental horticulture and turfgrass management.
• design an investigation or experiment(s) to test hypotheses or models, and develop predictions about possible outcomes.
• conduct an investigation or experiment and collect, organize, and analyze relevant data.
• identify the limitations of the methods that you use, and evaluate the accuracy and precision of the technology and methods within the context of the research question.
• identify scientific methods that are safe, humane and ethical.
PROBLEM SOLVING –
use acquired knowledge, skills, and ingenuity to solve complex problems. By the time you complete your degree you will:
• recognize the complexity of most problems arising in the practice of plant production and the management of turfgrasses and landscape plants.
• identify the resources and approaches necessary to work toward a solution of these problems.
• use your knowledge to make informed choices among various management options based on scientific and/or economic principles.
• evaluate the results of your choices, reassess, and alter your management strategies accordingly.
COMMUNICATION
INFORMATION MANAGEMENT –
gather and interpret information from diverse sources. By the time you complete your degree you will:
• locate, compile, and organize information from print and electronic media
• critically evaluate information gleaned from various sources
COMMUNICATION –
communicate clearly and effectively using a variety of methods. By the time you complete your degree you will:
• organize data for presentation
• speak and write logically and effectively for diverse audiences
• produce and deliver a research or outreach presentation suitable for a large audience
• acknowledge information sources in an appropriate format
MULTIDISCIPLINARY PERSPECTIVE –
recognize the value of, and participate in, multidisciplinary teams. By the time you complete you degree you will:
• understand the perspectives and scope of related disciplines
• participate in a joint project with practitioners in related disciplines
• interact effectively with peers and other professionals
PERSONAL GROWTH
ETHICAL PRINCIPLES –
understand and apply ethical principles to issues, problems, and professional practices. By the time you complete your degree you will:
• develop and explain a personal environmental ethic
• know the ethical standards of the professional societies in your discipline
GLOBAL AWARENESS –
develop an awareness of global community and ecology in their physical, biological and social dimensions. By the time you complete your degree you will:
• become familiar with Earth systems and the impact of human activities on these systems
• recognize the diverse global human cultures and their relationships with the environment
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT –
develop a sense of responsibility to self, community, and society. By the time you complete your degree you will:
• understand and respect differences among diverse populations
• know how to find, earn, and keep a position in your professional field
• demonstrate leadership in solving a societal problem
