Ohio State HCS Alumni

Where can an HCS degree take you?

Bri Schneider

November 26, 2024

Where can studying plant science at The Ohio State University Department of Horticulture and Crop Science (HCS) take you? Anywhere you want to go - have a look for yourself with this interactive alumni map that provides a glimpse into the types of careers our alumni go on to have!

Overview

check out a variety of our alumni and their careers with the interactive alumni map

Ohio State HCS Alumni Map

Dive Deeper

full stories on featured alumni

Annie Glaser: HCS Alumni Spotlight

Annie's the General Manager at Foertmeyer & Sons Greenhouse. Learn about her career + hear her advice for anyone considering pursuing a career in horticulture...

https://hcs.osu.edu

Than Hartsock: HCS Alumni Spotlight

Than's the Vice President of Precision Upgrades at John Deere. Learn about his career + hear his advice for anyone considering pursuing a career in agronomy...

https://hcs.osu.edu

Evili Martins: HCS Alumni Spotlight

Evili's the Greenhouse Manager at Bowling Green State University. Learn about her experiences at Ohio State + some advice for students considering studying horticulture...

https://hcs.osu.edu

Gabe Bertke: HCS Alumni Spotlight

Gabe's a Research Greenhouse Technician based at the CEARC here at The Ohio State University. Learn about his experiences at Ohio State + some advice for students considering studying horticulture...

https://hcs.osu.edu

Jack McCoy: HCS Alumni Spotlight

Jack's a Lecturer of Horticulture at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Learn about his experiences at Ohio State + some advice for students considering studying horticulture...

https://hcs.osu.edu

Regan Draeger: HCS Alumni Spotlight

Regan's a Landscape Designer at Corso’s Horticulture + pursuing her Master's degree at the University of Tennessee. Learn about her experiences at Ohio State + time as an AmericanHort Scholar...

https://hcs.osu.edu

Anthony Roth, PGA: HCS Alumni Spotlight

Anthony was one of the first graduates of our Professional Golf Management program (2008). Today, he's the Assistant Golf Professional at Martis Camp Club in Truckee, California. Take an open and honest look into the experiences that led him to where he is today…

https://hcs.osu.edu

Gitta Coaker: HCS Alumni Spotlight

Gitta's leading a remarkable career as a Professor and the John and Joan Fiddyment Endowed Chair of the Department of Plant Pathology at the University of California, Davis. Check out how a plant science background set her up for a successful career...

https://hcs.osu.edu

Matt Foertmeyer: HCS Alumni Spotlight

Matt is a grower and owner of Foertmeyer & Sons Greenhouse, in Ohio. Check out what working in the greenhouse industry is really like...

https://hcs.osu.edu

Jeff Boll: HCS Alumni Spotlight

Jeff is an Athletic Grounds Specialist here at The Ohio State University. Check out how a turf background set him up for a successful career...

https://hcs.osu.edu

Keith Bemerer: HCS Alumni Spotlight

Keith works in Inside Sales for Prospiant, Inc in Cincinnati, OH. Check out what working in the greenhouse industry is really like...

https://hcs.osu.edu

Gabriela Silva-Pumarada: HCS Alumni Spotlight

Gabriela's currently a Research Associate at Corteva in Champaign, Illinois. Check out what a day in her life as an agronomic researcher is like + some advice for students considering studying agronomy...

https://hcs.osu.edu

Cameron Stephens: HCS Alumni Spotlight

Cameron is currently a Product Development Manager & Fungicide Lead at ADAMA based in Grapevine, TX. Check out how a turf background set him up for a successful career...

https://hcs.osu.edu

Morgan Hunter: HCS Alumni Spotlight

Morgan received her BS (2019) in Turfgrass Science. Today, she works as the Director of Field Services for the Quad Cities River Bandits. Find out what an average day in her career is like...

https://hcs.osu.edu

Nate McKinniss: HCS Alumni Spotlight

Nate is currently the Golf Course Superintendent for Carolina Golf Club in Charlotte, NC. Check out what a day on the golf course is like + some advice for students considering a turf career...

https://hcs.osu.edu

Emma Bilbrey: HCS Alumni Spotlight

Emma graduated from HCS with a masters degree in 2020. Today, Emma owns & runs Hickory Hills Flower Farm. She shares all about owning her own business, her time here at HCS + some great advice for students considering graduate school.

https://hcs.osu.edu

Michael Dzakovich: HCS Alumni Spotlight

Michael graduated from HCS with a PhD in 2020. Today, he's a Researcher at the USDA Agriculture Research Service. Learn about how he became involved in horticulture + great advice for students considering a governmental career

https://hcs.osu.edu

Amber Emmons: HCS Alumni Spotlight

Amber received her BS (2019) in SPS Agronomy. Today, she's a Water Quality Extension Associate (WQEA) for The Ohio State University! See for yourself what working in extension is like + how her experiences as an intern helped shape her career decisions...

https://hcs.osu.edu

Mike Sanders: HCS Alumni Spotlight

Mike's the Owner of Butler County Turf Solutions in Hamilton, OH. Check out what running a lawn care company is really like...

https://hcs.osu.edu

Alyssa Essman: HCS Alumni Spotlight

Alyssa's a double alumna of HCS she received her MS (2018) and her PhD (2022) in Weed Science. Today, she's an Assistant Professor in our department...

https://hcs.osu.edu

Tyler Cornish: HCS Alumni Spotlight

Tyler is currently the Associate Director of Stadium Operations for Prasco Park in Mason, Ohio. Check out what a day in sports turf is like + some advice for students considering studying turf...

https://hcs.osu.edu

Sami Funderburgh: HCS Alumni Spotlight

Sami's a double alumna of HCS she received her BS (2012) in Agronomy & her MS (2015) in Weed Science. Today, Sami works in Ag Research at Buckeye Ag Testing. Find out what an average day in her career is like...

https://hcs.osu.edu

Karl Kisner: HCS Alumni Spotlight

Karl received his BS (1990) in Turfgrass Science. Today, he's the Vice President of Marketing & Supplier Relations for Veseris! Learn how he combined his passions of business + turf to carve out a unique career...

https://hcs.osu.edu

Amanda Folck: HCS Alumni Spotlight

Amanda received her BS (2017) in Turfgrass Science. Today, she works as a Turfgrass Extension Educator for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Find out what an average day in her career is like...

https://hcs.osu.edu

Nathan Miller: HCS Alumni Spotlight

Nathan's a double alumnus of HCS he received his BS (2010) in Crop Science & his MS (2011) in Weed Science. Today, Nathan works in Agriculture at Miller Grain. Find out what an average day in his career is like...

https://hcs.osu.edu

Emma Grace Matcham: HCS Alumni Spotlight

Emma graduated from HCS with an MS degree in 2019. Today, she's an Assistant Professor at the University of Florida focused on Nutrient-Cycling Agroecology. She shares how her career is going + some advice for students looking for their first job.

https://hcs.osu.edu

Mike Hannewald: HCS Alumni Spotlight

Mike Hannewald graduated from our Horticulture and Crop Science Department in 2014, he majored in Sustainable Plant Systems with a specialization in Agronomy. He's spent the last 8 years since graduating working at Beck's Hybrids here in Ohio, currently as a Field Agronomist.

https://hcs.osu.edu

Rachael Cline: HCS Alumni Spotlight

Rachael graduated in 2021 after studying Turfgrass Science (a specialization of our Sustainable Plant Systems Major). Today, she's the Assistant Groundskeeper at Austin FC - a role she landed directly out of undergrad.

https://hcs.osu.edu

Undergraduate Programs

take the first step to becoming an alumni

Agroecology

Agroecology focuses on understanding and applying ecological principles in crop production to integrate natural biological cycles and controls, make efficient use of resources, enhance environmental quality, and increase biodiversity. Please note that Agroecology is a specialization of our Sustainable Plant Systems (SPS) major.

https://hcs.osu.edu

Agronomy

Agronomy is the application of biological, chemical and physical principles to crops and cropping systems to increase their efficiency in converting light and supplemental resources into food, feed and fiber products. You'll learn to effectively regulate crop productivity through management decisions as you study the interrelationships among physical and biological factors.

https://hcs.osu.edu

Controlled Environment Agriculture

Controlled Environment Agriculture is an interdisciplinary crop production science integrating horticultural science, plant health management, applied environmental science, and applied biological engineering to achieve sustainable crop production in various climate regions. You'll take classes in plant science, greenhouse management, hydroponics, fruit and vegetable production, plant health management, agricultural meteorology, and introductory engineering principles.

https://hcs.osu.edu

Horticulture

Horticulture is the application of scientific principles to grow vegetables, fruits, ornamental plants, and landscape design, as well as business principles to sell the commodities. You'll learn basic characteristics of a wide variety of plants; including how they grow, develop, reproduce and adapt to different environments.

https://hcs.osu.edu

Plant Biosciences

Plant Biosciences is a broad study of plant biology including plant form and function, diversity, reproduction, evolution, and uses of plants. Please note that Plant Biosciences is a specialization of our Sustainable Plant Systems (SPS) major. In Sustainable Plant Systems you'll participate in hands-on-learning including labs and interactive activities in nearly every course.

https://hcs.osu.edu

Turfgrass Science

Turfgrass science (sometimes referred to as turfgrass management) is an integrated program that studies the grasses used to enhance our environment. Turf reduces glare, noise, air pollution, heat buildup and visual pollution.

https://hcs.osu.edu

Sustainable Agriculture

The Sustainable Agriculture major prepares you to think about farming holistically - to balance the environmental, social and economic dimensions. You'll learn how to navigate multiple economic, social, and environmental goals when managing a farm, ranch, or any enterprise and its relationship with the surrounding landscape and neighboring communities.

https://hcs.osu.edu

Professional Golf Management

The Professional Golf Management major sets you up for a successful career in the golf industry. The goal of this program is to assist you in becoming a PGA member and is the only program of this type in the state of Ohio.

https://hcs.osu.edu

Graduate Programs

continue advancing your education

Master of Science

The HCS Master’s degree program gives students the opportunity to gain additional knowledge and necessary skills in a field in order to engage in research and other scholarly activities, to teach, and to become practitioners.

https://hcs.osu.edu

PhD

PhD students in HCS complete a curriculum of courses that encompass crop physiology, ecology, plant breeding and biotechnology, and experimental design. The candidacy examination is a single examination consisting of two portions, written and oral, administered under the auspices of the Graduate Studies Committee in conjunction with the student’s SAC and the Graduate School. The candidacy examination is a test of the student’s comprehension of the field, allied areas of study, their capacity to undertake independent research, and their ability to think and express ideas clearly.

https://hcs.osu.edu

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