Career Opportunities for Majors in Plant Science


Introduction

The plant science program prepares students for careers or further study in areas related to food, fiber, turfgrass, ornamental plant production, pest management, plant breeding, plant pathology, or plant science education. The curriculum offers three options: horticulture and turf industry, for students intending to pursue business careers; research, for students intending to pursue careers in laboratories or graduate study; and professional preparation, for students intending to pursue careers in education or horticultural therapy. Agronomists and crop scientists help increase productivity and study ways to improve the nutritional value of crops and the quality of seed. Some crop scientists study the breeding, physiology and management of crops and use genetic engineering to develop crops resistant to pests and drought. In addition, the study of plants often has direct applications to the study of human cells and ultimately the understanding of the human body and its functions.

A bachelor's degree is sufficient for advanced technician jobs in the medical field, lab research assistant positions, or testing and inspection jobs. An advanced degree is required for most other positions in the scientific field. While most plant science graduates work in related occupations and eventually obtain advanced degrees, others choose different directions. Many careers do not require a specific major but rather a wide range of demonstrated skills and accomplishments. Regardless of your career choices, increase your marketability to employers through internships, responsible work experience, good grades, and involvement in college activities.

A Sample of Related Occupations

Agronomist Botanist Community Agency Worker 
Consumer Advocate Cooperative Extension Agent Crop Physiologist
Ecologist Environmental Health Educator Field Contractor
Food Buyer Food & Drug Inspector Food Technologist
Forest Engineer Forester Horticulturist
Irrigation Engineer Journalist Lab Technician
Landscape Architect Natural Resources Manager Naturalist
Patent Specialist Pest Control Inspector Pharmaceutical Sales Rep.
Physician Plant Geneticist Plant Quarantine Specialist
Public Health Administrator Quality Control Specialist Research Assistant
Sales Representative Scientific Librarian Taxonomist
Teacher/Professor Technical Writer Wine Maker (Enologist)
 

Types of Employers

Private & Non-Profit Organizations

Biological supply houses

Laboratories

Botanical gardens

Lumber/Paper companies

Biotechnology firms

Museums 

Chemical manufacturers

Nature Conservancy

Colleges/Universities

Nurseries

Conservation organizations

Petrochemical firms

Consulting firms

Pharmaceutical firms

Crop/Soil mgmt. firms 

Public/Private schools

Fermentation organizations

Research facilities

Floral organizations

Weed control industry

Food manufacturers

Wholesale distributors

Forest management agencies

   
 
Government Agencies

Agricultural Research Station

Public Health Service

Consumer Affairs Department

Teach for America

County Extension Service

Shade Tree Commission

Dept. of Environmental Protection

Smithsonian Institution

Department of Interior

State Department

Municipal Government 

US Dept. of Agriculture

NASA

US Food & Drug Admin.

Peace Corps

US Forest Service

US Public Health Service


Jobs Obtained by Rutgers Graduates

First Jobs of Recent Graduates
Assistant Scientist, Hoffmann-LaRoche, Inc. Park Ranger, Somerset County Park Commission
Assistant Scientist, Roche Diagnostic Systems PPQ Officer, USDA-APHIS-PPQ
Greenhouse Worker/Floral Designer, Dale C. Davis Sales & Service Rep., Grass Roots Inc.
Grounds Maintenance Intern, Baltusrol Golf Club Science Teacher, Regional High School District #1
Horticulturist, Manasquan River Golf Club Technician, CT Agricultural Experiment Station
 
 
Jobs of Experienced Alumni (advanced degree information is not available for most alumni)
Agricultural Program Associate, Rutgers Univ. Coop. Ext. Owner, Randolph's Nursery
Assistant Architect, Port Authority of NY & NJ Owner/Chief Designer, Flora Design Associates
Chemist-Quality Control, Givudan-Roure Co. Program Officer, National Research Council
Director of Education, Golfcourse Supts. Assn. of America Project Manager, Priority One Testing Lab
Environmental Engineer, Buchart Horn Research Scientist, Schering-Plough Corp. (MS Plant Sci.)
Farm Manager, East Gate Farms Senior Biologist, NJ Division of Fish & Game
General Manager, New Jersey Tomato Council Senior Copywriter, MWW/Strategic Communications
Greenhouse Supervisor, EniChem Americas, Inc. Supervisor, Jones Tree Farm
Horticultural Therapist, Franklin Convalescent Center (MS Plant Sci.) Supervisor-Data Center, First Security Bank
Manager, Customer Service, MSO, Inc.  Tax Manager, M.S. Ackerman & Co., (MBA, M.A. Accounting)
Vice President, Chile Today - Hot Tamale

 

A Sample of Graduate Schools Attended
Rutgers University, MBA, Management Texas A&M, MS, Agricultural Sciences

 


 

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Explore Rutgers University academic department information related to this major.

See the Occupational Outlook Handbook for additional career information.

Pick up your "Career Opportunities" handouts at any New Brunswick Career Services office

Created by the Rutgers University, New Brunswick Career Services staff

 

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Updated 6/27/06

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