Rutgers: Career Services (Career Opportunities for Majors in Plant Science)

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

Types of Employers

Private & Non-profit Organizations
Biological supply houses	Fermentation organizations	Nurseries
Biotechnology firms	Floral organizations	Petrochemical firms
Botanical gardens	Food manufacturers	Pharmaceutical firms
Chemical manufacturers	Forest management agencies	Public/Private schools
Colleges/Universities	Laboratories	Research facilities
Conservation organizations	Lumber/Paper companies	Weed control industry
Consulting firms	Museums	Wholesale distributors
Crop/Soil mgmt. firms	Nature Conservancy

Government Agencies
Agricultural Research Station	NASA	Teach for America
Consumer Affairs Department	Peace Corps	US Dept. of Agriculture
County Extension Service	Public Health Service	US Food & Drug Admin.
Department of Interior	Shade Tree Commission	US Forest Service
Dept. of Environmental Protection	Smithsonian Institution	US Public Health Service
Municipal Government	State Department

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
Agricultural Program Associate, Rutgers Univ. Coop. Ext.	Owner/Chief Designer, Flora Design Associates
Assistant Architect, Port Authority of NY & NJ	Program Officer, National Research Council
Chemist-Quality Control, Givudan-Roure Co.	Project Manager, Priority One Testing Lab
Director of Education, Golfcourse Supts. Assn. of America	Research Scientist, Schering-Plough Corp. (MS Plant Sci.)
Environmental Engineer, Buchart Horn	Senior Biologist, NJ Division of Fish & Game
Farm Manager, East Gate Farms	Senior Copywriter, MWW/Strategic Communications
General Manager, New Jersey Tomato Council	Supervisor, Jones Tree Farm
Greenhouse Supervisor, EniChem Americas, Inc.	Supervisor-Data Center, First Security Bank
Horticultural Therapist, Franklin Convalescent Center (MS Plant Sci.)	Tax Manager, M.S. Ackerman & Co., (MBA, M.A. Accounting)
Manager, Customer Service, MSO, Inc.	Vice President, Chile Today - Hot Tamale
Owner, Randolph's Nursery

Graduate Schools Attended

Rutgers University, MBA, Management

Texas A&M, MS, Agricultural Sciences

Additionally, you may:

Explore the career paths of RU Alumni Career Network mentors.
Go to the Rutgers Online Career Planning Site to explore your interests, skills and values. Use the program for either: High School Students | College Students
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.


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