Turfgrass Management
Explore the Possibilities
This interdisciplinary major prepares students for a variety of lucrative career opportunities.
Students explore turf management and production, plant pathology, soil fertility, entomology, and plant breeding to learn how to maintain healthy and sustainable turfgrass systems. Students also gain hands-on experience at the Palouse Ridge Golf Course, a PGA certified 18-hole facility in Pullman.
IPS Degree
The Integrated Plant Sciences interdisciplinary degree program includes horticulture, crop and soil sciences, entomology, plant pathology and molecular science. You will learn the science and technology used to optimize plant life from molecule to market.
Career Opportunities
- Golf Course Superintendent
- Sports Facility Manager
- Lawn Care Operator/Manager
- Sod Production Manager
- Grounds Maintenance
- Technical Sales Manager
- Director of Irrigation Company
- Consulting Turfgrass Agronomist
- Environmental Ecologist/Consultant
- Low-impact Landscape Designer
- Grass Breeder
Quick Facts
Major Requirements
Minimum Total Credits: 120 credits
Your program may include different courses. Consult with your advisor about the best combination and order of courses for you. Visit the WSU Catalog for a list of required courses for this major and course descriptions.
UCORE/General Education Requirements: 40 credits
IPS Degree Core Requirements: 30 credits
- BIOLOGY 106, BIOLOGY 107, or BIOLOGY 120 – 4 credits
- CHEM 102: Chemistry Related to Life Sciences or CHEM 106: Principles of Chemistry II – 4 credits
- CROP_SCI/HORT 102: Cultivated Plants – 3 credits
- CROP_SCI/HORT 202: Crop Growth and Development – 4 credits
- CROP_SCI 411: [M] Crop Environmental Interactions or HORT 416: Advanced Hort Crop Physiology – 3 credits
- ENTOM 343: [M] General Entomology – 3 credits
- ENTOM 351: Ecological & Integrated Pest Management – 3 credits
- PL_P 300: Diseases of Fruit Crops or PL_P 429: General Plant Pathology – 2–3 credits
- SOIL_SCI 201: Soil: A Living System – 3 credits
Major Core Requirements- 43 credits
- AgTM 315: Irrigation Systems & Water Management – 3 credits
- AgTM 412: Human/Machine Risk Management – 3 credits
- Crop_Sci 301: Turfgrass Management – 3 credits
- Crop_Sci 305: Ecology & Management of Weeds – 3 credits
- Crop_Sci 401: Turfgrass Science – 3 credits
- Crop_Sci 412: Seminar – 1 credit
- Soil_Sci 441: Soil Fertility – 3 credits
- Soil_Sci 442: Soil Fertility Lab – 2 credits
- Major Electives (selected by the student) 9- 22 credits
Electives Outside the Major: 13–22 credits
CAHNRS gave me a scientific agricultural foundation of knowledge to pursue my dream of taking care of baseball fields for all levels of professional athletes— all the way up to the majors. My WSU education made me a better manager, leader, and grower of healthy quality and safe turf. It is truly a foundation I use every day.
Levi Weber, Head Groundkeeper, Vancouver Canadians Baseball team
