INDUSTRY EDUCATION

EDITOR ’ S NOTE : The following is the next in our series delving into colleges and universities that offer programs devoted to turfgrass management , turfgrass science , and related disciplines . In this edition , we examine the turfgrass program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln .

UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA-LINCOLN

The Plant and Landscape Systems major at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln ( UNL ) aims to educate and develop professionals to design and manage complex horticultural , landscape and turfgrass systems . The three primary options for this major are horticulture , landscape design and management , and turfgrass science and management . Additionally , students complement their program of study with two additional areas of professional specialization provided through emphases and / or minors . The turfgrass science and management program at UNL is a nationally recognized program with students highly sought after for internships and full-time positions .

According to Anne Streich , professor of practice and advisor , Agronomy and Horticulture , University of Nebraska – Lincoln , in 2017 , the UNL Agronomy and Horticulture Department went through an academic program review that ultimately resulted in the creation of a new major that would encompass all of the disciplines to retain traditional students , but also draw in new students .

“ Today we have turfgrass science and management , landscape design and management , and horticulture under the Plant and Landscape Systems major ,” said Streich . “ Agronomy will stay as its own major . What I really like about this new major is that it allows a lot of flexibility for students .”

According to Streich , Plant and Landscape Systems students can tailor their academic program to meet their professional goals thanks to 24 credits worth of classes in which students can take emphases or minors . Those emphases or minors help students develop their skills and knowledge in areas that will benefit them in the professional world . She added that students can adjust their emphases or minors as they go without negatively impacting their credit load .

“ One of the nice things about this new major is that we have a common core ,” said Streich . “ Students start with a common core that includes plant science , introductory insect and diseases courses , botany , soils , and a plant systems course that introduces students to agricultural , horticultural , landscape , and turfgrass systems . Having a common core for all our disciplines allows students to change options without losing time . They can use classes they ’ ve already taken and still have those count toward the 120 credits required for graduation .”

The Plant and Landscape Systems curriculum also offers 1-credit courses students can take to fill some of their degree requirements . Those courses are specific topics that may be important to some facets of the turf industry , such as turf painting and modified rootzones .

According to Streich , UNL currently has approximately 200 students across its Agronomy and Landscape and Plant and Landscape Systems majors , with approximately 20 of those in the turfgrass program . Approximately 70 percent of UNL ’ s turfgrass students are focusing on golf course management with the other 30 percent focusing on sports turf . Streich added that incoming students are a pretty even mix of incoming freshmen and transfer students .

“ At Nebraska , we have a PGA golf management program , and we are starting to pick up students because of that

24 SportsField Management | June 2023 sportsfieldmanagementonline . com