The Plant and Landscape Systems program at Brigham Young University (BYU) is one of the top landscape-related degrees available and is accredited by the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP).
“We also offer a minor in Business Management or Environmental Science,” said Bryan Hopkins, Ph.D., professor of Plant and Wildlife Sciences at BYU. “Students take a wide variety of landscape management classes, including turfgrass management, soil science, urban soil and water management. They also take multiple pest management classes, among others.”
Students gain hands-on experience through BYU Grounds, internships and extracurricular activities. Networking is an important focus in the program and students meet top professionals at career fairs and national events.
The Landscape Management Club, National Collegiate Landscape Competition and many shared classes connect students with each other and their professors in a powerful way. Upon graduating, students are ready for the best employment positions and graduate programs with the skills needed to appreciate, create and manage beautiful landscapes.
According to Hopkins, the program averages 150 undergraduate students with most pursuing careers in general landscape management and maintenance.
“We remind them that the number one type of landscape plant that they will be dealing with is turfgrass,” he said. “We do have students who go into turfgrass-specific careers, including sports field management and golf course management.”
Hopkins said that approximately 65% of BYU students who graduate with a BYU Plant and Landscape Systems degree pursue landscape maintenance, while 10% pursue careers in landscape design and construction, 5% each in sports field management and golf course management, and the remaining 15% entering other fields.
“Our students have won first place five out of the last six years for the NALP’s National Collegiate Landscape Competition (NCLC),” Hopkins added. “As such, there’s a very high demand for our students.”
Most BYU Plant and Landscape Systems students do industry internships, and all students also have opportunities to take part in research.
“We also have a lot of what we call experiential learning, which involves everything from study abroad to service opportunities,” said Hopkins. “We have an outstanding student-led club, as well as many leadership opportunities. For study abroad, we usually offer four trips per year. This year we are going to Europe, Africa, Central America and Australia.”
Said Hopkins of the BYU students, “They are wonderful. They’re good human beings, and I love working with them.”
For more information about Brigham Young University and the Plant and Landscape Systems major, visit https://pws.byu.edu/undergraduate/nalp.
