Southern College Offer The Only Bachelor Of Science Degree In Citrus Options

[turtleman]

I think this is a fantastic opportunity for anyone interested.

Do you know of a current or recent high school student who has a horticultural interest and is looking for a great, challenging career? If so, I’d like to suggest the concept of getting a college degree in citrus, and becoming a part of that industry. In Florida, citrus remains our largest horticultural product, and will likely remain so for many years. Yet we have the currently huge challenge of greening (huanglongbing) disease, citrus canker, and other large challenges. And this is at a time when many of our best researchers, of the baby-boomer generation, are preparing for retirement.

So there are numerous great opportunities for a student, including going into citrus production directly, with the Bachelor of Science degree, entering the agri-chemical industry, also with the B.S. degree, or using the undergraduate training as preparation for graduate school, leading to a Ph.D., with which he/she could then go on to do the research we need to solve these problems and maintain citrus as a large and profitable industry. What our industry needs is highly trained people to continue these efforts, for the next generation.

We at Florida Southern College offer the only Bachelor of Science degree in citrus in the United States (perhaps anywhere?). Additionally, other colleges and universities (the University of Florida, University of California at Riverside, CalPoly at San Luis Obispo, and Texas A&M) offer horticulture or plant science degrees, in which one could specialize in citrus production. Florida Southern also offers degrees in Landscape Horticulture and Recreational Turfgrass Management.

I would be very interested in talking with potential students about the possibilities. Please feel free to refer them to me!

Malcolm M. Manners, Ph.D.
John and Ruth Tyndall Professor of Citrus Science
Florida Southern College
111 Lake Hollingsworth DR
Lakeland FL 33801

863-680-4337
mmanners@flsouthern.edu