Turfgrass Science Concentration
Turfgrass Science & Management, a concentration of study in the Department of Plant Sciences, is a diverse program that combines the study of grasses, soils, water, and pests. Turfgrass managers are involved with the production and maintenance of grasses for recreational, aesthetic, and environmental uses. Students have the opportunity to develop a personalized program in turfgrass science by selecting classes offered in a wide variety of areas, including environmental horticulture, soil and water sciences, entomology and nematology, and plant pathology. Because the University of Tennessee is located in the heart of the transition zone, out students learn how to manage both warm-season and cool-season grasses, thus preparing them for work in any part of the country.
Turfgrass Science curriculum
Examples of some places our graduates have worked.
The University of Tennessee Turfgrass Science program requires its students to complete at least one intership during their undergraduate career. Internships have proven to be one of the most important factors in the practical experience you need to get a good job. The Spring Turf Block is a 10-week block of classes you take in your junior year that allows you to embark on your internship in March, a full month-and-a-half before most other porgrams, so you will be upfront and in the action all season long. UT Turfgrass internships have included:
- 7 Professional Baseball interns, including the World Champion Boston Red Sox
- 3 NFL Football interns, including Tennessee Titans
- 2 PGA Championships
- 2 PGA Championships
- –1 International Internshi–p
Turfgrass information for:
Contact Information
Dr. John C. Sorochan Associate Professor Turfgrass Science
The University of Tennessee
Department of Plant Sciences
252 Ellington Plant Sciences
2431 Joe Johnson Dr.
Knoxville, TN 37996-4561 Voice: 865-974-7420
Email: sorochan@utk.edu