Masters Program

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Program Requirements:

Coursework
Given the tremendous breadth of courses offered at Cornell, the academic program in Public Garden Management can provide students with broad intellectual skills and a deep base of knowledge. Although Cornell University has the top-ranked department of horticulture in the U.S., the array of courses that fellows may take to fulfill the requirements of the program span many other departments and colleges. Coursework may include business and organizational management, landscape design and planning, horticulture, environmental and resource management, communication, human resource management, leadership training, education and more. Fellows are encouraged to develop personalized courses of study based upon their individual interests and career goals. Visit Cornell University Courses of Study for a complete online listing of Cornell's course offerings.

Summer internship
Because the MPS in Public Garden Management emphasizes practical experience as well as academic training, all fellows must participate in a summer internship at a public garden between their first and second semesters. This may be done either at Cornell Plantations, or at another public garden in the United States, Canada, or abroad. Many public garden internships are listed on the web site of the American Association of Botanical Gardens and Arboreta (AABGA) and in AABGA's internship directory. Program coordinators will work with fellows to help them identify a suitable internship.

Graduate project
Fellows select a topic for their project during the first semester of study. Projects may focus on any aspect of public garden management, including, but not limited to education and interpretation, public outreach and visitor services, collections management, landscape management, natural area management, fundraising, and administration.