Institute of Applied Agriculture

Turfgrass Management Program
Golf Course Management Program

Dr. J. Kevin Mathias,
Program Advisor

Turfgrass Management, Golf Course Management

The Turfgrass Management program trains students to work in a dynamic industry in which professionals use their skills to satisfy the public's demand for green lawns and playable athletic fields. Turfgrasses--plants that provide ground cover that can be mowed and walked upon--are used as playing surfaces for many sporting events from golf to baseball. In landscapes, lawn turf provides color, softness and beauty. Turfgrasses also play an important role in purifying and protecting the environment. With such classes as soils and fertilizers, irrigation practices, turf management, and pesticide use and safety, students learn to integrate science and nature. Curriculum options in the program include General Turf Management and Golf Course Management.

Career Opportunities

Formal education and training will allow individuals to manage many different types of turfgrass facilities, which include golf courses, corporate office parks, professional ball fields, municipal facilities, lawn care businesses and sod fields. The turfgrass industry is a large and diverse industry at both national and state levels. At the national level, the turfgrass industry generates over $30 billion while the cost for turfgrass maintenance in Maryland is estimated at $1 billion. Many IAA graduates hold positions as golf course superintendents. An increase in golf course construction keeps qualified individuals in demand. Over 15,000 golf courses are operated in the United States and over 170 are located in Maryland.

Required Courses for the General Turfgrass Management Program
1ST YEAR, FALL SEMESTER			Credit Hours	Plan	Grade
F	INAG 100	Introduction to Plant Science	3
F	INAG 101	Computer Applications	3	____	____
F	INAG 102	Business Operations	3	____	____
F	INAG 107	Turfgrass Management	4	____	____
F	INAG 111	Written Communication	3	____	____
			16
1ST YEAR, SPRING SEMESTER
S	INAG 104	Agricultural Mathematics	3	____	____
S	INAG 105	Soils & Fertilizers	3	____	____
S	INAG 106	Pesticide Use & Safety	2	____	____
S	INAG 110	Oral Communication	3	____	____
S	APPROVED ELECTIVES		4	____	____
			15
SUMMER, BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND YEARS
	INAG 299A	Internship I	1	____	____
2ND YEAR, FALL SEMESTER
F	INAG 201	Personnel Management	3	____	____
F	INAG 235	Surveying, Drainage and Irrigation Practices	3	____	____
F	*ENBE 200	Fundamentals of Agricultural Mechanics	3	____	____
F	INAG 299B	Internship II	1
	APPROVED ELECTIVES		3	____	____
			13
2ND YEAR, SPRING SEMESTER
S	INAG 204	Business Management	3	____	____
S	INAG 206	Business Law	3	____	____
S	INAG 207	Power & Machinery	3	____	____
	APPROVED ELECTIVES		6	____	____
			15
		Total Credit Hours	60
APPROVED ELECTIVES
F	*PLSC 101	Introduction to Crop Science	4	____	____
S	*PLSC 255	Landscape Design & Implementation	4	____	____
F	INAG 103	Agricultural Marketing	3	____	____
F	INAG 236	Spanish Communication	3	____	____
F	PLSC 253	Woody Plants for Mid-Atlantic Landscapes I	3	____	____
F	INAG 203	Introduction to Finance	3	____	____
S(even)	INAG 213	Crop Production Practices	3	____	____
F(even)	INAG 218	Landscape Construction	3	____	____
S	PLSC 254	Woody Plants for Mid-Atlantic Landscapes II	3	____	____
S/F	INAG 227/ PLSC 272 *	Arboriculture	3	____	____
F	INAG 226	Diseases of Ornamentals	3	____	____
F/S	INAG 230	Employment Communication	1	____	____
F	INAG 231	Insects of Ornamentals\ Turfgrass	3	____	____
F/S	INAG 129, 139, 149, 159, 169, 179	Special Problems (check schedule)	1	____	____
	INAG 237	GPS Applications in Agriculture	2
*Denotes courses in 4 year program
Revised June 2006

Required Courses for the Golf Course Management Program
1ST YEAR, FALL SEMESTER			Credit Hours	Plan	Grade
F	*ENBE 200	Fundamentals of Agricultural Mechanics	3	____	____
F	INAG 100	Introduction to Plant Science	3	____	____
F	INAG 102	Business Operations	3	____	____
F	INAG 107	Turfgrass Management	4	____	____
F	INAG 111	WrittenCommunication	3	____	____
			16
1ST YEAR, SPRING SEMESTER
SF	INAG 101	Computer Applications	3	____	____
S	INAG 104	Agricultural Mathematics	3	____	____
S	INAG 105	Soils & Fertilizers	3	____	____
S	INAG 110	Oral Communication	3	____	____
S	INAG 214	**Golf Course Management I	3 OR	____	____
S	INAG 215	**Golf Course Management II	3	____	____
			15
SUMMER, BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND YEARS
	INAG 299A	Internship I	1	____	____
2ND YEAR, FALL SEMESTER
F	PLSC 253 *	Woody Plants for Mid-Atlantic Landscapes I	3	____	____
F	INAG 201	Personnel Management	3	____	____
F	INAG 235	Survey, Drainage and Irrigation Practices	3	____	____
F	INAG 226	Diseases of Ornamentals	3	____	____
F	INAG 231	Insects of Ornamentals\ Turfgrass	3	____	____
F	INAG 299B	Internship II	1
			16
2ND YEAR, SPRING SEMESTER
S	INAG 106	Pesticide Use & Safety	2	____	____
S	INAG 206	Business Law	3	____	____
S	INAG 207	Power & Machinery	3	____	____
S	INAG 214	**Golf Course Management I	3 or	____	____
S	INAG 215	**Golf Course Management II	3	____	____
		APPROVED ELECTIVE	1
			12
		TOTAL CREDITS	60
APPROVED ELECTIVES
S	*PLSC 255	Landscape Design & Implementation	4	____	____
F	INAG 236	Spanish Communication	3	____	____
F	INAG 203	Introduction to Finance	3	____	____
S	INAG 204	Business Management	3	____	____
F(even)	INAG 218	Landscape Construction	3	____	____
S/F	INAG 227/ PLSC 272 *	Arboriculture	3	____	____
F/S	INAG 230	Employment Communication	1	____	____
F/S	INAG 129, 139, 149, 159, 169, 179	Special Problems (check schedule)	1	____	____
S	INAG 237	GPS Applications in Agriculture	2	____	____
*Denotes courses in 4 year program
**Prerequisite required (INAG 107 Turfgrass Management)
Revised June 2006

For additional information please complete the Information Request, visit our Admissions Page or download the Student Handbook (pdf document).

For further information about the Turf Management Program please contact Dr. J. Kevin Mathias, at the Institute of Applied Agriculture, University of Maryland, 2113 Jull Hall, College Park, MD 20742, by telephone at 301-405-4685.

Links To Other Pages At The Institute of Applied Agriculture

Golf Course Management Landscape Management Equine Business Management Turfgrass Management   Agribusiness Management Ornamental Horticulture

This web page is maintained by the Institute of Applied Agriculture at the University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742. Comments and questions about this page can be directed to or (301) 405-4685.