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This 30-credit online master's degree in turfgrass management is designed for individuals who currently work as managers of turfgrass facilities, including golf courses and professional sports complexes. The MPS-TM program requires the completion of four core courses in which students learn to apply scientific concepts to fundamental problems encountered in the management of complex turfgrass ecosystems. A capstone individual study in turfgrass management course is also required. The capstone course integrates theory and practice in addressing real problems encountered in turfgrass facility management.

Become a Turfgrass Management Leader

The MPS-TM program offers students two areas of emphasis from which to choose. This innovative approach allows students, whose educational and work experience has emphasized personnel management skills to focus on turfgrass-specific courses. Conversely, if your background is primarily in the turfgrass sciences, you may pursue a course of study devoted to management skills.

The required core course of study offers experience in:

  • turfgrass physiology
  • plant population biology
  • turfgrass health management
  • turfgrass science literature

In addition to the required courses, students also take an additional 15 credits of elective coursework to focus on their particular interest within turfgrass facility management. A total of 18 program credits must be 500-level or higher, with at least 6 credits of 500-level coursework. This requirement is met through the required courses, the project, and at least one 500-level elective.

Collaborative Learning

The online courses are highly interactive and collaborative, allowing you to build strong ties with other students. Maximum flexibility is maintained by the program in an effort to meet both the professional needs of individual students and academic quality standards. 

Course List - Master of Professional Studies in Turfgrass Management

The master of professional studies in turfgrass management consists of five required courses (15 credits) and five elective courses (15 credits). Your elective courses will determine your area of concentration for the turfgrass management master's degree.

In addition to the required courses, students also take an additional 15 credits of elective coursework to focus on their particular interest within turfgrass facility management. A total of 18 program credits must be 500-level or higher, with at least 6 credits of 500-level coursework. This requirement is met through the required courses, the project, and at least one 500-level elective.

Core Courses (15 credits)
Title Abbreviation Description Credits
Individual Studies in Agronomy AGRO 596 Creative projects, including nonthesis research, which are supervised on an individual basis and which fall outside the scope of formal courses. Used by students to work with an adviser on their capstone project. 3 credits
Applied Plant Population Biology AGRO 851 Lectures and exercises designed to develop student competency in plant selection to promote ecological diversity and genetically superior plants. 3 credits
Turfgrass Physiology TURF 850 Lectures, reading assignments, and exercises designed to develop student competency in plant physiology as it relates to turfgrass management strategies. 3 credits
Turfgrass Health Management TURF 852 Lectures and exercises designed to develop student competency in solving turfgrass pest problems, as well as disease resistance in turfgrasses. 3 credits
Interpreting Turfgrass Science Literature TURF/PPATH 853 Introduction to turfgrass research publications, interpretation of the data, and discussion of the significance of the results. 3 credits
Turfgrass Science Electives (15 credits)*
Title Abbreviation Description Credits
Turfgrass Disease Management PPEM 412 Introduction to biology of turfgrass pathogens and management of cool- and warm-season turfgrass disease.

Prerequisites: TURF 230, TURF 235, CHEM 101 or CHEM 110, BIOL 127		 3 credits
Turfgrass Cultural Systems TURF 425 A study of turfgrass maintenance practices and how their interrelationships can be utilized to develop management systems.

Prerequisites: SOILS 101, TURF 235 (or equivalent); recommended: TURF 238, TURF 297, ENT 317, PPATH 412		 3 credits
Turfgrass Edaphology TURF 434 Characterization of soil's physical and chemical properties for the establishment and maintenance of sports turf; includes root-zone construction.

Prerequisites: SOILS 101, TURF 235 (or equivalent)		 3 credits
Turfgrass Nutrition TURF 435 Study of turfgrass nutrition and growth; emphasizing constructed and mineral soil fertility, nutrient uptake and function, and fertilizer use efficiency.

Prerequisites: SOILS 101, TURF 235		 4 credits
Case Studies in Turfgrass Management TURF 436W Case study and discussion considering integrated management of selected turfgrass sites; emphasis on problem analysis, principle application, and decision making.

Prerequisites: TURF 235 (or equivalent); recommended: TURF 425		 3 credits

*Cannot be used if taken to satisfy undergraduate degree requirements.

Other (business-related) Electives (choose 15 credits)
Title Abbreviation Description Credits
Conflict Resolution and Negotiation CAS 404 Theories and strategies important for conceptualizing, developing, and managing conflict negotiation, mediation, and third-party intervention.

Prerequisite: CAS 100		 3 credits
Labor and Employment Law HRER 501 Legal context of employment in the United States. 3 credits
Seminar in Human Resources HRER 505 Current human resource topics in the context of organizational strategy, planning, and responsibility. 3 credits
Organizations in the Workplace HRER 802 This course provides students with an overview of selected managerial behavior and career topics in modern organizations. 3 credits
Project Management MANGT 510 A problem-based, interdisciplinary course in project management skills and techniques needed to manage projects in a modern business environment.

Prerequisite: graduate standing		 3 credits
Planning and Resource Management MANGT 520

A problem-based course that addresses techniques for planning the project development process, including securing resources and resource management.

Prerequisite or concurrent:  MANGT 510

 3 credits
Leadership in Work Settings PSYCH 485 Review of research and application of behavior principles in the areas of management and supervision. 3 credits
Social Influence and Small Groups SOC 404 The study of social influence, leadership and status, and social cohesion and commitment processes in small groups.

Prerequisite: SOC 003 or PSYCH 420		 3 credits

 

Course Availability

If you're ready to see when your courses will be offered, visit our public LionPATH course search (opens in new window) to start planning ahead.