Students under the MS in Horticulture program are expected to have a firm grasp of the underlying principles and practices in various fields of specialization in horticulture. Students are trained to conduct research that goes beyond correlative comparisons but also to determine the causative mechanisms for these. Students who intend to apply for the program must have a background or must take basic courses in crop physiology, organic chemistry, genetics, and experimental designs. Under the program, a student may specialize in one of the seven areas of study.