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Information for Prospective Students

Is a career in Turf and Grounds Management right for you? Choosing an enjoyable and rewarding career is a difficult decision. The following questions should help you decide if a career in Turf and Grounds Management would be to your liking:

• Are you prepared to continue your study of the basic sciences (mathematics, chemistry, physics and biology for example) to gain knowledge of soil science, horticulture, agronomy, plant pathology and agricultural engineering as they apply to turf and grounds management?
• Are you willing to undertake field training while attending college?
• Are you interested in continuing education necessary in a changing technical field?
• Do you receive personal gratification from physical labor and accomplishments that you can see?
• Do you enjoy working outdoors in all types of weather and appreciate the beauty of your surroundings?
• Are you willing to work as many hours per day as it takes to get a job done?
• Are you willing to assume a variety of responsibilities that range from record keeping and budgeting to equipment repair and tree pruning?
• Do you desire leadership and supervisory responsibilities?
• Do you enjoy working with people as well as equipment?
• Are you self-motivated?

If you answered “yes” to most, if not all these questions, chances are excellent that you are up to the challenges of a career in turf and grounds management.

Across all our turfgrass educational offerings, a strong emphasis is placed on professional work experience. Students gain knowledge of equipment operation, landscape construction, drainage, pesticide use and application, irrigation, fertilization and other crucial practices. Students usually work full-time in the summer and part-time during the school year. Placement for summer employment is virtually guaranteed thanks to support from the program’s alumni. Alumni include a network of golf course superintendents, lawn care managers, landscape managers, and sales personnel for companies specializing in turf products. Additionally, faculty are able to place students through other professional contacts across the nation and internationally.

The cornerstone of the UW-Madison Turfgrass Educational Programs is the O.J. Noer Turfgrass Research and Education Facility. The facility is adjacent to UW’s championship golf course-University Ridge. Proximity to the UW-Madison campus provides students full access to both facilities and the opportunity to significantly enhance the quality of their educational experience. The Noer facility has research and demonstration plots that are used for teaching purposes, as well as a fully video-equipped classroom. Turfgrass laboratories are held at the Facility to conduct hands-on exercises that stress understanding of the latest turfgrass technology.

Educational Options in Turf and Grounds Management

Education in Turf and Grounds Management at the University of Wisconsin-Madison offers an opportunity to get involved in a lucrative and highly respected profession. The program offers a unique opportunity for students who want a broad education as well as a specialty. Turf and Grounds Management incorporates the principles embodied in soil science, horticulture, plant pathology, entomology, landscape architecture, ecology, business management and public relations to prepare you for a highly successful career.  Graduates have little difficultly obtaining positions as golf course superintendents, assistant golf course superintendents, lawn care specialists, turf product sales personnel, institution grounds supervisors, athletic field managers and landscape specialists. We over several different educational options to help you achieve your specific career goals.

Click the boxes below to learn more about the options: