Become part of a community of committed educators, volunteers, and researchers with a shared vision for the sustainable management of the plant and insect components of the landscape.
Rhode Islanders have a unique relationship to the environment–and for our communities, ornamental plants, turf, agritourism, and conservation lands are as important as food crops. Our programs in ornamental horticulture, turfgrass management, food crop production, and control of invasive species, and insect-vectored diseases support all these aspects of the local economy. You’ll be fully prepared for a job in agricultural industries, or to conduct your own research.
The URI difference
Connected to the land
Our farms, East Farm and the Gardner Agronomy Farm are located right on campus and are closely integrated with our extension sites and research. Students conduct research, help with maintenance, and even help distribute the food produced there to the local community.
Connected with communities
Thanks to the community outreach and research activity of the department, students get hands on experience–working in the local green economy, the turfgrass industry, or working on grant-funded research–they have their pick of internships and jobs.
Faculty expertise
We offer a hands-on curriculum that integrates lectures, lab work, and service. With our a high faculty-to-student ratio, you’ll work closely with faculty mentors whose work makes a difference, both at the local and national level.
News
URI’s Ava Russell Heads to Harvard Arboretum for Plant Science Internship - URI junior Ava Russell, a double major in biology and plant science, was selected for the competitive DaRin Butz Internship. She will spend 10 weeks at Harvard’s Arnold Arboretum studying plant development and evolution. 
Spinach study: URI researcher awarded $296,000 USDA grant for core plant research - University of Rhode Island’s Plant Sciences department, not only has a green thumb, he brings a sophisticated command of modern tools to his position at the University. Now he’s taking his plant engineer mindset to new research growing hydroponic vegetables.
Plant Sciences Is For The Doers - Through hands-on learning in URI’s Department of Plant Sciences and Entomology, Justin Levesque has found community, mentorship, and a lasting connection to the natural world.
URI team wins $970,000 grant to map alternative urban food networks - Plant Sciences faculty member John Taylor led a team that won the award from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, part of a broad U.S.D.A. investment in urban agriculture.