The field of horticulture science is a mixture of science and art in which sciences such as plant physiology, botany, biochemistry, genetics and breeding, nutrition, phytopathology and irrigation sciences are combined.

Department of Horticulture has been stablished in 1983 under the title of "Department of Agricultural Affairs" and in 2003 renamed to "Department of Horticulture" with the aim of developing trends in horticulture, especially the improvement of horticultural plants as an independent educational and research group. At now, this department has 9 permanent faculty members and 3 post-doc researcher while teaching various horticultural science courses. The main research areas of the Department of Horticulture are:

• Physiology and breeding of nut fruits including walnut, diamond, and pistachio
• Breeding for better growth and yield of melons
• Controlled environment horticulture, with focus on optimizing the lighting environment of horticultural crops
• Propagation and breeding of ornamental plants

The Bachelor of Horticultural science have a foundation of knowledge in the science behind fruit, flowers, medicinal plants, vegetable, and greenhouse crop production. Horticultural Science students would be acquainted with physiology and chemistry, propagation, genetics and breeding, nutrition, phytopathology, irrigation, soil and water relations of horticultural crops. Education in the field of horticultural science engineering taking role in scientific training of experts who involve in optimizing the production of horticultural and in improvement of quantity and quality of horticultural products in an environmental-friendly approaches.

The main goals of Master of Science program in Horticultural sciences are to be specialized in research on production, physiology and breeding of horticultural products, including fruits, vegetables, flowers and ornamental plants, medicinal plants, and greenhouse crops. There are five fields of study in Horticulture Master of Science program including:

A) Greenhouse crop production

Despite the significant development of greenhouses all over the world it is important to optimize the production of greenhouse crop based on the privilege environmental cues. Student would gain knowledge and practical experience in the field of greenhouse crop production, including vegetables, ornamental flowers, and out-of-season fruits and vegetables. New and optimized methods of production and proper management of greenhouse climate would be taught. The purpose of this field of study is also to train student and enable them to conduct research in the field of greenhouse crop production and to improve the quality and quantity of production in greenhouses.

B) Fruit trees

The students in the major of fruit trees would be trained to have knowledge and enable them on research on different aspects of fruit tree production and quality. There would be focuses on physiology, breeding, nutrition, phytopathology, irrigation and training of fruit trees in orchards and nurseries.

C) Vegetables

The students in the major of vegetables would be trained to have knowledge and enable them on research on different aspects of vegetable crop production and quality. Classical and new methods for breeding of vegetable crop production would be discussed and approaches to develop new varieties would be taught to the student

D) Flower and ornamental plants

Students in this major learn how to propagate and produce flower and ornamental plants. New methods for propagation and production of flowers, pot flowers, and green space species would be discussed. Physiology of flower and ornamental plants and their production in controlled environments would be another aspect of education and research in this field.

E) Medicinal plants

Students in this major learn how to grow and optimize growth conditions of medicinal plants. Different aspects of medicinal plant production and the methods for identification and quantifications of their constituents would be discussed. 

PhD degree

In the Ph.D program student would be trained for managing research programs in the area of horticultural crop production, physiology and breeding. Advanced knowledge on postharvest quality of horticultural crops would be also targeted in Ph.D program. There are two fields of study in Ph.D program including:

A) Breeding and Biotechnology of Horticultural plants

The Ph.D of Horticultural Science: Breeding & Biotechnology of Horticultural plants is one of the two concentrations offered in by the Department of Horticultural Science. Students are offered a unique look at specialized aspects of Horticultural plant breeding and biotechnology by mainly research on nut fruits, melons, orchids, and crops suitable for production in controlled environment.

B) Production and Postharvest Physiology of Horticultural Plants

Students are offered a unique look at specialized aspects of Horticultural plant production and quality by mainly research physiology and production of nut fruits, melons, orchids, and crops suitable for production in controlled environment.