2002-2003 Edition
Texas A&M University Undergraduate CatalogTexas A&M University Undergraduate Catalog
Catalog Contents
Academic Calendar
Board of Regents and System Administrative Officers
TAMU Administrative Officers
General Information
International Programs for Students
University Honors Program
Environmental Program
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
College of Architecture
Lowry Mays College and Graduate School of Business
College of Education
Dwight Look College of Engineering
College of Geosciences
College of Liberal Arts
College of Science
College of Veterinary Medicine
General Academic Programs
School of Military Sciences
Texas A&M University at Galveston
Graduate Studies
Graduate Studies
Course Descriptions
Faculty
Appendices
Section ContentsPrevious PageNext Page
 
Curriculum in
Agronomy

Agronomy is a combination of crop science and soil science, dealing with the inventory, analysis, manipulation and management of soils, and the many phases of breeding and producing crops for food, feed, fiber and recreation. Proper use and conservation of soils and efficient production of crops are of paramount importance to the health and quality of life enjoyed by society.

Agronomy encompasses two main areas of interest: (1) crops--the study of the principles involved in production, management (including weed control), marketing and use of fiber, forage, grain, oil and turf crops; also food science and technology as related to cereals and oil crops; and (2) soils--the study of their nature, properties, management, conservation and use. The well-trained agronomist may choose a career in: education--consulting, extension or public relations activities; production agriculture--seed production, farming, farm management; soil and water resource management--soil surveying, land appraisal, land use planning, conservation, pollution abatement; agro-business--fertilizers, herbicides, weed control, seeds, turf; agronomic research with crops, soils; or the fields of environmental protection and pollution control as affected by soil-plant-water interactions. The required courses provide an essential foundation in several disciplines, while the elective courses can be selected to meet the interests, needs and objectives of individual students.

Maximum flexibility in curricula is provided in the junior and senior years so that each student, in consultation with the academic advisor, can design a degree program that best serves each individual's career objectives in relation to projected employment opportunities at the time of graduation.

Agro-Industry Option. Agronomists often choose careers in sales, promotions, public relations, and management with agro-business industries. These industries market fertilizers, herbicides, seeds, turf and crop products. Courses in other agricultural sciences, accounting, marketing, management, finance and humanities should be taken as electives.

Soil and Crop Management Option. Agronomists use inputs of fertilizer, seed, herbicides, irrigation water, tillage and conservation practices to maximize production while maintaining the integrity of soil, plant and water resources. This option is appropriate for students with career interests in production agriculture, soil and water conservation, consulting, extension, public relations, land reclamation or soil and water resource management. By electing courses in other agricultural sciences and business to complement the required courses in agronomy, students develop programs to meet particular career goals.

Turfgrass Management Option. This option prepares students for careers in management of golf courses, athletic fields, sod farms, parks, cemeteries, public institutions and businesses such as landscape contractors and lawn care specialists. Courses dealing with ornamental horticulture, management, plant protection, business, landscape architecture and equipment are desirable electives in the training of turf managers.
 
FRESHMAN YEAR
First Semester

(Th-Pr)

Cr

  
Second Semester

(Th-Pr)

Cr
AGLS 101 Modern Agricultural Systems
(1-0)
1
   ENGL 104 Composition and Rhetoric
(3-0)
3
AGRO 101 Intro. to Soil and Crop Sciences
(1-0)
1
   CHEM 101 Fund. of Chemistry I
(3-3)
4
AGRO 105 World Food and Fiber Crops 1
(2-2)
3
   POLS 206 American Natl. Govt.
(3-0)
3
BOTN 101 Botany
(3-2)
4
   Humanities elective 3
3
HIST 105 History of U.S. 2
(3-0)
3
   Social and behavioral sciences elective 3
3
MATH 141 Business Math. I or MATH 166 Finite Math.
(3-0)
3
   * KINE 199 Required Physical Activity
(0-2)
1
* KINE 198 Health and Fitness Activity
(0-2)
1
    
17
 
16
    
 
SOPHOMORE YEAR
AGLS 201 Computer Application in Ag.
(2-2)
3
  
AGRO 301 Soil Science
(3-2)
4
ENTO 201 General Entomology
(2-2)
3
   HIST 106 History of U.S. 2
(3-0)
3
Any calculus or PHIL 240, 341 or 342
3-4
   Organic chemistry
3
Visual and performing arts elective 3
3
   Physics elective
3
Elective
4
   Elective
3
 
16-17
    
16
 
JUNIOR AND SENIOR YEARS 5, 6
AGRO 481 Agronomy Seminar
1
BOTN 301 Taxonomy of Flowering Plants
4
POLS 207 State and Local Govt.
3
Genetics
4
Microbiology or bacteriology
3
Nutrition
3
Plant pathology
4
Plant physiology
3
Speech and technical writing
6
Electives 4,7
35-36
 
66-67

NOTES: 1. Students in the turf management option may select HORT 201.

2. Any course in American history approved by the Department of History.

3. To be selected from the University Core Curriculum. The University Core Curriculum includes a requirement for 6 hours of international and cultural diversity courses. Refer to the International and Cultural Diversity table for a list of acceptable courses. A course satisfying another Core category, a college/department requirement, or as a free elective can be used to satisfy these requirements. See academic advisor.

4. CHEM 102 strongly recommended.

5. A total of 132 hours will be required for a B.S. degree.

6. Before registering as a junior each student must develop, in consultation with the faculty advisor, a degree program consistent with career objectives.

7. A minimum of 15 hours and a maximum of 25 hours of these electives will be taken in agronomy; the remaining electives may be chosen in any field consistent with career objectives.

 
Agro-Industry Option
JUNIOR YEAR 1, 2
AGRO 303 Crop Ecology
(3-2)
4
  
AGEC 314 Marketing Agricultural Prod. or MKTG 321 Marketing
(3-0)
3
BOTN 301 Taxonomy of Flowering Plants
(3-3)
4
   MEPS 313 Plant Physiology
(3-0)
3
GENE 301 Genetics
(3-3)
4
   POLS 207 State and Local Govt.

(3-0)
3
PLPA 301 Plant Pathology
(3-0)
3
   Microbiology elective
3
PLPA 303 Plant Pathology Lab.
(0-2)
1
   Elective 3
4-5
Elective 3
2
    
16-17
 
18
    
 
 
SENIOR YEAR
AGRO 422 Soil Fertility and Fertilizers
(3-0)
3
  
AGRO 450 Chemical Weed Control
(3-0)
3
AGRO 432 Soil Chem. and Fertility Lab.
(0-3)
1
   AGRO 452 Chemical Weed Control Lab.
(0-2)
1
COMM 203 Public Speaking
(3-0)
3
   AGRO 481 Seminar
(1-0)
1
MKTG 435 Personal Selling
(3-0)
3
   ENGL 301 Technical Writing
(3-0)
3
Agronomy elective 3
3
   ENTO 402 Economic Entomology
(2-3)
3
Nutrition elective 3
3
   Elective 3
5
 
16
    
16

NOTES: 1. A total of 132 credit hours will be required for a B.S. degree.

2. Before registering as a junior each student must develop, in consultation with the academic advisor, a degree program consistent with degree objectives.

3. These electives may be taken in any field consistent with career objectives.

4. To be selected from the University Core Curriculum.

 
Soil and Crop Management Option

This option prepares students for careers in production agriculture, soil and water conservation, consulting, extension services, public relations, land reclamation, or resource management. Courses in basic and applied science, mathematics, language arts and history are required for the option to enable graduates to actively participate in rapid technological developments essential to the productivity of modern agriculture while conserving soil, water, energy and natural resources. Elective courses from other agricultural sciences and business complement the required courses for the option and enable students to tailor educational degree plans to achieve specific career goals.

(See Freshman and Sophomore Years)

 
JUNIOR YEAR 1, 2
AGRO 303 Crop Ecology
(3-2)
4
  
GENE 301 Genetics
(3-3)
4
BOTN 301 Taxonomy of Flowering Plants
(3-3)
4
   MEPS 313 Plant Physiology
(3-0)
3
Agronomy elective
3
   POLS 207 State and Local Govt.
(3-0)
3
Nutrition elective
3
   Agronomy elective
4
Elective
3
   Microbiology elective 4
3
 
17
    
17
 
SENIOR YEAR
COMM 203 Public Speaking
(3-0)
3
  
AGRO 481 Seminar
(1-0)
1
PLPA 301 Plant Pathology
(3-0)
3
   ENGL 301 Technical Writing
(3-0)
3
PLPA 303 Plant Pathology Lab.
(0-2)
1
   Electives 5
13
Agronomy elective
3
    
17
Electives 5
5-6
    
 
15-16
    

NOTES: 1. A total of 132 credit hours will be required for a degree.

2. Before registering as a junior each student must develop, in consultation with the faculty advisor, a degree program consistent with degree objectives.

3. To be selected from the University Core Curriculum.

4. AGRO 405 recommended.

5. A maximum of 10 credit hours of these electives may be taken in agronomy, and the remaining electives will be chosen in any field consistent with career objectives.

 
Turfgrass Management Option

This option prepares students for careers in management of golf courses, athletic fields, sod farms, parks, cemeteries, public institution grounds and business such as landscape contractors and lawn care specialists. Courses dealing with ornamental horticulture, management, plant protection, business, landscape architecture and equivalent are desirable electives for the training of turfgrass managers.

 
JUNIOR YEAR 1, 2
AGRO 428 Turfgrass Culture
(2-2)
3
  
AGRO 430 Turfgrass Maintenance
(3-2)
4
BOTN 301 Taxonomy of Flowering Plants
(3-3)
4
   GENE 301 Genetics
(3-3)
4
HORT 206 Woody Ornamentals
(2-2)
3
   MEPS 313 Plant Physiology
(3-0)
3
Microbiology elective 3
3
   POLS 207 State and Local Govt.
(3-0)
3
Elective
3
   Nutrition elective
3
 
16
    
17
 
SENIOR YEAR
AGRO 422 Soil Fertility and Fertilizers
(3-0)
3
  
AGRO 450 Chemical Weed Control l
(3-0)
3
AGRO 432 Soil Chem. and Fertility Lab.
(0-3)
1
   AGRO 452 Chemical Weed Control Lab.
(0-2)
1
ENGL 301 Technical Writing
(3-0)
3
   AGRO 481 Seminar
(1-0)
1
MGMT 470 Small Business Mgmt. and Growth
(3-0)
3
   COMM 203 Public Speaking
(3-0)
3
PLPA 301 Plant Pathology
(3-0)
3
   Electives 5
9-10
PLPA 303 Plant Pathology Lab.
(0-2)
1
    
17-18
Elective 5
3
    
 
17
    

NOTES: 1. A total of 132 credit hours will be required for a degree.

2. Before registering as a junior each student must develop, in consultation with the faculty advisor, a degree program consistent with degree objective.

3. AGRO 405 recommended.

4. To be selected from the University Core Curriculum.

5. These electives may be taken in any field consistent with career objectives.