| |
Curricula in Soil and Crop Sciences
The Department of Soil and Crop Sciences
is multidisciplinary in character including field crops, soil
and water, forage and turf, weed science and food science, and
technology. The department offers curricula in agronomy and plant
and environmental soil science.
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 faculty 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
|
(2-2)
|
3
|
|
POLS 206 American Natl. Govt.
|
(3-0)
|
3
|
BOTN 101 Botany
|
(3-2)
|
4
|
|
Humanities elective
|
|
3
|
HIST 105 History of U.S.
|
(3-0)
|
3
|
|
Social and behavioral sciences
elective
|
|
3
|
MATH 141 Business Math. I
|
|
|
|
* KINE 199 Required Physical Activity
|
(0-2)
|
1
|
or
|
|
|
|
|
|
17
|
MATH 166 Finite Math.
|
(3-0)
|
3
|
|
|
|
|
* KINE 198 Health and Fitness Activity
|
(0-2)
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
(3-0)
|
3
|
Any calculus or PHIL 240, 341 or
342
|
|
3-4
|
|
Organic chemistry
|
|
3
|
Visual and performing arts elective
|
|
3
|
|
Physics elective
|
|
3
|
Elective
|
|
4
|
|
Elective
|
|
3
|
|
|
16-17
|
|
|
|
16
|
Junior and Senior Years
| 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 |
35-36 |
| |
66-67 |
Agro-Industry Option
Junior Year
AGRO 303 Crop Ecology
|
(3-2)
|
4
|
|
AGEC 314 Marketing Agricultural
Prod.
|
|
|
BOTN 301 Taxonomy of Flowering
Plants
|
(3-3)
|
4
|
|
or
|
|
|
GENE 301 Genetics
|
(3-3)
|
4
|
|
MKTG 321 Marketing
|
(3-0)
|
3
|
PLPA 301 Plant Pathology
|
(3-0)
|
3
|
|
MEPS 313 Plant Physiology
|
(3-0)
|
3
|
PLPA 303 Plant Pathology Lab.
|
(0-2)
|
1
|
|
POLS 207 State and Local Govt.
|
(3-0)
|
3
|
Elective
|
|
2
|
|
Microbiology elective
|
|
3
|
|
|
18
|
|
Elective
|
|
4-5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
16-17
|
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 Salesmanship
|
(3-0)
|
3
|
|
ENGL 301 Technical Writing
|
(3-0)
|
3
|
Agronomy elective
|
|
3
|
|
ENTO 402 Economic Entomology
|
(2-3)
|
3
|
Nutrition elective
|
|
3
|
|
Elective
|
|
5
|
|
|
16
|
|
|
|
16
|
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.
Junior Year
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
|
|
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
|
|
13
|
Agronomy elective
|
|
3
|
|
|
|
17
|
Electives
|
|
5-6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15-16
|
|
|
|
|
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
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
|
|
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
|
(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 Formation and Mgmt.
of Small Business
|
(3-0)
|
3
|
|
COMM 203 Public Speaking
|
(3-0)
|
3
|
PLPA 301 Plant Pathology
|
(3-0)
|
3
|
|
Electives
|
|
9-10
|
PLPA 303 Plant Pathology Lab.
|
(0-2)
|
1
|
|
|
|
17-18
|
Elective
|
|
3
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
17
|
|
|
|
|
Curriculum in Plant and Environmental Soil
Science
Students following this curriculum
develop and utilize basic knowledge of biology, chemistry,
mathematics and physics to understand the earth's most fundamental
resources--plants, soils, water and air--and their interaction
with each other in different environmental settings.
Based on vocational objectives, students
may select a career emphasis in either plant sciences or environmental
soil science. Through selection of electives they can complement
and strengthen knowledge and skills in areas of interest. The
curriculum prepares students for graduate studies in specialized
subject areas or to seek employment as plant scientists, environmental
soil scientists and environmental scientists. Credit hours
required: 132.
University Core Curriculum Requirements
| Required course |
(Th-Pr) |
Credit |
| CHEM 101 Fundamentals of
Chemistry I |
(3-3) |
4 |
| COMM 203 Public Speaking |
(3-0) |
3 |
| ENGL 104 Composition and
Rhetoric |
(3-0) |
3 |
| HIST 105 and
106 or American history elective |
(3-0) |
6 |
| MATH 151 Engineering Mathematics
I |
(3-2) |
4 |
| MATH 152 Engineering Mathematics
II |
(3-2) |
4 |
| POLS 206 American National
Government |
(3-0) |
3 |
| POLS 207 State and Local
Government |
(3-0) |
3 |
| Biology or botany |
|
4 |
| Humanities elective |
|
3 |
| Social and behavioral sciences
electives |
|
3 |
| Visual and performing arts
elective |
|
3 |
| * KINE 198 Health and Fitness
Activity |
(0-2) |
1 |
| * KINE 199 Required Physical
Activity |
(0-2) |
1 |
| |
|
45 |
Departmental Requirements
| Required course |
(Th-Pr) |
Credit |
| AGLS 101 Modern Agricultural
Systems |
(1-0) |
1 |
| AGRO 101 Introduction to
Soil and Crop Science |
(1-0) |
1 |
| AGRO 105 World Food and
Fiber Crops |
(2-2) |
3 |
| AGRO 301 Soil Science |
(3-2) |
4 |
| BOTN 301 Taxonomy of Flowering
Plants |
|
|
| or BOTN 304 Comparative
Biology of Plants |
(3-3) |
4 |
| CHEM 102 Fundamentals of
Chemistry II |
(3-3) |
4 |
| CHEM 227 Organic Chemistry |
(3-0) |
3 |
| CHEM 237 Organic Chemistry
Lab. |
(0-3) |
1 |
| CHEM 316 Quantitative Analysis |
(2-0) |
2 |
| CHEM 318 Quantitative Analysis
Lab. |
(0-3) |
1 |
| ENGL 301 Technical Writing |
(3-0) |
3 |
| ENTO 201 General Entomology |
(2-2) |
3 |
| GENE 301 Genetics |
(3-3) |
4 |
| MEPS 313 Introduction to
Plant Physiology |
(3-0) |
3 |
| PHYS 201 College Physics |
|
|
| or PHYS 218 Mechanics |
(3-3) |
4 |
| PLPA 301 Plant Pathology |
(3-0) |
3 |
| PLPA 303 Plant Pathology
Lab. |
(0-2) |
1 |
| STAT 302 Statistical Methods |
(3-0) |
3 |
| Electives |
|
21 |
| |
|
69 |
Plant Science Career Emphasis
The Plant Science Emphasis is oriented
toward basic sciences and is especially directed toward preparation
for graduate studies in agronomy, plant breeding, plant genetics,
crop physiology, environmental agronomy and plant pathology.
Graduates also may choose careers as plant scientists, crop
care specialists or consultants.
| Required course |
(Th-Pr)
|
Credit
|
| BICH 410 Comp. Biochemistry |
(3-0)
|
3
|
| BICH 412 Comp. Biochemistry
Lab. |
(0-3)
|
1
|
| Microbiology elective |
|
3
|
| Plant science electives |
|
11
|
| |
|
18
|
Environmental Soil Science Emphasis
The Environmental Soil Science Emphasis
is designed for students who plan to enter graduate study
in environmental sciences, soil science or environmental
agronomy. It also is appropriate for students who wish to
be certified as professional soil scientists. Graduates may
choose careers as environmental soil scientists, soil surveyors
or land reclamation specialists.
| Required course |
(Th-Pr)
|
Credit
|
| AGRO 310 Soil Morphology |
(1-3)
|
2
|
| AGRO 405 Soil Microbiology |
(3-2)
|
4
|
| AGRO 422 Soil Fertility
and Fertilizers |
(3-0)
|
3
|
| AGRO 432 Soil Chemistry
and Fertility Lab. |
(0-3)
|
1
|
| GEOL 104 Physical Geology |
(3-3)
|
4
|
| PHYS 202 College Physics |
|
|
| or PHYS 219 Electricity |
(3-3)
|
4
|
| |
|
18
|
|
