Plant Science
Plant Science involves a thorough background in the liberal arts and a comprehensive understanding of the scientific principles underlying plant sciences. Plant systems are the fundamental basis for life on earth and are also a major contributor to the economy. Modern plant science encompasses many areas, impacting such diverse interests as agriculture, biotechnology, and recreational land management.
Faculty members who advise students and teach courses are also active researchers in their respective disciplines. Students learn current knowledge and technology through formal course work and gain valuable first hand experience in departmental laboratories, greenhouses, and field research farms. Students are encouraged to gain additional learning experiences outside the classroom by working as research assistants in faculty programs, summer jobs and internships with private industry and government agencies.
Each student works closely with a faculty advisor to formulate a program of study that is appropriate with the student's career goals and also fits into either the Crop Science or Plant Biology options.
Crop Science Option
Continued increases in food and fiber crop production are essential for the future of humankind. Yet increased production places increased pressure on our soil, water, and other finite resources. The challenge for crop scientists is to implement crop and soil management schemes that maintain and/or increase production, but at the same time conserve our soil and water resources and preserve the delicate balance in the agroecosystem.
Course requirements in the Crop Science option are designed to acquaint students with the principles underlying crop and soil management. Thus soil fertility, plant physiology, crop production, crop breeding, and pest management, along with courses in the biological and physical sciences are included in this area of study.
Graduates from this option find careers in farming and ranching; as crop production specialists; in pest management; in seed, fertilizer, and chemical industries; with banks and other lending institutions; Cooperative Extension Service and with a government agency such as the Natural Resource Conservation Service.
Plant Biology Option
Plant biology provides a broad education in the plant sciences. The expertise of the Plant Sciences faculty provides an opportunity to focus at the cellular and molecular level, but opportunities also exist for emphasis in plant ecology and systematics. Course requirements inlcude beginning and advanced courses in biology, microbiology, biochemistry, physiology, genetics, plant development, ecology, and systematics.
Graduates are prepared for post-graduate school, and academic and professional careers.
Curricula in Plant Science
CROP SCIENCE OPTION
| Freshman Year | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 101--Biology of Organisms | 4 | |
| BIOL 102--Molec & Cellular Biol | 4 | |
| CHEM 131--General Chemistry I | 4 | |
| CHEM 132--General Chemistry II | 4 | |
| WRIT 101W--College Writing I | 3 | |
| MATH 150--Liberal Arts Math | 3 | |
| PS 102--Plnt Sci,Res,& Envir | 3 | |
| University Core and Electives | 5 | |
| 30 | ||
| Sophomore Year | Credits | |
| ECON 101--Econ Way of Think | 3 | |
| Take one of the following: | ||
| BUS 201--Manage Communication | 3 | |
| ENGL 221--College Writing II | 3 | |
| ENGL 223--Technical Writing | 3 | |
| CHEM 215--Elements Organic Chem | 5 | |
| ENTO 204--Insect Biology | 3 | |
| LRES 201--Soil Resource | 3 | |
| PS 242--Crop Identification | 1 | |
| Take one of the following: | ||
| PS 318--Biometry | 3 | |
| STAT 216--Elementary Statistics | 3 | |
| University Core and Electives | 9 | |
| 30 | ||
| Junior Year | Credits | |
| PS 341--Field Crop Production | 3 | |
| PS 342--Forages | 3 | |
| LRES 351--Soil Plant Nutrient Cycles | 3 | |
| LRES 443--Weed Ecology & Mgmt | 3 | |
| PS 421--Concepts of Plant Path | 3 | |
| Take one of the following: | ||
| BIOL 301--Principles of Genetics | 3 | |
| PS 305--Horticultural Genetics | 3 | |
| Take two of the following: | ||
| ACCT 220--Survey of Accounting | 3 | |
| AGEC 210--Economics of Agricultural Business | 3 | |
| AGEC 321--Economics of Agricultural Marketing | 3 | |
| AGEC 341--Farm & Ranch Management | 3 | |
| AGED 353--Cooperative Bus Prin & Prac | 3 | |
| BUS 301--Management & Organization | 3 | |
| BUS 341--Marketing | 3 | |
| ECON 201--Intro Micro Theory | 3 | |
| MKTG 241--Sales | 3 | |
| MKTG 242--Introduction to Global Marketing | 3 | |
| Univesity Core and Electives | 6 | |
| 30 | ||
| Senior Year | Credits | |
| PS 426--Plant Biotechnology | 3 | |
| LRES 428--Crop Sys & Sustain Ag | 3 | |
| PS 441--Crop Breeding | 3 | |
| PS 450--Plant Physiology | 3 | |
| Take two of the following: | ||
| AOT 405--Tech in Precision Agriculture | 3 | |
| AOT 425--Water Management | 3 | |
| BIOL 303--Principles of Ecology | 3 | |
| ENTO 401--Integrated Pest Management | 3 | |
| LRES 357--GPS Fund & Applic in Mapping | 3 | |
| LRES 447--Invasive Plant Ecology & Management | 3 | |
| LRES 454--Soil Classification & Pedology | 3 | |
| PS 422--Plant Disease Control | 3 | |
| PS 337--Vegetable Production | 3 | |
| PS 338--Fruit Production | 3 | |
| University Core and Electives | 12 | |
| 30 |
A minimum of 120 credits is required for graduation; 42 of these credits must be in courses numbered 300 and above.
PLANT BIOLOGY OPTION
| Freshman Year | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 101--Biology of Organisms | 4 | |
| BIOL 102--Molec & Cellular Biol | 4 | |
| CHEM 131--General Chemistry I | 4 | |
| CHEM 132--General Chemistry II | 4 | |
| COM 110--Public Communication | 3 | |
| WRIT 101W--College Writing I | 3 | |
| MATH 170--Survey of Calculus | 4 | |
| University Core and Electives | 4 | |
| 30 | ||
| Sophomore Year | Credits | |
| CHEM 215--Organic Chemistry | 5 | |
| PHYS 205--College Physics I | 4 | |
| PHYS 206--College Physics II | 4 | |
| PS 251--Botany | 3 | |
| PS 252--Botany Lab | 1 | |
| Take one of the following: | ||
| STAT 216--Elementary Statistics | 3 | |
| PS 318--Biometry | 3 | |
| Univesity Core and Electives | 10 | |
| 30 | ||
| Junior Year | Credits | |
| BIOL 301--Principles of Genetics | 3 | |
| BIOL 303--Principles of Ecology | 3 | |
| BCHM 340--General Biochemistry | 3 | |
| University Core and Electives | 21 | |
| 30 | ||
| Senior Year | Credits | |
| BIOL 403--Evolution | 3 | |
| PS 426--Plant Biotechnology | 3 | |
| PS 450--Plant Physiology | 3 | |
| University Core and Electives | 21 | |
| 30 |
Additional Requirements:
A minimum of 20 credits of advisor-approved plant biology electives must be taken, at least 15 of which must be upper division. Up to 7 total credits may be included from PS 470, PS 476, PS 489, and PS 489 courses. Electives could come from any plant biology courses in the Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology Department (e.g., PS 452--Plant Anatomy, PS 453--Phycology, PS 454--Agrostology, PS 456--Plant Systematics, PS 457--Plant Development, PS 458--Plant Cell Physiology), other plant courses in the Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology Department (e.g., PS 421--Concepts of Plant Pathology, PS 423--Mycology, etc.), and selected courses in the departments of Animal & Range Sciences, Land Resources & Environmental Sciences, Ecology, Microbiology, Cell Biology & Neuroscience, Earth Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, and Computer Science.
