Bachelor's degrees

Graduates with a concentration in Environmental Analysis and Risk Management will have knowledge and practical understanding of: chemistry, microbiology, land use planning, site investigation techniques, risk assessment and federal and local environmental regulations.

Required Courses (30 hrs.)—AGRO 4055; BIOL 2051; CHEM 2001; AGRO 4056 or OCS 4090; and 16-17 hours of approved electives. Students may select no more than six hours of approved electives below the 3000 level.

Approved electives: AGRO 3010, AGRO 4056, AGRO 4070, AGRO 4078, AGRO 4092, BIOL 2160, BIOL 4084, BIOL 4087, BIOL 4110, BIOL 4190, CHEM 2262, CHEM 2364, CHEM 4150, EMS 3090, EMS 4***, ENVS 4***, EVEG 4153, IE 4462, MEDP 2051, NS 4411, NS 4352, OCS 3103, OCS 4090, OCS 4242, OCS/ENVS 4600, RNR 4061.

Graduates with a concentration in Policy Analysis will have a knowledge and practical understanding of the role and scope of state and federal regulatory agencies, environmental laws and regulations, mechanisms for implementation of regulations, compliance with regulations, environmental permitting, the role of risk assessment in decision making and land use planning.

Required Courses (30 hrs.)—AGEC 3803; AGRO 4078; ENVS 4101; ENVS 4261, 4262 or 4264 or 4266; select one: AGEC 3503 or ECON 4320; OCS 4465; and 12 hours of approved electives. Students may select no more than 6 hours of approved electives below the 3000 level.

Approved electives: ACCT 3233, ACCT 4233, ACCT 4234, AGEC 3803, AGEC 4603, AGRO 3010, AGRO 4070, AGRO 4078, AGRO 4092, ARCH 4062, ECON 4325, EMS 3090, EMS 4***, ENVS 4***, FDSC 4070, GEOG 4047, GEOG 4078, GEOG 4080, HRE 2723, HRE 3723, OCS 3103, OCS 4465, OCS 4560, OCS/ENVS 4600, RNR 4061.

Graduates with a concentration in Resource Conservation will have a knowledge and practical understanding of the chemical, physical and biological properties of soils, soil and water conservation and associated federal programs, coastal restoration, soil/plant relationships, fundamentals of forestry, wildlife and agricultural management, land use planning soil and water assessment and remediation principles and ecological risk assessment.

Required Courses (30 hrs.)—AGEC 3503; AGRO 3040, 4052, 4055, and 4078; select one: AGRO 3000 or 4070 or HORT 2050 or 2061 or OCS 4308; GEOG 4047; and select one: OCS 4166 or 4465 or 4560; and four to five hours of approved electives.

Approved electives: AGEC 3803, AGEC 4603, AGRO 3010, AGRO 4056, AGRO 4058, AGRO 4070, AGRO 4092, BIOL 2051, BIOL 4253, CHEM 4150, EMS 3090, EMS 4***, ENVS 4***, GEOG 4018, GEOG 4029, GEOG 4070, GEOG 4086, OCS 3103, OCS 3200, OCS 4128, OCS 4165, OCS 4242,, OCS/ENVS 4600, RNR/BIOL 4020, RNR 4023, RNR 4025, RNR 4040, RNR 4061.

The Crop Science concentration focuses on the science behind healthy farming. Students will apply basic agronomic information to radical situations or problems by studying weeds, forage, soils, crop physiology, insects, genetics, precision agronomy, and experimental statistics. The concentration provides a good background for students in a variety of career paths: such as, crop scientist, consultant, extension and state regulatory agencies, farm manager, landscape manager, nursery manager, plant breeder, public health, and graduate or professional school.

Students selecting the Horticulture Sciences concentration will be prepared for careers in ornamental crop production, the production and processing of fruits, nuts, and vegetables or graduate studies in horticulture and related sciences. Careers include interior and exterior landscape managers, aquaculture specialist, greenhouse grower, sports groundskeeper, arborist, horticulture educators, wholesale production of horticulture plants, landscaping, horticulture consultant, green industry suppliers, retail managers and owners, horticulture research, arboreta, botanical gardens, urban farmer or forester and tissue culture propagation.

Career opportunities in vegetable and fruit science include jobs as field representatives, farmers and farm consultants, county agents with cooperative extension, food processors, agricultural chemical suppliers, and produce brokers. Horticultural scientists may also conduct research in areas such as crop culture and management; molecular biology; plant breeding and genetics; plant growth and development; plant metabolism and nutrition; propagation; post-harvest and stress physiology; and tissue culture.

Students selecting the Medicinal Plant Sciences concentration are prepared to grow a variety of plant species in highly controlled environments for medicinal uses. This science-based education will encompass courses focused on plant identification, propagation, growth, processing, as well as courses in entomology, plant pathology, and chemistry. Careers within this area would include owning or working for intensive plant growing operations, professional employment by the urban agricultural products industry, or prepares students for graduate education.

The Soil Science concentration focuses on soil and its importance in agricultural production and environmental sustainability. Students in this concentration learn about physical, chemical, and biological factors that affect crop production, soil fertility, air and water quality, and soil conservation. The soil science concentrations prepares students for careers across a variety of ecological systems as soil scientist, soil conservationist, field and lab technicians, extension and state regulatory agencies, and graduate or professional school.

The Sustainable Production Systems concentration is a blend of applied agronomy and horticulture, with less emphasis on science and more focus on economics than the other concentrations. It prepares students for careers in management, consulting, agricultural sales, and other production-related occupations.

Students selecting the Turf and Landscape Management concentration are prepared to construct landscape sites, plant and maintain woody and herbaceous plants, turfgrass, ornamental bulbs, and related crops. Careers include owning and operating landscape management companies, sports field management, golf course superintendents, or professional employment by the urban agricultural products industry. In addition to the basic core courses in the curriculum, students study pest identification and control, pesticide application techniques, and landscape design.

To graduate with a minor in agronomy, students must complete AGRO 2051 and 14 additional hours in agronomy. At least six hours of the 14 must be at the 3000 or 4000 level. The minor in agronomy is not available to students in plant and soil systems.

Required class:
AGRO 2051 Soil Science

And 14 hours chosen from agronomy, at least six of which must be at the 3000 or 4000 level.

Note: some of these classes have prerequisites (see catalog or check with instructor).

To graduate with a minor in horticulture, students must complete seven hours consisting of HORT 2050 and 2061; and 11 additional hours in horticulture. This minor is not available to students majoring in plant and soil systems.

Required classes:
HORT 2050 General Horticulture
HORT 2061 Plant Propagation

And 11 hours chosen from Horticulture.

Note: some of these classes have prerequisites (see catalog or check with instructor). 

To graduate with a minor in agricultural pest management, students must complete a minimum of 18 hours of course work in pest management. Specific requirements include: ENTM 2001 or PLHL/ENTM 2050; PLHL 4000; AGRO 4070; and eight additional hours chosen from ENTM 4001, 4005, 4006, 4012, ENTM/PLHL 4018, PLHL 4001, AGRO 4071. Of the eight elective hours, at least one course must be from entomology.

Required classes:
ENTM 2001 Insects in the Environment or PLHL/ENTM 2050 Introduction to Pest Management
PLHL 4000 General Plant Pathology
AGRO 4070 Weed Science and the Environment

And 8 hours chosen from:
ENTM 4001 Household and Structural Pests
ENTM 4005 Insect Taxonomy
ENTM 4006 Fundamentals of Applied Entomology
ENTM 4012 Fundamentals of Horticultural Entomology
ENTM 4018 Forest Insects and Diseases (cross-listed with PLHL 4018)
PLHL 4001 Plant Disease Management and Control
AGRO 4071 Weed Biology and Ecology
(At least one course must be from Entomology.)

Note: some of these classes have prerequisites (see catalog or check with instructor).