Precision Agriculture (B.S.)

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Program Coordinator/Contact
Van Kelley, Department Head
Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
Agricultural Engineering 105, Box 2120
605-688-5666
E-mail: van.kelley@sdstate.edu
www.sdstate.edu/abe
Click here for additional information.

David Wright, Department Head
Department of Agronomy, Horticulture, and Plant Science
Berg Agricultural Hall 244, Box 2207
605-688-5123
E-mail: david.wright@sdstate.edu
www.sdstate.edu/ps
Click here for additional information.

Program Information
The Precision Agriculture major prepares students for careers that bridge the gaps between agronomy, agriculture machinery management, and data sciences caused by the rapid evolution of high-speed sensor technology.

Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the Precision Agriculture major, students will:

make effective agronomic recommendations for crop management, soil management, pest management, and environmental stewardship.
have general knowledge of precision agriculture technology.
demonstrate the economic and environmental benefits of precision agriculture.
produce accurate digital maps of fields using spatial information within specialized software.
solve complex agronomic and environmental problems using precision agriculture tools.
operate precision agriculture equipment (monitors, controllers, etc.), operational knowledge of precision agriculture software (database query, interface, and mapping) and computer spreadsheet applications to record and analyze agricultural field data, understand statistical standards to produce meaningful management recommendations.
be able install, calibrate, troubleshoot and repair precision agriculture hardware and equipment, including electrical/mechanical/ hydraulic/software systems.
effectively communicate within precision agriculture activities.

Academic Requirements
Students must earn at least a C grade in each major required class and must earn at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA in the major required classes including PS 213-213L and ABS 475-475L .

Course Delivery Format
Instruction will occur through a combination of traditional classroom methods, laboratory exercises using current agricultural production technologies, and agricultural mapping software.

Requirements for Precision Agriculture Major: 120 Credits

Bachelor of Science in Agriculture

System General Education Requirements

Goal #1 Written Communication: ENGL 101 and ENGL 277 Credits: 6
Goal #2 Oral Communication : Credits: 3
Goal #3 Social Sciences/Diversity : ABS 203 and ECON 201 Credits: 6
Goal #4 Humanities and Arts/Diversity : Credits: 6
Goal #5 Mathematics : MATH 102 Credits: 3
Goal #6 Natural Sciences : BOT 201-201L and CHEM 106-106L Credits: 7

Institutional Graduation Requirements

Goal #1 First Year Seminar: AST 109 or PS 109 Credits: 2
Goal #2 Cultural Awareness and Social and Environmental Responsibility: PS 213-213L Credits: 3

College of Agriculture and Biological Sciences Requirements

Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Requirements: 11

Students who wish to complete a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture must complete a minimum of 11 credits from the approved list of Group 1 courses in Agriculture . Some departments require specific courses from the list, whereas others leave the selection entirely to the student and the advisor.

SGRs, IGRs, and/or Major coursework may satisfy some or all of the above requirements. Please review major requirements and the Group 1 list to determine if additional courses are required.

ABS 203 - Global Food Systems * ** (G) Credits: 3 (SGR 3)
ABS 475-475L - Integrated Natural Resource Management and Lab (AW) Credits: 3 (Major Requirement)
AST 333-333L - Soil and Water Mechanics and Lab Credits: 3 (Major Requirement)
PS 213-213L - Soils and Lab * ** Credits: 2, 1 (IGR 2)

Major Requirements

ABS 475-475L - Integrated Natural Resource Management and Lab (AW) Credits: 3
ACCT 210 - Principles of Accounting I (COM) Credits: 3
or AGEC 271 - Farm and Ranch Management Credits: 3
or AGEC 354 - Agricultural Marketing and Prices Credits: 3
AST 203-203L - Introduction to Precision Agriculture and Lab Credits: 2
AST 273-273L - Microcomputer Applications in Agriculture and Lab Credits: 3
AST 304-304L - Electrical Diagnostics for Farm Machinery and Lab Credits: 3
AST 313-313L - Farm Machinery Systems Management and Lab Credits: 3
AST 333-333L - Soil and Water Mechanics and Lab Credits: 3
AST 340 - Climate Risk Management with Precision Agriculture Credits: 3
AST 345-345L - Principles and Implications of Chemical Application Systems and Lab Credits: 3
AST 412-412L - Fluid Power Technology and Lab Credits: 3
AST 426-426L - Emerging Technologies in Agriculture and Lab Credits: 3
or PS 428 - Use of Soil and Plant Sensors in Crop Production Credits: 3
AST 490 - Seminar Credits: 1-3 (1 credit required)
or PS 490 - Seminar Credits: 1
AST 494 - Internship Credits: 1-12 (2 credits required)
or PS 494 - Internship Credits: 1-2 (2 credits required)
PS 103-103L - Crop Production and Lab Credits: 3
PS 223-223L - Principles of Plant Pathology and Lab Credits: 3
PS 307-307L - Insect Pest Management and Lab Credits: 3
or PS 405-405L/505-505L - Entomology and Lab (COM) Credits: 3
PS 410-410L/510-510L - Soil Geography and Land Use Interpretation and Lab ** (G) Credits: 2, 1
or PS 462-462L/562-562L - Environmental Soil Management and Lab ** Credits: 3
PS 423-523 - Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrient Management Credits: 3
PS 427-527 - Precision Ag Data Mapping Credits: 2
PS 440-440L/540-540L - Crop Management with Precision Farming and Lab Credits: 3
PS 445-445L/545-545L - Weed Science and Lab Credits: 3
STAT 383 - Geospatial Data Analysis Credits: 3

Select from the following

Select four credits from the following three courses. Credits: 4

PS 424-524 - Wheat Production Credits: 2
PS 425-525 - Soybean Production Credits: 2
PS 426-526 - Corn Production Credits: 2

Supporting Coursework

BIOL 151-151L - General Biology I and Lab * (COM) Credits: 4
CHEM 120-120L - Elementary Organic Chemistry and Lab * Credits: 3,1
ET 210-210L - Introduction to Electronic Systems Credits: 4
PHYS 101-101L - Survey of Physics and Lab * (COM) Credits: 4
STAT 281 - Introduction to Statistics * (COM) Credits: 3