Department of Agronomy, Horticulture, and Plant Science

David Wright, Department Head
Douglas Malo, Assistant Department Head
Brent Turnipseed, Undergraduate Teaching Coordinator
Howard Woodard, Graduate Teaching Coordinator
Department of Agronomy, Horticulture, and Plant Science
Berg Agricultural Hall 244
605-688-5123 (Department Head, SAG 244)
605-688-4450 (Teaching Office, SNP 247)
E-mail: david.wright@sdstate.edu
E-mail: douglas.malo@sdstate.edu
E-mail: brent.turnipseed@sdstate.edu
E-mail: howard.woodard@sdstate.edu
www.sdstate.edu/ps

Faculty

Professor D. Wright, Head; Distinguished Professor S. Clay, Malo; Distinguished Professor Emeriti Wrage; Professors Ball, Beck, Bleakley, Boe, Burrows, D. Clay, Doolittle, Fennell, Fuller, Glover, Graper, Gu, Johnson, Kephart, Langham, V. Owens, Turnipseed, Woodard; Professors Emeriti Buchenau, Dybing, Evenson, Gerwing, Hall, Kantack, Kenefick, Kohl, Peterson, Reeves, Rickerl, Schumacher, Shank, Shubeck; Associate Professors Gonzalez, Li, Nleya, Sexton, Subramanian, Wu; Associate Professors Emeriti Pollmann, Stymiest; Assistant Professors Ali, Byamukama, Caffe-Treml, Graham, Kumar, Ma, Marzano, Mathew, Rohila, Sehgal, Varenhorst; Lecturer Chang, C. Reese; Instructor B. Owens; Instructor Emeritus Evers.

Overview

The primary goal of the Department is to prepare students for success and leadership in business, government, and enterprises related to the Agronomy and Horticulture programs. In addition, students can prepare for graduate study leading to a career in research, teaching, business, or extension. Graduates with training in plant science are sought by agri-business, horticultural businesses, private foundations, and federal and state agencies for employment in domestic and international agriculture.

The Agronomy, Horticulture, and Plant Science department is also proud of the strong tradition of research and extension, leading to improved plant varieties, increased agricultural productivity, better understanding of plant diseases, and new plant variety releases for producers. The extension activities have translated these advances into public knowledge on topics as varied as the impacts of tillage on soil carbon levels, and the genomic basis of grape quality.

Programs

Majors
Agronomy (B.S.)  
Horticulture (B.S.)  
Precision Agriculture (B.S.)  
Minors
Agronomy Minor  
Horticulture Minor  
Pest Management Minor  
Precision Agriculture Minor  
Soil Science Minor  
Certification Preparation Programs
Soil Science Certification  
Graduate Programs*
Plant Science (M.S.)
Biological Sciences (Ph.D.)
      Plant Molecular Biology Specialization
Plant Science (Ph.D.)

* Graduate degrees are offered in collaboration with the Graduate School. For details, see the Graduate Catalog.

Facilities and Services

The department is housed in seven buildings across campus. These buildings provide research and teaching laboratories, greenhouses, seed house facilities and access to the functional genomics core facility. The on and off-campus facilities also include the SDSU Seed Testing Laboratory, SDSU Plant Diagnostics Clinic, Seed Certification, and Foundation Seed Stocks Division, which operates as services for the public. In addition, the department conducts research at five research farms near campus and four research stations across the state. The Field Specialists are housed in seven regional extension offices across the state.

Student Support and Engagement Opportunities

Numerous opportunities are available for part-time employment, scholarships, and work-study programs. The Arboriculture Club, Agronomy and Conservation Club, and Horticulture Club offer opportunities for fellowship, leadership, and career planning. The Department has nationally recognized crops, horticulture, and soils judging teams.