South Dakota State University

2022-2023 Undergraduate Catalog

Dec 11, 2024

2022-2023 Undergraduate Catalog [Archived Catalog]

Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences

College of Agriculture, Food & Environmental Sciences

View of professor and students standing in a field with cows.

Joseph Cassady, South Dakota Corn Endowed Dean
College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences
Pugsley Continuing Education Center 209, Box 2207
605-688-4148

Vikram Mistry, Associate Dean for Academic Programs
College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences
Raven Precision Agriculture Center 220, Box 2207
605-688-5133

Overview

Undergraduate academic programs in the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences lead to a Bachelor of Science degree with a variety of majors and minors. An Associate of Science degree is also available. Graduate degrees are offered in several disciplines. Students in agriculture enter a wide array of technical, professional, and business careers, many of which deal with producing, processing, financing, and marketing food and other agricultural products. Students also enter a variety of career areas related to natural resources, such as wildlife and fisheries biology, ecology, conservation, environmental science, and resource management. Many graduates in agriculture, food and environmental sciences are recruited by public agencies for employment in such services as forestry, parks, fish and wildlife, food safety and public health, conservation of natural resources, research laboratories, and many others. Many graduates pursue advanced degrees in graduate schools or professional schools such as veterinary medicine or law. In addition to academic programs, the College has extensive involvement in research and outreach/extension. Research for the benefit of South Dakota, the region, and the world is done in such areas as food science, agricultural production, natural resource management, agricultural economics, and biomass-based energy and products. SDSU Extension provides educational services statewide to promote the beneficial use and development of human, economic, and natural resources.

Departments & Schools

Degrees Offered

Associate of Science
Bachelor of Science
Master of Science*
Doctor of Philosophy*

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

Degree Requirements

Students seeking the Bachelor of Science degree must complete the System General Education Requirements. In some majors, the student must select a “specialization.” Additional requirements for Bachelor of Science degrees follow.

The requirements of one of the College’s majors must be met. Specific requirements are listed under each program of study.
25 semester credits must be upper division (300 and above), with the exception that MATH 125 and 225, Calculus II and III, may be counted as five credits toward the total.

Bachelor of Science

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

Approved Group 1 Courses

Secondary Education Courses

Students planning to teach at the middle or high school level will apply for the teacher education program during EDFN 351 in Pre-Residency, which will typically start in the fall of the junior year. Students must then apply for a Residency placement for the senior year during EDFN 352 . (See the College of Education & Human Sciences and the School of Education, Counseling & Human Development for further details.)

Accreditations/Reviews

American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD)
American Society of Agricultural Engineering (ASAE)
Society for Range Management
Institute of Food Technologists

Student Support & Engagement Opportunities

The College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences has a robust and rich history of engaging students in a variety of ways to foster their success while they are on campus. Whether it is joining one of our many student clubs that can be found in the college or becoming a part of the Living and Learning Community, there are plenty of ways to get involved. Engaging in such activities helps you not only connect with other students with a similar passion but can also connect you to current professionals within your area of study.

Programs

One of the hallmarks of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences is its diversity with multiple departments, numerous majors and specializations, and hundreds of different courses from which to choose. The college offers premier curricula dispensed by faculty who are committed to student success.