Agronomy Major

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Program Contact/Coordinator
David Wright, Department Head
Brent Turnipseed, Undergraduate Teaching Coordinator
Department of Plant Science
Agricultural Hall 219
605-688-5123
e-mail: David.Wright@sdstate.edu
Brent.Turnipseed@sdstate.edu
http://www.sdstate.edu/ps/
Click here for additional information.

Program Descriptions
The Agronomy major provides broad training in the plant and soil sciences and in crop production technology. The integrated program is designed to provide students with an understanding and knowledge base in crops, soils, weeds, entomology, plant pathology, breeding and genetics, precision agriculture, natural resource management, and the interaction of production systems. This major is recommended for students interested in cropping systems, natural/agricultural resource management, or the agribusiness areas of crops, soils, and pest management. Individuals can prepare for careers in crop consulting, crop/plant research, and with private industry managing agricultural inputs such as pesticides and fertilizers; developing improved seed traits, plant sciences, genomics, and producing seed; and for work with government agencies, such as the Cooperative Extension Service, Farm Service Agency, Agricultural Research Service, and Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Accreditation, Certification, and Licensure

Students seeking Soil Science Certification should contact their advisor and refer to https://www.soils.org/certifications/cpss-cpsc
Students seeking Certification as a professional agronomist should contact their advisor and refer to https://www.agronomy.org/certifications/cpag

Course Delivery Format
The program coursework is available on campus, in classroom and laboratory settings, as well as field-based settings.

Requirements for Agronomy Major: 125 Credits

Bachelor of Science in Agriculture

System General Education Requirements*: 31-34

Goal #1 Written Communication:
ENGL 101
and
ENGL 201
Credits: 6
Goal #2 Oral Communication:
SPCM 101*
or
215
or
222
Credits: 3
Goal #3 Social Sciences/Diversity:
ECON 201
or
202
AND
SOC 100
,
150
, or
240
Credits: 6
Goal #4 Arts and Humanities/Diversity
Credits: 6
Goal #5 Mathematics:
MATH 102
or
115
or
120
Credits: 3-5
Goal #6 Natural Sciences:
BIOL 151-151L
AND
BIOL 153-153L
or
BOT 201-201L
Credits: 7-8

Institutional Graduation Requirements**: 5

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

Major Requirements: 59-62

PS 103-103L - Crop Production and Lab
Credits: 3 ^A
PS 109 - First Year Seminar**
Credits: 2 ^{(credits count for IGR #1)} ^A
PS 213-213L - Soils and Lab * **
Credits: 2, 1 ^{(credits count for IGR #1)} ^A
PS 223-223L - Principles of Plant Pathology and Lab
Credits: 3 ^A
PS 305-305L - Insect Biology and Lab (COM)
Credits: 3 ^A
or
PS 307-307L - Insect Pest Management and Lab
Credits: 3 ^A
PS 323 - Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrient Management
Credits: 3 ^A
PS 343-343L - Weed Science and Lab
Credits: 3 ^A
PS 390 - Seminar (AW)
Credits: 1 ^A
PS 494 - Internship
Credits: 0.5-2 ^A
PS 490 - Seminar
for Internship Credits: .5-1 ^A
ABS 475-475L - Integrated Natural Resource Management and Lab (AW)
Credits: 3 ^A
PS 383-383L - Principles of Crop Improvement and Lab (AW)
Credits: 3
or
BIOL 202-202L - Genetics and Organismal Biology and Lab
Credits: 4
or
BIOL 371 - Genetics (COM)
Credits: 3
BOT 327-327L - Plant Physiology and Lab (COM)
Credits: 4
PS 492-592 - Topics
Credits 1 AND
PS 421-421L/521-521L - Soil Microbiology and Lab
Credits: 3^A
or
MICR 231-231L - General Microbiology and Lab (COM)
Credits: 4
CHEM 106-106L - Chemistry Survey and Lab* (COM)
Credits: 3,1
or
CHEM 112-112L - General Chemistry I and Lab* (COM)
Credits: 3, 1
CHEM 120-120L - Elementary Organic Chemistry and Lab*
Credits: 3, 1
or
CHEM 108-108L - Organic and Biochemistry and Lab* (COM)
Credits: 4, 1
PHYS 101-101L - Survey of Physics * (COM) and Lab
Credits: 4
or
PHYS 111-111L - Introduction to Physics I and Lab* (COM)
Credits: 4
STAT 281 - Introduction to Statistics (COM)
Credits: 3
ENGL 379 - Technical Communication (COM) (AW)
Credits: 3
AGEC 354 - Agricultural Marketing and Prices
Credits: 3
or
AS 285-285L - Livestock Evaluation and Marketing and Lab
Credits: 4
or Credits: 3

Natural Resources Stewardship Elective: 3-4

Select one of the following courses^A:

ABS 203 - Global Food Systems ** (G) Credits: 3
ABS 482-582 - International Experience (G) Credits: 2-4 (3 credits fulfill major requirement)
BIOL 383 - Bioethics ** (G) Credits: 4
PS 243 - Principles of Geology* Credits: 3 ²
PS 307-307L - Insect Pest Management and Lab Credits: 3 ²
PS 310-310L - Soil Geography and Land Use Interpretation and Lab** (G) Credits: 3 ²
PS 362-362L - Environmental Soil Management and Lab ** Credits: 3 ²
PS 446-546 - Agroecology (G) Credits: 3 ²

Plant Science Electives: 13

At least two credits from each of the three areas listed.

Elective Credits: 17

Total Required Credits: 125

Notes:

1 Cannot be used to solely meet area requirements.

2 Can only be used to meet requirements in one section

A Agronomy Major Core Curriculum: A student must have a 2.5 GPA or higher and a grade of C or higher in the courses used to satisfy the Agronomy core curriculum in order to graduate with a major in Agronomy.

Curriculum Notes

* The 30 credit Board of Regents System General Education Requirements (SGRs) must be completed as part of a student’s first 64 credits.

** South Dakota State University has a 5 credit Institutional Graduation Requirement (IGRs).

(G) Globalization Requirement.

(AW) Advanced Writing Requirement.

Students must take the proficiency examination after completing 48 credits. English 101, and a course in each of the General Education areas of social science, mathematics, natural science, and humanities and arts must be taken prior to taking this exam.