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
605-688-5143

David Wright, Department Head
Department of Agronomy, Horticulture, and Plant Science
Berg Agricultural Hall 244, Box 2207
605-688-5123

Stephanie Bebensee, Program Coordinator
Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
Agricultural Engineering 109
605-688-5144

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, Food and Environmental Sciences

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 Arts and Humanities/Diversity : Credits: 6
Goal #5 Mathematics : MATH 114 Credits: 3
Goal #6 Natural Sciences : BOT 201-201L and CHEM 106-106L Credits: 7

College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences Requirements

Bachelor of Science Requirements: 11

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 entirely to the student and the advisor.

System General Education Requirements 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 [SGR #3] Credits: 3 (SGR 3)
ABS 475-475L - Integrated Natural Resource Management and Lab Credits: 3 (Major Requirement)
AST 333-333L - Soil and Water Mechanics and Lab Credits: 3 (Major Requirement)
PS 213-213L - Soils and Lab [SGR #6] Credits: 2, 1 (Major Requirement)

Major Requirements

ABS 475-475L - Integrated Natural Resource Management and Lab 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 119 - First Year Seminar Credits: 2
or PS 119 - First Year Seminar Credits: 1
AST 273-273L - Agricultural Computer Applications 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 390 - Seminar (COM) Credits: 1
or PS 490 - Seminar (COM) Credits: 1
AST 412-412L - Fluid Power Technology and Lab Credits: 3
AST 426-426L - Emerging Technologies in Agriculture and Lab Credits: 3
or PRAG 428 - Use of Soil and Plant Sensors in Crop Production Credits: 3
AST 494 - Internship Credits: 1-12 (2 credits required)
or PS 494 - Internship (COM) Credits: 1-2 (2 credits required)
PRAG 203-203L - Introduction to Precision Agriculture and Lab Credits: 2
PRAG 304-304L - Electrical Diagnostics for Farm Machinery and Lab Credits: 3
PRAG 340 - Climate Risk Management with Precision Agriculture Credits: 3
PRAG 345-345L - Principles and Implications of Chemical Application Systems and Lab Credits: 3
PRAG 410-410L/510-510L - Soil Geography and Land Use Interpretation and Lab Credits: 2, 1
or PS 462-462L/562-562L - Environmental Soil Management and Lab Credits: 3
PRAG 423-523 - Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrient Management Credits: 3
PRAG 427-527 - Precision Ag Data Mapping Credits: 2
PRAG 440-440L/540-540L - Crop Management with Precision Farming and Lab Credits: 3
PS 103-103L - Crop Production and Lab Credits: 2, 1
PS 213-213L - Soils and Lab [SGR #6] Credits: 2, 1
PS 223-223L - Principles of Plant Pathology and Lab Credits: 2, 1
PS 405-405L/505-505L - Entomology and Lab (COM) Credits: 3
or PS 407-407L/507-507L - Insect Pest Management and Lab Credits: 2, 1
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

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

Supporting Coursework

BIOL 151-151L - General Biology I and Lab (COM) [SGR #6] 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) [SGR #6] Credits: 4
STAT 281 - Introduction to Statistics (COM) [SGR #5] Credits: 3

Total Required Credits: 120

Summary of Program Requirements

Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences
System General Education Requirements	31 Credit Hours
College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences Requirements*	11 Credit Hours
Major Requirements	69-70 Credit Hours
Supporting Coursework	19 Credit Hours
Electives**	0-1 Credit Hours

*System General Education Requirements, Major Requirements, and Supporting Coursework may satisfy some or all of the above requirements.
**Taken as needed to complete any additional degree requirements.

Academic Advising Guide Sheet

The goal of the academic advising guide sheets and sample plans of study is to promote undergraduate student success by guiding all students to timely completion of an undergraduate degree. Students are not limited to the course sequence provided for their academic program. Instead, the sample plan of study is one possible path to completing your degree and is meant to be used as a guide for planning purposes in consultation with an academic advisor. The plans also help students prepare for meetings with their academic advisor and track their progress in their selected academic program.