2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog

Dec 12, 2024

2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog [Archived Catalog]

Agronomy (B.S.)

Location(s): Brookings Main Campus

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Students working in a greenhouse.

Program Coordinator/Contact

David Wright, Maynard A. Klingbeil Endowed Department Head
Brent Turnipseed, Assistant Department Head
Hani Ghosheh, Undergraduate Teaching Coordinator
Department of Agronomy, Horticulture, and Plant Science
Raven Precision Agriculture Center 140
605-688-5123 (Department Head, SRPAC 140)
605-688-4450 (Teaching Office, SNP 247)

Program Information

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, seeds, 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, grain production, sales, and seed production; 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 the Soil Science Society of America website.
Students seeking Certification as a professional agronomist should contact their advisor and refer to the Certified Crop Advisor website.
Students seeking Seed Analyst Certification should contact their advisor and refer to the Association of Official Seed Analysts and Society of Commercial Seed Technologists website.

Course Delivery Format

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

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Agronomy major, students will:

Demonstrate a fundamental understanding of basic Agronomy principles and practices.
Demonstrate the ability to think creatively and to apply critical thinking skills when evaluating and analyzing information.
Demonstrate the ability to learn, develop, and apply skills for the application of existing and emerging knowledge and technologies in Agronomy.
Demonstrate the ability to apply scientific principles, quantitative skills, and other problem solving skills in Agronomy.
Demonstrate knowledge and application of ethical and sustainable practices in the agronomic fields.
Demonstrate the ability to effectively communicate (written, listening and oral) with both scientific and non-scientific audiences.

Requirements for Agronomy Major: 125 Credits

Bachelor of Science

System General Education Requirements

Goal #1 Written Communication: SGR #1 Elective Credits: 6
Goal #2 Oral Communication: SGR #2 Elective Credits: 3
Goal #3 Social Sciences: ECON 201 - Principles of Microeconomics (COM) [SGR #3, HSDC] Credits: 3 or ECON 202 - Principles of Macroeconomics (COM) [SGR #3, HSDC] Credits: 3 and ABS 203 - Global Food Systems [SGR #3, HSDC] Credits: 3 ,
SOC 100 - Introduction to Sociology (COM) [SGR #3, HSDC] Credits: 3
,
SOC 150 - Social Problems (COM) [SGR #3, HSDC] Credits: 3
, or
SOC 240 - The Sociology of Rural America (COM) [SGR #3, HSDC] Credits: 3
Goal #4 Arts and Humanities:
SGR #4 Electives Credits: 6
Goal #5 Mathematics:
MATH 114 - College Algebra (COM) [SGR #5, HSDC] Credits: 3
or MATH 115 - Precalculus (COM) [SGR #5, HSDC] Credits: 5 or MATH 120 - Trigonometry (COM) [SGR #5, HSDC] Credits: 3
Goal #6 Natural Sciences:
- BIOL 101 - Biology Survey I (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 2 and BIOL 101L - Biology Survey I Lab (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 1
  or
  BIOL 151 - General Biology I (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 4
  and BIOL 151L - General Biology I Lab (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 0
- BIOL 103 - Biology Survey II (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 2  and BIOL 103L - Biology Survey II Lab (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 1
  or
  BIOL 153 - General Biology II (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 4
    and BIOL 153L - General Biology II Lab (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 0
  or
  BOT 201 - General Botany (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 3
    and BOT 201L - General Botany Lab (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 0

Major Requirements

ABS 475 - Integrated Natural Resource Management Credits: 3 ^A
AGEC 354 - Agricultural Marketing and Prices Credits: 3
or AS 285 - Livestock Evaluation and Marketing Credits: 2
and AS 285L - Livestock Evaluation and Marketing Lab Credits: 1
or ENGL 379 - Technical Communication (COM) Credits: 3
or MKTG 474 - Personal Selling (COM) Credits: 3
BIOL 202 - Genetics and Molecular Biology Credits: 3
and BIOL 202L - Genetics and Molecular Biology Lab Credits: 1
or BIOL 371 - Genetics (COM) Credits: 3
or PS 383 - Principles of Crop Improvement Credits: 2  ²
and PS 383L - Principles of Crop Improvement Lab Credits: 1  ²
BOT 327 - Plant Physiology Credits: 3
and BOT 327L - Plant Physiology Lab Credits: 1
or BOT 419 - Plant Ecology (COM) Credits: 2
and BOT 419L - Plant Ecology Lab (COM) Credits: 1
CHEM 106 - Chemistry Survey (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 3
and CHEM 106L - Chemistry Survey Lab (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 1
or CHEM 112 - General Chemistry I (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 3
and CHEM 112L - General Chemistry I Lab (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 1
CHEM 108 - Organic and Biochemistry (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 4
and CHEM 108L - Organic and Biochemistry Lab (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 1
or CHEM 120 - Elementary Organic Chemistry Credits: 2
and CHEM 120L - Elementary Organic Chemistry Lab Credits: 1
PHYS 101 - Survey of Physics (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 3
and PHYS 101L - Survey of Physics Lab (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 1
or PHYS 111 - Introduction to Physics I (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 3
and PHYS 111L - Introduction to Physics I Lab (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 1
PRAG 423 - Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrient Management Credits: 3 ^A
PS 103 - Crop Production Credits: 2 ^A
PS 103L - Crop Production Lab Credits: 1 ^A
PS 119 - First Year Seminar Credits: 1 ^A
PS 213 - Soils [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 2 ^A
PS 213L - Soils Lab [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 1 ^A
PS 223 - Principles of Plant Pathology Credits: 2 ^A
PS 223L - Principles of Plant Pathology Lab Credits: 1 ^A
PS 285 - Agricultural Computations Credits: 2 ^A
PS 405 - Entomology (COM) Credits: 3 ^A
and PS 405L - Entomology Lab (COM) Credits: 0  ^A
or PS 407 - Insect Pest Management Credits: 2  ^A
and PS 407L - Insect Pest Management Lab Credits: 1  ^A
PS 445 - Weed Science Credits: 2 ^A
PS 445L - Weed Science Lab Credits: 1 ^A
PS 490 - Seminar (COM) Credits: 1 ^A
or HO 490 - Seminar (COM) Credits: 1 ^A
PS 492 - Topics (COM) Credits: 1-3 (1 credit required)
and PS 421 - Soil Microbiology Credits: 2
and PS 421L - Soil Microbiology Lab Credits: 1
or MICR 231 - General Microbiology (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 4
and MICR 231L - General Microbiology Lab (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 0
PS 494 - Internship (COM) Credits: 1-2 ^A (1 credit required)
or HO 494 - Internship (COM) Credits: 1-12 (1 credit required)^A
STAT 281 - Introduction to Statistics (COM) [SGR #5, HSDC] Credits: 3

Natural Resources Stewardship Electives

Select one of the following courses^A. Credits: 3-4

ABS 203 - Global Food Systems [SGR #3, HSDC] Credits: 3 ²
ABS 482 - International Experience Credits: 1-4
BIOL 383 - Bioethics (COM) Credits: 4
PRAG 310 - Sustainable Agriculture Credits: 3
PRAG 410 - Soil Geography and Land Use Interpretation Credits: 2 ²
PRAG 410L - Soil Geography and Land Use Interpretation Lab Credits: 1 ²
PS 243 - Principles of Geology [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 3 ²
PS 407 - Insect Pest Management Credits: 2 ²
PS 407L - Insect Pest Management Lab Credits: 1 ²
PS 462 - Environmental Soil Management Credits: 2 ²
PS 462L - Environmental Soil Management Lab Credits: 1 ²

Precision Ag Electives

Select one of the following courses. Credits: 2-3

AST 426 - Technology Applications for Precision Agriculture Credits: 2
AST 426L - Technology Applications for Precision Agriculture Lab Credits: 1
PRAG 203 - Introduction to Precision Agriculture Credits: 2
PRAG 203L - Introduction to Precision Agriculture Lab Credits: 1
PRAG 427 - Precision Ag Data Mapping Credits: 2 ²
PRAG 440 - Crop Management with Precision Farming Credits: 2 ²
PRAG 440L - Crop Management with Precision Farming Lab Credits: 1 ²

Agronomy, Horticulture, and Plant Science Electives

Take at least two credits from each of the three areas listed. Credits: 15

Electives

Taken as needed to complete any additional degree requirements.

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
^AAgronomy 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.

Summary of Program Requirements

Bachelor of Science
System General Education Requirements*	30-34 Credit Hours
Major Requirements	58-64 Credit Hours
Plant Science Electives	15 Credit Hours
Electives**	12-22 Credit Hours

*System General Education Requirements for students pursuing a baccalaureate degree shall include a minimum of 30 credit hours. Some general education coursework may be counted for Major Requirements and Supporting Coursework.
**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.

Agronomy (B.S.)