Program: Agricultural Science (B.S.) - South Dakota State University

2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Apr 07, 2025

Two students and instructor flying a drone next to a field.

Program Coordinator/Contact

Mary Christensen, Assistant Dean for Academic Programs
Agricultural Leadership, Education, Communication and Science (ALECS)
Berg Agricultural Hall 162
605-688-5133

Program Information

The Agricultural Science curriculum is designed for the student undecided as to a specific major field of study within the area of agriculture, or who may want to combine multiple fields of study within agriculture, or plans to return to the farm or ranch after college. A large number of free electives are available allowing the student to take courses in the different disciplines needed for a diversified career or to manage a production unit.

General electives may be selected from any area and allow students to develop special competencies or interests. When qualifying for a Bachelor of Science degree a student may, through a choice of electives, complete courses in business, prepare for graduate study, or enroll in special areas of study such as plant and/or animal science.

Course Delivery Format

Courses are delivered in lecture, laboratory, and field-based formats, and some are offered by online delivery.

Requirements for Agricultural Science Major: 120 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:
SGR #3 Elective Credits: 3
  and
ECON 201 - Principles of Microeconomics (COM) [SGR #3, HSDC] Credits: 3
  (recommended) or
ECON 202 - Principles of Macroeconomics (COM) [SGR #3, HSDC] Credits: 3
Goal #4 Arts and Humanities:
SGR #4 Electives Credits: 6
Goal #5 Mathematics: SGR #5 Elective 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: 3 and BIOL 151L - General Biology I Lab (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] 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

Major Requirements

ABS 119 - First Year Seminar Credits: 2
ACCT 210 - Principles of Accounting I (COM) Credits: 3
or STAT 281 - Introduction to Statistics (COM) [SGR #5, HSDC] Credits: 3
AGEC 271 - Farm and Ranch Management Credits: 3
AGEC 354 - Agricultural Marketing and Prices Credits: 3
Agriculture Electives - Select six credits with the prefix(es) of ABE, ABS, AST, DS, EES, FS, HO, NRM, PRAG, RANG, VET, or WL. Credits: 6
AS 101 - Introduction to Animal Science Credits: 3
and AS 101L - Introduction to Animal Science Lab Credits: 1
or AS 102 - Fundamentals of Animal Science Credits: 3
or DS 130 - Introduction to Dairy Science Credits: 2
and DS 130L - Introduction to Dairy Science Lab Credits: 1
AS 218 - Survey of Animal Nutrition Credits: 3
or AS 319 - Livestock Feeds and Feeding Credits: 2
and AS 319L - Livestock Feeds and Feeding Lab Credits: 1
AS 332 - Livestock Breeding and Genetics Credits: 4
or PS 383 - Principles of Crop Improvement Credits: 2
and PS 383L - Principles of Crop Improvement Lab Credits: 1
or BIOL 371 - Genetics (COM) Credits: 3
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 BOT 201 - General Botany (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 3
and BOT 201L - General Botany Lab (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 0
or PRAG 203 - Introduction to Precision Agriculture Credits: 2
and PRAG 203L - Introduction to Precision Agriculture Lab Credits: 1
or RANG 205 - Introduction to Range Management [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 2
and RANG 205L - Introduction to Range Management Lab [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 1
PS 103 - Crop Production Credits: 2
PS 103L - Crop Production Lab Credits: 1
PS 213 - Soils [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 2
PS 213L - Soils Lab [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 1

Ag Product Electives

Select at least one class from the following courses. Credits: 2-3

AS 241 - Introduction to Meat Science Credits: 2
AS 241L - Introduction to Meat Science Lab Credits: 1
AS 285 - Livestock Evaluation and Marketing Credits: 2
AS 285L - Livestock Evaluation and Marketing Lab Credits: 1
DS 231 - Dairy Foods Credits: 3
FS 101 - Introduction to Food Science Credits: 3
PS 308 - Grain Grading Credits: 1
PS 308L - Grain Grading Lab Credits: 1
PS 312 - Grain and Seed Production and Processing Credits: 3
PS 403 - Seed Technology Credits: 2
PS 403L - Seed Technology Lab Credits: 1

Business Electives

Select one of the following courses. Credits: 3

AGEC 274 - Agribusiness Sales Credits: 3
AGEC 352 - Agricultural Law Credits: 3
AGEC 462 - Environmental Law Credits: 3
AGEC 364 - Introduction to Cooperatives Credits: 3
AGEC 366 - Food Law Credits: 3
AGEC 371 - Agricultural Business Management Credits: 3
FIN 280 - Personal Finance (COM) Credits: 3
MGMT 334 - Small Business Management (COM) Credits: 3
MKTG 474 - Personal Selling (COM) Credits: 3

Capstone Electives

Select from the following courses. Credits: 3-4

ABS 475 - Integrated Natural Resource Management Credits: 3
AGEC 471 - Advanced Farm & Ranch Management Credits: 3
AS 389 - Current Issues in Animal Science Credits: 3
DS 480 - Dairy Farm Operations I Credits: 3
DS 480L - Dairy Farm Operations I Lab Credits: 1
DS 481 - Dairy Farm Operations II Credits: 3
DS 481L - Dairy Farm Operations II Lab Credits: 1
HO 434 - Local Food Production Credits: 2
HO 435 - Local Food Production: Harvest and Storage Credits: 2
PRAG 440 - Crop Management with Precision Farming Credits: 2
PRAG 440L - Crop Management with Precision Farming Lab Credits: 1
RANG 374 - Habitat Conservation and Management Credits: 3
RANG 374L - Habitat Conservation and Management Lab Credits: 1

Electives

Taken as needed to complete any additional degree requirements.

Total Required Credits: 120

Summary of Program Requirements

Bachelor of Science
System General Education Requirements*	31-32 Credit Hours
Major Requirements	43-47 Credit Hours
Electives**	41-46 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.

Agricultural Science (B.S.)

Agricultural Science (B.S.)

Location(s): Brookings Main CampusClose