2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
    Oct 09, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Precision Agriculture (B.S.)

Location(s): Brookings Main Campus


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Instructor and students in a precision ag classroom.

Program Coordinator/Contact

Kasiviswanathan Muthukumarappan, Klingbeil Endowed Department Head and Distinguished Professor
Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
Raven Precision Agriculture Center 136
605-688-5666

David Wright, Klingbeil Endowed Department Head and Professor
Department of Agronomy, Horticulture and Plant Science
Raven Precision Agriculture Center 140
605-688-5123

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.

Course Delivery Format

Instruction will occur through a combination of traditional classroom methods, laboratory exercises using current agricultural production technologies, and agricultural mapping software.

Student Learning Outcomes


Upon completion of the Precision Agriculture major, students will:

  • Demonstrate foundational and specialized knowledge in crop management, environmental stewardships, and precision agriculture technologies and their integrations at local, regional, and global scales.
  • Explore complex local, regional, and global issues using a precision agriculture perspective to formulate questions and draw informed conclusions that are based on critical scientific analysis and interpretation of information.
  • Demonstrate economic and environmental proficiency in applying the proper principles and technologies of precision agriculture and to address socioeconomic issues in Agricultural sciences.
  • Demonstrate the ability to collect, organize, analyze, and synthesize accurate digital field maps using specialized software and have the operational knowledge for specialized precision agriculture equipment, computers, and spreadsheet applications to produce meaningful management recommendations.
  • Effectively communicate and demonstrate openness to new perspectives and diverse others, and demonstrate the ability to reassess their personal perspective within precision agriculture activities when appropriate.

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 PS 213L , and PRAG 475 .

Requirements for Precision Agriculture Major: 120 Credits


Bachelor of Science

Major Requirements


Select from the following


Select four credits from the following three courses. Credits: 4

Technical Electives


Students will select 21 credits from one of the following emphasis areas. All courses must be selected from within the same emphasis area. Credits: 21

Cropping Systems Emphasis


Credits: 21

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 Credit Hours
Major Requirements 83 Credit Hours
Electives** 6 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.