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

System General Education Requirements

Goal #1 Written Communication: ENGL 277 - Technical Writing in Engineering [SGR #1, HSDC] Credits: 3 and SGR #1 Elective Credits: 3
Goal #2 Oral Communication: SGR #2 Elective Credits: 3
Goal #3 Social Sciences: ECON 201 - Principles of Microeconomics (COM) [SGR #3, HSDC] Credits: 3 and SGR #3 Electives 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
Goal #6 Natural Sciences: BIOL 101 - Biology Survey I (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 2 , BIOL 101L - Biology Survey 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

Major Requirements

AGEC 271 - Farm and Ranch Management Credits: 3
or AGEC 354 - Agricultural Marketing and Prices Credits: 3
or ACCT 210 - Principles of Accounting I (COM) Credits: 3
AST 119 - First Year Seminar Credits: 1
or PS 119 - First Year Seminar Credits: 1
AST 273 - Agricultural Computer Applications Credits: 3
AST 342 - Applied Electricity Credits: 2
AST 342L - Applied Electricity Lab Credits: 1
AST 390 - Seminar (COM) Credits: 1
or PS 490 - Seminar (COM) Credits: 1
AST 412 - Fluid Power Technology Credits: 2
AST 412L - Fluid Power Technology Lab Credits: 1
AST 426 - Technology Applications for Precision Agriculture Credits: 2
AST 426L - Technology Applications for Precision Agriculture Lab Credits: 1
AST 494 - Internship (COM) Credits: 1-12 (1 credit required)
or PS 494 - Internship (COM) Credits: 1-2 (1 credit required)
BOT 201 - General Botany (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 3
BOT 201L - General Botany Lab (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 0
PRAG 203 - Introduction to Precision Agriculture Credits: 2
PRAG 203L - Introduction to Precision Agriculture Lab Credits: 1
PRAG 285 - Agricultural Computations Credits: 2
PRAG 304 - Electrical Diagnostics for Farm Machinery Credits: 2
PRAG 304L - Electrical Diagnostics for Farm Machinery Lab Credits: 1
PRAG 340 - Climate Risk Management with Precision Agriculture Credits: 3
PRAG 423 - Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrient Management Credits: 3
PRAG 427 - Precision Ag Data Mapping Credits: 2
PRAG 428 - Use of Soil and Plant Sensors in Crop Production Credits: 3
PRAG 440 - Crop Management with Precision Farming Credits: 2
PRAG 440L - Crop Management with Precision Farming Lab Credits: 1
PRAG 475 - Senior Capstone Credits: 3
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
STAT 281 - Introduction to Statistics (COM) [SGR #5, HSDC] 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 - Wheat Production Credits: 2
PRAG 425 - Soybean Production Credits: 2
PRAG 426 - Corn Production Credits: 2

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

CHEM 120 - Elementary Organic Chemistry Credits: 2
CHEM 120L - Elementary Organic Chemistry Lab Credits: 1

Select from the following

Select 18 credits from the following. Credits: 18

AST 313 - Farm Machinery Systems Management Credits: 2
AST 313L - Farm Machinery Systems Management Lab Credits: 1
AST 333 - Soil and Water Mechanics Credits: 2
AST 333L - Soil and Water Mechanics Lab Credits: 1
PRAG 345 - Principles and Implications of Chemical Application Systems Credits: 3
PRAG 410 - Soil Geography and Land Use Interpretation Credits: 2
PRAG 410L - Soil Geography and Land Use Interpretation Lab Credits: 1
PS 223 - Principles of Plant Pathology Credits: 2
PS 223L - Principles of Plant Pathology Lab Credits: 1
PS 405 - Entomology (COM) Credits: 3
PS 405L - Entomology Lab (COM) Credits: 0
PS 407 - Insect Pest Management Credits: 2
PS 407L - Insect Pest Management Lab Credits: 1
PS 462 - Environmental Soil Management Credits: 2
PS 462L - Environmental Soil Management Lab Credits: 1
Any 200 level or above selected from AST, CSC, ET, GEOG, DSCI, ENTR, PS, HO, ME, CE, BADM, ECON, FIN, AS, AGEC Credits: 6

Data and Analytics Emphasis

Select 21 credits from the following. Credits: 21

BADM 459 - Analytics (COM) Credits: 3
GEOG 270 - Introduction to Small Uncrewed Aircraft Systems Credits: 3
GEOG 280 - Introduction to Remote Sensing Credits: 3
GEOG 372 - Introduction to GIS (COM) Credits: 2
GEOG 372L - Introduction to GIS Lab (COM) Credits: 1
GEOG 483 - UAS Remote Sensing Credits: 2
GEOG 483L - UAS Remote Sensing Lab Credits: 1
INFO 101 - Introduction to Informatics Credits: 3
INFO 102 - Data Ethics [SGR #3, HSDC] Credits: 3
STAT 101 - Introduction to Data Science Credits: 3
STAT 410 - SAS Programming Credits: 3
STAT 414 - Basic R Programming Credits: 1

Machinery Systems Emphasis

Credits: 21

PHYS 101 - Survey of Physics (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 3
PHYS 101L - Survey of Physics Lab (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 1

Select from the following

Select 17 credits from the following list. Credits: 17

AST 213 - Ag, Industrial and Outdoor Power Credits: 2
AST 213L - Ag, Industrial and Outdoor Lab Credits: 1
AST 313 - Farm Machinery Systems Management Credits: 2
AST 313L - Farm Machinery Systems Management Lab Credits: 1
ET 122 - Introductory Circuits Credits: 2
ET 122L - Introductory Circuits Lab Credits: 2
ET 210 - Introduction to Electronic Systems Credits: 3
ET 210L - Introduction to Electronic Systems Lab Credits: 1
ET 232 - Digital Electronics and Microprocessors Credits: 2
ET 232L - Digital Electronics and Microprocessors Lab Credits: 1
ET 240 - Techniques of Servicing Credits: 3
INFO 101 - Introduction to Informatics Credits: 3
INFO 102 - Data Ethics [SGR #3, HSDC] Credits: 3
PRAG 345 - Principles and Implications of Chemical Application Systems Credits: 3
PS 345 - Non-Chemical Weed Management Credits: 3
Any 200-level or above selected from AST, CSC, ET, GEOG, DSCI, ENTR, PS, HORT, ME, CE, BADM, ECON, FIN, AS, AGEC Elective Credits: 6

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.