Academic Programs Catalog

The Crop and Soil Sciences major is based upon the continuously expanding knowledge base of the biological and physical sciences and the utilization of those sciences to produce food and fiber of high quality on a competitive basis to promote sustainability, and to obtain increased nutrient–use efficiency, proper land use, increased plant adaptation to environmental and other stresses, decreased soil erosion, and decreased environmental pollution. Crop and soil scientists utilize the principles of genetics, plant breeding, crop physiology, weed science, turfgrass science, soil physics, soil fertility, soil genesis and classification, and soil chemistry.

Majors complete a common core of courses and one concentration: Agronomic Sciences, Turfgrass Management or Advanced Study.

1. Agronomic Sciences is designed to prepare students to work as agronomists. These scientists have career opportunities in agricultural business and in government agencies such as departments of agriculture and/or natural resources, the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Extension Service. They also work and consult pest management specialists and managers of grower organizations and with land appraisal firms, agencies involved with environmental issues, and in international agriculture.
2. Turfgrass Management is designed to prepare students for the rapidly expanding area of urban agriculture. Graduates have career opportunities in the industries involved with management of golf courses, athletic fields, lawns and park and grounds management.
3. Advanced Study is specifically designed for those students who plan to pursue graduate studies. Although students who complete the other concentrations may pursue graduate study, this concentration requires the completion of advanced levels of mathematics and advanced courses in the basic science.

Students may qualify to teach agriscience in high school under a plan of study cooperatively developed by the student’s faculty advisor and the Department of Community, Agriculture, Recreation and Resource Studies.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Science Degree in Crop and Soil Sciences

1. The University requirements for bachelor's degrees as described in the Undergraduate Education section of this catalog; 120 credits, including general elective credits, are required for the Bachelor of Science degree in Crop and Soil Sciences.
   
   The University's Tier II writing requirement for the Crop and Soil Sciences major is met by completing two courses as specified below:
   
   Agronomic Sciences:  Both of the following courses:  Crop and Soil Sciences 313 and 492.  Those courses are referenced in items 3. a., and 3. b. below.
   
   Turfgrass Management:  Both of the following courses:  Crop and Soil Sciences 313 and 492.  Those courses are referenced in items 3. a., and 3. b. below.
   
   Advanced Study:  Both of the following courses:  Crop and Soil Sciences 313 and 492.  Those courses are referenced in items 3. a., and 3. b. below.
   
   Students who are enrolled in the Agronomic Sciences or Turfgrass Management concentrations of the Crop and Soil Sciences major leading to the Bachelor of Science degree in the Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, may complete an alternative track to Integrative Studies in Biological and Physical Sciences that consists of the following courses:  Plant Biology 105 and 106 and Chemistry 141, 143, and 161.  The completion of Plant Biology 106 and Chemistry 161 satisfies the laboratory requirement.  Plant Biology 105 and 106 and Chemistry 141, 143, and 161 may be counted toward both the alternative track and the requirements for the major referenced in item 3. below.
   
   Students who are enrolled in the Advanced Study concentration of the Crop and Soil Sciences major leading to the Bachelor of Science degree in the Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, may complete an alternative track to Integrative Studies in Biological and Physical Sciences that consists of the following courses: Plant Biology 105 and Chemistry 151, 152, and 161. The completion of Chemistry 161 satisfies the laboratory requirement. Plant Biology 105  and Chemistry 151, 152, and 161 may be counted toward both the alternative track and the requirements for the major referenced in item 3. below.
   
   The completion of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources mathematics requirement may also satisfy the University mathematics requirement.
2. The requirements of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources for the Bachelor of Science degree.
   Certain courses referenced in requirement 3. below may be counted toward College requirements as appropriate.  For students who select the Advanced Study concentration, the completion of Mathematics 124 and 126 satisfies the College's mathematics requirement.
3. The following requirements for the major:

   a.	All of the following courses (9 credits):
   	CEM	161	Chemistry Laboratory I				1
   	CSS	110	Computer Applications in Agronomy				2
   	CSS	210	Fundamentals of Soil Science				3
   	CSS	313	Data Interpretation and Writing in the Agronomic Sciences (W)				2
   	CSS	492	Professional Development Seminar II				1
   b.	One of the following three concentrations (67 to 70 credits):
   	Agronomic Sciences (63 or 64 credits):
   	(1)	All of the following courses (55 credits):
   		CEM	141	General Chemistry			4
   		CEM	143	Survey of Organic Chemistry			4
   		CSS	101	Introduction to Crop Science			3
   		CSS	101L	Introduction to Crop Science Laboratory			1
   		CSS	192	Professional Development Seminar I			1
   		CSS	226L	Weed Science Laboratory			1
   		CSS	326	Weed Science			2
   		CSS	330	Soil Chemistry			2
   		CSS	340	Applied Soil Physics			2
   		CSS	350	Introduction to Plant Genetics			3
   		CSS	360	Soil Biology			3
   		CSS	470	Soil Resources			3
   		CSS	480	Soil Fertility and Management			3
   		CSS	488	Agricultural Cropping Systems: Integration and Problem Solving			3
   		CSS	493	Professional Internship in Crop and Soil Sciences			3
   		ENT	404	Fundamentals of Entomology			4
   		MTH	116	College Algebra and Trigonometry			5
   		PLB	105	Plant Biology			3
   		PLB	106	Plant Biology Laboratory			1
   		PLP	405	Plant Pathology			4
   	(2)	One of the following courses (3 credits):
   		HRT	361	Applied Plant Physiology			3
   		PLB	301	Introductory Plant Physiology			3
   	(3)	One of the following courses (2 or 3 credits):
   		CSS	222	New Horizons in Biotechnology			2
   		CSS	441	Plant Breeding and Biotechnology			3
   		CSS	451	Biotechnology Applications for Plant Breeding and Genetics			3
   	(4)	One of the following courses (3 credits):
   		EC	201	Introduction to Microeconomics			3
   		EC	202	Introduction to Macroeconomics			3
   	(5)	Two of the following courses (4 to 6 credits):
   		CSS	135	Crop Scouting and Investigation			3
   		CSS	151	Seed and Grain Quality			2
   		CSS	201	Forage Crops			3
   		CSS	212	Advanced Crop Production			2
   	Turfgrass Management (67 credits):
   	(1)	All of the following courses (64 credits):
   		CEM	141	General Chemistry			4
   		CEM	143	Survey of Organic Chemistry			4
   		CSS	178	Turf Irrigation			3
   		CSS	181	Pesticide and Fertilizer Application Technology			3
   		CSS	226L	Weed Science Laboratory			1
   		CSS	232	Turfgrass Management			4
   		CSS	262	Turfgrass Management Seminar			1
   		CSS	267	Performance Turf Design and Construction			2
   		CSS	269	Turfgrass Strategies: Integration and Synthesis			2
   		CSS	272	Turfgrass Soil Fertility			2
   		CSS	282	Turfgrass Physiology			2
   		CSS	326	Weed Science			2
   		CSS	330	Soil Chemistry			2
   		CSS	340	Applied Soil Physics			2
   		CSS	350	Introduction to Plant Genetics			3
   		CSS	360	Soil Biology			3
   		CSS	470	Soil Resources			3
   		CSS	493	Professional Internship in Crop and Soil Sciences			3
   		EC	201	Introduction to Microeconomics			3
   		ENT	264	Turfgrass Entomology			3
   		MTH	116	College Algebra and Trigonometry			5
   		PLB	105	Plant Biology			3
   		PLB	106	Plant Biology Laboratory			1
   		PLP	266	Turf Pathology			3
   	(2)	One of the following courses (3 credits):
   		HRT	361	Applied Plant Physiology			3
   		PLB	301	Introductory Plant Physiology			3
   	Advanced Study (74 credits):
   	(1)	All of the following courses (62 credits):
   		BMB	401	Comprehensive Biochemistry			4
   		CEM	151	General and Descriptive Chemistry			4
   		CEM	152	Principles of Chemistry			3
   		CEM	251	Organic Chemistry I			3
   		CEM	252	Organic Chemistry II			3
   		CSS	101	Introduction to Crop Science			3
   		CSS	101L	Introduction to Crop Science Laboratory			1
   		CSS	192	Professional Development Seminar I			1
   		CSS	226L	Weed Science Laboratory			1
   		CSS	326	Weed Science			2
   		CSS	330	Soil Chemistry			2
   		CSS	340	Applied Soil Physics			2
   		CSS	350	Introduction to Plant Genetics			3
   		CSS	360	Soil Biology			3
   		CSS	470	Soil Resources			3
   		CSS	480	Soil Fertility and Management			3
   		CSS	488	Agricultural Cropping Systems: Integration and Problem Solving			3
   		CSS	499	Undergraduate Research			3
   		ENT	404	Fundamentals of Entomology			4
   		MTH	132	Calculus I			3
   		PLB	105	Plant Biology			3
   		PLB	106	Plant Biology Laboratory			1
   		PLP	405	Plant Pathology			4
   	(2)	One of the following courses (3 credits):
   		HRT	361	Applied Plant Physiology			3
   		PLB	301	Introductory Plant Physiology			3
   	(3)	One of the following courses (3 credits):
   		CSS	441	Plant Breeding and Biotechnology			3
   		CSS	451	Biotechnology Applications for Plant Breeding and Genetics			3
   	(4)	One of the following courses (3 credits):
   		EC	201	Introduction to Microeconomics			3
   		EC	202	Introduction to Macroeconomics			3
   	(5)	The following course:
   		STT	421	Statistics I			3

The Minor in Agronomy, which is administered by the Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, is designed to serve students with majors in fields other than Crop and Soil Sciences who are interested in agronomy and who plan to pursue careers in agriculture for which a basic familiarity with the science of cropping systems is important. The minor will provide an opportunity for students to gain a fundamental understanding of the science of food production, including crop management, soil management, and plant breeding and biotechnology.

This minor is available as an elective to students who are enrolled in bachelor’s degree programs at Michigan State University other than the Bachelor of Science Degree in Crop and Soil Sciences or the Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Soil Science. With the approval of the department and college that administer the student’s degree program, the courses that are used to satisfy the minor may also be used to satisfy the requirements for the bachelor’s degree.

Students who plan to complete the requirements of the minor should consult the Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences and have their program of study approved in advance and in writing.

Requirements for the Minor in Agronomy

Complete a minimum of 16 credits from the following:

This minor is available as an elective to students who are enrolled in bachelor’s degree programs and is designed for students who have an interest in applied development in international agriculture and natural resources. It seeks to increase student understanding of global agriculture, particular agriculture-related problems and issues in developing and developed nations, and issues related to sustainability and stewardship of the Earth. Students who complete this minor will gain knowledge and experience relevant for careers in international agriculture, international development, and related fields.

The College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and James Madison College in cooperation with the Departments of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics, Animal Science, Food Science and Human Nutrition, Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, and Fisheries and Wildlife, and the College of Social Science in cooperation with the Department of Geography participate in the Minor in Applied Development in International Agriculture and Natural Resources. The Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences is the primary administrative unit.

The student’s program of study for the minor must be approved by the advisor of the Minor in the Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences  or James Madison College in advance and in writing. With the approval of the department that administers the student’s degree program, courses that are used to satisfy the requirements for the minor may also be used to satisfy the requirements for the bachelor’s degree.

Requirements for the Minor in Applied Development in International Agriculture and Natural Resources

The student must meet the requirements specified below:

The Minor in Environmental Soil Science is intended to serve students and professionals who plan to pursue careers in soil science, soil health, or related agricultural, natural resource, and environmental sciences with a focus on the sustainable management of soils to produce food, fiber, and other products while conserving or regenerating natural and managed ecosystems.
 
The requirements meet the soil science course work requirements for Federal and state employment as soil scientists, as well as the course work requirements necessary to become a Certified Professional Soil Scientist (CPSS).
 
At least 9 credits counted towards the requirements for this minor must be unique. Unique credits must not be used to fulfill another university, college, or major requirement in the student's program.
 
With the approval of the department and college that administer the student's degree program, 6 credits of course work that are used to satisfy the requirements for the minor may also be used to satisfy the requirements for the bachelor's degree.
 
Students who are interested in enrolling should contact an undergraduate advisor in the Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences.
 
Requirements for the Minor in Environmental Soil Science

Complete all of the following courses (15 credits):

The Minor in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems is designed to foster active learning about agriculture and food systems for undergraduate students from different disciplinary backgrounds. Contemporary agriculture and food systems issues will be considered in biological, ecological, social, and economic contexts.

The minor is available as an elective to students who are enrolled in bachelor’s degree programs at Michigan State University. With the approval of the department and college that administers the student’s degree program, the courses that are used to satisfy the minor may also be used to satisfy the requirements for the bachelor’s degree. The student’s program of study must be approved by the Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences in advance and in writing.

Requirements for the Minor in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems

The student must complete 15 credits from the following:

The Minor in Turfgrass Management, administered by the Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, is designed to serve students that plan to work in the landscape, recreational, or the sports management industry. Students will gain an understanding of the fundamentals of maintaining a turfgrass-playing surface or the turfgrass within a lawn or landscape.

The minor is available as an elective to students who are enrolled in bachelor’s degree programs at Michigan State University. With the approval of the department and college that administer the student’s degree program, the courses that are used to satisfy the minor may also be used to satisfy the requirements for the bachelor’s degree.

Students who plan to complete the requirements of the minor should consult the undergraduate advisor in the Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences to have their program of study approved in advance.

Requirements for the Minor in Turfgrass Management

Complete a minimum of 15 credits from the following: