Academic Programs Catalog

College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences

Undergraduate Programs
Minor in Agronomy

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:

1. All of the following courses (7 credits):
CROP 101 Introduction to Crop Science 3
CROP 101L Introduction to Crop Science Laboratory 1
SOIL 210 Fundamentals of Soil Science 3
2. One of the following courses (3 credits):
CROP 420 Cover Crops Agroecosystems 3
CROP 488 Agricultural Cropping Systems: Integration and Problem Solving 3
3. Complete 6 credits from the following:
CROP 135 Crop Scouting and Investigation 3
CROP 151 Seed and Grain Quality 2
CROP 201 Forage Crops 3
CROP 212 Advanced Crop Production 2
CROP 326 Weed Science 2
and
CROP 226L Weed Science Laboratory 1
CROP 350 Introduction to Plant Genetics 3
CROP 441 Plant Breeding and Biotechnology 3
CROP 442 Agroecology Ecology 3
CROP 467 Bioenergy Feedstock Production 3
HRT 251 Organic Farming Principles and Practices 3
SOIL 330 Soil Chemistry 2
SOIL 340 Applied Soil Physics 2
SOIL 360 Soil Biology 3
SOIL 470 Soil Resources 3