The Bachelor of Science degree in Cropping Systems Science is designed to prepare students for career opportunities as agronomists and cropping system scientists, as farmers and consultants, in private and public businesses, and with government agencies. Cropping systems science involves the application of biological, chemical, and physical science principles to produce plants grown for human food, animal feed, biofuel, and fiber to meet global demand. The use of biotechnology, digital technologies and precision agriculture are important aspects of agricultural food systems today. Cropping systems scientists, agronomists, and farmers strive to improve soil health and develop cropping sequences and management techniques to improve the economic, environmental, and social sustainability of farms. Conserving soil and water and maintaining long-term farm field productivity and resilience depends largely on the management of cropping systems. This major provides students with the opportunity to understand the challenges and opportunities to integrate scientific innovations with the practice of crop production. Students take courses in crop production, physiology, genetics, precision agriculture, pest management, soil science, meteorology, and professional development courses to prepare for careers in cropping systems science.
Requirements for the Bachelor of Science Degree in Cropping Systems Science
- 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 Cropping Systems Science.
The University's Tier II writing requirement for the Cropping Systems Science major is met by completing CROP 313 and CROP 492. Those courses are referenced in item 3. below.
Students who are enrolled in the Cropping Systems Science 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 combined; and Chemistry 141, 143, and 161. The completion of Plant Biology 106 and Chemistry 161 satisfies the laboratory requirement. Plant Biology 105 and 106 combined 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.
The completion of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources mathematics requirement may also satisfy the University mathematics requirement.
- 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.
- The following requirements for the major:
- a. One of the following courses (3 or 5 credits):
- MTH 103 College Algebra (3)
- MTH 116 College Algebra and Trigonometry (5)
- b. One of the following courses (3 or 4 credits):
- STT 200 Statistical Methods (3)
- STT 201 Statistical Methods (4)
- STT 224 Introduction to Probability and Statistics for Ecologists (3)
- STT 421 Statistics I (3)
- c. One of the following courses (4 credits):
- CEM 143 Survey of Organic Chemistry (4)
- CEM 251 Organic Chemistry I (4)
- d. One of the following courses (3 credits):
- EC 201 Introduction to Microeconomics (3)
- EC 202 Introduction to Macroeconomics (3)
- e. All of the following courses (45 credits):
- CEM 141 General Chemistry (4)
- CEM 161 Chemistry Laboratory I (1)
- CROP 101 Introduction to Crop Science (3)
- CROP 101L Introduction to Crop Science Laboratory (1)
- CROP 110 Computer Applications in Agronomy (2)
- CROP 192 Professional Development Seminar I (1)
- CROP 212 Advanced Crop Production (2)
- CROP 226L Weed Science Laboratory (1)
- CROP 313 Data Interpretation and Writing in the Agronomic Sciences (W) (2)
- CROP 326 Weed Science (2)
- CROP 350 Introduction to Plant Genetics (3)
- CROP 488 Agricultural Cropping Systems: Integration and Problem Solving (3)
- CROP 492 Professional Development Seminar II (W) (1)
- ENT 404 Fundamentals of Entomology (4)
- PLB 105 Plant Biology (3)
- PLB 106 Plant Biology Laboratory (1)
- PLP 405 Plant Pathology (4)
- SOIL 210 Fundamentals of Soil Science (3)
- SOIL 480 Soil Fertility and Management (4)
- f. One of the following courses (3 credits):
- HRT 361 Applied Plant Physiology (3)
- PLB 301 Introductory Plant Physiology (3)
- g. Complete 8 credits from the following courses: (8 credits):
- SOIL 330 Soil Chemistry (2)
- SOIL 340 Applied Soil Physics (2)
- SOIL 360 Soil Biology (3)
- SOIL 470 Soil Resources (3)
- h. Two of the following courses: (4 to 6 credits):
- AFRE 130 Farm Management I (3)
- CROP 124 Introduction to Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems (2)
- CROP 135 Crop Scouting and Investigation (3)
- CROP 151 Seed and Grain Quality (2)
- CROP 201 Forage Crops (3)
- CROP 292 Leadership Development in Agriculture (2)
- i. One of the following courses (3 credits):
- GEO 103 Introduction to Climate Change Studies (3)
- GEO 203 Introduction to Meteorology (3)
- GEO 402 Agricultural Climatology (3)
- j. One of the following, either i. or ii. (3 or 4 credits):
- (i) GEO 221 Introduction to Geographic Information (3)
- (ii) BE 221 Introduction to Smart Agriculture (1)
- BE 321 Principles of Precision Agriculture (3)
- k. One of the following courses (3 credits):
- CROP 420 Cover Crops in Agroecosystems (3)
- CROP 431 International Agricultural Systems (3)
- CROP 441 Plant Breeding and Biotechnology (3)
- CROP 442 Agricultural Ecology (3)
- CROP 451 Biotechnology Applications for Plant Breeding and Genetics (3)
- CROP 460 Plant-Microbe Interactions (3)
- CROP 467 Bioenergy Feedstock Production (3)
- CROP 485 Physiology in Plant Nutrition (3)
- GEO 409 Global Climate Change and Variability (3)
- GEO 410 Geography of Food and Agriculture (3)
- l. One of the following experiential courses (3 credits):
- CROP 493 Professional Internship in Crop and Soil Sciences (3)
- CROP 499 Undergraduate Research (3)