Plant and Soil Science BS
Total Units Required: 120
The Bachelor of Science in Plant and Soil Science will help prepare you to make a positive difference in the world. It is designed for students who are interested in a scientific understanding of how plants grow in agricultural soils under intensive management. Plant and soil science expertise is needed to address many of our most pressing problems. These issues include producing enough food and fiber to feed a growing world population beset by climate change and regenerating our soils and agroecosystems to produce healthy and nutritious food. Our farm provides practical experiences in organic vegetable production, aquaponics, greenhouse production, and field and tree crop production.
Grading Requirement
All courses taken to fulfill program course requirements must be taken for a letter grade except those courses specified by the department as credit/no credit grading only.
Course Requirements for the Major: 78-85 units
Completion of the following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, is required of all candidates for this degree. Courses in this program may complete more than one graduation requirement.
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Lower Division Core | ||
| ABUS 101 | Introduction to Agricultural Business and Economics | 3 |
| AGET 150 | Agricultural Machine Systems | 3 |
| AGRI 180 | The University Experience | 1 |
| MATH 105 | Introduction to Statistics | 3 |
| PSSC 101 | Introduction to Plant Science | 3 |
| PSSC 250 | Introduction to Soil Science | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Animal Science | ||
| Animal Feeds and Nutrition | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| General Chemistry for Applied Sciences | ||
| General Chemistry I | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Organic Chemistry for Applied Sciences | ||
| General Chemistry II | ||
| Select six to eight units from the following: | 6-8 | |
In consultation with your advisor, from any major core course not previously selected. | ||
| Computer Applications in Agriculture | ||
| Farm Accounting | ||
| Principles of Ecological, Evolutionary, and Organismal Biology | ||
| Principles of Cellular and Molecular Biology | ||
| Principles of Physiology and Development | ||
| Soils and Surficial Processes | ||
| Earth Systems and Physical Geography | ||
| General Physics I | ||
| Physics for Students of Science and Engineering: Mechanics | ||
| West Coast Crop Production | ||
| California Orchard Production and Management | ||
| Greenhouse Management | ||
| Outdoor Recreation Management | ||
| Upper Division Core | ||
| AGRI 331 | Agricultural Ecology | 3 |
| AGRI 482W | Agricultural Issues (W) | 3 |
| AGRI 490W | Agricultural Experimental Research (W) | 4 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Soil Quality and Health | ||
| Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Advanced Plant Biology | ||
| Plant Physiology | ||
| Plant Diversity and Identification | ||
| Crop Physiology | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Agribusiness Management | ||
| Natural Resource Economics | ||
| Farm and Ranch Appraisal | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Holistic Management | ||
| Principles of Integrated Pest Management | ||
| Select two units from the following: | 2 | |
| Directed Work in Field and Row Crops | ||
| Directed Work in Vegetable Crops | ||
| Internship in Plant and Soil Science | ||
| Major Option | ||
| Select one of the following options: | 21-25 | |
| Total Units | 78-85 | |
Major Option Course Requirements
Students must select one of the following options for completion of the major course requirements.
The Option in Crops and Horticulture: 23-25 units
This option prepares students to manage agricultural enterprises for the production of food, feed, fuel, fiber, and ornamental crops. It comprises protection of these crops and resources against pests (insects, diseases, weeds, and vertebrates) and stewardship of their natural resources (soil, water, air, and biota). The option emphasizes sustainable land use and crop production practices. This option equips students with skills to competitively pursue graduate education or other professional opportunities in agricultural consulting, production, conservation, research, and regulation.
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation | ||
| AGRI 305 | Agricultural Genetics | 3 |
| PSSC 353 | Plant Protection Materials, Methods, and Regulations | 3 |
| Crop Production | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Irrigation | ||
| Horticultural Therapy | ||
| Production of Annual Crops | ||
| Forage Crops | ||
| Sustainable Vegetable Crop Production | ||
| Fruit and Nut Production | ||
| Agricultural Pests and Management | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Plant Pathology | ||
| Economic Entomology | ||
| Introduction to Weed Science | ||
| Crops and Horticulture Electives | ||
| Select eight to nine units from the following: 1 | 8-9 | |
| California Agriculture Seminar | ||
| Introduction to Wines | ||
| Food Forever: Comparisons of Sustainable Food Production Systems | ||
or PSSC 392 | World Food and Fiber Systems | |
| Total Units | 23-25 | |
- 1
To fulfill the requirements of this option, select additional upper-division courses from the major core, option, listed courses, or other courses in consultation with your advisor. Students may elect to take either PSSC 390 or PSSC 392 to satisfy up to three units of upper-division electives in this option. Check with your advisor on which one is most appropriate for your career path.
The Option in Land and Soil Resource Management: 21 units
Students in this option explore the ecology, extensive management, and conservation of landscapes in the rural-urban interface. This option comprises an ecological and economic approach to protection, sustainable utilization of shared resources and habitats, and control of hazards pertaining to rangelands, wetlands, agro-forestry, and other ecosystems. It equips students with skills to competitively pursue professional opportunities in ecological assessment, natural resource conservation, research, soil science, environmental consulting, regulation, and graduate education.
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Landscapes | ||
| PSSC 451 | Soil Genesis and Classification | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Fundamentals of Ecology (W) | ||
| Plant Geography | ||
| Field Ecology (W) | ||
| Geology of California | ||
| Geomorphology | ||
| Biogeography and Landscape Ecology | ||
| Resources | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| GPS & GIS in Agriculture and Natural Resource Management | ||
| Pollution Science | ||
| Hydrology | ||
| Introduction to Geographical Information Systems | ||
| Environmental Impact Analysis | ||
| Forage Crops | ||
| Management | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Water Resources Management | ||
| Introduction to Land Use Planning | ||
| Pyrogeography | ||
| Rangeland Resources and Management | ||
| Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition | ||
| Recreation Ecology | ||
| Land and Soil Resources Management Electives | ||
| Select nine units from the following: | 9 | |
Any additional upper-division courses from the major core, option, listed course below, or other courses in consultation with your advisor. | ||
| Conservation Ecology | ||
| Total Units | 21 | |
Honors in the Major
Honors in the Major is a program of independent work in your major. It requires six units of honors coursework completed over two semesters.
The Honors in the Major program allows you to work closely with a faculty mentor in your area of interest on an original performance or research project. This year-long collaboration allows you to work in your field at a professional level and culminates in a public presentation of your work. Students sometimes take their projects beyond the University for submission in professional journals, presentation at conferences, or academic competition. Such experience is valuable for graduate school and professional life. Your honors work will be recognized at your graduation, on your permanent transcripts, and on your diploma. It is often accompanied by letters of commendation from your mentor in the department or the department chair.
Some common features of Honors in the Major program are:
- You must take six units of Honors in the Major coursework. All six units are honors courses (marked by a suffix of H), and at least three of these units are independent study (399H, 499H, 599H) as specified by your department. You must complete each course with a minimum grade of B.
- You must have completed 9 units of upper-division coursework or 21 overall units in your major before you can be admitted to Honors in the Major. Check the requirements for your major carefully, as there may be specific courses that must be included in these units.
- Your cumulative GPA should be at least 3.5 or within the top 5% of majors in your department.
- Your GPA in your major should be at least 3.5 or within the top 5% of majors in your department.
- Most students apply for or are invited to participate in Honors in the Major during the second semester of their junior year. Then they complete the six units of coursework over the two semesters of their senior year.
- Your honors work culminates with a public presentation of your honors project.
Honors in the Major is not part of the Honors Program. Each department administers its own program. Please contact your major department or major advisor to apply.
See Bachelor's Degree Requirements for complete details on general degree requirements. A minimum of 39 units, including those required for the major, must be upper division.
General Education Requirements: 48 units
See General Education and the Class Schedule for the most current information on General Education Requirements and course offerings.
This major has approved GE modification(s). See below for information on how to apply these modification(s).
- ANSC 101 is an approved major course substitution for Life Science (B2).
- AGRI 482W is an approved major course substitution for Upper-Division Social Sciences (UD-D).
Diversity Course Requirements: 6 units
You must complete a minimum of two courses that focus primarily on cultural diversity. At least one course must be in US Diversity (USD) and at least one in Global Cultures (GC). See Diversity Requirements for a full list of courses. Most courses taken to satisfy these requirements may also apply to General Education.
Upper-Division Writing Requirement
Writing Across the Curriculum (EM 17-009) is a graduation requirement and may be demonstrated through satisfactory completion of four Writing (W) courses, two of which are designated by the major department. See Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning and Writing Requirements for more details on the four courses. The first of the major designated Writing (W) courses is listed below.
- AGRI 490W Agricultural Experimental Research (W)
The second major-designated Writing course is the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GW) (EO 665). Students must earn a C- or higher to receive GW credit. The GE Written Communication (A2) requirement must be completed before a student is permitted to register for a GW course.