Mar 28, 2024  
2020-2021 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2020-2021 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Plant and Environmental Sciences: Agronomy Concentration, BS


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Program Requirements


The BS degree program in Plant and Environmental Sciences is a multidisciplinary program that educates students with expertise in soils, crop sciences, and applied agricultural biotechnology. It offers students a rigorous, science-based degree with educational opportunities related to management of agricultural commodities and natural resources, as well as soil and water resources. Students can tailor the program to fit their professional and academic goals by selecting one of three concentrations.

The Agricultural Biotechnology Concentration integrates conventional disciplines with molecular advances in plants, pathogens, and biosystem interactions and responds to the educational void between the rapid adoption of biotechnology products into agricultural production and the intermediate- and end-users, farmers, and consumers. Graduates in this concentration will be competitive as scientists in emerging agricultural biotechnology industries, as educators, and as policy makers and officers in regulatory agencies.

Students with a concentration in Agronomy will graduate with comprehensive knowledge to increase farm profits by decreasing the costs of crop production; build soil tilth and fertility through rotations, multiple cropping, and nutrient cycling; protect the environment by minimizing or more efficiently using synthetic agrichemicals; manage crop pests and weeds with integrated, ecologically sound strategies; develop strategies for profitable marketing of agricultural commodities; and create a strong, diversified agriculture that is stable through market and weather fluctuations. Graduates can assume positions as self-employed farmers, farm managers, state and federal natural resource managers, research technicians, agricultural industry employees, greenhouse managers, consultants in pest management and sustainable agriculture, field ecology professionals, agritourism industry specialists, extension personnel, or regulatory officers.

Students with a concentration in Soil and Water Science can address compelling problems such as land application of agricultural and industrial wastes, reduction of contamination of ground and surface waters, establishment of functional septic drain fields, and production of food and fiber crops. Graduates will be able to establish careers in traditional agrarian fields such as soil scientists and conservationists, extension agents, and farm consultants, and in the broader environmental arenas of DHEC, consulting engineering firms, and environmental consulting. Graduates will be well prepared for graduate work in fields ranging from soil science to environmental engineering and law.

Combined Bachelor of Science/Master of Science Degree Program


Plant and Environmental Sciences students may begin a Master of Science degree in Plant and Environmental Sciences or a Master of Science degree in Entomology while completing their Bachelor of Science degree, and use up to 12 credits to satisfy the requirements of both the undergraduate and the graduate degrees. To be eligible for this plan, students must have a 3.4 or higher grade-point average and have completed at least 90 credits of coursework. Details are available from the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences.

Freshman Year


Credit Hours: 14

Second Semester


Credit Hours: 17-18

Note:


1* BIOL 1100  may substitute for BIOL 1030 /BIOL 1050  and BIOL 1110  may substitute for BIOL 1040 /BIOL 1060 ; BIOL 1100  and BIOL 1110  are recommended for students in the Agricultural Biotechnology Concentration.

2* See General Education Requirements . PHIL 1030  is recommended for students in the Agricultural Biotechnology Concentration.

Concentration


Sophomore Year


Credit Hours: 6


Junior Year


Senior Year


First Semester


  • 1-6 Credits (3 Credits Required)
  • Arts and Humanities (Literature) Requirement 3 Credits 1
  • Concentration Requirement 3 Credits 2
  • Social Science Requirement 3 Credits 1
Credit Hours: 12

Credit Hours: 12

Total Credits: 120-121


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