Plant science is a diverse major offered by the departments of Agronomy, Entomology and Nematology, and Plant Pathology. Various specializations are available. Potential careers include various aspects of production agriculture, agribusiness sales and marketing, private consulting in crop production and plant protection, environmental policy and regulation, international agriculture, and field or laboratory technical support as well as preparation for graduate school. Students should meet with an undergraduate coordinator(s) as early as possible in their academic careers.
Critical Tracking Criteria:
Critical tracking courses are bolded. Complete the bolded courses in the semester indicated to stay on track for this major.
All Specializations
| FRESHMAN YEAR | |
| Semester 1 - Fall | Credits |
| Composition (GE). | 3 |
| MAC 1147 Pre-Calculus (GE-M). | 4 |
| BOT 2010C Botany 1 (GE-B) | 3 |
| Humanities (GE)* | 3 |
|
|
13 |
| Semester 2 - Spring | Credit |
| BOT 2011C Botany 2 (GE-B). | 4 |
| Humanities (GE)* | 3 |
| SPC 2600 Speech | 3 |
| Math, Statistics, Computer Science (GE-M)** | 3-4 |
|
|
13-14 |
| SOPHOMORE YEAR | |
| Semester 3 - Fall | Credits |
| CHM 2045/L Gen Chemistry 1/Lab (GE-P). | 4 |
| ECO 2023 Microeconomics (GE-S). | 3 |
| ENC 2210 Technical Writing (GE-C). | 3 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE)*. | 3 |
| Elective. | 3 |
|
|
16 |
| Semester 4 - Spring | Credits |
| Humanities or Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-H, S). | 3 |
| PHY 2004/L Physics 1 and Lab(GE-P) | 4 |
| Electives | 10 |
|
|
17 |
** 6 hours must have an international or diversity focus.
** Select one : MAC 2233, STA 2023 or CGS 2531
AGRONOMY SPECIALIZATION
This specialization provides an understanding of the scientific fundamentals and applied principles associated with production and improvement of agronomic crops. Field and forage crops provide the major food and fiber requirements for the world’s population and are becoming increasingly important in soil conservation and sustainability, energy production and environmental issues. This specialization offers four options, depending on career choice.
Science and Technology Option
This basic sciences option is designed for a technical career or graduate
school.
| JUNIOR YEAR | |
| Semester 5 - Fall | Credits |
| AGR 3005 Principles of Crop Science. | 3 |
| CHM 2046/L Chemistry II and Lab. | 4 |
| AGR 3931C Seminar, Plant Science Info | 1 |
| BOT 2710 Practical Plant Taxonomy | 3 |
| Electives. | 4 |
|
|
15 |
| Semester 6 - Spring | Credits |
| AGR 3303 Genetics | 3 |
| AGR 4210 Field Crop Science. | 3 |
| CHM 2200/L Organic Chemistry and Lab | 4 |
| SOS 3022/L General Soils and Lab | 4 |
| Approved Elective | 1 |
|
|
15 |
| SENIOR YEAR | |
| Semester 7 - Fall | Credits |
| BCH 3025 Fundamentals of Biochemistry. | 4 |
| Approved Communications. | 3 |
| Approved Electives. | 8 |
|
|
15 |
| Semester 8 - Spring | Credits |
| BOT 3503/L Intro Plant Phys & Lab. | 6 |
| AGR 4231C Forage Science & Range Mgmt | 4 |
| Approved Electives | 5 |
|
|
15 |
Suggested Electives
(Select from the following or see adviser for approval.)
Balance of 120
credit hours necessary for graduation
| AGG 3503 Agricultural and Environmental Quality | 3 |
| AGR 4321 Plant Breeding. | 3 |
| AGR 4614C Seed Technology | 3 |
| AGR 4905 Problems in Agronomy. | 1–3 |
| AGR 4941 Work Experience in Agronomy. | 1–3 |
| AGR 5307 Molecular Genetics for Crop Improvement. | 2 |
| ENY 3005C Principles of Entomology | 3 |
| MAC 2233 Survey of Calculus 1. | 3 |
| MAC 2234 Survey of Calculus 2. | 3 |
| MCB 3020/L Biology of Microorganisms/Lab | 5 |
| MCB 4303/L Genetics of Microorganisms and Lab | 5 |
| NEM 3002 Principles of Nematology. | 3 |
| PCB 3043C Introduction to Ecology and Lab (GE-P). | 4 |
| PLP 3002C Fundamentals of Plant Pathology (GE-B). | 4 |
| PLS 3221/L Plant Propagation and Lab. | 3 |
| PLS 4242 Micropropagation of Horticultural Crops | 4 |
| PLS 4601C Weed Science. | 3 |
| STA 2023 Intro to Statistics 1 (GE-M). | 3 |
| STA 3024 Intro to Statistics 2 (GE-M). | 3 |
Crop Production and Management Option
This option is designed for
crop management, con-sulting and agro-product sales. It emphasizes
applied crop production and pest management. Students will
qualify for national and international job opportunities.
| JUNIOR YEAR | |
| Semester 5 - Fall | Credits |
| AGR 3005 Principles of Crop Science. | 3 |
| BCH 3023 Elem. Organisms & Biochemistry. | 4 |
| SOS 3022/L General Soils and Lab | 4 |
| PLP 3002C Fund of Plant Pathology*. | 4 |
|
|
15 |
| Semester 6 - Spring | Credits |
| AGR 3303 Genetics | 3 |
| AGR 4210 Field Crop Science. | 3 |
| SOS 4115 Fertilizers and Soil Fertility (even years only) | 3 |
| Approved Elective | 3 |
|
|
12 |
| Summer | Credits |
| AGR 4214C App. Field Crop Production. | 2 |
| ENY 3005C Principles of Entomology | 3 |
| Approved Elective | 1 |
|
|
6 |
| SENIOR YEAR | |
| Semester 7 - Fall | Credits |
| AGR 3931C Seminar, Plant Science Info | 1 |
| PLS 4601C Weed Science. | 3 |
| Approved Electives. | 8 |
|
|
12 |
| Semester 8 - Spring | Credits |
| AGR 4231C Forage Science & Range Mgmt | 4 |
| Approved Electives . | 11 |
|
|
15 |
* Choose two of three pest courses (ENY 3005C, Principles of Entomology and NEM 3002, Principles of Nematology)
Approved Electives
(Select from the following or see adviser for approval.)
Balance of 120 credit hours necessary for graduation
| AGG 3503 Agricultural and Environmental Quality | 3 |
| AGR 3001 Environment, Food and Society (GE-B) | 3 |
| AGR 4321 Plant Breeding | 3 |
| AGR 4905 Problems in Agronomy | 1–3 |
| AGR 4941 Work Experience in Agronomy. | 1–3 |
| AOM 3734 Irrigation Practices in Florida | 3 |
| BOT 3503/L Introduction to Plant Physiology and Lab. | 6 |
| PCB 3043C Introduction to Ecology and Lab (GE-P) | 4 |
| PMA 3010 Fundamentals of Pest Mgmt | 3 |
| PMA 4570C Field Techniques in IPM | 2 |
| VEC 3100 Introduction to World’s Vegetables. | 2 |
| VEC 3221 Commercial Production of Warm Season
Vegetables. |
4 |
| VEC 3222 Commercial Production of Cool Season
Vegetables. |
3 |
Agronomic Enterprise Management Option
This option is for a career
managing agricultural enterprises. It emphasizes the integration
of crop production with personnel management, economics and agricultural
policy.
| JUNIOR YEAR | |
| Semester 5 - Fall | Credits |
| AGR 3005 Principles of Crop Science. | 3 |
| BCH 3023 Elem. Organisms Biochemistry | 4 |
| SOS 3022/L General Soils and Lab | 4 |
| ACG 2021C Intro to Accounting. | 4 |
| AGR 3931C Seminar, Plant Science Info. | 1 |
|
|
16 |
| Semester 6 - Spring | Credits |
| AGR 4210 Field Crop Science. | 3 |
| AGR 3303 Genetics | 3 |
| AGG 3503 Agriculture and Environ Quality. | 3 |
| MAN 3025 Principles of Management | 4 |
| Approved Elective | 2 |
|
|
15 |
| SENIOR YEAR | |
| Semester 7 - Fall | Credits |
| Approved Electives. | 15 |
|
|
15 |
| Semester 8 - Spring | Credits |
| AGR 4231C Forage Science & Range Mgmt | 4 |
| AEB 3123 Law Applied to Agriculture. | 3 |
| AEB 3133 Principles of Agribusiness Mgmt. | 3 |
| Approved Electives. | 5 |
|
|
15 |
Suggested Electives
(Select from the following or
see adviser for approval.). Balance of 120 credit hours
necessary for graduation
| AGR 3001 Environment, Food and Society. | 3 |
| AGR 4214C Applied Field Crop Production | 2 |
| AGR 4905 Problems in Agronomy | 1–3 |
| AEB 3341 Strategic Selling | 3 |
| AEB 3424 Human Resource Management in Agribusiness. | 3 |
| AGG 4444 Agricultural and Natural Resource Ethics. | 3 |
| ENY 3005C Principles of Entomology | 3 |
| MAR 3023 Principles of Marketing | 4 |
| NEM 3002 Principles of Nematology. | 3 |
| PLP 3002C Fundamentals of Plant Pathology | 4 |
| PLS 4601C Weed Science. | 3 |
| Foreign language Minimum. | 6 |
Agricultural Ecosystems Management Option
This curriculum studies the
interrelationships between the environment and agricultural production.
It emphasizes the ecological impacts of agricultural practices and the
responsible use of resources.
| JUNIOR YEAR | |
| Semester 5 - Fall | Credits |
| AGR 3005 Principles of Crop Science. | 3 |
| BCH 3023 Elem. Organisms & Biochemistry. | 4 |
| SOS 3022/L General Soils and Lab | 4 |
| AGR 3931C Seminar, Plant Science Info. | 1 |
| Electives. | 2 |
|
|
14 |
| Semester 6 - Spring | Credits |
| AGR 3303 Genetics. | 3 |
| AGR 3001 Environment, Food and Society. | 3 |
| SOS 4115 Fertilizers and Soil Fertility (even years only). | 3 |
| EES 3000 Environment, Science and Humanity. | 3 |
| AGG 3503 Ag and Environmental Quality. | 3 |
|
|
15 |
| Summer | Credits |
| AGR 4214C App. Field Crop Production | 2 |
| Electives (Genetics, 3 cr) | 4 |
|
|
6 |
| SENIOR YEAR | |
| Semester 7 - Fall | Credits |
| PLS 4601C Weed Science | 3 |
| Approved Electives | 9 |
|
|
12 |
| Semester 8 - Spring | Credits |
| PMA 3010 Fundamentals of Pest Mgmt | 3 |
| SOS 4242 Wetlands and Water Quality | 3 |
| Approved Electives | 7 |
|
|
13 |
Suggested Electives
(Select from the following or
see adviser for approval.) Balance of 120 credit
hours necessary for graduation
| AGR 4210 Field Crop Science. | 3 |
| AGR 4231C Forage Science and Range Management | 4 |
| AGR 4905 Problems in Agronomy. | 1–3 |
| AGR 4941 Work Experience in Agronomy. | 1–3 |
| AGE 3212C Soil and Water Conservation Engineering | 4 |
| AGG 4932 Sustainable Agriculture. | 3 |
| AOM 3333 Pesticide Application | 3 |
| BOT 3503/L Introduction to Plant Physiology and Lab. | 6 |
| EES 3008 Energy and Environment. | 3 |
| EES 4241C Intro to Water Analysis | 3 |
| ENY 3005C Principles of Entomology | 3 |
| FRC 3283 Deciduous Fruit Culture. | 3 |
| NEM 3002 Principles of Nematology. | 3 |
| PCB 3043C Introduction to Ecology & Lab | 4 |
| PLP 3002C Fund of Plant Pathology. | 4 |
| SOS 4231C Soils and Land Use. | 3 |
| SOS 4404 Soil Chemistry | 3 |
| VEC 3221 Commercial Production of Warm Season
Vegetables. |
4 |
| VEC 3222 Commercial Production of Cool Season
Vegetables. |
3 |
PLANT PATHOLOGY SPECIALIZATION
The specialization trains students to diagnose plant diseases, to identify the microbes and the environmental factors that cause disease in plants, and to study the molecular and genetic principles governing infec-tion and development of plant disease and disease epidemics. It prepares students to work in laboratory and field settings and to develop and prescribe envi-ronmentally safe methods and materials for avoiding or treating plant diseases in agricultural and urban environments.
Biotechnology Option
This option is designed for
students who plan to enter graduate school or to work in the research laboratories
of biotechnological firms, universities or government agencies.
| JUNIOR YEAR | |
| Semester 5 - Fall | Credits |
| AGR 3005 Principles of Crop Science. | 3 |
| BCH 3023 Elem. Organisms & Biochemistry. | 4 |
| PLP 3002C Fund of Plant Pathology. | 4 |
| PLP 3653C Intro to Mycology (even years) | 5 |
|
|
16 |
| Semester 6 - Spring | Credits |
| MCB 2000/L Microbiology and Lab. | 4 |
| PLP 3103C Plant Disease Control (odd years). | 3 |
| SOS 3022/3022L General Soils and Lab | 4 |
| MCB 3020/L Biol. of Microorganisms & Lab | 5 |
|
|
16 |
| SENIOR YEAR | |
| Semester 7 - Fall | Credits |
| AGR 3303 Genetics | 3 |
| PLP 4931 Seminar in Plant Pathology. | 1 |
| ENY 3005C Principles of Entomology
BCH 4024 Intro Biochem & Molecular Bio. |
3
4 |
| Approved Elective | 3 |
|
|
14 |
| Semester 8 - Spring | Credits |
| BOT 3503/L Intro Plant Physiology & Lab. | 6 |
| PLS 4242C Micropropagation of Horticultural Crops | 4 |
| Approved Electives | 4 |
|
|
14 |
Approved Electives
(Select from the following or see adviser for approval.).
Balance of 120 credit hours necessary for graduation
| AGR 4321 Plant Breeding. | 3 |
| AGR 5307 Molecular Genetics for Crop Improvement. | 2 |
| AGG 5932 Principles of Genetics. | 3 |
| MCB 4303, MCB 4303L Genetics of Microorganisms and
Lab |
5 |
| PLP 6303, PLP 6303L Molecular Plant Pathology and Lab | 4 |
| STA 2023 Intro to Statistics 1. | 3 |
| STA 3024 Intro to Statistics 2. | 3 |
Agricultural Technology Option
This option prepares students
to work for com-modity, seed and agrichemical industries that diagnose
or test for plant diseases. This option also prepares students to work
as private practitioners and to enter graduate school.
| JUNIOR YEAR | |
| Semester 5 - Fall | Credits |
| AGR 3005 Principles of Crop Science. | 3 |
| BCH 3023 Elem. Organisms & Biochemistry. | 4 |
| PLP 3002/L Fund of Plant Pathology & Lab | 4 |
| PLP 3653C Intro to Mycology (even years) | 5 |
|
|
16 |
| Semester 6 - Spring | Credits |
| BOT 3503/3503L Intro Plant Phys and Lab. | 6 |
| MCB 2000/L Microbiology and Lab. | 4 |
| PLP 3103C Plant Disease Control (odd years) | 3 |
| Approved Elective | 2 |
|
|
15 |
| SENIOR YEAR | |
| Semester 7 - Fall | Credits |
| AGR 3303 Genetics | 3 |
| PLP 4931 Seminar in Plant Pathology. | 1 |
| ENY 3005C Principles of Entomology | 3 |
| PMA 3010 Funds of Pest Mgmt. | 3 |
| SOS 3022/L General Soils and Lab | 4 |
| Approved Elective | 2 |
|
|
16 |
| Semester 8 - Spring | Credits |
| NEM 3002 Principles of Nematology. | 3 |
| Approved Electives | 10 |
|
|
13 |
Approved Electives
(Select from the following or see adviser for approval.).
Balance of 120 credit hours necessary for graduation
| AEB 3133 Principles of Agribusiness Management | 3 |
| AGR 3001 Environment, Food & Society. | 3 |
| AOM 3333 Pesticide Application. | 3 |
| PMA 4570C Field Techniques in IPM | 2 |
| PLP 6404 Epidemiology of Plant Disease. | 4 |
| PLS 4601C Weed Science. | 3 |
PLANT SCIENCE MINOR
Undergraduates whose major is not plant science can minor in
agronomy. This program is under the direction of the agronomy department
and requires a minimum of 15 credits. Interested students are encouraged
to consult agronomy advisers early in their academic careers.
| AGR 3005 Principles of Crop Science | 3 |
| Select two of the following six courses | (5–8 credits) |
| AGR 4210 Field Crop Science. | 3 |
| AGR 4231C Forage Science and Range Mgmt. | 4 |
| AGR 4614C Seed Technology. | 3 |
| AGR 4214C Applied Field Crop Production | 2 |
| AGR 5277C Tropical Crops. | 3 |
| SOS 3022, SOS 3022L Gen Soils and Lab | 4 |
| Select one of the following three courses: | |
| AGR 3303 Genetics | 3 |
| AGR 4321 Plant Breeding | 3 |
| AGG 5932 Principles of Genetics | 1–4 |
| Select one of the following three courses: | |
| AGR 5266C Field Plot Techniques | 3 |
| PLS 4601C Weed Science | 3 |
| PLS 5652 Herbicide Technology | 3 |
PLANT MOLECULAR & CELLULAR BIOLOGY MINOR
This interdisciplinary minor is co-sponsored and coordinated by the departments of Agronomy, Environmental Horticulture, Horticultural Sciences, Plant Pathology and Microbiology and Cell Science. It is particularly appropriate for students majoring in horticultural science, microbiology and cell science and plant science, although it is available to students in other majors.
This minor offers academic training and hands-on experience in current laboratory techniques. Students prepare for graduate school or laboratory positions in plant biotechnology.
Contact Dr. D.S. Wofford for information and advising.
| Course requirements for the minor | Credits |
| HOS 3370 Introduction to Plant Molecular Biology | 3 |
| BOT 2011C Plant Diversity | 3 |
| CHM 2210 Organic Chemistry | 3 |
| CHM 2211 Organic Chemistry | 3 |
| Either BOT 3503 Introductory Plant Physiology. | 4 |
| Or HOS 4304 Hortic Physiology. | 5 |
| Either AGR 3303 Genetics | 3 |
| Or PCB 3063 Genetics . | 4 |
| Either BCH 4024 Intro. Biochemistry & Molecular Biology. | 4 |
| Or CHM 4207 Intro. Biochemistry & Molecular Biology. | 4 |
| AGG 4368 Lab Methods in Plant Molecular Biology. | 2 |
| Select one of the following three courses: | |
| MCB 4303 & 4303L Genetics of Microorganisms & Lab. | 4 |
| MCB 3020 /L Intro. to Microbiology & Cell Science and
Lab |
5 |
| PLS 4242C Micropropagation of Horticultural Crops | 4 |