Agronomic Sciences
This option develops agronomists. These scientists have career opportunities with chemical, seed, and fertilizer companies; as consultants; with governmental agencies such as the departments of agriculture and/or natural resources, as pest management specialists and managers or grower organizations; in agencies involving environmental issues; and international agriculture.
| University and College Requirements (41 credits) | Credits |
| Writing, Rhetoric and American Cultures (WRA) | 4 |
| Integrative Studies in Arts and Humanities (IAH) | 8 |
| Integrative Studies in Social and Behavioral Sciences (ISS) | 8 |
| PLB 105 - Plant Biology | 3 |
| PLB 106 - Plant Biology Laboratory | 1 |
| CEM 141 - General Chemistry | 4 |
| CEM 143 - Survey of Organic Chemistry | 4 |
| CEM 161 - Chemistry Laboratory I | 1 |
| MTH 116 - College Algebra and Trigonometry | 5 |
| EC 201 - Introduction to Microeconomics | 3 |
| Departmental Requirements (48 credits) | |
| CSS 101 - Introduction to Crop Science | 3 |
| CSS 110 - Computer Applications in Agronomy | 2 |
| CSS 192 - Professional Development Seminar I | 1 |
| CSS 210 - Fundamentals of Soil and Landscape Science | 3 |
| CSS 302 - Principles of Weed Science | 3 |
| CSS 330 - Soil Chemistry | 2 |
| CSS 340 - Applied Soil Physics | 2 |
| CSS 350 - Plant Genetics | 3 |
| CSS 360 - Soil Biology | 3 |
| CSS 380 - Crop Physiology | 3 |
| CSS 470 - Soil Resources | 3 |
| CSS 480 - Soil Fertility and Management | 3 |
| CSS 488 - Agricultural Cropping Systems: Integration and Problem Solving | 3 |
| CSS 492 - Professional Development Seminar II | 1 |
| CSS 493 - Professional Internship | 3 |
| ENT 404 - Insects: Success in Biodiversity | 3 |
| PLB 301 - Introductory Plant Physiology | 3 |
| PLP 405 - Plant Pathology | 4 |
| One of the following courses (2 or 3 credits) | |
| CSS 222 - New Horizons in Biotechnology | 2 |
| CSS 441 - Plant Breeding and Biotechnology | 3 |
| CSS 451 - Biotechnology Applications for Plant Breeding and Genetics | 3 |
| Electives (28 to 29 credits) | |
Suggested Course Sequence
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | ||
| YEAR 1 | |||
| CEM 141 | 4 | CEM 143 | 4 |
| CEM 161 | 1 | ISS 2xx | 4 |
| CSS 101 | 3 | PLB 105 | 3 |
| CSS 110 | 2 | PLB 106 | 1 |
| CSS 192 | 1 | WRA | 4 |
| MTH 116 | 5 | ||
| 16 cr. | 16 cr. | ||
| YEAR 2 | |||
| CSS 210 | 3 | CSS 330 | 2 |
| EC 201 | 3 | CSS 340 | 2 |
| ISS 3xx | 4 | IAH 201-210 | 4 |
| Elective | 5 | Elective | 7 |
| 15 cr. | 15 cr. | ||
| YEAR 3 | |||
| CSS 302 | 3 | CSS 350 | 3 |
| CSS 360 | 3 | CSS 380 | 3 |
| IAH 211-241 | 4 | CSS 493 | 3 |
| PLB 301 | 3 | PLP 405 | 4 |
| Elective | 2 | Elective | 2 |
| 15 cr. | 15 cr. | ||
| YEAR 4 | |||
| CSS 470 | 3 | CSS 441 or CSS 451 | 3 |
| CSS 480 | 3 | CSS 488 | 3 |
| CSS 492 | 1 | Elective | 8 |
| ENT 404 | 3 | ||
| Elective | 4 | ||
| 14 cr. | 14 cr. | ||
Suggested Elective Courses
| Fall Semester | ||
| ABM 130 - Farm Management I - 3 cr. | ||
| ABM 222 - Agribusiness Sales - 3 cr. | ||
| ABM 225 - Commodity Marketing I - 3 cr. | ||
| ABM 332 - Agribusiness Operation Management - 3 cr. | ||
| ABM 425 - Commodity Marketing II - 3 cr. | ||
| ABM 430 - Farm Management II - 3 cr. | ||
| AE 150 - Metal Fabrication Technology - 2 cr. | ||
| AE 240 - Machine Systems and Management - 3 cr. | ||
| AE 252 - Gasoline and Diesel Engine Technology - 3 cr. | ||
| ANS 110 - Introductory Animal Agriculture - 4 cr. | ||
| ANS 232 - Introduction to Dairy Cattle Management - 3 cr. | ||
| ANS 242 - Introductory Horse Management - 3 cr. | ||
| ANS 252 - Introduction to Management of Avian Species - 3 cr. | ||
| ANS 272 - Introductory Swine Management - 3 cr. | ||
| ANS 418 - Comprehensive Nutrient Management Planning - 3 cr. | ||
| ATM 431 - Irrigation, Drainage, and Erosion Control Systems - 3 cr. | ||
| CSS 201 - Forage Crops - 3 cr. | ||
| CSS 212 - Advanced Crop Production - 2 cr. | ||
| GEO 203 - Introduction to Meteorology - 3 cr. | ||
| GEO 221 - Introduction to Geographic Information - 3 cr. | ||
| GEO 324 - Remote Sensing of the Environment - 4 cr. | ||
| GEO 325 - Geographic Information Systems< - 3 cr. | ||
| GEO 402 - Agricultural Climatology - 3 cr. | ||
| HRT 332 - Tree Fruit Production and Management - 2 cr. | ||
| STT 421 - Statistics I - 3 cr. | ||
| TSM 343 - Precision Agriculture - 3 cr. | ||
| Spring Semester | ||
| CSS 135 - Crop Scouting and Investigation - 2 cr. | ||
| CSS 151 - Seed Grain and Quality - 2 cr. | ||
| CSS 181 - Pesticide and Fertilizer Application Technology - 3 cr. | ||
| CSS 431 - World Soil and Plant Resources - 3 cr. | ||
| CSS 494 - International Agriculture Seminar - 3 cr. | ||
| ANS 110 - Introductory Animal Agriculture - 4 cr. | ||
| ANS 222 - Introduction to Beef Cattle Management - 3 cr. | ||
| ANS 262 - Introductory Sheep Management - 3 cr. | ||
| HRT 251 - Organic Farming Principles and Practices - 3 cr. | ||
| HRT 335 - Berry Crop Production and Management - 1 cr. | ||
| HRT 341 - Vegetable Production and Managemnt - 3 cr. | ||
| STT 421 - Statistics I - 3 cr. | ||
Academic Advising
For questions regarding course requirements, substituting or waiving required courses, independent study courses, and planning your semester schedule of courses, contact a Crop and Soil Sciences academic advisor:
| Taylor Johnston 384F Plant and Soil Sciences Michigan State University East Lansing, Michigan 48824-1325 phone: (517) 355-0271 ext. 1164 e-mail: johnsto4@msu.edu |
Karen Renner 482 Plant and Soil Sciences Michigan State University East Lansing, Michigan 48824-1325 phone: (517) 355-0271 ext. 1233 e-mail: renner@msu.edu |
