Agroecology Specialization

Major coursework

• HCS 2202: Form and Function in Cultivated Plants (4 credit hours)
• HCS 2204: Ecology of Managed Plant Systems** (3 credit hours)
• HCS 2205: Ecology of Managed Plant Systems Lab (1 credit hour)
• HCS 2260: Data Analysis and Interpretation for Decision Making (3 credit hours)
• HCS 3100: Intro to Agronomy (3 credit hours)
  • -or- HCS 3200: Intro to Horticulture (3 credit hours)
• HCS 3220: Crop Origins and Diversity (2 credit hours)
• HCS 3310: Crop Responses to the Environment (3 credit hours)
• HCS 3320: Plant Propagation (3 credit hours)
  • -or- HCS 3420: Seed Science (3 credit hours)
• HCS 5422: Biology & Mgmt. of Weeds and Invasive Plants (3 credit hours)
• ENR 3000: Soil Science (3 credit hours)
• ENR 3001: Soil Science Laboratory (1 credit hours)
• Select one production course (3 credit hours)
  • HCS 5411: Grain, Oilseed, and Fiber Crops
  • HCS 5412: Agroecology of Grasslands and Prairies
  • HCS 5450: Veg Crop Production & Physiology
  • HCS 5460: Fruit Crop Physiology & Production
• Select one capstone course (3 credit hours)
  • HCS 5100: Advanced Cropping Systems
  • HCS 5200: Advanced Horticultural Principles and Practices
  • HCS 5602: The Ecology of Agriculture

Major electives (select 6-7 credit hours)

• HCS 2307: Sustainable Agriculture Practical Experience (2 credit hours)
• HCS 3380: Latino Workforce in Land Based Industry (2 credit hours)
• HCS 3488.01: Professional Development in HCS (1-3 credit hours)
• HCS 3521: Greenhouse Systems and Management (2 credit hours)
• HCS 3522: Sustainable Irrigation (3 credit hours)
• HCS/AGSYSMT 3585: Digital Agriculture** (3 credit hours)
• HCS/AGSYSMT 3586: Digital Agriculture Laboratory** (1 credit hour)
• HCS 4193: Individual Studies (1-3 credit hours)
• HCS 4300: Hydroponic Crop Production (2 credit hours)
• HCS 4301: Hydroponic Crop Production Lab (1 credit hour)
• HCS 4520: Medicinal Plants (2 credit hours)
• HCS 4998: Undergraduate Research (1-6 credit hours)
• HCS 4999: Research with Distinction (1-6 credit hours)
• HCS 4999HL: Honors Research with Distinction (1-6 credit hours)
• HCS 5097.01-.04 & 5797.01-.04: Study Abroad Pre-Departure & Study Abroad (4 credit hours)
• HCS 5306: Sustainable Vegetable Production Practicum (3 credit hours)
• HCS 5325: Plant Genetics (3 credit hours)
• HCS 5420: Environmental Impacts of Crop-Livestock Systems (3 credit hours)
• HCS 5621: Physiology of Cultivated Plants (3 credit hours)
• HCS 5622^d: Biochemical Processes in Cultivated Plants (3 credit hours)
• HCS 5625^d: Applied Plant Biotechnology (2 credit hours)
• HCS 5825^d: Plant Breeding (2 credit hours)
• HCS 5887: Introduction to Experimental Design (3 credit hours)

Major-supporting coursework 

• BIOLOGY 1114: Biological Sciences: Form, Function, Diversity, and Ecology (4 credit hours)
• EEOB 3310.01 or .02: Evolution (4 credit hours)
• EEOB 3410: Ecology (4 credit hours)

General education requirements

• GE Launch Seminar: GENED 1201 (1 credit hour)
• Writing and Information Literacy: Student Choice (3 credit hours)
• Mathematical & Quantitative Reasoning/Data Analysis: Major requirement: MATH 1130, 1148, 1150, 1151, or 1156* (or Student Choice – see below) (4-5 credit hours)
• Literary, Visual and Performing Arts: Student Choice (3 credit hours)
• Historical & Cultural Studies: Student Choice (3 credit hours)
• Natural Science: Major requirement: BIOLOGY 1113* (or Student Choice – see below) (4 credit hours)
• Social & Behavioral Sciences: Major requirement: AEDECON 2001 or ECON 2001.01* (or Student Choice – see below) (3 credit hours)
• Race, Ethnic and Gender Diversity: Student Choice (3 credit hours)
• Theme: Citizenship for a Diverse & Just World^a: Student Choice (4-6 credit hours)
• Theme: Student Choice^a: Student Choice (4-6 credit hours)
• GE Reflection: GENED 4001 (1 credit hour)

B.S. in Agriculture degree requirements

• College & Department Survey: FAES 1100 (0.5) & HCS 1100 (0.5) (1 credit hour)
• Oral Expression: AGRCOMM 3130 or COMM 2110 (3 credit hours)
• Additional Science: CHEM 1110, 1210, or 1220 (5 credit hours)
• Internship: FAES 3191 & HCS 4191.01 (2 credit hours)
• Minor Equiv.^b: Minor requirements below (15-18 credit hours)

Select a minimum of 5-9 credit hours from both Group A and Group B; remainder of credits from Group C1 and/or C2.

Group A: soil ecology and management

• ENR 3700: Introduction to Spatial Information for ENR (3 credit hours)
• ENR 4260: Soil Resource Management (3 credit hours)
• ENR 4285: Watershed Hydrology (3 credit hours)
• ENR 5260: Soil Landscapes: Morphology, Genesis & Classification (3 credit hours)
• ENR 5263: Biology of Soil Ecosystems (3 credit hours)
• ENR 5268: Soils and Climate Change (3 credit hours)
• ENR 5270: Soil Fertility (3 credit hours)
• ENR 5279: Urban Soils and Ecosystem Services (3 credit hours)

Group B: biotic interactions in agroecosystems

• ANIMSCI 3400: Management Intensive Grazing (2 credit hours)
• ENTMLGY 2200: Beekeeping (3 credit hours)
• ENTMLGY 4600: Introduction to Insect Science (1 credit hour)
• ENTMLGY 4601: General Insect Pest Management (2 credit hours)
• ENTMLGY 5420: Insect Behavior (3 credit hours)
• ENTMLGY 5500: Biological Control of Arthropod Pests (3 credit hours)
• ENTMLGY 5600: Integrated Pest Management (3 credit hours)
• PLNTPTH 3001: General Plant Pathology (3 credit hours)
• PLNTPTH 3002: General Plant Pathology Lab (2 credit hours)
• PLNTPTH 5110: Ecology and Mgt of Pathogens and Insects Affecting Trees in Forest & Urban Env. (3 credit hours)
• PLNTPTH 5140: Diseases of Field Crops (2 credit hours)
• PLNTPTH 5150: Diseases of Vegetable and Fruit Crops (2 credit hours)
• PLNTPTH 5603: Plant Disease Management (3 credit hours)

Group C1: population and community ecology

• AGSYSMT 5560: UAS and Remote Sensing in Agriculture (3 credit hours)
• EEOB 4410: Conservation Biology (3 credit hours)
• EEOB 4430: Ecological Methods I (2 credit hours)
• EEOB 5450: Population Ecology (3 credit hours)
• EEOB 5470: Community and Ecosystem Ecology (3 credit hours)
• ENR 4320^d: Sustainable Forest Products (3 credit hours)
• ENR 5274: Ecosystems Simulation (3 credit hours)

Group C2: human ecology and global perspectives

• AEDECON 4532: Food Security and Globalization (3 credit hours)
• ANIMSCI 3600: Global Food and Agriculture (3 credit hours)
• EEOB 4240: Ecology & Evolution of Plants and People (3 credit hours)
  • -or-  ANTHRO 5614: Ethnobotany (3 credit hours)
• HCS/AGSYSMT 3585: Digital Agriculture** (3 credit hours)
• HCS/AGSYSMT 3586: Digital Agriculture Laboratory** (1 credit hour)
• ENR 5600^d: Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems (3 credit hours)
• GEOG 3900: Global Climate Change (3 credit hours)
• GEOG 5900: Weather, Climate, & Global Warming (3 credit hours)

Credit breakdown

• General Education (33-38 credit hours)
• Degree Requirements (26-29 credit hours)
• Major Supporting Courses (12 credit hours)
• Major (41-42 credit hours)
• Open Electives (0-9 credit hours)
• Minimum Total Credit Hours (121 credit hours)

Please note

• * Indicates a pre/corequisite course for this major that also satisfies this GE category. If a student makes an alternative selection in this GE category, they must also complete this course.
• ^a Students complete either a 4-credit course or two 3-credit courses in each of two General Education Theme areas: Citizenship for a Diverse & Just World (required), and the student’s choice of available GE Themes. If any major-required courses are identified as a GE Theme course, one course in each GE Theme area may double count in the GE and major hours. Theme courses are identified with a ** symbol.
• ^b Students in this program complete a group of courses called a minor equivalent. Declaring an additional minor is not required.
• ^c Only up to 6 credits of any combination of 4193, 4998, 4999, or 4999H can count towards major electives.
• ^d Review prerequisites.

Read all policies and general requirements for undergraduate degree programs and minors/minor equivalents