Agroecology Specialization & Curriculum

Agroecology focuses on understanding and applying ecological principles in crop production to integrate natural biological cycles and controls, make efficient use of resources, enhance environmental quality and increase biodiversity.

Core topics: crop origins, agroecology of grasslands, plant propagation, seed science, advanced cropping systems, ecology, environmental impacts, biotic interactions, soil ecology and sustainability.

Major coursework

Select all from:

• 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) from:

• 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) from:

• HCS 5100: Advanced Cropping Systems
• HCS 5200: Advanced Horticultural Principles and Practices
• HCS 5602: The Ecology of Agriculture

Major-supporting coursework 

Select all from:

• 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)

Major electives 

Select 6-7 credit hours from:

• 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)

Please note

• **Theme courses
• ^d Review prerequisites

General education requirements

Select all from:

• 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

Select all from:

• 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)

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.

Group A: soil ecology and management 

Select 5-9 credit hours from:

• 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

Select 5-9 credit hours from:

• 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 C: population and community ecology + human ecology and global perspectives

Select remaining credit hours from:

• 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)
• 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)

Please note

• **Theme courses
• ^d Review prerequisites

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)

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

• Environmental Consultant
• Conservation Scientist
• Agricultural Manager
• Producer/Farm Manager
• County Extension Agent
• Ecologist

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Find the right global program for you

As an HCS undergraduate, an internship isn't just a necessity - it’s your built-in advantage. You'll graduate with specialized experience already on your resume, a clear sense of what you enjoy (and what you'd rather skip) and a professional network ready to hire you.

Choose your destination:

• Stay local: Build deep roots within the thriving Ohio agricultural and green industry.
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Ready to map out your journey? Check out our internship course and internship requirements

College is an investment in your future. We’re here to help you understand your options, find support and make a plan that works for you and your family.

Explore scholarship and funding opportunities

Additionally, our department is thrilled to offer scholarships of up to $10,000 for the top teams and top individual winners in select State FFA Career Development Events - check if you're eligible.

Student researchers are a valuable part of our department. Undergraduate students in HCS have a variety of opportunities to gain valuable hands-on research experience while learning new skills and techniques, which can be broadly applied across fields.

Get started with undergraduate research

Our only requirement in general admission to The Ohio State University - we have no separate application required. Please select the Horticulture and Crop Science major when applying to Ohio State if you are interested in our Agroecology specialization.

We're happy to welcome new first-year students into our HCS program.

We're happy to welcome campus changers into our HCS program.

We're happy to welcome major changers and transfer students into our HCS program.

We welcome international students to enroll in our HCS program. Please note all HCS students must complete all aspects of the HCS program including the internship. It is important that the proper work visa is in place to allow for this employment in the United States.