Agronomy
A specialization of our Horticulture and Crop Science major
Optimize crop yields, manage farm resources and solve real-world food security challenges while you become an agronomist. 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, including Agronomy - check if you're eligible.
What you'll study
Agronomy combines biological, chemical and environmental sciences to build smarter, more efficient cropping systems. You'll learn to optimize crop yields, manage farm resources and solve real-world food security challenges.
As a Horticulture and Crop Science major you’ll participate in hands-on-learning including labs and interactive activities in nearly every major course.
Program requirements can grow and change - always be sure to check with your academic advisor to ensure you are on the right track. Please feel free to reach out to Alex Lindsey for any academic advising questions related to this specialization.
Agronomy is the application of biological, chemical and physical principles to crops and cropping systems to increase their efficiency in converting light and supplemental resources into food, feed and fiber products. You’ll learn to effectively regulate crop productivity through management decisions as you study the interrelationships among physical and biological factors.
Core topics: seed science, data analysis, farm production, integrated pest management, agronomic crops, weed science, plant physiology, consulting, soil resource management and farm management.
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)
- HCS 3310: Crop Responses to the Environment (3 credit hours)
- HCS 3420: Seed Science (3 credit hours)
- HCS 5100: Advanced Cropping Systems (Capstone) (3 credit hours)
- HCS 5325: Plant Genetics (3 credit hours)
- HCS 5411: Domestic & Utility Agronomic Crops (3 credit hours)
- HCS 5412: Agroecology of Grasslands and Prairies (3 credit hours)
- HCS 5422: Biology & Management of Weeds and Invasive Plants (3 credit hours)
- ENR 3000: Soil Science (3 credit hours)
- ENR 3001: Soil Science Laboratory (1 credit hour)
- ENTMLGY 4600: Intro to Insect Science (1 credit hour)
- ENTMLGY 4601: General Insect Pest Management (2 credit hours)
- PLNTPTH 3001: General Plant Pathology (3 credit hours)
- PLNTPTH 3002: General Plant Pathology Lab (2 credit hours)
Select all from:
- AGSYSMT 4580: Precision Agriculture (2 credit hours)
- -or- ENR 3700: Intro to Spatial Info for ENR (3 credit hours)
- ENR 5270: Soil Fertility (3 credit hours)
Major electives
Select 6-7 credit hours from:
- HCS 3220: Crop Origins and Diversity (2 credit hours)
- HCS 3488.01: Professional Development in Hort. and Crop Science (1-3 credit hours)
- HCS/AGSYSMT 3585: Digital Agriculture** (3 credit hours)
- HCS/AGSYSMT 3586: Digital Agriculture Laboratory** (1 credit hour)
- HCS 4193: Individual Studiesc (1-3 credit hours)
- HCS 4520: Medicinal Plants (2 credit hours)
- HCS 4998: Undergraduate Researchc (1-6 credit hours)
- HCS 4999: Research with Distinctionc (1-6 credit hours)
- HCS 4999H: Honors Research with Distinctionc (1-6 credit hours)
- HCS 5097.01-.04 & 5797.01-.04: Study Abroad Pre-Departure & Study Abroad (4 credit hours)
- HCS 5420: Environmental Impacts of Crop-Livestock Systems (3 credit hours)
- HCS 5602: Ecology of Agriculture (3 credit hours)
- HCS 5621: Physiology of Cultivated Plants (3 credit hours)
- HCS 5622: Biochemical Processes in Cultivated Plants (3 credit hours)
- HCS 5625: Applied Plant Biotechnology (2 credit hours)
- HCS 5825: Plant Breeding (2 credit hours)
- HCS 5887: Introduction to Experimental Design (3 credit hours)
Please Note
- ** Theme courses
- c Only up to 6 credits of any combination of 4193, 4998, 4999, or 4999H can count towards major electives.
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 Worlda: Student Choice (4-6 credit hours)
- Theme: Student Choicea: 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.
Select courses from one of the following groups:
Group A: farm production and management
If choosing Group A select 10-13 credit hours from:
- AEDECON 2105: Managerial Records and Analysis (3 credit hours)
- AEDECON 3101: Principles of Agribusiness Management (3 credit hours)
- AEDECON 3104: Farm Business Management (3 credit hours)
- AEDECON 3114: Commodity Futures and Option Markets (3 credit hours)
- AEDECON 3124: Grain Merchandising (3 credit hours)
- AEDECON 3170: Agribusiness Law (3 credit hours)
- AGSYSMT 2370: Environmental Hydrology (2 credit hours)
- AGSYSMT 3232: Engines and Power Transmission (3 credit hours)
- -or- AGSYSMT 3360: Agricultural Machinery Management (3 credit hours)
- AGSYSMT 3330: Grain Handling, Drying, Milling (3 credit hours)
- HCS/AGSYSMT 3585: Digital Agriculture** (3 credit hours)
- HCS/AGSYSMT 3586: Digital Agriculture Laboratory** (1 credit hour)
- ANIMSCI 2200.01: Introductory Animal Sciences (3 credit hours)
- ANIMSCI 2200.02: Introductory Animal Sciences Lab (1 credit hour)
- ENR 3280: Water Quality Management (2 credit hours)
- ENR 4260: Soil Resource Management (3 credit hours)
- ENTMLGY 5600: Integrated Pest Management (3 credit hours)
- ENTMLGY 5800: Pesticide Science (3 credit hours)
- PLNTPTH 5140: Diseases of Field Crops (2 credit hours)
- PLNTPTH 5603: Plant Disease Management (3 credit hours)
Group B: consulting and industry
If choosing this Group B select 10-13 credit hours from:
- AEDECON 3101: Principles of Agribusiness Management (3 credit hours)
- AECDEON 3102: Principles of Agribusiness Marketing (3 credit hours)
- -or- BUSML 3150: Foundations of Marketing (3 credit hours)
- AEDECON 3160: Human Resources Management in Small Businesses (3 credit hours)
- -or- BUSMHR 3100: Foundations of Management and Human Resources (3 credit hours)
- AGSYSMT 2371: Land Surveying for Agricultural and Environmental Systems (1 credit hour)
- AGSYSMT 2580: Introduction to Digital Agriculture (2 credit hours)
- AGSYSMT 3330: Grain Handling, Drying, Milling (3 credit hours)
- HCS/AGSYSMT 3585: Digital Agriculture** (3 credit hours)
- HCS/AGSYSMT 3586: Digital Agriculture Laboratory** (1 credit hour)
- AGSYSMT 4300: Engineering Applications in Agriculture (4 credit hours)
- AGSYSMT 5560: UAS and Remote Sensing in Agriculture (3 credit hours)
- AEDECON 3121: Salesmanship in Agribusiness (2 credit hours)
- BUSMHR 2000: Introduction to International Business (1.5 credit hours)
- ENR 4260: Soil Resource Management (3 credit hours)
- ENTMLGY 5600: Integrated Pest Management (3 credit hours)
- ENTMLGY 5800: Pesticide Science (3 credit hours)
- PLNTPTH 5140: Diseases of Field Crops (2 credit hours)
- PLNTPTH 5603: Plant Disease Management (3 credit hours)
Group C: research
If choosing Group C select 10-13 credit hours from:
- CHEM 2310d: Introductory Organic Chemistry (4 credit hours)
- BIOCHEM 4511d: Introduction to Biological Chemistry (4 credit hours)
- EEOB 3310.01 -or- 3310.02: Evolution (4 credit hours)
- EEOB 3410: Ecology (4 credit hours)
- ENR 5261: Environmental Soil Physics (3 credit hours)
Please note
- ** Theme courses
- d Review prerequisites
- Courses selected as major elective options cannot also count in the minor equivalent.
Credit breakdown
- General Education (33-38 credit hours)
- Degree Requirements (26-29 credit hours)
- Major (53-54 credit hours)
- Open Electives (0-9 credit hours)
- Minimum Total Credit Hours (121 credit hours)
Career opportunities and more
- Agronomist
- Crop Consultant
- Field Trial Coordinator
- Farmer
- Fertilizer Sales Manager
- Water Quality Extension Educator
Ready for a once in a lifetime experience? Global Education is the opportunity to make the world your classroom. You'll get to travel with a group of peers, navigate a new culture, build skills that will aid you in your career and gain a new perspective on the world! Scholarships and financial aid assistance are available to help put these opportunities within your reach.
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.
- Cross state lines: Explore operations all across the U.S.
- Go global: Ever dreamed of working in the Netherlands, Australia or beyond? Through the Ohio International Intern Program (TOP), we make it possible.
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.
How to become an HCS: Agronomy major
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 Agronomy 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.
Not sure if our program is a good fit for you?
We get it, it's a big decision! Let us help you make it easier; contact us with questions and to learn more about the career options our programs can open for you. We're also happy to set up a fully custom campus visit experience for you as well.