The Bachelor of Science in Agriculture

Total Course Requirements for the Bachelor’s Degree: 120 units

See “Requirements for the Bachelor’s Degree” in The University Catalog for complete details on general degree requirements. A minimum of 40 units, including those required for the major, must be upper division.

The department has prepared a suggested Four Year Advising Plan to help students meet all graduation requirements within four years. Please request a plan from your major adviser or view it and other current advising information on the CSU, Chico Web.

General Education Requirements: 48 units

See “General Education Requirements” in The University Catalog and The Class Schedule for the most current information on General Education Requirements and course offerings. The course requirements marked below with an asterisk (*) may also be applied toward General Education.

Note: For this Major, effective Fall 2004, ABUS 080 may be applied to General Education Breadth Area D1.

Cultural Diversity Course Requirements: 6 units

See “Cultural Diversity” in The University Catalog. Most courses used to satisfy these requirements may also apply to General Education.

American Institutions Requirement: 6 units

See the “American Institutions Requirement” under “Bachelor’s Degree Requirements.” This requirement is normally fulfilled by completing HIST 050 and POLS 055. For this major, HIST 050 may also be applied to General Education Breadth Area C1, C2, or C3, and POLS 055 may also be applied to General Education Breadth Area D1, D2, or D3.

Literacy Requirement:

See “Mathematics and Writing Requirements” in The University Catalog. Writing proficiency in the major is a graduation requirement and may be demonstrated through satisfactory completion of a course in your major which has been designated as the Writing Proficiency (WP) course for the semester in which you take the course. Students who earn below a C- are required to repeat the course and earn a C- or better to receive WP credit. See The Class Schedule for the designated WP courses for each semester. You must pass ENGL 001 (or its equivalent) with a C- or better before you may register for a WP course.

Course Requirements for the Major: 83 units

The following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, are required of all candidates for this degree. Additional required courses, dependent upon a selected option or advising pattern, are outlined following the degree core program requirements.

DEGREE CORE PROGRAM: 46 units

Lower-Division Core: 33 units

6 courses required:

ABUS 080 Intro to Ag Business/Economics 3.0 FS

AGRI 010 The University Experience 1.0 FS

ANSC 002 Introduction to Animal Science 3.0 FS *

MATH 005 Statistics 3.0 FS *

Prerequisites: Completion of ELM requirement.

PSSC 002 Introduction to Plant Science 3.0 FS *

PSSC 050 Introduction to Soil Science 3.0 FS

Prerequisites: CHEM 027 or CHEM 037.

1 course selected from:

CHEM 027 Gen Chem for Applied Sciences 4.0 FS *

Prerequisites: Intermediate Algebra.

CHEM 037 General Chemistry 4.0 FS *

Prerequisites: Second-year high school algebra; one year high school chemistry or CHEM 016. (One year of high school physics and one year of high school mathematics past Algebra II are recommended.)

1 course selected from:

CHEM 028 Organic Chem for Applied Science 4.0 FS

Prerequisites: CHEM 027 or CHEM 037.

CHEM 038 General Chemistry 4.0 FS

Prerequisites: CHEM 037.

2 courses selected from:

ABUS 083 Farm Accounting 3.0 FS

AGET 085 Agricultural Machine Systems 3.0 FS

ANSC 011 Animal Feeds and Nutrition 3.0 FS

3 units selected from:

Any ABUS, AGET, AGRI, ANSC, or PSSC courses selected in consultation with an adviser.

Upper-Division Core: 13 units

4 courses required:

AGRI 111 Agricultural Ecology 3.0 FS

Prerequisites: Completion of lower division core.

AGRI 230A Agricultural Experimental Res 4.0 FS

Prerequisites: AGRI 111.

AGRI 230B Agricultural Experimental Res 3.0 FS

Prerequisites: AGRI 230A.

AGRI 292 Agricultural Issues 3.0 FS

Prerequisites: ENGL 001 (or its equivalent) with a grade of C- or higher.

Major Option Course Requirements: 37 units

The following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, are required dependent upon the option chosen. Students must select one of the following options for completion of the major course requirements.

THE OPTION IN AGRISCIENCE AND EDUCATION: 37 units

3 courses required:

AGRI 145 Agri Genetics & Biotechnology 4.0 SP

Prerequisites: ANSC 002 or BIOL 008 or PSSC 002; CHEM 037 or CHEM 027.

AGET 090 General Farm Mechanics 3.0 FA

ABUS 183N Agribusiness Mgmt for Non-Majors 3.0 FA

Prerequisites: ABUS 080.

1 course selected from:

ANSC 100 Intermediate Animal Systems 3.0 FS

Prerequisites: ANSC 002.

PSSC 160 Ecology of Crop Production 3.0 S2

Prerequisites: AGRI 111.

24 units selected from:

Any upper-division Agriculture (AGRI), Animal Science (ANSC), Agricultural Engineering Technology (AGET), Plant and Soil Sciences (PSSC), or Agricultural Business (ABUS) courses. All courses must be approved by your adviser.

THE OPTION IN ANIMAL SCIENCE: 37 units

5 courses required:

AGRI 145 Agri Genetics & Biotechnology 4.0 SP

Prerequisites: ANSC 002 or BIOL 008 or PSSC 002; CHEM 037 or CHEM 027.

ANSC 100 Intermediate Animal Systems 3.0 FS

Prerequisites: ANSC 002.

ANSC 121 Animal Nutrition 3.0 SP

Prerequisites: ANSC 002 or BIOL 010, ANSC 011.

ANSC 122 Animal Health and Disease 3.0 SP

Prerequisites: ANSC 002 or BIOL 010.

ANSC 123 Repro Physiology Domestic Animal 3.0 FA

Prerequisites: ANSC 002 or BIOL 008.

21 units selected from:

Any upper-division Agriculture (AGRI), Animal Science (ANSC), Agricultural Engineering (AGET), Plant and Soil Sciences (PSSC), or Agricultural Business (ABUS) courses. All courses must be approved by your adviser.

THE OPTION IN PLANT SCIENCE: 37 units

This option prepares students to manage agricultural enterprises for the production of plant crops for human and animal consumption, for the protection of these crops and resources against pests (insects, diseases, weeds, vertebrates), and for the stewardship of their natural resources (soil, water, air, and biota). The option emphasizes sustainable land use and crop protection practices and contains three parallel advising patterns: crop production, crop protection (which also prepares students for careers as Pest Control Advisors), and soil management. Career opportunities may be found in the agricultural production industry, in agricultural research, and in agricultural advising and regulation.

Option Core Requirements: 22 units

Soil and Water Resources

1 course selected from:

AGET 152 Irrigation 3.0 SP

Prerequisites: PSSC 002 or PSSC 050.

PSSC 153 Agrichemicals 3.0 F1

Prerequisites: CHEM 027 or CHEM 037; PSSC 050.

PSSC 156 Soil Quality and Health 3.0 S2

Prerequisites: PSSC 050 or instructor permission.

Genetics

1 course required:

AGRI 145 Agri Genetics & Biotechnology 4.0 SP

Prerequisites: ANSC 002 or BIOL 008 or PSSC 002; CHEM 037 or CHEM 027.

Crop Production

1 course selected from:

PSSC 144 Seed Production 3.0 F2

Prerequisites: BIOL 009 or PSSC 002 or faculty permission.

PSSC 161 Production of Annual Crops 3.0 FA

PSSC 163 Forage Crops 3.0 Inq

Prerequisites: BIOL 009 or PSSC 002 or PSSC 130.

PSSC 174 Greenhouse Management 3.0 S1

PSSC 176 Fruit and Nut Production 3.0 SP

Prerequisites: Upper-division standing.

Agronomic Pests and Control

1 course selected from:

PSSC 140 Economic Entomology 3.0 F1

PSSC 142 Plant Pathology 3.0 F2

Prerequisites: PSSC 002.

PSSC 143 Introduction to Weed Science 3.0 S1

Prerequisites: AGRI 111

Crop Function

1 course required:

BIOL 215 Plant Physiology 4.0 FS

Prerequisites: BIOL 006B or BIOL 008; BIOL 009; CHEM 028 or CHEM 070; or faculty permission.

Production Experience

1 course selected from:

PSSC 109A Directed Work in Field/Row Crops 2.0 FA

PSSC 109B Directed Work in Field/Row Crops 2.0 SP

Prerequisites: PSSC 109A or faculty permission

PSSC 110A Directed Work in Orchard Crops 2.0 SP

Prerequisites: PSSC 002.

PSSC 110B Directed Work in Orchard Crops 2.0 FA

Prerequisites: PSSC 002.

PSSC 112 Directed Work in Greenhouse Prod 2.0 FS

PSSC 189 Internship 1.0-6.0 FS

Prerequisites: Junior standing, faculty permission.

PSSC 189 must be taken for 2 units.

Production Management

1 course selected from:

ABUS 183N Agribusiness Mgmt for Non-Majors 3.0 FA

Prerequisites: ABUS 080.

AGRI 231 Holistic Resource Management 3.0 F2

Prerequisites: AGRI 111.

Option Electives: 15 units

15 units selected from:

Courses must be selected and approved in advance by the adviser. In selecting courses to meet this elective requirement, students must create a concentration of courses that will best meet career goals, such as crop production, crop portection, or soil management. A maximum of 6 units that substantively contribute to the Bachelor of Science in Agriculture may be lower division.

THE OPTION IN LAND STEWARDSHIP: 37 units

This option prepares students to manage either the mostly public wildlands and rangelands for the production of goods and services (wildlife, livestock, recreation), or the private/public lands at the urban-rural interface for the protection or restoration of agricultural and natural resources. The option consists, therefore, of two parallel advising patterns, referred to as the Wildland-Range Science Concentration and the Land Stewardship Concentration. Career opportunities may be found in urban, agricultural, parkland, rangeland, and wildland environments with private landowners, city/state/federal agencies, and land conservancies and consultants.

Option Core Requirements: 22 units

Plant/Vegetation Management

1 course selected from:

PSSC 130 Rangeland Resources/Management 3.0 FA

PSSC 174 Greenhouse Management 3.0 S1

Soil Resources

1 course selected from:

PSSC 156 Soil Quality and Health 3.0 S2

Prerequisites: PSSC 050 or instructor permission.

PSSC 251 Soil Genesis & Classification 3.0 F1

Prerequisites: PSSC 050 or faculty permission.

Plant Foundation

1 course selected from:

BIOL 215 Plant Physiology 4.0 FS

Prerequisites: BIOL 006B or BIOL 008; BIOL 009; CHEM 028 or CHEM 070; or faculty permission.

BIOL 240 Plant Systematics 4.0 SP

Prerequisites: BIOL 006B and BIOL 009, or faculty permission.

Ecology

1 course selected from:

PSSC 233 Wildland Vegetation Ecology 3.0 F2

Prerequisites: PSSC 130 and completion of lower-division core.

PSSC 238 Landscape Ecology 3.0 F1

Prerequisites: PSSC 130 and completion of the lower-division core.

Wildland or Cropland Management

2 courses selected from:

PSSC 143 Introduction to Weed Science 3.0 S1

Prerequisites: AGRI 111

PSSC 235 Grasses & Grasslands Western US 3.0 S1

Prerequisites: BIOL 009 or PSSC 002. PSSC 130 is recommended.

PSSC 236 Vegetation Dynamics & Management 3.0 S1

Prerequisites: PSSC 130 and completion of lower-division core.

PSSC 237 Wildland Classifictn & Inventory 3.0 S2

Prerequisites: PSSC 130 and completion of lower-division core.

PSSC 241 Principles Integrated Pest Mgmt 3.0 S2

Prerequisites: AGRI 111; PSSC 140 or PSSC 142 or PSSC 143.

Resource Management

1 course selected from:

AGRI 231 Holistic Resource Management 3.0 F2

Prerequisites: AGRI 111.

PSSC 134 Wetland/Riparian Res and Mgmt 3.0 F1

Prerequisites: Completion of lower-division core.

RECR 246 Natural Resources Management 3.0 FA

Prerequisites: RECR 010; RECR 040; RECR 200; RECR 240; successful completion of computer literacy requirement; or faculty permission.

Concentration

15 units selected from:

Courses must be selected and approved in advance by the adviser. In selecting courses to meet this requirement, students must create a concentration of courses that will best meet career goals, such as Wildland-Range Science or Land Stewardship. A maximum of 6 units that substantially contribute to the Bachelor of Science in Agriculture may be lower division. The following courses are recommended for the indicated concentrations.

Wildland-Range Science Concentration

Additional course work in wildland-range science and related subject matter selected from the option core and from:

AGET 196 GPS/GIS in Ag/Nat Resource Mgmt 3.0 SP

GEOG 108 Map & Air Photo Interpretation 3.0 FS

RECR 244 Environmental Interpretation 4.0 SP

Prerequisites: Upper-division standing; a basic oral communication course such as CMST 011; or faculty permission.

Land Stewardship Concentration

Additional course work in plant science and related subject matter from the option core and from:

AGET 152 Irrigation 3.0 SP

Prerequisites: PSSC 002 or PSSC 050.

AGRI 145 Agri Genetics & Biotechnology 4.0 SP

Prerequisites: ANSC 002 or BIOL 008 or PSSC 002; CHEM 037 or CHEM 027.

PSSC 244 Plant Reproduction Systems 3.0 S1

Prerequisites: PSSC 002 or BIOL 009; AGRI 145, or faculty permission.

PSSC 253 Soil Fertility & Plant Nutrition 3.0 F2

Prerequisites: PSSC 050.

Electives Requirement:

To complete the total units required for the bachelor’s degree, select additional elective courses from the total university offerings. You should consult with an adviser regarding the selection of courses which will provide breadth to your university experience and apply to a supportive second major or minor.

Students may double count only one approved upper-division General Education theme course with a required option elective.

Grading Requirement:

All courses taken to fulfill major course requirements must be taken for a letter grade, except those courses specified by the department as Credit/No Credit grading only.

Advising Requirement:

Advising is mandatory for all majors in this degree program.
Consult your undergraduate adviser for specific information.

A sample program for students who wish to complete their major in four years is available in the Office of the College of Agriculture, CSU, Chico, CA 95929.

Honors in the Major

Honors in the Major is a program of independent work in your major.
It involves 6 units of honors course work completed over two semesters.

Your Honors work will be recognized at your graduation, on your permanent transcripts, and on your diploma. It is often accompanied by letters of commendation from your mentor in the department or the department chair. Most importantly, however, the Honors in the Major program allows you to work closely with a faculty mentor in your area of interest on an original performance or research project. This year-long collaboration allows you to work in your field at a professional level and culminates in a public presentation of your work. Students sometimes take their projects beyond the university for submission in professional journals, presentation at conferences, or competition in shows; such experience is valuable for graduate school and later professional life.

Some common features of Honors in the Major program are

1. You must take 6 units of Honors in the Major course work. At least 3 of these 6 units are independent study (299H) as specified by your department. You must complete each class with a minimum grade of B.
2. You must have completed 9 units of upper-division course work or 21 overall units in your major before you can be admitted to Honors in the Major. Check the requirements carefully, as there may be specific courses that must be included in these units.
3. Your cumulative GPA should be at least 3.5 or within the top 5 percent of majors in your department.
4. Your GPA in your major should be at least 3.5 or within the top 5 percent of majors in your department.
5. Most students apply for or are invited to participate in Honors in the Major during the second semester of their junior year. Then they complete the 6 units of course work over the two semesters of their senior year.
6. Your honors work culminates with a public presentation of your Honors project.

While Honors in the Major is part of the Honors Program, each department administers its own program. Please contact your major department or major adviser for further information.