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.
A suggested Major Academic Plan (MAP) has been prepared 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.
For both the BS in Agriculture and the BS in Agricultural Business, ABUS 101 may be applied to General Education Breadth Area D1.
Cultural Diversity Course Requirements: 6 units
See "Cultural Diversity" in The University Catalog. Most courses taken 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." For this major, this requirement is normally fulfilled by completing HIST 130 and POLS 155. For this major, HIST 130 may also be applied to General Education Breadth Area C1, C2, or C3, and POLS 155 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 130 (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, depending upon the selected option or advising pattern, are outlined following the degree core program requirements.
DEGREE CORE PROGRAM: 46 units
Lower-Division Core: 33 units
2 courses required:
| AGRI | 180 | The University Experience | 1.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: Completion of ELM requirement.
1 course selected from:
| CHEM | 107 | Gen Chem for Applied Sciences | 4.0 | FS * |
Prerequisites: Intermediate Algebra.
| CHEM | 111 | General Chemistry | 4.0 | FS * |
Prerequisites: Second-year high school algebra; one year high school chemistry. (One year of high school physics and one year of high school mathematics past Algebra II are recommended.)
1 course selected from:
| CHEM | 108 | Organic Chem for Applied Sci | 4.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: CHEM 107 or CHEM 111 or equivalent.
| CHEM | 112 | General Chemistry | 4.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: CHEM 111.
1 course selected from:
| ABUS | 101 | Intro to Ag Business/Economics | 3.0 | FS |
| ABUS | 261 | Farm Accounting | 3.0 | FS |
1 course selected from:
| AGET | 120 | Intro to Ag Mechanics | 3.0 | FA |
| AGET | 150 | Agricultural Machine Systems | 3.0 | FS |
NOTE: Students selecting the Option in Agricultural Science and Education must complete both AGET 120 and AGET 150. The additional course counts toward elective units.
1 course selected from:
| ANSC | 101 | Introduction to Animal Science | 3.0 | FS * |
| ANSC | 230 | Animal Feeds and Nutrition | 3.0 | FS |
NOTE: Students selecting the Option in Animal Science must complete both ANSC 101 and ANSC 230. The additional course counts toward elective units.
1 course selected from:
| PSSC | 101 | Introduction to Plant Science | 3.0 | FS * |
| PSSC | 250 | Introduction to Soil Science | 3.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: CHEM 107 or CHEM 111.
NOTE: Students selecting the Option in Plant Science must complete both PSSC 101 and PSSC 250. The additional course counts toward elective units.
9 units selected from:
Any combination of lower division courses in Agriculture (AGRI), Agricultural Engineering Technology (AGET), Animal Science (ANSC), Plant Science (PSSC), and Agricultural Business (ABUS). All courses must be approved by your adviser.
Upper-Division Core: 13 units
4 courses required:
| AGRI | 331 | Agricultural Ecology | 3.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: Completion of lower division core.
| AGRI | 482 | Agricultural Issues | 3.0 | FS WP |
Prerequisites: ENGL 130 (or its equivalent) with a grade of C- or higher.
| AGRI | 490 | Agricultural Experimental Res | 4.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: AGRI 331.
| AGRI | 491 | Agricultural Experimental Res | 3.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: AGRI 490.
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 AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE AND EDUCATION: 37 units
This option prepares students for careers in the broad field of agriculture or for careers in teaching at the secondary level. The option consists, therefore, of two parallel advising patterns: Agricultural Science and Agricultural Education. The Agricultural Science area of study prepares students for diverse careers in agricultural production where the integration of animal, plant, and agri-business knowledge and skills is required. The Agricultural Education area of study prepares students to receive a secondary teaching credential in agriculture.
OPTION CORE REQUIREMENTS: 25 units
Genetics
1 course required:
| AGRI | 305 | Agri Genetics & Biotechnology | 4.0 | SP |
Prerequisites: ANSC 101 or BIOL 108 or PSSC 101; CHEM 107 or CHEM 111.
Animal Science
2 courses selected from:
| ANSC | 301 | Intermediate Animal Systems | 3.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: ANSC 101.
| ANSC | 330 | Animal Nutrition | 3.0 | SP |
Prerequisites: ANSC 101 or BIOL 210, ANSC 230.
| ANSC | 340 | Repro Physiol Domestic Animals | 3.0 | FA |
Prerequisites: ANSC 101 or BIOL 108.
| ANSC | 360 | Animal Health and Disease | 3.0 | SP |
Prerequisites: ANSC 101 or BIOL 210.
Plant and Soil Science
2 courses selected from:
| PSSC | 274 | Greenhouse Management | 3.0 | S1 |
| PSSC | 353 | Agrichemicals | 3.0 | F1 |
Prerequisites: CHEM 107 or CHEM 111; PSSC 250.
| PSSC | 356 | Soil Quality and Health | 3.0 | S2 |
Prerequisites: PSSC 250 or instructor permission.
| PSSC | 360 | Ecology of Crop Production | 3.0 | S2 |
Prerequisites: AGRI 331.
| PSSC | 361 | Production of Annual Crops | 3.0 | FA |
| PSSC | 366 | Fruit and Nut Production | 3.0 | SP |
Prerequisites: Upper-division standing.
Agricultural Engineering Technology
1 course selected from:
| AGET | 340 | GPS/GIS in Ag/Nat Res Mgmt | 3.0 | SP |
Prerequisites: PSSC 101 or PSSC 250.
Agricultural Business
1 course selected from:
| ABUS | 321 | Agribusiness Management | 3.0 | SP |
Prerequisites: ABUS 101 or equivalent.
| ABUS | 331 | Agricultural Mgmt Info Systems | 3.0 | FS |
Natural Resources
1 course selected from:
| AGRI | 432 | Holistic Resource Management | 3.0 | F2 |
Prerequisites: AGRI 331.
| PSSC | 330 | Rangeland Resources/Management | 3.0 | FA |
| PSSC | 334 | Wetland/Riparian Res and Mgmt | 3.0 | F1 |
Prerequisites: Completion of lower-division core.
Area of Study: 12 units
The following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, are required depending upon the area of study chosen. Students must select one of the following areas of study for completion of the major course requirements. Courses must be approved in advance by the academic adviser.
Agricultural Science Area of Study
12 units selected from:
Any upper-division courses in agricultural science and related subject matter approved by the adviser. Students selecting this area of study are strongly encouraged to gain practical skills and knowledge through an approved internship or directed work experience.
Agricultural Education Area of Study
The required course work in agriculture and in agricultural education for this option and area of study fulfills the requirements for two teaching credentials—the Single Subject Credential in Agriculture, and the Specialist Credential in Agriculture. Students pursuing this career objective should also complete HCSV 451 and EDTE 302 and pass the California Basic Education Skills Test.
5 courses required:
| AGRI | 201 | Intro to Agricultural Educ | 3.0 | FA |
| AGRI | 210 | Directed Field Exp in Ag Ed | 2.0 | FA |
| AGRI | 321 | Program Dev in Ag Education | 2.0 | SP |
| AGRI | 420 | Tech in Vocational Ag Instruct | 2.0 | SP |
Prerequisites: AGRI 201 or faculty permission.
| AGRI | 421 | Curric/Method Tch Ag Mechanics | 3.0 | SP |
Prerequisites: AGET 120. Recommended: AGET 150.
THE OPTION IN ANIMAL SCIENCE: 37 units
This option prepares students for diverse careers involving all aspects of animal agriculture. Careers in animal production, allied industries, and pre-professional preparation for graduate study, are possible directions for students in this option. The option emphasizes science-based study of animal production, including nutrition, health, reproduction, genetics, and meat science. In addition, management level courses in several domestic animal species are offered. Students who pursue this option have the flexibility to follow one of several different areas of study that directly prepares them for their career goals.
5 courses required:
| AGRI | 305 | Agri Genetics & Biotechnology | 4.0 | SP |
Prerequisites: ANSC 101 or BIOL 108 or PSSC 101; CHEM 107 or CHEM 111.
| ANSC | 301 | Intermediate Animal Systems | 3.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: ANSC 101.
| ANSC | 330 | Animal Nutrition | 3.0 | SP |
Prerequisites: ANSC 101 or BIOL 210, ANSC 230.
| ANSC | 340 | Repro Physiol Domestic Animals | 3.0 | FA |
Prerequisites: ANSC 101 or BIOL 108.
| ANSC | 360 | Animal Health and Disease | 3.0 | SP |
Prerequisites: ANSC 101 or BIOL 210.
1 course selected from:
| ANSC | 471 | Beef Production & Management | 3.0 | SP |
Prerequisites: ANSC 101.
| ANSC | 474 | Dairy Production & Management | 3.0 | FA |
Prerequisites: ANSC 101.
1 course selected from:
| ANSC | 272 | Sheep Production & Management | 3.0 | FA |
Prerequisites: ANSC 101.
| ANSC | 273 | Swine Production & Management | 3.0 | SP |
Prerequisites: ANSC 101.
Area of Study: 15 units
15 units selected from:
Courses must be selected in advance and approved by the adviser. In selecting courses to meet this requirement, students must create a concentration of courses that best meets their career goals. The following courses are recommended for the indicated areas of study.
Animal Production Area of Study
15 units selected from:
| ABUS | 321 | Agribusiness Management | 3.0 | SP |
Prerequisites: ABUS 101 or equivalent.
| ANSC | 320 | Advanced Livestock Selection | 3.0 | FA |
| ANSC | 350 | Meat and the Consumer | 3.0 | FS |
| PSSC | 330 | Rangeland Resources/Management | 3.0 | FA |
OR (the following course may be substituted for the above)
| PSSC | 363 | Forage Crops | 3.0 | Inq |
Prerequisites: BIOL 209 or PSSC 101 or PSSC 330.
3 units selected in consultation with your adviser.
Animal Industry Area of Study
15 units selected from:
| ABUS | 211 | Agri Selling & Consulting | 3.0 | SP |
| ABUS | 311 | Ag Markets and Pricing | 3.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: ABUS 101.
| ABUS | 321 | Agribusiness Management | 3.0 | SP |
Prerequisites: ABUS 101 or equivalent.
| ABUS | 331 | Agricultural Mgmt Info Systems | 3.0 | FS |
| AGRI | 380A | Fair Mgmt & Ag Leadership | 3.0 | FA |
OR (the following course may be substituted for the above)
| AGRI | 380B | Ag Leadership & Fair Mgmt | 3.0 | SP |
Prerequisites: AGRI 380A or permission of the instructor.
Pre-professional: Food Animal Veterinary Medicine Area of Study
3 courses required:
| BIOL | 151 | Biological Principles | 4.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: Recommend CHEM 111 or concurrent enrollment.
| CHEM | 270 | Organic Chemistry | 4.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: CHEM 112.
| CHEM | 370 | Organic Chemistry | 3.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: CHEM 270.
1 course selected from:
| BIOL | 152 | Biological Principles | 4.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: BIOL 151; recommend CHEM 112 or concurrent enrollment.
| BIOL | 210 | General Zoology | 3.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: BIOL 152 or faculty permission.
| BIOL | 211 | General Microbiology | 4.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: A college course in biology and in general chemistry.
NOTE: Students selecting this area of study must select CHEM 111 and CHEM 112 in the lower-division core. Additional requirements for application to veterinary school include PHYS 202A, PHYS 202B, BIOL 416, and CHEM 250. In order to complete all requiremens for a degree in Agriculture (Option in Animal Science) and requirements for admission to veterinary school, student programs will exceed 120 units.
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 areas of study: 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:
Prerequisites: PSSC 101 or PSSC 250.
| PSSC | 353 | Agrichemicals | 3.0 | F1 |
Prerequisites: CHEM 107 or CHEM 111; PSSC 250.
| PSSC | 356 | Soil Quality and Health | 3.0 | S2 |
Prerequisites: PSSC 250 or instructor permission.
Genetics
1 course required:
| AGRI | 305 | Agri Genetics & Biotechnology | 4.0 | SP |
Prerequisites: ANSC 101 or BIOL 108 or PSSC 101; CHEM 107 or CHEM 111.
Crop Production
1 course selected from:
| PSSC | 274 | Greenhouse Management | 3.0 | S1 |
| PSSC | 361 | Production of Annual Crops | 3.0 | FA |
| PSSC | 363 | Forage Crops | 3.0 | Inq |
Prerequisites: BIOL 209 or PSSC 101 or PSSC 330.
| PSSC | 364 | Seed Production | 3.0 | F2 |
Prerequisites: BIOL 209 or PSSC 101 or faculty permission.
| PSSC | 366 | Fruit and Nut Production | 3.0 | SP |
Prerequisites: Upper-division standing.
Agronomic Pests and Control
1 course selected from:
| PSSC | 340 | Economic Entomology | 3.0 | F1 |
| PSSC | 342 | Plant Pathology | 3.0 | F2 |
Prerequisites: PSSC 101.
| PSSC | 343 | Introduction to Weed Science | 3.0 | S1 |
Prerequisites: AGRI 331.
Crop Function
1 course required:
| BIOL | 414 | Plant Physiology | 4.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: BIOL 108 or BIOL 152; BIOL 209; CHEM 108 or CHEM 270; or faculty permission.
Production Experience
1 course selected from:
| PSSC | 309A | Dir Work in Field/Row Crops | 2.0 | FA |
| PSSC | 309B | Dir Work in Field/Row Crops | 2.0 | SP |
Prerequisites: PSSC 309A or faculty permission.
| PSSC | 310A | Directed Work in Orchard Crops | 2.0 | SP |
Prerequisites: PSSC 101.
| PSSC | 310B | Directed Work in Orchard Crops | 2.0 | FA |
Prerequisites: PSSC 101.
| PSSC | 312 | Dir Work in Greenhouse Prod | 2.0 | FS |
| PSSC | 389 | Internship1.0 | 6.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: Junior standing, faculty permission.
PSSC 389 must be taken for 2 units.
Production Management
1 course selected from:
| ABUS | 321 | Agribusiness Management | 3.0 | SP |
Prerequisites: ABUS 101 or equivalent.
| AGRI | 432 | Holistic Resource Management | 3.0 | F2 |
Prerequisites: AGRI 331.
Area of Study: 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 select an area of study that will best meet career goals, such as Crop Poduction, Crop Protection, 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 Area of Study and the Land Stewardship Area of Study. 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 | 274 | Greenhouse Management | 3.0 | S1 |
| PSSC | 330 | Rangeland Resources/Management | 3.0 | FA |
Soil Resources
1 course selected from:
| PSSC | 356 | Soil Quality and Health | 3.0 | S2 |
Prerequisites: PSSC 250 or instructor permission.
| PSSC | 451 | Soil Genesis & Classification | 3.0 | F1 |
Prerequisites: PSSC 250 or faculty permission.
Plant Foundation
1 course selected from:
| BIOL | 414 | Plant Physiology | 4.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: BIOL 108 or BIOL 152; BIOL 209; CHEM 108 or CHEM 270; or faculty permission.
| BIOL | 448 | Plant Systematics | 4.0 | SP |
Prerequisites: BIOL 152 and BIOL 209, or faculty permission.
Ecology
1 course selected from:
| PSSC | 433 | Wildland Vegetation Ecology | 3.0 | F2 |
Prerequisites: PSSC 330 and completion of lower-division core.
| PSSC | 438 | Landscape Ecology | 3.0 | F1 |
Prerequisites: PSSC 330 and completion of the lower-division core.
Wildland or Cropland Management
2 courses selected from:
| PSSC | 331 | Grasses & Grasslands Wstrn US | 3.0 | S1 |
Prerequisites: BIOL 209 or PSSC 101. PSSC 330 is recommended.
| PSSC | 436 | Vegetation Dynamics & Mgmt | 3.0 | S1 |
Prerequisites: PSSC 330 and completion of lower-division core.
| PSSC | 437 | Wildland Classifictn & Invent | 3.0 | S2 |
Prerequisites: PSSC 330 and completion of lower-division core.
| PSSC | 343 | Introduction to Weed Science | 3.0 | S1 |
Prerequisites: AGRI 331.
| PSSC | 441 | Principles Integrtd Pest Mgmt | 3.0 | S2 |
Prerequisites: AGRI 331; PSSC 340 or PSSC 342 or PSSC 343.
Resource Management
1 course selected from:
| AGRI | 432 | Holistic Resource Management | 3.0 | F2 |
Prerequisites: AGRI 331.
| PSSC | 334 | Wetland/Riparian Res and Mgmt | 3.0 | F1 |
Prerequisites: Completion of lower-division core.
| RECR | 446 | Natural Resources Management | 3.0 | FA |
Prerequisites: RECR 200, RECR 240, RECR 300, RECR 440, successful completion of computer literacy requirement, or faculty permission.
Area of Study: 15 units
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 areas of study.
Wildland-Range Science Area of Study
Additional course work in wildland-range science and related subject matter selected from the option core and from:
| AGET | 340 | GPS/GIS in Ag/Nat Res Mgmt | 3.0 | SP |
| RECR | 444 | Environmental Interpretation | 4.0 | SP |
Prerequisites: Upper-division standing, a basic oral communication course such as CMST 131, or faculty permission.
Land Stewardship Area of Study
Additional course work in plant science and related subject matter from the option core and from:
Prerequisites: PSSC 101 or PSSC 250.
| AGRI | 305 | Agri Genetics & Biotechnology | 4.0 | SP |
Prerequisites: ANSC 101 or BIOL 108 or PSSC 101; CHEM 107 or CHEM 111.
| PSSC | 453 | Soil Fert & Plant Nutrition | 3.0 | F2 |
Prerequisites: PSSC 250.
| PSSC | 464 | Plant Reproduction Systems | 3.0 | S1 |
Prerequisites: PSSC 101 or BIOL 209; AGRI 305, or faculty permission.
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 possibly 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 (499H) 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.