The Certificate in Plant Protection

Course Requirements for the Certificate: 46 units

The following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, are required of all candidates for this certificate.

This certificate fulfills the eligibility requirements for taking the State of California Pest Control Advisor (PCA) exam. An overall grade point average of 2.5 is required for the entire program.

Chemistry: 4 units

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.)

Physical and Biological Sciences: 9 units

3 courses required:

AGRI 331 Agricultural Ecology 3.0 FS
Prerequisites: Completion of lower-division core or faculty permission.
PSSC 101 Introduction to Plant Science 3.0 FS *
PSSC 250 Introduction to Soil Science 3.0 FS
Prerequisites: CHEM 107 or CHEM 111.

Factors Affecting Crop Health: 12 units

4 courses selected from:

BIOL 341 Agri Entomology/Insect Control 3.0 SP
Prerequisites: BIOL 101 or BIOL 108.
PSSC 340 Economic Entomology 3.0 FA
PSSC 342 Plant Pathology 3.0 F2
Prerequisites: PSSC 101.
PSSC 343 Introduction to Weed Sci 3.0 SP
Prerequisites: AGRI 331.
PSSC 453 Soil Fert & Plant Nutrition 3.0 F2
Prerequisites: PSSC 250.

Pest Management Systems and Methods: 9 units

3 courses selected from:

AGRI 432 Holistic Management 3.0 F2
Prerequisites: AGRI 331 or faculty permission.
PSSC 353 Agrichemicals 3.0 FA
Prerequisites: CHEM 107 or CHEM 111; PSSC 250.
PSSC 356 Soil Quality and Health 3.0 S2
Prerequisites: PSSC 250 or instructor permission.
PSSC 441 Principles Integrtd Pest Mgmt 3.0 SP
Prerequisites: AGRI 331; PSSC 340 or PSSC 342 or PSSC 343.

Production Systems: 12 units

12 units selected from:

AGET 360 Irrigation 3.0 SP
Prerequisites: PSSC 101 or PSSC 250.
PSSC 274 Greenhouse Management 3.0 SP
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 330 Rangeland Resources/Management 3.0 FA
PSSC 361 Production of Annual Crops 3.0 FA
PSSC 366 Fruit and Nut Production 3.0 SP
Prerequisites: Upper-division standing.