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 General Chemistry 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: PSSC 101 or PSSC 250.
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 Agricultural Entomology and Insect Control 3.0 SP
Prerequisites: BIOL 101 or BIOL 108.
PSSC 340 Economic Entomology 3.0 FA
Prerequisites: PSSC 101.
PSSC 342 Plant Pathology 3.0 F2
Prerequisites: PSSC 101.
PSSC 343 Introduction to Weed Science 3.0 SP
Prerequisites: AGRI 331 or PSSC 101.
PSSC 453 Soil Fertility and 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 Plant Protection Materials 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 of Integrated Pest Management 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 or faculty permission.
PSSC 274 Greenhouse Management 3.0 FA
PSSC 309A Directed Work in Field and Row Crops 2.0 FA
Prerequisites: AGET 150 or faculty permission.
PSSC 309B Directed Work in Field and Row Crops 2.0 SP
Prerequisites: PSSC 309A and AGET 150 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 Directed Work in Greenhouse Production 2.0 FS
Prerequisites: PSSC 101.
PSSC 330 Rangeland Resources and Management 3.0 FA
Prerequisites: ANSC 101 or PSSC 101.
PSSC 361 Production of Annual Crops 3.0 FA
Prerequisites: PSSC 101.
PSSC 366 Fruit and Nut Production 3.0 SP
Prerequisites: PSSC 101.