Academic Programs > Undergraduate Programs > Agronomic Sciences
Agronomic Sciences
This option develops agronomists. These scientists have career opportunities with chemical, seed, and fertilizer companies; as consultants; with governmental agencies such as the departments of agriculture and/or natural resources, as pest management specialists and managers or grower organizations; in agencies involving environmental issues; and international agriculture.
University and College Requirements (41 credits)
- Writing, Rhetoric and American Cultures (WRA) - 4 credits
- WRA 110-150
- Integrative Studies in Arts and Humanities (IAH) - 8 credits
- IAH 201-210
- IAH 211-241
- Integrative Studies in Social and Behavioral Sciences (ISS) - 8 credits
- ISS 200-level
- ISS 300-level
- PLB 105 Plant Biology - 3 credits
- PLB 106 Plant Biology Laboratory - 1 credit
- CEM 141 General Chemistry - 4 credits
- CEM 143 Survey of Organic Chemistry - 4 credits
- CEM 161 Chemistry Laboratory I - 1 credit
- MTH 116 College Algebra and Trigonometry - 5 credits
- EC 201 Introduction to Microeconomics - 3 credits
Departmental Requirements (42 credits)
- CSS 101 Introduction to Crop Science - 3 credits
- CSS 110 Computer Applications in Agronomy - 2 credits
- CSS 192 Professional Development Seminar I - 1 credit
- CSS 210 Fundamentals of Soil and Landscape Science - 3 credits
- CSS 302 Principles of Weed Management - 3 credits
- CSS 330 Soil Chemistry - 2 credits
- CSS 340 Applied Soil Physics - 2 credits
- CSS 350 Plant Genetics - 3 credits
- CSS 360 Soil Biology - 3 credits
- CSS 470 Soil Resources - 3 credits
- CSS 480 Soil Fertility and Management - 3 credits
- CSS 488 Agricultural Cropping Systems: Integration and Problem Solving - 3 credits
- CSS 492 Professional Development Seminar II - 1 credit
- CSS 493 Professional Internship - 3 credits
- ENT 404 Insects: Success in Biodiversity - 3 credits
- PLP 405 Plant Pathology - 4 credits
- One of the following courses (3 credits):
- HRT 361 Applied Plant Physiology - 3 credits
- PLB 301 Introductory Plant Physiology - 3 credits
- One of the following courses (2 or 3 credits):
- CSS 222 New Horizons in Biotechnology - 2 credits
- CSS 441 Plant Breeding and Biotechnology - 3 credits
- CSS 451 Biotechnology Applications for Plant Breeding and Genetics - 3 credits
Electives (31 to 32 credits)
Suggested Course Sequence
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| YEAR 1 | |||
| CSS 101 | 3 | CEM 141 | 4 |
| CSS 110 | 2 | CEM 161 | 1 |
| CSS 192 | 1 | ISS 2XX | 4 |
| MTH 116 | 5 | WRA 110-150 | 4 |
| PLB 105 | 3 | Electives | 2 |
| PLB 106 | 1 | ||
| 15 credits | 15 credits | ||
| YEAR 2 | |||
| CEM 143 | 4 | CSS 330 | 2 |
| CSS 210 | 3 | CSS 340 | 2 |
| EC 201 | 3 | IAH 201-210 | 4 |
| Electives | 5 | ISS 3xx | 4 |
| Electives | 3 | ||
| 15 credits | 15 credits | ||
| YEAR 3 | |||
| CSS 302 | 3 | CSS 350 | 3 |
| CSS 360 | 3 | CSS 493 | 3 |
| IAH 211-241 | 4 | PLP 405 | 4 |
| HRT 361 or PLB 301 | 3 | Electives | 5 |
| Electives | 2 | ||
| 15 credits | 15 credits | ||
| YEAR 4 | |||
| CSS 470 | 3 | CSS 441 or CSS 451 | 3 |
| CSS 480 | 3 | CSS 488 | 3 |
| CSS 492 | 1 | Electives | 9 |
| ENT 404 | 3 | ||
| Electives | 5 | ||
| 15 credits | 15 credits | ||
Suggested Elective Courses
Fall Semester
ABM 100 Decision-Making in the Agri-Food System - 3 credits
ABM 130 Farm Management I - 3 credits
ABM 222 Agribusiness Sales - 3 credits
ABM 225 Commodity Marketing I - 3 credits
ABM 332 Agribusiness Operation Management - 3 credits
ABM 425 Commodity Marketing II - 3 credits
ABM 430 Farm Management II - 3 credits
AE 150 Metal Fabrication Technology - 2 credits
AE 240 Machine Systems and Management - 3 credits
AE 252 Gasoline and Diesel Engine Technology - 3 credits
ANS 110 Introductory Animal Agriculture - 4 credits
ANS 232 Introduction to Dairy Cattle Management - 3 credits
ANS 242 Introductory Horse Management - 3 credits
ANS 252 Introduction to Management of Avian Species - 3 credits
ANS 272 Introductory Swine Management - 3 credits
ANS 418 Comprehensive Nutrient Management Planning - 3 credits
ATM 431 Irrigation, Drainage, and Erosion Control Systems - 3 credits
CSS 201 Forage Crops - 3 credits
CSS 202 World of Turf - 2 credits
CSS 212 Advanced Crop Production - 2 credits
CSS 455 Pollutants in the Soil Environment - 3 credits
GEO 203 Introduction to Meteorology - 3 credits
GEO 221 Introduction to Geographic Information - 3 credits
GEO 324 Remote Sensing of the Environment - 4 credits
GEO 325 Geographic Information Systems< - 3 credits
GEO 402 Agricultural Climatology - 3 credits
HRT 332 Tree Fruit Production and Management - 2 credits
STT 421 Statistics I - 3 credits
TSM 343 Precision Agriculture - 3 credits
Spring Semester
ABM 100 Decision-Making in the Agri-Food System - 3 credits
ANS 110 Introductory Animal Agriculture - 4 credits
ANS 222 Introduction to Beef Cattle Management - 3 credits
ANS 262 Introductory Sheep Management - 3 credits
CSS 124 Introduction to Sustainable Agricultural Food Systems - 1 credit
CSS 135 Crop Scouting and Investigation - 2 credits
CSS 151 Seed Grain and Quality - 2 credits
CSS 294 Issues in International Agriculture - 1 credit
CSS 431 World Soil and Plant Resources - 3 credits
CSS 494 International Agriculture Seminar - 3 credits
HRT 251 Organic Farming Principles and Practices - 3 credits
HRT 335 Berry Crop Production and Management - 1 credit
HRT 341 Vegetable Production and Managemnt - 3 credits
STT 421 Statistics I - 3 credits
Academic Advising
For questions regarding course requirements, substituting or waiving required courses, independent study courses, and planning your semester schedule of courses, contact a Crop and Soil Sciences academic advisor:
Taylor Johnston (johnsto4@msu.edu 
)
Department of Crop and Soil Sciences
Plant and Soil Sciences Building
1066 Bogue Street, Room 384F
East Lansing, Michigan 48824-1325
phone: (517) 355-0271 ext. 1164
Karen Renner (renner@msu.edu )
Department of Crop and Soil Sciences
Plant and Soil Sciences Building
1066 Bogue Street, Room 482
East Lansing, Michigan 48824-1325
phone: (517) 355-0271 ext. 1233
