Agricultural Plant & Soil Science, Minor

The Agricultural Plant & Soil Science Minor helps students in other major with agriculture-related skills and experience they need to prepare for agriculture-related careers or graduate degrees related to their major. The minor offers flexible pathways for students in any major to gain a deeper understanding of agricultural production, equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed to enhance their competitiveness for careers in the local agricultural sector and federal or state agencies.

Required Courses

Complete at least 12 units, including at least 6 upper-division units of the following coursework. Many of the upper-division courses require completion of BIO 106 - Introduction to Plant Science

Please note: Twelve of the units taken to complete a minor (6 of which are upper division) may not be used in fulfillment of other minors, concentrations, or major requirements.

Complete 0-6 units of the following lower-division coursework:
BIO 106 - Introduction to Plant Science Units: 4
AGPS 128 - Introduction to Soil Science Units: 4
AGPS 205 - Principles of Organic Crop Production Units: 3
AGPS 209 - Plants, Agriculture, and Climate Change Units: 2
AGPS 213 - Principles of Viticulture Units: 1
AGPS 216 - Plant Propagation and Production Units: 3
Complete 6 or more units of the following upper-division coursework:
AGPS 302 - Careers in Agriculture Units: 1
AGPS 315 - Soil Resource Management Units: 3
AGPS 371 - Weed Science and Technology Units: 3
AGPS 372 - Agricultural Entomology Units: 3
AGPS 390 - Crop Management Units: 3
AGPS 415 - Advanced Irrigation and Nutrient Management Units: 3
AGPS 470 - Integrated Pest Management Units: 3
BIO 306 - Biotechnology for Agriculture Units: 3
BIO 306L - Biotechnology for Agriculture Lab Units: 1
BIO 322 - Plant Pathology Units: 4

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcome 1 - Intellectual Skills

Graduates apply appropriate methods for study design, analyze quantitative evidence to evaluate hypotheses, apply critical and creative thinking skills, and communicate effectively in oral and written formats.

Learning Outcome 2 - Social/Ethical Interactions

Graduates incorporate ethical reasoning and diverse stakeholder perspectives into management decisions that promote sustainability and social justice.

Learning Outcome 3 - Integrated Knowledge

Gradutaes integrate knowledge of agricultural systems and the broader societal context to evaluate and recommend management strategies that optimize crop quality, yield, and profit while promoting long-term sustainability.

Learning Outcome 4 - Specialized Knowledge and Skills

Graduates apply knowledge of factors that affect crop productivity and use inquiry-based problem-solving to propose and evaluate crop management strategies.