Agronomy

COLLEGE: Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources

MAJOR: Agronomy

DEGREE OFFERED: Bachelor of Science in Agronomy

HOURS REQUIRED: 120

MINIMUM CUMULATIVE GPA: 2.0 for graduation

MINOR AVAILABLE: Yes

CHIEF ADVISER: Dennis McCallister

MAJOR REQUIREMENTS

The following basic courses are required for a BS degree in agronomy. In addition, students must select and meet the requirements of one of the options, depending upon their particular interests and vocational goals. In some cases, students may choose to meet the requirements of a specialization within an option, but this is not required. Students should work with advisers to make sure that the 10 ACE requirements of the University of Nebraska are met.

Hours

College Integrative Course3

AGRI 103/NRES 103 Intro to Agriculture & Natural Resource Systems3

Agronomy7-11

AGRO 132 Agronomic Plant Science Lab1

AGRO 153/HORT 153/SOIL 153 Soil Resources4

AGRO 201 Agronomic Internship & Career Preparation1

AGRO 295 Internship in Agronomy1-5

Mathematics and Statistics (beyond college algebra) (ACE 3)5

Includes Mathematics and Statistics: see options

Communications9

Written Communication (ACE 1)3

Select from: ENGL 150, ENGL 151, ENGL 254; JGEN 120, JGEN 200, JGEN 300

Oral Communication (ACE 2)3

Select from: COMM 109, COMM 209, COMM 286; JGEN 300

Communication and Interpersonal Skills3

Select from: ALEC 102; ENGL 101, ENGL 150, ENGL 151, ENGL 252, ENGL 253, ENGL 254; COMM 109, COMM 209, COMM 212, COMM 286 (Recommended for Business Option), JGEN 120, JGEN 200, JGEN 300

Natural Sciences11-12

AGRO 131/HORT 131 Plant Science3

AGRO 315 Genetics4

MSYM 109 or PHYS 141 or PHYS 151 (ACE 4)4-5

Economics, Humanities, and Social Sciences15

ECON 211 or ECON 212 or AECN 141 (ACE 6)3

ACE Courses12

Select one course each from ACE outcomes 5, 7, 8, and 9 as Humanities and Social Science electives.

Core50-55

Major and Option Requirements and Electives65-70

Total Credit Hours Required for Graduation120

Integrated Crop Management Option

The integrated crop management option is designed for students who plan a career in crop consulting or crop technical services. Employment opportunities exist in crop consulting firms, agrichemical and seed companies.

Hours

College Capstone Course (ACE 10)3

Select from:

AGRO 405 Crop Management Strategies (3 cr)

AGRO 445/ASCI 451/RNGE 445 Livestock Management on Range & Pasture (3 cr)

Mathematics and Statistics (beyond college algebra)0

Select from:

MATH 102 Trigonometry (2 cr)

MATH 103 College Algebra & Trigonometry (5 cr) (2 cr apply to requirement)

MATH 104 Calculus for Managerial & Social Sciences (3 cr)

MATH 106 Analytical Geometry & Calculus 1 (5 cr)

STAT 218 Intro to Statistics (3 cr)

Plant and Soil Management24

AGRO 204 Resource Efficient Crop Management3

AGRO 240 Forage Crop & Range Management4

AGRO 269 Principles of Soil Management3

AGRO 366 Soil Nutrient Relationships4

Select from:3

AGRO 431/MSYM 431 Site-Specific Crop Management (3 cr)

AGRO 437 Animal, Food & Industrial Uses of Grain (2 cr) & AGRO 438 Producing Grain for Animal, Food & Industrial Uses (1 cr)

Select from:7

MSYM 354 Soil Conservation & Watershed Management (3 cr)

MSYM 452 Irrigation Systems Management (3 cr)

HORT 352 Production & Physiology of Horticultural Crops (2 cr)

HORT 353 Vegetable Crop Production Lab (2 cr)

HORT 354 Fruit Production Lab (2 cr)

HORT 355 Perennial, Pot & Bedding Plant Production Lab (2 cr)

HORT 462 Nursery Management & Crop Production (4 cr)

NRES 208 Applied Climate Sciences (3 cr)

NRES 417 Agroforestry Systems in Sustainable Agriculture (3 cr)

TLMT 227 Introductory Turfgrass Management (3 cr)

2nd Capstone—see list above

Crop Protection9

AGRO 426 Invasive Plants3

ENTO 308 Management of Field Crop Insects3

PLPT 369 Introductory Plant Pathology3

Ecology6

Select two courses from:

NRES 220 Principles of Ecology (3 cr)

AGRO 435/HORT 435/NRES 435 Agroecology (3 cr)

AGRO 440 Great Plains Ecosystem (3 cr)

Natural Science16

Select one from: (ACE 4)8

CHEM 105 & CHEM 106 Chemistry in Context I & II (8 cr)

CHEM 109 & CHEM 110 General Chemistry I & II (8 cr)

BIOS 109 General Botany4

AGRO 325 Introductory Plant Physiology4

Business and Economics6-7

AECN 201 Farm & Ranch Management (4 cr) or AECN 316 Agribusiness Management (3 cr)3-4

AECN 325 Marketing Agricultural Commodities ( 3 cr) or HORT 488 Business Management for Agricultural Enterprises (3 cr)3

Core Total50-55

Option Total64-65

Free Electives0-6

Total Credit Hours Required for Graduation120

Business Option

The option prepares students for management, sales, public relations, finance, credit, and marketing organizations serving agriculture. Employment opportunities exist in fertilizer, seed, grain, credit, banking, farm management and regulatory organizations.

Hours

College Capstone Course (ACE 10)3

Select from:

HORT 488 Business Management for Agricultural Enterprises (recommended) (3 cr)

AGRO 405 Crop Management Strategies (3 cr)

AGRO 445/ASCI 451/RNGE 445 Livestock Management on Range & Pasture (3 cr)

AECN 435 Advanced Agricultural Marketing Management (3 cr)

Mathematics and Statistics (beyond college algebra)0

Select from:

MATH 102 Trigonometry (2 cr)

MATH 103 College Algebra & Trigonometry (5 cr) (2 cr apply to requirement)

MATH 104 Calculus for Managerial & Social Sciences (3 cr)

MATH 106 Analytical Geometry & Calculus 1 (5 cr)

STAT 218 Intro to Statistics (3 cr)

NOTE: Some business courses require MATH 104.

Plant and Soil Management21-22

AGRO 204 Resource Efficient Crop Management3

AGRO 240 Forage Crop & Range Management4

AGRO 269 Principles of Soil Management3

AGRO 366 Soil Nutrient Relationships4

Select from:7-8

AGRO 431/MSYM 431 Site Specific Crop Management (3 cr)

AGRO 437 Animal, Food & Industrial Uses of Grain (2 cr) & AGRO 438 Producing Grain for Animal, Food & Industrial Uses (1 cr)

MSYM 354 Soil Conservation & Watershed Management (3 cr)

MSYM 452 Irrigation Systems Management (3 cr)

ASCI 250 Animal Management (3 cr)

HORT 352 Production & Physiology of Horticultural Crops (2 cr)

HORT 353 Vegetable Crop Production Lab (2 cr)

HORT 354 Fruit Production Lab (2 cr)

HORT 355 Perennial, Pot & Bedding Plant Production Lab (2 cr)

HORT 462 Nursery Management & Crop Production (4 cr)

NRES 208 Applied Climate Sciences (3 cr)

NRES 417 Agroforestry Systems in Sustainable Agriculture (3 cr)

2nd Capstone—see list above

Crop Protection3

Select one of the following:

AGRO 426 Invasive Plants (3 cr)

ENTO 308 Management of Field Crop Insects (3 cr)

PLPT 369 Introductory Plant Pathology (3 cr)

Natural Science (ACE 4)14-16

Select one course:8

CHEM 105 & CHEM 106 Chemistry in Context I & II (8 cr)

CHEM 109 & CHEM 110 General Chemistry I & II (8 cr)

Select two courses:6-8

AGRO 325 Introductory Plant Physiology (4 cr)

AGRO 435/HORT 435/NRES 435 Agroecology (3 cr)

AGRO 440 Great Plains Ecosystem (3 cr)

BIOS 109 General Botany (4 cr)

NRES 220 Principles of Ecology (3 cr)

Business & Economics (Select one course in each category)12-13

Management (Select one course)3-4

AECN 201 Farm & Range Management (4 cr)

AECN 301 Farm Accounting, Analysis & Tax Management (3 cr)

AECN 316 Agribusiness Management (3 cr)

Law (Select one course)3

AECN 256 Legal Aspects in Agriculture (3 cr)

AECN 357 Natural Resource & Environmental Law (3 cr)

AECN 457 Water Law (3 cr)

Finance (Select one course)3

AECN 452 Agricultural Finance (3 cr)

FINA 361 Finance (3 cr)

FINA 365 Financial Institutions & Markets (3 cr)

Marketing (Select one course)3

AECN 225 Agribusiness Entrepreneurship in Food Products Marketing (3 cr)

AECN 325 Marketing Agricultural Commodities (3 cr)

AECN 425 Agricultural Marketing in a Multinational Environment (3 cr)

Business Electives6-7

Courses in Accounting, Business Administration, Economics (except ECON 210, ECON 211, ECON 212), Finance, Management, or Marketing

Agricultural Economics & Leadership Electives6

AECN courses (except AECN 141 and AECN 388) or ALEC 202 or ALEC 302

Core Total50-55

Option Total65-70

Free Electives0-5

Total Credit Hours Required for Graduation120

NOTE: Some course choices may result in the student taking more than the minimum of 120 credits.

Crop Production Option

The crop production option is designed for students who plan to be directly involved in or manage a farming operation.

Hours

College Capstone Course (ACE 10)3

Select from:

AGRO 405 Crop Management Strategies (3 cr)

AGRO 445/ASCI 451/RNGE 445 Livestock Management on Range & Pasture (3 cr)

HORT 488 Business Management for Agricultural Enterprises (3 cr)

Mathematics and Statistics (beyond college algebra)0

Select from:

MATH 102 Trigonometry (2 cr)

MATH 103 College Algebra & Trigonometry (5 cr) (2 cr apply to requirement)

MATH 104 Calculus for Managerial & Social Sciences (3 cr)

MATH 106 Analytical Geometry & Calculus 1 (5 cr)

STAT 218 Intro to Statistics (3 cr)

Plant, Soil & Animal Management24

AGRO 204 Resource Efficient Crop Management3

AGRO 240 Forage Crop & Range Management4

AGRO 269 Principles of Soil Management3

AGRO 366 Soil Nutrient Relationships4

Select from:10

AGRO 431/MSYM 431 Site Specific Crop Management (3 cr)

AGRO 437 Animal, Food & Industrial Uses of Grain (2 cr) & AGRO 438 Producing Grain for Animal, Food & Industrial Uses (1 cr)

ASCI 250 Animal Management (3 cr)

HORT 352 Production & Physiology of Horticultural Crops (2 cr)

HORT 353 Vegetable Crop Production Lab (2 cr)

HORT 354 Fruit Production Lab (2 cr)

HORT 462 Nursery Management & Crop Production (4 cr)

MSYM 354 Soil Conservation & Watershed Management (3 cr)

HORT 355 Perennial, Pot & Bedding Plant Production Lab (2 cr)

MSYM 452 Irrigation Systems Management (3 cr)

NRES 208 Applied Climate Sciences (3 cr)

NRES 417 Agroforestry Systems in Sustainable Agriculture (3 cr)

2nd Capstone—see list above

Crop Protection9

AGRO 426 Invasive Plants3

ENTO 308 Management of Field Crop Insects3

PLPT 369 Introductory Plant Pathology3

Natural Science (ACE 4)17-19

Select one: (ACE 4)8

CHEM 105 & CHEM 106 Chemistry in Context I & II (8 cr)

CHEM 109 & CHEM 110 General Chemistry I & II (8 cr)

Select three courses:9-11

AGRO 325 Introductory Plant Physiology (4 cr)

AGRO 435/HORT 435/NRES 435 Agroecology (3 cr)

AGRO 440 Great Plains Ecosystem (3 cr)

BIOS 109 General Botany (4 cr)

NRES 220 Principles of Ecology (3 cr)

Business & Economics10

AECN 201 Farm & Ranch Management4

AECN 301 Farm Accounting, Analysis & Tax Management3

AECN 325 Marketing of Agricultural Commodities3

Core Total50-55

Options Total63-65

Free Electives0-7

Total Credit Hours Required for Graduation120

Soil Science Option

The soil science option prepares students for careers in technical, scientific, or industrial soil science. Possible careers include soil conservation, remediation of contaminated soils, and management of soil-crop interactions in private industry, government and universities.

Hours

College Capstone Course (ACE 10)3

Select from:

AGRO 405 Crop Management Strategies (3 cr)

SOIL 475/AGRO 475/WATS 475 Water Quality Strategy (3 cr)

Mathematics and Statistics (beyond college algebra)0

Select from:

MATH 102 Trigonometry (2 cr)

MATH 103 College Algebra & Trigonometry (5 cr) (2 cr apply to requirement)

MATH 104 Calculus for Managerial & Social Sciences (3 cr)

MATH 106 Analytical Geometry & Calculus 1 (5 cr)

STAT 218 Intro to Statistics (3 cr)

Agronomy10

AGRO 204 Resource Efficient Crop Management3

AGRO 240 Forage Crop & Range Management4

AGRO 426 Invasive Plants3

Soil, Plant Nutrition & Ecology23

AGRO 424/HORT 424 Plant Nutrition & Nutrient Management3

NRES 220 Principles of Ecology or AGRO 440 Great Plains Ecosystem3

SOIL 269/AGRO 269 Principles of Soil Management3

SOIL 354/MSYM 354/WATS 354 Soil Conservation & Watershed Management3

SOIL 361/AGRO 361/GEOL 361/WATS 361 Soils, Environment & Water Quality3

SOIL 366/AGRO 366 Soil Nutrient Relationships4

SOIL 477/AGRO 477/NRES 477 Great Plains Field Pedology4

Natural Sciences (ACE 4)8

CHEM 109 General Chemistry I4

CHEM 110 General Chemistry II4

Electives12

A minimum of 12 credit hours must be taken from the following lists:

Recommended for students interested in a career in Site Specific Crop Management

AGRO 431/MSYM 431 Site Specific Crop Management (3 cr)

NRES 312/GEOG 312 Intro to Geospatial Information Sciences (3 cr)

NRES 412/GEOG 412 Intro to Geographic Information Systems (4 cr)

NRES 418/GEOG 418 Intro to Remote Sensing (4 cr)

NRES 420/AGRO 419/GEOG 419/GEOL 419 Applications of Remote Sensing in Agriculture & Natural Resources (4 cr)

Recommended for students interested in Advanced Study in Soil Science

SOIL 455/AGRO 455 Soil Chemistry & Mineralogy (3 cr)

SOIL 460/AGRO 460/NRES 460 Soil Microbiology (3 cr)

SOIL 461/AGRO 461/GEOL 461/NRES 461 Soil Physics (3 cr)

SOIL 453/AGRO 453/HORT 453 Urban Soil Properties & Management (3 cr)

Core Total50-55

Option Total56

Free Electives9-14

Other suggested courses:

ASCI 250 Animal Management3

CIVE 353 Hydrology3

GEOG 420 Digital Image Analysis4

GEOL 101 Physical Geology4

NRES 281 Intro to Water Science3

NRES 323 Natural Resources Policy3

Total Credit Hours Required for Graduation120

Research Careers Option

The research careers option emphasizes basic sciences as they relate to agronomy in order to prepare students for graduate studies. This option is the first step in preparing for careers in research, teaching, or extension in academia or the private sector.

College Capstone Course (ACE 10)3

Select one course from:

AGRO 405 Crop Management Strategies (3 cr)

AGRO 445/ASCI 451/RNGE 445 Livestock Management on Range & Pasture (3 cr)

HORT 488 Business Management for Agricultural Enterprises (3 cr)

SOIL 475/AGRO 475/WATS 475 Water Quality Strategy (3 cr)

Plant Soil & Pest Management15-17

Select five courses from:

AGRO 204 Resource Efficient Crop Management (3 cr)

AGRO 240 Forage Crop & Range Management (4 cr)

AGRO 269 Principles of Soil Management (3 cr)

AGRO 366 Soil Nutrient Relationships (4 cr)

AGRO 426 Invasive Plants (3 cr)

ENTO 308 Management of Field Crop Insects (3 cr)

HORT 355 Perennial, Pot & Bedding Plant Production Lab (2 cr)

PLPT 369 Introductory Plant Pathology (3 cr)

Mathematics & Analytical Skills (above minimum listed in core)0-1

Select one from:

MATH 106 Analytical Geometry & Calculus 1 (recommended) (5 cr)

MATH 104 Calculus for Managerial & Social Sciences (3 cr) & STAT 218 Intro to Statistics (3 cr)

Natural Science (ACE 4)31

AGRO 325 Introductory Plant Physiology4

CHEM 109 & CHEM 110 General Chemistry I & II8

CHEM 251 Organic Chemistry I3

CHEM 253 Organic Chemistry I Lab1

BIOC 321 Elements of Biochemistry3

PHYS 141 Elementary General Physics I or PHYS 142 Elementary General Physics II5

BIOS 109 General Botany4

NRES 220 Principles of Ecology or AGRO 440 Great Plains Ecosystem3

Electives9

A minimum of 9 credit hours must be taken from the following lists.

Recommended for students interested in Crop Improvement

AGRO 216 Plant Breeding Principles & Practice (2 cr)

AGRO 411 Crop Genetic Engineering (1 cr)

AGRO 412 Crop & Weed Genetics (1 cr)

BIOS 312 Microbiology (3 cr)

BIOS 425 Plant Biotechnology (3 cr)

Recommended for students in Integrated Grain/Forage Crop Management

AGRO 340 Range Management & Improvement (3 cr)

AGRO 405 Crop Management Strategies (3 cr)

AGRO 431 Site-specific Crop Management (3 cr)

AGRO 436 Agroecosystems Analysis (3 cr)

AGRO 437 Animal, Food & Industrial Uses of Grain (2 cr)

AGRO 438 Producing Grain for Animal, Food & Industrial Uses (1 cr)

AGRO 426 Invasive Plants (3 cr)

AGRO 445 Livestock Management on Range & Pasture (3 cr)

ASCI 250 Animal Management (3 cr)

ASCI 320 Animal Nutrition & Feeding (3 cr)

Recommended courses for students interested in Soil Science

AGRO 453/HORT 453/SOIL 453 Urban Soil Properties & Management (3 cr)

AGRO 455/SOIL 455 Soil Chemistry & Mineralogy (3 cr)

AGRO 460/SOIL 460 Soil Microbiology (3 cr)

AGRO 461/SOIL 461 Soil Physics (3 cr)

AGRO 477/SOIL 477 Great Plains Field Pedology (4 cr)

Core Total50-55

Option Total58-61

Free Electives4-12

Total Credit Hours Required for Graduation120

Organic Option

The organic farming option prepares students for careers in practical farming, technical, scientific, academic or private employment. Learning in production practices and marketing prepares students for involvement in farming, crop advising, organic certification, specialty marketing, farm and landscape planning, and community and rural development.

Hours

College Capstone Course (ACE 10)3

Select one from:

AGRO 405 Crop Management Strategies (3 cr)

AGRO 436/HORT 436 Agroecosystems Analysis (3 cr)

NOTE: AGRO 436 is not currently ACE certified. Choice of this course will require selection of another course to meet ACE 10.

AGRO 445 Livestock Management on Range & Pasture (3 cr)

Mathematics and Statistics (beyond college algebra)0

Select from:

MATH 102 Trigonometry (2 cr)

MATH 103 College Algebra & Trigonometry (5 cr) (2 cr apply to requirement)

MATH 104 Calculus for Managerial & Social Sciences (3 cr)

MATH 106 Analytical Geometry & Calculus 1 (5 cr)

STAT 218 Intro to Statistics (3 cr)

Plant and Soil Management15

AGRO 204 Resource Efficient Crop Management3

AGRO 269/SOIL 269 Principles of Soil Management3

AGRO 366/SOIL 366 Soil Nutrient Relationships4

AGRO 439/HORT 439 Organic Farming & Food Systems3

HORT 352 Production & Physiology of Horticultural Crops2

Crop Protection9

AGRO 426/HORT 426/NRES 426 Invasive Plants3

ENTO 308 Management of Field Crop Insects3

PLPT 369/BIOS 369 Introductory Plant Pathology3

Ecology6

NRES 220/BIOS 220 Principles of Ecology3

AGRO 435/HORT 435/NRES 435 Agroecology3

Natural Science16

AGRO 325 Introductory Plant Physiology4

BIOS 109 General Botany4

Select one from: (ACE 4)8

CHEM 105 & CHEM 106 Chemistry in Context I & II (8 cr)

CHEM 109 & CHEM 110 General Chemistry I & II (8 cr)

Business and Economics9

AECN 316 Agribusiness Management3

AECN 325/MRKT 325 Marketing of Agricultural Commodities3

HORT 488/AGRO 488/EAEP 488/ENTR 488 Business Management for Agricultural Enterprises3

Core Total50-55

Option Total58

Free Electives7-12

Total Credit Hours Required for Graduation120

REQUIREMENTS FOR MINOR OFFERED BY DEPARTMENT

Agronomy Minor

Requirements for the minor include a minimum of 18 credit hours of course work, including at least 6 hours at the 300 level or above. A total of no more than 3 hours of credit in AGRO 496 and AGRO 295 can be applied to the minor.

Students who wish to minor in agronomy must first be assigned an adviser by the Department of Agronomy. The student’s program must be approved by the minor adviser with copies of the approved program sent to the University Registrar and the dean of the student’s college.

Hours

Core Courses8

AGRO 131 Plant Science3

AGRO 132 Agronomic Plant Science Lab1

AGRO 153 Soil Resources4

Additional Courses10

Select from: AGRO 204, AGRO 240 (RNGE), AGRO 269 (SOIL), AGRO 295 (RNGE, SOIL), AGRO 366 (SOIL), AGRO 405, AGRO 408 (GEOG, HORT, METR, WATS), AGRO 426 (HORT, NRES), AGRO 431 (AGEN, MSYM), AGRO 435 (HORT, NRES), AGRO 496 (RNGE, SOIL)