Program Overview

Agricultural Biology (Pest Biology and Management) - Bachelor of Science in Agriculture

The agricultural biology course work prepares students for a variety of careers in the biological sciences and agriculture. Students will develop their curriculum with an academic advisor to attain their individual goals. Many will pursue advanced degrees in the sciences or prepare for admittance to professional schools (medical, dental, etc.). A diverse program is offered with five separate concentrations that allow students to tailor their program for careers in the commercial sector, such as agricultural consulting, and pest management or for careers with county, state, or federal agencies, such as research technicians, land managers, and extension agents.

Program Requirements

• A minimum of 120 credit hours is required for graduation.
• Any undergraduate student majoring in Agricultural Biology must earn a grade of C- or higher in core (EPWS prefix) courses to satisfy degree requirements.
• Students earning a D or F in a core (EPWS prefix) course will be expected to repeat that course until the student earns a grade of C- or higher.

Concentration Coursework

The Pest Biology and Management concentration prepares students for careers such as:

• Insect, weed, and disease management
• IPM and Sustainable/Organic Techniques research technician
• Federal and state agencies
• Border security
• Agricultural consulting
• Extension positions

Course List

General Education

• English Composition - Level 1: ENGL 1110G Composition I (4 credits)
• English Composition - Level 2: Choose one from the following (3 credits)
  • ENGL 2130G Advanced Composition
  • ENGL 2210G Professional & Technical Communication
  • ENGL 2210H Professional and Technical Communication Honors
  • ENGL 2215G Advanced Technical and Professional Communication
• Oral Communication: Choose one from the following (3 credits)
  • AXED 2120G Effective Leadership and Communication in Agriculture
  • COMM 1115G Introduction to Communication
  • COMM 1130G Public Speaking
• Mathematics: MATH 1220G College Algebra (3 credits)
• Laboratory Sciences and Social/Behavioral Sciences (11 credits)
  • CHEM 1215G General Chemistry I Lecture and Laboratory for STEM Majors (4 credits)
  • CHEM 1225G General Chemistry II Lecture and Laboratory for STEM Majors (4 credits)
  • Social/Behavioral Sciences Course (3 credits)
• Humanities (3 credits)
• Creative and Fine Arts (3 credits)
• General Education Elective: BIOL 2610G Principles of Biology: Biodiversity, Ecology, and Evolution (3 credits)

Viewing a Wider World

• One course must be from outside the College of ACES (6 credits)

Departmental/College Requirements

• CHEM 1215G, CHEM 1225G, and BIOL 2610G will count towards Departmental/College and General Education Requirements
• A ST 311 Statistical Applications (3 credits)
• AGRO 305 Principles of Genetics (3 credits)
• BIOL 2110G Principles of Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology (3 credits)
• BIOL 311 General Microbiology (3 credits)
• BIOL 313 Structure and Function of Plants (3 credits)
• or BIOL 322 Zoology
• EPWS 1110 Applied Biology (3 credits)
• EPWS 1110L Applied Biology Lab (1 credit)
• EPWS 301 Agricultural Biotechnology (3 credits)
• EPWS 302 General Entomology (4 credits)
• EPWS 310 Plant Pathology (4 credits)
• EPWS 311 Introduction to Weed Science (4 credits)
• EPWS 447 Seminar (1 credit)

Concentration Coursework

• CHEM 2115 Survey of Organic Chemistry and Laboratory (4 credits)
• EPWS 314 Plant Physiology (3 credits)
• EPWS 455 Advanced Integrated Pest Management (3 credits)
• EPWS 462 Parasitology (3 credits)
• EPWS 492 Diagnosing Plant Disorders (3 credits)
• MATH 1430G Applications of Calculus I (3 credits)
• PHYS 1230G & PHYS 1230L Algebra-Based Physics I and Algebra-Based Physics I Lab (4 credits)
• SOIL 2110 Introduction to Soil Science (3 credits)
• SOIL 312 Soil Management and Fertility (3 credits)
• TOX 361 Basic Toxicology (3 credits)
• Select one from the following (3 credits)
  • BIOL 312 Plant Taxonomy
  • RGSC 316 Rangeland Plants
  • RGSC 325 Rangeland Restoration Ecology
• Select 3 credits from the following
  • EPWS 451 Special Topics
  • EPWS 486 Plant Virology
  • AGRO 365 Principles of Crop Production
  • AGRO 471 Plant Mineral Nutrition
  • BIOL 301 Principles of Ecology
  • RGSC 317 Rangeland Communities

Electives

• Electives, to bring the total credits to 120 (variable credits)

Plan of Study

The plan of study is a suggested plan of study for students and is not intended as a contract. Course availability may vary from fall to spring semester and may be subject to modification or change.

First Year

• Fall:
  • MATH 1220G College Algebra (3 credits)
  • EPWS 1110 & 1110L Applied Biology and Applied Biology Lab (4 credits)
  • ENGL 1110G Composition I (4 credits)
  • ACES 1120 Freshman Orientation (1 credit)
  • General Education Course (Area V, VI, or VII) (3 credits)
• Spring:
  • AXED 2120G or COMM 1115G Effective Leadership and Communication in Agriculture or Introduction to Communication (3 credits)
  • ENGL 2210G Professional & Technical Communication (3 credits)
  • BIOL 2610G Principles of Biology: Biodiversity, Ecology, and Evolution (3 credits)
  • General Education Course (Area V, VI, or VII) (3 credits)
  • General Education Course (Area V, VI, or VII) (3 credits)

Second Year

• Fall:
  • MATH 1430G Applications of Calculus I (3 credits)
  • BIOL 2110G Principles of Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology (3 credits)
  • CHEM 1215G General Chemistry I Lecture and Laboratory for STEM Majors (4 credits)
  • Elective Course (3 credits)
• Spring:
  • A ST 311 Statistical Applications (3 credits)
  • CHEM 1225G General Chemistry II Lecture and Laboratory for STEM Majors (4 credits)
  • BIOL 311 General Microbiology (3 credits)
  • BIOL 313 Structure and Function of Plants (3 credits)
  • Viewing A Wider World (3 credits)

Third Year

• Fall:
  • CHEM 2115 Survey of Organic Chemistry and Laboratory (4 credits)
  • EPWS 302 General Entomology (4 credits)
  • SOIL 2110 Introduction to Soil Science (3 credits)
  • PHYS 1230G & PHYS 1230L Algebra-Based Physics I and Algebra-Based Physics I Lab (4 credits)
• Spring:
  • EPWS 301 Agricultural Biotechnology (3 credits)
  • EPWS 314 Plant Physiology (3 credits)
  • EPWS 462 Parasitology (3 credits)
  • TOX 361 Basic Toxicology (3 credits)
  • Viewing a Wider World (3 credits)

Fourth Year

• Fall:
  • EPWS 310 Plant Pathology (4 credits)
  • EPWS 311 Introduction to Weed Science (4 credits)
  • Elective Course (1 credit)
  • BIOL 312 Plant Taxonomy (3 credits)
  • EPWS 492 Diagnosing Plant Disorders (3 credits)
• Spring:
  • AGRO 305 Principles of Genetics (3 credits)
  • AGRO 471 Plant Mineral Nutrition (3 credits)
  • EPWS 447 Seminar (1 credit)
  • EPWS 455 Advanced Integrated Pest Management (3 credits)
  • EPWS 420 Environmental Behavior of Pesticides (3 credits)
  • SOIL 312 Soil Management and Fertility (3 credits)

Total Credits

• Total credits required for graduation: 120 credits