Plant and Soil Systems
QUICK JUMP
- Plant and Soil Systems Study Options
- Requirements and Core Courses
- Scholarships and Financial Aid
- Salaries and Careers
- Related Fields of Study That Might Interest You
- Contact Information
Plant and Soil Systems
The major in plant and soil systems provides students the opportunity to specialize in plant or soil management for food, fiber, and/or ornamental production, while maintaining a big-picture perspective of how their disciplinary work fits within larger agricultural and food systems.
In addition to core classes in natural, biological, physical, economic, and social sciences, students can choose from among three focus areas in the following options: cropping systems, horticulture systems, or soil management.
This major is for students who are interested in actively managing soil and/or plants, such as being a certified professional in crop or soil sciences (including certified crop advisor), running a plant production enterprise such as an agronomic or horticultural farm, landscaping business, greenhouse production facility, etc., and/or working on the ground or in policy arenas toward conservation.
Students in the cropping systems option will focus on agronomic cropping systems. Students interested in genetics and molecular biology should also explore the crop science degree program.
Offered at WSU: Bachelor of science in agricultural and food systems with a major in plant and soil systems
Available at: Pullman
NOTE: If you are interested in an M.S. or Ph.D., see the listing of degree programs in agriculture at WSU.
Study Options
Students in this major receive a solid grounding in plant production and soil management, with opportunities for specialization in agronomics, crop science, horticulture, or soil and land management. All options prepare you for becoming a certified crop advisor. The soil management option prepares you for professional soil scientist certification, as well as government agency positions.
Requirements and Core Courses
MAJOR IN PLANT AND SOIL SYSTEMS
General Requirements
- Public Speaking (ComSt 102[C]) or Comm. In Human Relations (HD 205[C])
- World Civ. I & II (GenEd 110/111,[A])
- Introductory Writing (Engl 101, Com [W])
- World Agricultural Systems (CropS 360,[I])
- Intro. Psychology (Psych 105, [H,G,S,K])
- Biological Science [B]
- Intro to Chemistry/Chemistry Related to Life Sciences (Chem 101/102) or Principles of Chemistry I & II (Chem 105/106)[P]
- Elementary Functions(Math 107) or Intro to Finite Math for Bus. & Econ. (Math 201)
- Intro to Statistical Methods (Stat 212 [N])
- Arts & Hum ([H]& [D])
- Capstone (Tier III, [T])
Total General Requirements Credits: 47-48
Agricultural and Food Systems Core Requirements
- Intro to Systems (AFS 101)
- Cultivated Plants (CropS/Hort 102)
- Animal Sciences (AS 101)
- Intro. Systems Development (AFS 201)
- Fund. of Microeconomics (EconS 101[S])
- Soil:A Living System (SoilS 201 [B])
- Gen. Ecology (Biol 372 [M]) or Natural Resource Ecology (NATRS 300 [B])
- Systems Development & Analysis (AFS 301)
- Ag., Environment, and Community (CRS 336[S])
- Seminar (discipline optional)
- Advanced Systems Analysis & Design (AFS 401)
Total AFS Core Credits: 31-32
Plant and Soil Systems Core Requirements
- Crop Growth & Development (CropS/Hort 202)
- Intro to Meteorology & the Atmospheric Environment (ES/RP 174)
- Intro Plant Physiology (Biol 320)
- Ecology & Management of Weeds (CropS 305), Ag. Entomology (Entom 340), General Plant Pathology (PlP 429), or other pest mgt.
- Advanced Cropping Systems (CropS 403), Sustainable Ag. (SoilS 345), or Field Analysis of Sustainable Food Systems (SoilS 445)
- Soil Fertility (SoilS 441)
- Hort/Crop/SoilS Internship
Total Plant and Soil Systems Core Requirements: 23
Choose one of the following options:
Option 1 – Cropping Systems
- Forage Crops (CropS 302), Olericulture (Hort 320), or other plant production course
- An additional course in pest mgt, such as: Ecology & Management of Weeds (CropS 305), Agricultural Entomology (Entom 340), General Plant Pathology (PlP 429
- Crop Environment Interactions (CropS 411)
- Plant Breeding I & II (CropS 444 & 445 [M])
- Land Use & Soil Management (SoilS 301 [M])
- Analytical Methods for Soil-Plant-Water Sys.(SoilS 442)
- Intro to Farm & Ranch Management (EconS 350), a 300-level EconS course, a 400-level EconS course, or ArcGIS & Geospatial Analysis (SoilS 468)
Total Cropping Systems Credits: 22-23
Total program credits: 123-126
Option 2 – Soils Management
- Forage Crops (CropS 302), Olericulture (Hort 320), or other plant production course
- Land Use & Soil Management (SoilS 301 [M])
- Soil Microbiology & Biochemistry (SoilS 431)
- Pedology (SoilS 451 [M])
- Analytical Methods for Soil-Plant-Water Sys.(SoilS 442)
- Remote Sensing & Airphoto Interpretation (SoilS 374), or ArcGIS & Geospatial Analysis (SoilS 468)
- Agriculture Elective Upper Division
Total Soils Management Credits: 21-22
Total program credits: 122-125
Option 3 – Horticulture Systems
- Organic Chemistry I (Chem 345) or other organic chemistry
- Plant Propagation (Hort 251), Controlled Environments for Hort. Production (Hort 334), credits in Hort electives
- Post-harvest Biology & Tech. (Hort 418), or Future World Trends & Hort. Impact (Hort 425)
- Hort Lower/Upper Division (Excluding Hort 399,356,499)
- Hort Upper Division
- Electives (1-3 credits)
Total Horticulture Credits: 18-20
Total program credits: 120-123
NOTE: Students should consult the General Catalog and meet with their advisor as early as possible for course planning and must meet course requirements as outlined in the General Catalog in order to graduate.
Scholarships and Financial Aid
The College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences has annually awarded more than $250,000 to students. For more information, see the college's scholarships Web site.
You may also be eligible for a variety of federal, state, and University-sponsored scholarships and financial aid. To find out more, visit the Costs & Financial Aid section of the WSU Web site.
Salaries and Careers
Starting salaries are in the $35,000 to $45,000 range.
Related Fields of Study That Might Interest You
- Agricultural Business & Technology Systems
- Plant and Soil Systems
- Organic Agriculture Systems
- Pest Management Systems
- Horticulture
- Environmental Science
Contact Information
Agricultural and Food Systems Program
College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences
Washington State University
Pullman, WA 99164-6243
afs@wsu.edu
509-335-4562
Lead Faculty
Cathy Perillo
cperillo@wsu.edu
1-509-335-2851
Visit Department Web Page
Department of Agricultural Business and Technology Systems
Watch a Video about this program
Department of Agricultural and Food Systems
Strengths of the Program
- Benefit from the University's rich selection of agriculture courses, science and general education classes, and modern classrooms and laboratories.
- Interact personally with faculty--students are encouraged to participate in research programs with faculty scientists who are on the leading edge of their fields.
- Learn and practice new agricultural technologies for the future.
- Join other science, math, and engineering students in the Gannon-Goldsworthy residence hall—share courses with your neighbors, study together, get free tutoring, and use the hall’s own computer lab.