BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN SOILS AND SUSTAINABLE CROP SYSTEMS

Soils and Sustainable Crop Systems (SSCS) is a multi-disciplinary degree program in agriculture designed to provide students with expertise in soils, crop sciences, or applied agricultural biotechnology. SSCS offers students a science-based degree with educational opportunities in managing agricultural commodities along with soil and water resources. Academic advisors help students tailor individual programs to fit their own professional and academic goals. Students will graduate with the scientific, technical, and practical skills needed to compete in many diverse careers or continue on in graduate school.

SSCS CONCENTRATIONS

Agricultural Biotechnology (with emphasis areas of Agricultural Biosystems and Technology or Agricultural Biotechnology and Global Society) (Curriculum)
(Contacts: Dr. Halina Knap, Dr. Matt Turnbull

Soil and Water Environmental Science (with emphasis areas of Soil Science, Soil Management, or Soil and Water Quality) (Curriculum)
(Contacts: Dr. Yuji Arai, Dr. Virgil Quisenberry)

Sustainable Crop Production (with emphasis areas of Crop Production or Integrated Pest Management) (Curriculum);
(Contacts: Dr. Melissa Riley, Dr. Geoff Zehnder)

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Agricultural Biotechnology: The Agricultural Biotechnology concentration integrates conventional disciplines with molecular advances in plants, pathogens and biosystem interactions, and responds to the educational void between the rapid adoption of biotechnology products into agricultural production and the intermediate– and end-users, farmers and consumers.

Graduates of this concentration will be competitive as scientists in emerging agricultural biotechnology industries, educators, and as policymakers and officers in regulatory agencies.
For more information contact:
Dr. Halina Knap
Dr. Matt Turnbull
(Curriculum)

Soil and Water Environmental Science: Soil and water quality impact all agricultural disciplines. Undergraduates with a concentration in Soil and Water Environmental Science can address compelling problems including land application of agricultural and industrial wastes, reduction of contamination of ground and surface waters, establishment of functional septic drain fields, and production of food and fiber crops.

Graduates from this concentration will be able to establish careers in traditional agrarian fields such as the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Cooperative Extension Service, conservation organizations, farm consulting firms, and in the broader environmental arena, Department of Health and Environmental Control, consulting engineering or environmental consulting firms. Graduates of the program will be well prepared for graduate work in fields ranging from soil science to environmental engineering and law.
For more information contact:
Dr. Yuji Arai
Dr. Virgil Quisenberry
(Curriculum)

Sustainable Crop Production: Undergraduate students with a concentration in Sustainable Crop Production will graduate with comprehensive knowledge of how to increase farm profits by decreasing the costs of crop and livestock production; build soil fertility through rotations, multiple cropping, and nutrient cycling; protect the environment by minimizing or more efficiently using synthetic agrichemicals; manage crop pests and weeds with integrated, ecologically sound strategies; develop strategies for profitable marketing of agricultural commodities; and create a strong, diversified agriculture that is stable through market and weather fluctuations.

Graduates from this concentration will be able to successfully assume positions as self-employed farmers, farm managers, state and federal natural resource managers, research technicians, agricultural industry employees (e.g., farming equipment and supplies, agricultural chemicals), greenhouse managers, consultants in pest management and sustainable agriculture, field ecology professionals, agritourism industry specialists, extension personnel, or regulatory officers.
For more information contact:
Dr. Melissa Riley
Dr. Geoff Zehnder
(Curriculum)

For more information contact: