Major in Plant and Soil Systems Curriculum
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 (B.S. and M.S.), Distance Degree Program (M.S. only)
Advising check list for Plant and Soil Systems
NOTE: If you are interested in an M.S. or Ph.D., please see the listing of degree programs in agriculture at WSU.
- General Requirements
- Ag & Food Systems Core Requirements
- Plant & Soil Systems Core Requirements
- Option 1 – Cropping Systems
- Option 2 – Soils Management
- Option 3 – Horticulture Systems
General Requirements |
Credits |
Public Speaking (ComSt 102[C]) or Comm. In Human Relations (HD 205[C]) |
3 |
World Civ. I & II (GenEd 110/111,[A]) |
6 |
Introductory Writing (Engl 101, Com [W]) |
3 |
World Agricultural Systems (CropS 360,[I]) |
3 |
Intro. Psychology (Psych 105, [H,G,S,K]) |
3 |
Biological Science [B] |
8 |
Intro to Chemistry/Chemistry Related to Life Sciences (Chem 101/102) or Principles of Chemistry I & II (Chem 105/106)[P] |
8 |
Elementary Functions(Math 107) or Intro to Finite Math for Bus. & Econ. (Math 201) |
3-4 |
Intro to Statistical Methods (Stat 212 [N]) |
4 |
Arts & Hum ([H]& [D]) |
3 |
Capstone (Tier III, [T]) |
3 |
Total General Requirements |
47-48 |
Ag & Food Systems Core Requirements |
Credits |
Intro to Systems (AFS 101) |
3 |
Cultivated Plants (CropS/Hort 102) |
3 |
Animal Sciences (AS 101) |
3 |
Intro. Systems Development (AFS 201) |
3 |
Fund. of Microeconomics (EconS 101[S]) |
3 |
Soil:A Living System (SoilS 201 [B]) |
3 |
Gen. Ecology (Biol 372 [M]) or Natural Resource Ecology (NATRS 300 [B]) |
4-3 |
Systems Development & Analysis (AFS 301) |
3 |
Ag., Environment, and Community (CRS 336[S]) |
3 |
Seminar (discipline optional) |
1 |
Advanced Sys. Analysis & Design (AFS 401) |
3 |
Total AFS Core |
31-32 |
Plant & Soil Systems Core Requirements |
Credits |
Crop Growth & Development (CropS/Hort 202) |
4 |
Intro to Meteorology & the Atmospheric Environment (ES/RP 174) |
3 |
Intro Plant Physiology (Biol 320) |
4 |
Ecology & Management of Weeds (CropS 305), Ag. Entomology (Entom 340), General Plant Pathology (PlP 429), or other pest mgt. |
3 |
Advonced Cropping Systems (CropS 403), Sustainable Ag. (SoilS 345), or Field Analysis of Sustainable Food Sys. (SoilS 445) |
3 |
Soil Fertility (SoilS 441) |
3 |
Hort/Crop/SoilS Internship |
3 |
Total Plant & Soil Core Requirements |
23 |
Option 1 – Cropping Systems |
Credits |
Forage Crops (CropS 302), Olericulture (Hort 320), or other plant production course |
3 |
An additional Ecology & Management of Weeds (CropS 305), Ag. Entomology (Entom 340), General Plant Pathology (PlP 429), or other pest mgt. |
3 |
Crop Environment Interactions (CropS 411) |
3 |
Plant Breeding I & II (CropS 444 & 445 [M]) |
4 |
Land Use & Soil Mangement (SoilS 301 [M]) |
3 |
Analytical Methods for Soil-Plant-Water Sys. (SoilS 442) |
3 |
Intro to Farm & Ranch Management (EconS 350), EconS 3XX, EconS 4XX, or ArcGIS & Geospatial Analysis (SoilS 468) |
3-4 |
Total Cropping Systems |
22-23 |
Total |
123-126 |
Option 2 – Soils Management |
Credits |
Forage Crops (CropS 302), Olericulture (Hort 320), or other plant production course |
3 |
Land Use & Soil Mangement (SoilS 301 [M]) |
3 |
Soil Microbiology & Biochemistry (SoilS 431) |
3 |
Pedology (SoilS 451 [M]) |
3 |
Analytical Methods for Soil-Plant-Water Sys. (SoilS 442) |
3 |
Remote Sensing & Airphoto Interpretation (SoilS 374), or ArcGIS & Geospatial Analysis (SoilS 468) |
3-4 |
Ag Elective Upper Division |
3 |
Total Soils Management |
21-22 |
Total |
122-125 |
Option 3 – Horticulture Systems |
Credits |
Organic Chemistry (Chem 345), or other organic chemistry |
4 |
Plant Propagation (Hort 251) or Controlled Environments for Horticultural Production (Hort 334), credits in Hort electives |
0 |
Post-harvest Biology and Technology (Hort 418 [M]) or Future World Trends and Horticultural Impact (Hort 425 [M]), credits in Hort electives |
0 |
Hort Lower/Upper Division (excluding Hort 399, 356, 499) |
8 |
Hort Upper Division |
5 |
Electives |
1-3 |
Total Soils Management |
18-20 |
Total |
120-123 |
Advisors
Plant & Soil Systems
Catherine A. Perillo
Johnson Hall 231
509.335.2851
Steve Ullrich
Johnson Hall 273
509.335.4936
Kathleen M. Williams
Department: Horticulture
Johnson 103
509-335-3613