SDSU Plant Science Undergraduate Studies

South Dakota State University

college of agriculture & biological sciences

Undergraduate Studies in Plant Science

The Plant Science Department provides instruction for the Agronomy major, offering four areas of specialization in addition to the Agronomy minor for undergraduate students at SDSU. A complete course list can be found here. In addition to instruction, undergraduate agronomy majors and minors and general agriculture students are advised by Plant Science faculty.

Agronomy Major – Business Specialization

Provides the student with a strong background in all phases of plant science with an emphasis on the sales, marketing, entrepreneurship, finance, and business management. Graduates are agribusiness leaders in seed industries, ag chemical companies, fertilizer industries, agricultural lending institutions, grain marketing organizations, and government agencies.

Agronomy Major – Pest Management Specialization

Provides students with a strong, well-rounded, crop production background plus additional emphasis on entomology, plant pathology, and weed science. Graduates are uniquely prepared to be leaders in the crop protection, agribusiness, and consulting industries, and they are eligible for employment with local, state, and federal agencies

Agronomy Major – Production Specialization

Provides the student with a strong background in all phases of cropping systems, including an emphasis on precision agriculture, crop rotation, soil and water management, and sustainable agriculture. Graduates are leaders in family and corporate farming, agronomic consulting, seed industries, fertilizer industries, agricultural chemical companies, agricultural lending institutions, grain marketing organizations, and governmental agencies.

Agronomy Major – Science Specialization

Provides students with the strong plant science background necessary to enter graduate education in soils, plant science, agronomy, entomology, or plant pathology. Students are prepared for advanced graduate studies in any of the plant science fields at SDSU or at other Land Grant universities. Students graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agronomy-Science Specialization have successfully entered graduate programs throughout the nation. Alumni of this program have taken leadership positions in agricultural research, instruction, Extension, and business.

Undergraduate Minors and Certifications Offered by the Plant Science Department

In addition to the Bachelor of Science Degree, the Department offers two undergraduate minors: (1) Agronomy and (2) Pest Management, as well as the Soil Science Certification.

For more information regarding Undergraduate Academics in the Plant Science Department, contact Teaching Coordinator:

Dr. Brent Turnipseed

Plant Science Department
Box 2207A

SDSU

Brookings SD 57007

Telephone: 605-688-4590