Apr 02, 2025

2024-2025 General Catalog

2024-2025 General Catalog ARCHIVED CATALOG: To search archives, MUST use search box to left. Current catalog: catalog.usu.edu.

Plant Science: Horticulture and Cropping Systems Emphasis - BS

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College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences

Department of Plants, Soils and Climate

About This Degree

In this program, students focus on the research, production, and management of economically important plants. Students have access to faculty mentors and the opportunity to receive hands-on experience working side-by-side with research scientists in laboratories, greenhouses, and fields.

Horticulture and Cropping Systems Emphasis: This emphasis is focused more on applied, hands-on work with plants. It is designed for students interested in applied aspects of plant production and management in the field, nursery, orchard, or greenhouse. Students can also study plant management, preparing them for careers with golf courses, botanical gardens, school campuses, and other landscapes.

For more information about Plant Science, see the website.
Admitted and current students must meet with an advisor, Lisa Allen, lisa.allen@usu.edu, 435-797-0454.
Log on to Degree Works to check student-specific program progress.
Can also have an emphasis in Research.
The highest math requirement for this degree is MATH 1050: College Algebra (QL) .

Minimum University Requirements

Total Credits: 120
Credits of C- or better: 100
Total credits taken at USU: 30
Credits of upper-division courses required for the major taken at USU: 10
Minimum Grade Point Average (many majors require a higher GPA): 2.0 GPA
Credits of upper-division courses (#3000 or above): 40
Upper-division credits taken at USU: 20
General Education Requirements
University Studies Requirements
Undergraduate Degree Requirements

Admission Requirements For This Program

New freshmen: Admitted to USU in Good Standing
Transfer students from other institutions or other programs at USU: 2.5 GPA

Additional Information

This major requires a minimum GPA of 2.5 in all program coursework.

Contact Lisa Allen, lisa.allen@usu.edu, 435-797-0454 for advising.

Plant Science Core Requirements (24 credits)

Complete ALL of the following courses:

BIOL 1610 - Biology I 3 credit(s)
BIOL 1615 - Biology I Laboratory 1 credit(s)
BIOL 1620 - Biology II (BLS) 3 credit(s)
BIOL 1625 - Biology II Laboratory 1 credit(s)
BIOL 4430 - Introduction to Plant Pathology 4 credit(s)
BIOL 4500 - Applied Entomology 3 credit(s)
PSC 1050 - Plants, Soils, and Climate Orientation 1 credit(s) (enroll in 1 credit)
PSC 3000 - Fundamentals of Soil Science 4 credit(s)
PSC 5550 - Fundamentals of Integrated Weed Management 4 credit(s)

Note:

In addition to the courses listed above, students must complete the course requirements for the emphasis.

Horticulture and Cropping Systems (21-22 credits)

Students must complete the following courses:

CHEM 1110 - General Chemistry I (BPS) 4 credit(s)
MATH 1050 - College Algebra (QL) 4 credit(s) or
MATH 1100 - Calculus Techniques (QL) 3 credit(s)
PHYS 1200 - Introduction to Physics by Hands-on Exploration (BPS) 4 credit(s)
PSC 3600 - An Introduction to Plant Breeding and Heredity 3 credit(s) or
BIOL 3060 - Principles of Genetics (QI) 3 credit(s) or
PSC 5700 - Advanced Plant Breeding 3 credit(s)
PSC 4250 - Internship in Plants, Soils, and/or Climate 1-4 credit(s) (minimum of 1 credit required)
PSC 5530 - Soil Health and Fertility (QI) 3 credit(s)
WILD 2200 - Ecology of Our Changing World (BLS) 3 credit(s)

Plant Biology Electives (5-7 credits)

Students must complete two of the following courses:

PSC 3500 - Structure and Function of Plants 3 credit(s)
BIOL 4420 - Plant Systematics and Diversity 3 credit(s)
PSC 5270 - Environmental Plant Physiology 2 credit(s)

Production Electives (21-23 credits)

Students must complete seven courses, including at least two courses identified with an asterisk (*):

PSC 2200 - Pesticide Certification 2 credit(s)
PSC 2600 - Herbaceous Plant Materials 3 credit(s)
PSC 2620 - Woody Plant Materials: Trees and Shrubs for the Landscape 3 credit(s)
PSC 3400 - Arboriculture 3 credit(s)
PSC 3700 - Plant Propagation 4 credit(s)
PSC 3800 - Fundamentals of Organic Agriculture 3 credit(s)
PSC 3810 - Turfgrass Management 3 credit(s)
* PSC 4050 - Greenhouse Management and Crop Production 4 credit(s)
* PSC 4200 - Temperate Zone Fruit Production 3 credit(s)
* PSC 4280 - World Field Cropping Systems 3 credit(s)
* PSC 4320 - Forage Production and Pasture Management 3 credit(s)
* PSC 4400 - Modern Vegetable Production 3 credit(s)
PSC 6100 - Professional Turf and Urban Landscape Water Management 3 credit(s)

Other Electives (5-12 credits)

Students must complete three courses from the following:

CHEM 1115 - General Chemistry I Laboratory 1 credit(s)
CHEM 1120 - General Chemistry II (BPS) 4 credit(s)
PSC 1800 - Introduction to Horticulture (BLS) 3 credit(s)
PSC 2000 - The Atmosphere and Weather (BPS) 3 credit(s)
PSC 2030 - Basic Flower Arranging 2 credit(s)
PSC 2700 - Climate Change Impacts (BPS) 3 credit(s)
PSC 3200 - Microbes in Environmental Action (DSC) 3 credit(s)
PSC 3300 - Residential Landscapes 3 credit(s)
PSC 4500 - Urban Soil Management and Reclamation 3 credit(s)
PSC 4700 - Irrigated Soils 3 credit(s)
PSC 4890 - Senior Seminar (CI) 1 credit(s)
PSC 5000 - Environmental Instrumentation 2 credit(s)
PSC 5050 - Principles of Environmental Soil Chemistry 3 credit(s)
PSC 5130 - Soil Genesis, Morphology, and Classification 4 credit(s)
PSC 5270 - Environmental Plant Physiology 2 credit(s)
PSC 5280 - Plant Stress Physiology 3 credit(s)
PSC 5310 - Soil Microbiology 3 credit(s)
PSC 5350 - Wildland Soils 3 credit(s)
PSC 5560 - Analytical Techniques for the Soil Environment 3 credit(s)
PSC 5620 - Aquatic Chemistry 3 credit(s)
PSC 5670 - Environmental Soil Physics 4 credit(s)
PSC 6100 - Professional Turf and Urban Landscape Water Management 3 credit(s)
STAT 2000 - Statistical Methods (QI) 4 credit(s)

Open Electives

Total elective credit is determined by General Education courses taken, degree type selected, additional credits earned, and any additional math or other prerequisite courses needed. Please consult your Academic Advisor for details.

Total Credits: 120

Suggested Degree Map - Plant Science: Horticulture and Cropping Systems Emphasis BS

Plant Science: Horticulture and Cropping Systems Emphasis BS - 4 Year Degree Map