Soils and Sustainable Land Systems: Sustainable Food Production Option - BA, BS

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College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences

Department of Plants, Soils and Climate

About This Degree

The Soils and Sustainable Land Systems major provides students with an understanding of the physical, chemical, and biological processes that occur in the soil-water-atmosphere zone at the earth’s surface.

Sustainable Food Production Emphasis: This emphasis features a core curriculum of math, science and some introductory soil science courses. Students will choose electives that are more specific to agriculture and human systems.

For more information about Soils and Sustainable Land Systems, see the website.
Admitted and current students must meet with an advisor.
Log on to Degree Works to check student-specific program progress.
Can also have an emphasis in Environmental Soil Science .
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 through USU: 30
Total major required credits 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

Major Requirements

This major requires a minimum GPA of 2.5 in program coursework. Courses for the program may not be taken on a pass/fail basis

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

Preparatory Core Requirements (47-57 credits)

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)
CHEM 1110 - General Chemistry I (BPS) 4 credit(s)
MATH 1050 - College Algebra (QL) 4 credit(s)
PSC 3000 - Fundamentals of Soil Science 4 credit(s)
PSC 3500 - Structure and Function of Plants 3 credit(s)
PSC 3600 - An Introduction to Plant Breeding and Heredity 3 credit(s)
PSC 3800 - Fundamentals of Organic Agriculture 3 credit(s)
PSC 4070 - Agroecology 3 credit(s)
PSC 4250 - Internship in Plants, Soils, and/or Climate 1-4 credit(s) (minimum of 1 credit)
PSC 4810 - Climate and Climate Change (DSC/QI) 3 credit(s)
PSC 4900 - Special Problems 1-4 credit(s) (Student Organic Farm Practicum) (1 credit) or
PSC 5530 - Soil Health and Fertility (QI) 3 credit(s)
PSC 5550 - Fundamentals of Integrated Weed Management 4 credit(s)

Agricultural Coursework (18 credits)

Select at least 18 credits from the following courses:

ADVS 1100 - Small Scale Animal Production 3 credit(s)
ADVS 5030 - Sustainable Agricultural Production Systems with Animals 3 credit(s)
ASTE 1130 - Planting and Tillage Equipment 3 credit(s)
ASTE 3080 - Compact Power Units for Agricultural and Turfgrass Applications 3 credit(s)
PSC 2700 - Climate Change Impacts (BPS) 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 4420 - Landscape Irrigation Design (QI) 2 credit(s)
PSC 4700 - Irrigated Soils 3 credit(s)
PSC 4890 - Senior Seminar (CI) 1 credit(s)
WILD 4000 - Principles of Rangeland Management 3 credit(s)
WILD 4500 - Principles of Wildlife Management 3 credit(s)

Human Systems Coursework (12 credits)

Select at least 12 credits from the following courses:

ENVS 2340 - Environment, Natural Resources, and Society (BSS) 3 credit(s)
ENVS 3300 - Fundamentals of Natural Resource Recreation Management 3 credit(s)
ENVS 4700 - Communicating Sustainability (CI) 3 credit(s)
ENVS 5550 - Sustainability: Concepts and Measurement 3 credit(s)
IS 5700 - Advanced Client-Side Web Application Development 3 credit(s)
LAEP 2039 - Foundations of Sustainable Systems 3 credit(s)
MSLE 3500 - Fundamentals of Marketing 3 credit(s)
PHIL 3530 - Environmental Ethics (DHA) 3 credit(s)
SOC 3610 - Rural People and Places (DSS) 3 credit(s)
SOC 4620 - Sociology of the Environment and Natural Resources (DSS) 3 credit(s)
SOC 5640 - Managing Community Conflict (CI) 3 credit(s)
WATS 1200 - Biodiversity and Sustainability (BLS) 3 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 - Soils and Sustainable Land Systems: Sustainable Food Production Option BA, BS

Soils and Sustainable Land Systems: Sustainable Food Production Option BA, BS - 4 Year Degree Map