2005-06 Undergraduate Catalog
Majors
Plant science is a diverse major offered by the departments of Agronomy and Plant Pathology. Various specializations are available.
Potential careers include production agriculture, agribusiness sales and marketing, private consulting in crop production and plant protection, environmental policy and regulation, international agriculture and field or Laboratory technical support as well as preparation for graduate school.
Students should meet with an undergraduate coordinator(s) as early as possible in their academic careers.
** Select MAC 2233, STA 2023 or CGS 2531.
Agronomy
Plant Pathology
This specialization provides understanding of the scientific fundamentals and applied principles associated with production and improvement of agronomic crops.
Field and forage crops provide the major food and fiber requirements for the world's population and are increasingly important in soil conservation and sustainability, energy production and environmental issues.
This basic sciences option is designed for a technical career or graduate school.
* Or take CHM 2210, 2211 and 3211L.
** Approved elective; see adviser.
* Approved elective; see adviser.
Two courses offered during the summer are encouraged: AGR 4214C and AGR 4268C.
This specialization trains students to diagnose plant diseases, to identify microbes and environmental factors that cause plant disease and to study the molecular and genetic principles of infection and development of plant disease and epidemics. It prepares students to work in lab and field settings and to develop and prescribe environmentally safe methods and materials for avoiding or treating plant diseases in agricultural and urban environments.
This option is designed for graduate school or to work in the research laboratories of biotechnological firms, universities and government agencies.
This option prepares students to work for commodity, seed and agri-chemical industries that diagnose or test for plant diseases. This option also prepares students to work as private practitioners and to enter graduate school.
| Plant Science |
| College: Agricultural and Life Sciences |
| Degree: Bachelor of Science |
| Hours for the Degree: 120 |
| Specializations: Agronomy (two options: Science and Technology, Sustainable Crop Production and Management) and Plant Pathology (two options: Biotechnology and Agricultural Technology) |
| Minor: No |
| Combined-Degree Program: Yes |
| Website: plantpath.ifas.ufl.edu |
| Website: agronomy.ifas.ufl.edu |
Plant science is a diverse major offered by the departments of Agronomy and Plant Pathology. Various specializations are available.
Potential careers include production agriculture, agribusiness sales and marketing, private consulting in crop production and plant protection, environmental policy and regulation, international agriculture and field or Laboratory technical support as well as preparation for graduate school.
Students should meet with an undergraduate coordinator(s) as early as possible in their academic careers.
Critical Tracking Requirements
Semester 1:
- 2.0 UF GPA required for semesters 1-5
- Complete 2 of 6 critical courses – excluding labs – CHM 2045, CHM 2045L, MAC 1147, AEB 3103 or ECO 2023, BOT 2010C, BOT 2011C, PHY 2004, PHY 2004L
Semester 2:
- Complete 1 additional critical course – excluding labs
Semester 3:
- Complete 2 additional critical courses – excluding labs
Semester 4:
- Complete 1 additional critical course – including labs
Semester 5:
- Complete all critical-tracking courses – including associated labs
To remain on track, students must complete the appropriate critical-tracking courses, which will be bold
All Specializations
Suggested semester-by-semester plan
| Semester 1 | Credits |
| MAC 1147 Precalculus: Algebra and Trigonometry (GE–M) | 4 |
| BOT 2010C Introductory Botany (GE–B) | 3 |
| Composition (GE–C) | 3 |
| Humanities (GE–H) | 3 |
| Total | 13 |
| Semester 2 | Credits |
| BOT 2011C Plant Diversity (GE–B) | 4 |
| Humanities (GE–H) | 3 |
| SPC 2600 Introduction to Public Speaking | 3 |
| Math, statistics or computer science course (GE–M) ** | 3-4 |
| Total | 13-14 |
| Semester 3 | Credits |
| CHM 2045 and 2045L General Chemistry 1 (3) and Laboratory (1) (GE–P) | 4 |
| ECO 2023 Principles of Microeconomics (GE–S) | 3 |
| AEE 3033C Research and Business Writing in Agricultural and Life Sciences | 3 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE–S) | 3 |
| Elective | 4 |
| Total | 17 |
| Semester 4 | Credits |
| Humanities or Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE–H,S) | 3 |
| PHY 2004 and 2004L Applied Physics 1 (3) and Laboratory (1) (GE–P) | 4 |
| CHM 2046 and 2046L General Chemistry 2 (3) and Laboratory (1) | 4 |
| Electives | 6 |
| Total | 17 |
** Select MAC 2233, STA 2023 or CGS 2531.
Agronomy
Plant Pathology
This specialization provides understanding of the scientific fundamentals and applied principles associated with production and improvement of agronomic crops.
Field and forage crops provide the major food and fiber requirements for the world's population and are increasingly important in soil conservation and sustainability, energy production and environmental issues.
Science and Technology Option
This basic sciences option is designed for a technical career or graduate school.
| Semester 5 | Credits |
| AGR 3005 and 3005L Principles of Crop Science (3) and Laboratory (1) | 4 |
| AGR 3931C Plant Science Information | 2 |
| SOS 3022 and 3022L Introduction to Soils in the Environment (3) and Laboratory (1) | 4 |
| PLP 3002C Fundamentals of Plant Pathology | 4 |
| Total | 14 |
| Semester 6 | Credits |
| AGR 3303 Genetics | 3 |
| BOT 3503 and 3503L Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants (3) and Laboratory (2) | 5 |
| CHM 2200 and 2200L Basic Organic Chemistry (3) and Laboratory (1) * | 4 |
| Electives * | 4 |
| Total | 16 |
| Semester 7 | Credits |
| BCH 3025 Fundamentals of Biochemistry | 4 |
| AGR 4321 Plant Breeding | 3 |
| PLS 4601C Principles of Weed Science | 3 |
| Approved communications | 3 |
| Approved electives ** | 2 |
| Total | 15 |
| Semester 8 | Credits |
| AGR 4210 Physiology and Ecology of Crops | 3 |
| AGR 4231C Forage Science and Range Management | 4 |
| Approved electives ** | 8 |
| Total | 15 |
* Or take CHM 2210, 2211 and 3211L.
** Approved elective; see adviser.
Sustainable Crop Production and Management Option
| Semester 5 | Credits |
| AGR 3005 and 3005L Principles of Crop Science (3) and Laboratory (1) | 4 |
| PLP 3002C Fundamentals of Plant Pathology | 4 |
| SOS 3022 and 3022L Introduction to Soils in the Environment (3) and Laboratory (1) | 4 |
| BCH 3023 Elementary Organic and Biological Chemistry | 3 |
| Total | 15 |
| Semester 6 | Credits |
| AGR 3303 Genetics | 3 |
| AGR 4210 Physiology and Ecology of Crops | 3 |
| ALS 3133 Agricultural and Environmental Quality | 3 |
| Approved sustainable agriculture elective | 3 |
| Approved elective * | 3 |
| Total | 15 |
| Semester 7 | Credits |
| PLS 4601C Principles of Weed Science | 3 |
| AGR 4321 Plant Breeding | 3 |
| AGR 3931C Plant Science Information | 2 |
| ENY 3005 Principles of Entomology | 2 |
| ENY 3005L Principles of Entomology Laboratory | 1 |
| Approved electives | 4 |
| Total | 15 |
| Semester 8 | Credits |
| AGR 4231C Forage Science and Range Management | 4 |
| SOS 4116 Environmental Nutrient Management | 3 |
| Approved electives * | 8-15 |
| Total | 15+ |
* Approved elective; see adviser.
Two courses offered during the summer are encouraged: AGR 4214C and AGR 4268C.
This specialization trains students to diagnose plant diseases, to identify microbes and environmental factors that cause plant disease and to study the molecular and genetic principles of infection and development of plant disease and epidemics. It prepares students to work in lab and field settings and to develop and prescribe environmentally safe methods and materials for avoiding or treating plant diseases in agricultural and urban environments.
Biotechnology Option
This option is designed for graduate school or to work in the research laboratories of biotechnological firms, universities and government agencies.
| Semester 5 | Credits |
| AGR 3005 Principles of Crop Science | 3 |
| CHM 2200 and 2200L Organic Chemistry (3) and Laboratory (1) | 4 |
| PLP 3002C Fundamentals of Plant Pathology (GE–B) | 4 |
| AGR 3303 Genetics | 3 |
| Total | 14 |
| Semester 6 | Credits |
| MCB 2000 and 2000L Microbiology (3) and Laboratory (1) | 4 |
| PLP 3103C Control of Plant Diseases (odd years) | 3 |
| SOS 3022 and 3022L Introduction to Soils in the Environment (3) and Laboratory (1) | 4 |
| Approved electives | 6 |
| Total | 17 |
| Semester 7 | Credits |
| PLP 3653C Introductory Mycology (even years) | 4 |
| PLP 4931 Seminar in Plant Pathology | 1 |
| BCH 3025 Fundamentals of Biochemistry | 4 |
| AGR 4321 Plant Breeding | 3 |
| Approved electives | 4 |
| Total | 16 |
| Semester 8 | Credits |
| HOS 4304 Horticultural Physiology | 3 |
| PLS 4242C Micropropagation of Horticultural Crops | 4 |
| HOS 3305 Introduction to Plant Molecular Biology | 3 |
| ENY 3005 Principles of Entomology | 2 |
| ENY 3005L Principles of Entomology Laboratory | 1 |
| Total | 13 |
Agricultural Technology Option
This option prepares students to work for commodity, seed and agri-chemical industries that diagnose or test for plant diseases. This option also prepares students to work as private practitioners and to enter graduate school.
| Semester 5 | Credits |
| AGR 3005 Principles of Crop Science | 3 |
| BCH 3023 Elementary Organic and Biological Chemistry | 3 |
| PLP 3002C Fundamentals of Plant Pathology (GE–B) | 4 |
| AGR 3303 Genetics | 3 |
| Total | 13 |
| Semester 6 | Credits |
| HOS 4304 Horticultural Physiology | 3 |
| MCB 2000 and 2000L Microbiology (3) and Laboratory (1) | 4 |
| PLP 3103C Control of Plant Diseases (odd years) | 3 |
| Approved electives | 5 |
| Total | 15 |
| Semester 7 | Credits |
| PLP 3653C Introductory Mycology (even years) | 4 |
| PLP 4931 Seminar in Plant Pathology | 1 |
| PMA 3010 Fundamentals of Pest Management | 3 |
| SOS 3022 and 3022L Introduction to Soils in the Environment (3) and Laboratory (1) | 4 |
| Approved electives | 4 |
| Total | 16 |
| Semester 8 | Credits |
| NEM 3002 Principles of Nematology | 3 |
| ENY 3005 Principles of Entomology | 2 |
| ENY 3005L Principles of Entomology Laboratory | 1 |
| AGR 4210 Physiology and Ecology of Crops | 3 |
| PLS 4601C Principles of Weed Science | 3 |
| Approved electives | 4 |
| Total | 16 |