2008-09 Undergraduate Catalog
Majors
Plant science is a diverse major offered by the departments of Agronomy and Plant Pathology. Specializations include agronomy and plant pathology.
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. Plant science can also be used as preparation for a range of studies in graduate school.
Students should meet with an undergraduate coordinator as early as possible in their academic careers.
To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college and major requirements.
All Specializations
Specialization: Agronomy
Specialization: Plant Pathology
This specialization trains students to apply knowledge of the principles associated with production and improvement of agronomic crops. Students will acquire knowledge about the scientific fundamentals of plant growth of field and forage crops. This specialization prepares students to work in the laboratory and field settings and to develop applied skills for research and extension. Opportunities are available for students to travel within the United States to gain a national view of food production.
This basic sciences option is designed to prepare students for a technical career or graduate school.
This option prepares students for the profession of the production management of crops. Courses emphasize aquatic and terrestrial weed management, optimizing management practices (including energy utilization, nutrient management, tillage for soil and water conservation), sustainability and environmental issues.
Two courses offered in the summer are encouraged: AGR 4214C Applied Field Crop Production (3) and AGR 4268C Sustainable Agricultural Systems Analysis (3).
This specialization trains students to apply knowledge of the biology of pathogens to implement integrated disease management practices. Students acquire knowledge about fungi, bacteria, and viruses, as well as environmental factors that cause plant disease. Students investigate the molecular and genetic principles of infection and the development of plant disease and epidemics.
The plant pathology specialization prepares students to work in laboratory and field settings and to develop and implement environmentally safe methods and materials for avoiding or managing plant diseases in agricultural and urban environments. Opportunities are available to obtain research and extension experience by completing projects with faculty in the plant pathology department.
This option is designed to prepare students 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 and manage 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 (Science and Technology, Sustainable Crop Production and Management) and Plant Pathology (Biotechnology, Agricultural Technology) |
| Minor: Yes |
| Combined-Degree Program: Yes |
| Website: agronomy.ifas.ufl.edu |
| Website: plantpath.ifas.ufl.edu |
Plant science is a diverse major offered by the departments of Agronomy and Plant Pathology. Specializations include agronomy and plant pathology.
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. Plant science can also be used as preparation for a range of studies in graduate school.
Students should meet with an undergraduate coordinator as early as possible in their academic careers.
To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college and major requirements.
Critical Tracking and Recommended Semester Plan
Semester 1:
- 2.0 UF GPA required for semesters 1-5
- 2.0 GPA required for all critical-tracking coursework for semesters 1-5
-
Complete 2 of 6 critical-tracking courses, excluding labs: CHM 2045/2045L,
MAC 1147, AEB 3103 or ECO 2023, BOT 2010C, BOT 2011C, PHY 2004/2004L
Semester 2:
- Complete 1 additional critical-tracking course, excluding labs
Semester 3:
- Complete 2 additional critical-tracking courses, excluding labs
Semester 4:
- Complete 1 additional critical-tracking course, including labs
Semester 5:
- Complete all critical-tracking courses, including labs
All Specializations
Specialization: Agronomy
Specialization: Plant Pathology
To remain on track, students must complete the appropriate critical-tracking courses, which appear in bold.
Recommended semester plan
| Semester 1 | Credits |
| MAC 1147 Precalculus: Algebra and Trigonometry (GE-M) | 4 |
| BOT 2010C Introductory Botany (GE-B) | 3 |
| Composition (GE-C, WR) | 3 |
| Humanities (GE-H) | 3 |
| Elective | 2 |
| Total | 15 |
| Semester 2 | Credits |
| BOT 2011C Plant Diversity (GE-B) | 4 |
| AEE 3030C Effective Oral Communication | 3 |
| Humanities (GE-H) | 3 |
| Math (MAC 2233), statistics (STA 2023) or computer science (CGS 2531) course (all 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 (3) or STA 2023 Introduction to Statistics 1 or AEB 3103 Principles of Food and Resource Economics (4) (GE-S) | 3-4 |
| AEE 3033C Research and Business Writing in Agricultural and Life Sciences | 3 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S) | 3 |
| Elective | 2 |
| Total | 15-16 |
| Semester 4 | Credits |
| 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 |
| Humanities (GE-H) or Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S) | 3 |
| Electives | 6 |
| Total | 17 |
This specialization trains students to apply knowledge of the principles associated with production and improvement of agronomic crops. Students will acquire knowledge about the scientific fundamentals of plant growth of field and forage crops. This specialization prepares students to work in the laboratory and field settings and to develop applied skills for research and extension. Opportunities are available for students to travel within the United States to gain a national view of food production.
Science and Technology Option
This basic sciences option is designed to prepare students 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 4321C Plant Breeding | 3 |
| PLS 4601C Principles of Weed Science | 3 |
| Approved communications | 3 |
| Approved electives (see adviser) | 2 |
| Total | 15 |
| Semester 8 | Credits |
| AGR 4512 Physiology and Ecology of Crops | 3 |
| AGR 4231C Forage Science and Range Management | 4 |
| Approved electives (see adviser) | 8 |
| Total | 15 |
Sustainable Crop Production and Management Option
This option prepares students for the profession of the production management of crops. Courses emphasize aquatic and terrestrial weed management, optimizing management practices (including energy utilization, nutrient management, tillage for soil and water conservation), sustainability and environmental issues.
| 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 4512 Physiology and Ecology of Crops | 3 |
| ALS 3133 Agricultural and Environmental Quality | 3 |
| Approved sustainable agriculture elective | 3 |
| Approved elective (see adviser) | 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 and 3005L Principles of Entomology (2) and Laboratory (1) | 3 |
| Approved electives (see adviser) | 4 |
| Total | 15 |
| Semester 8 | Credits |
| AGR 4231C Forage Science and Range Management | 4 |
| SOS 4116 Environmental Nutrient Management | 3 |
| Approved electives (see adviser) | 8 |
| Total | 15 |
Two courses offered in the summer are encouraged: AGR 4214C Applied Field Crop Production (3) and AGR 4268C Sustainable Agricultural Systems Analysis (3).
This specialization trains students to apply knowledge of the biology of pathogens to implement integrated disease management practices. Students acquire knowledge about fungi, bacteria, and viruses, as well as environmental factors that cause plant disease. Students investigate the molecular and genetic principles of infection and the development of plant disease and epidemics.
The plant pathology specialization prepares students to work in laboratory and field settings and to develop and implement environmentally safe methods and materials for avoiding or managing plant diseases in agricultural and urban environments. Opportunities are available to obtain research and extension experience by completing projects with faculty in the plant pathology department.
Biotechnology Option
This option is designed to prepare students 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 Basic 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 and 3005L Principles of Entomology (2) and Laboratory (1) | 3 |
| Total | 13 |
Agricultural Technology Option
This option prepares students to work for commodity, seed and agri-chemical industries that diagnose and manage 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 |
| PLP3653C Introductory Mycology (even years) | 4 |
| PLP 4931 Seminar in Plant Pathology | 1 |
| IPM 3022 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 and 3005L Principles of Entomology (2) and Laboratory (1) | 3 |
| AGR 4512 Physiology and Ecology of Crops | 3 |
| PLS 4601C Principles of Weed Science | 3 |
| Approved electives | 4 |
| Total | 16 |