Academic Learning Compact: Plant Science (CALS)

The plant science major, offered jointly by the departments of Agronomy and Plant Pathology, enables you to apply principles associated with production and improvement of agronomic crops. You will acquire knowledge about the scientific fundamentals of plant growth of field and forage crops. You acquire knowledge about fungi, bacteria and viruses, as well as environmental factors that cause plant disease. This program prepares you to work in the lab and field settings and to develop applied skills for research and extension.

Additional information is available from the description of this major.

Before Graduating You Must

• Complete a research paper and an oral presentation with satisfactory faculty evaluation.
• Achieve minimum grades of C in AEC 3030C and AEC 3033C. These courses are graded using rubrics developed by a faculty team.
• Complete requirements for the baccalaureate degree, as determined by faculty.

Skills You Will Acquire in the Major (SLOs)

1. Describe plant growth and development in terms of plant morphology and physiology and evaluate the abiotic and biotic factors that impact plant growth and management.
2. Recommend practices that growers and managers can implement to address the abiotic and biotic components of their cropping system.
3. Analyze and apply science-based data to solve problems in plant production, distribution and/or utilization
4. Design and evaluate a project that addresses a problem or challenge related to their area of interest.
5. Create, interpret and analyze written text and multimedia presentations.
6. Communicate effectively through oral and multimedia presentations.

Table Key: I = Introduced; R = Reinforced; A = Assessed

Assessment Types:
Standardized post-test, capstone and individual projects and final grades.