A collage of various agricultural scenes, including a field of wheat, bees on a honeycomb, plants, and students collaborating in a lab setting.

The Agricultural Biology major provides a strong scientific foundation in entomology, plant pathology and weed science to address challenges in natural and managed systems. Students will gain tools to foster sustainability and address pressing issues involving biophysical and sociocultural components of these systems. The concentration features courses in agriculture, biology, and ecology as well as practical training through internships and/or research experiences. Students will learn the complex interactions that occur among microbes, insects, and plant species in natural and managed ecosystems and develop skills to use systems thinking to solve real-world problems. Knowledge and skills gained from the major will enable students to identify and solve complex problems in natural and managed systems, especially implementing effective and sustainable pest management.

Learning Outcomes

  • • Integrate skills and knowledge to solve problems related to plants, insects, and microbes in natural and managed ecosystems
  • • Demonstrate understanding of social, economic, and biophysical aspects of the management of biological problems in natural and managed ecosystems
  • • Describe, assess, analyze, and synthesize knowledge from across the curriculum to create solutions for pests and beneficial species in natural and managed ecosystems
  • • Promote and practice inclusion to form effective teams that solve complex problems in natural and managed ecosystems
  • • Communicate effectively with diverse audiences regarding sustainable pest and pathogen management in natural and managed ecosystems

Potential Occupations

This major will be an excellent choice for students interested in careers as researchers, crop advisors, extension educators, growers, agriculture consultants, production managers, inspectors, diagnosticians, regulatory professionals and for those who wish to pursue careers in academia.

Concentrations

Advising

Reach out to Chris Amerman to schedule an appointment to change your major/minor. The change of major form can be electronically submitted by a student's main advisor to the Registrar's Office.

Our majors and minors have no competitive entry requirements. Courses to take if you are interested in the programs include AB 111, BSPM 102, BSPM 302, BSPM 308, and BSPM 361. Students interested in our program should ideally declare in the first two years, but exceptions can be made depending on the student's previous coursework. 

Learn more about the Agricultural Biology major on the Department of Agricultural Biology website

Effective Spring 2023

Freshman
AUCCCredits
AB 1201, 2Agricultural Biology--Freshman Orientation 1
AB 1301, 2Working with Agricultural Biology Data 1
AREC 202Agricultural and Resource Economics (GT-SS1)3C3
CHEM 107Fundamentals of Chemistry (GT-SC2)3A4
CHEM 108Fundamentals of Chemistry Laboratory (GT-SC1)3A1
CO 150College Composition (GT-CO2)1A3
Select one group from the following: 8
Group A  
Attributes of Living Systems (GT-SC1)3A 
Biology of Organisms-Animals and Plants (GT-SC1)3A 
Group B  
Principles of Animal Biology (GT-SC2)3A 
Animal Biology Laboratory (GT-SC1)3A 
Principles of Plant Biology (GT-SC1)3A 
Arts and Humanities3B6
Electives 3
 Total Credits 30
Sophomore
 
AB 2301, 2Becoming an Agricultural Biology Professional 1
BSPM 3021Applied and General Entomology 2
CHEM 245Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry 4
CHEM 246Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry Laboratory 1
MATH 155Calculus for Biological Scientists I (GT-MA1)1B4
SPCM 200Public Speaking 3
Select one course from the following: 1-2
Entomology Laboratory: General  
Entomology Laboratory: Horticultural  
Entomology Laboratory: Agricultural  
Select one course from the following: 3
Fundamentals of Ecology (GT-SC2)3A 
Ecology  
Select one course from the following: 3
Writing in the Disciplines: Sciences (GT-CO3)2 
Strategic Writing and Communication (GT-CO3)2 
Specialized Professional Writing2 
Select one course from the following: 3
Plants and Civilizations (GT-SS3)1C 
Environmental Issues in Agriculture (GT-SS3)1C 
Environment, Food, and Social Justice (GT-SS3)1C 
Select one course from the following: 3
Introduction to Applied Statistical Methods  
Introduction to Biostatistics  
 Total Credits 28-29
Junior
 
AB 3301Applications in Agricultural Biology I4A,4B,4C2
BSPM 3081Ecology and Management of Weeds 3
BSPM 3611Elements of Plant Pathology 3
BSPM 487Internship 3
BZ 2201Introduction to Evolution 3
BZ 3501Molecular and General Genetics 4
SOCR 2401Introductory Soil Science 4
Agricultural Biology Elective (see list below)1 3
Electives 5
 Total Credits 30
Senior
 
AB 410Understanding Pesticides 3
AB 4301Applications in Agricultural Biology II4A,4B,4C3
AB 451Integrated Pest Management 3
AGED 210History of Agriculture in the United States3D3
Agricultural Biology Electives (see list below)1 9
Electives3 10-11
 Total Credits 31-32
 Program Total Credits: 120

 Agricultural Biology Electives    

Select a minimum of one course from each group for a minimum of 12 credits:
Group 1: General and Plant
BC 351Principles of Biochemistry4
BZ 223Plant Identification3
BZ 331Developmental Plant Anatomy4
BZ 338Comparative Morphology of Vascular Plants4
BZ 440Plant Physiology3
BZ 450Plant Ecology4
HORT 221Landscape Plants4
HORT 231Landscape Graphics Studio4
HORT 232Principles of Landscape Design4
HORT 260Plant Propagation4
HORT 3XX
HORT 4XX
SOCR 460/HORT 460Plant Breeding and Biotechnology3
Group 2: Plant Pathology
AB 521Forest Health Issues2
AB 555Topics in Plant Pathology--Plant Virology2
BSPM 365Integrated Tree Health Management4
BSPM 450Molecular Plant-Microbe Interaction3
BZ 333Introductory Mycology4
MIP 300General Microbiology3
Lecture/laboratory combination:4
Microbial Ecology
Microbial Ecology Laboratory
Lecture/laboratory combination:4
Microbiomes of Soil Systems
Soil Microbiology Laboratory
Group 3: Entomology
AB 340Insect Biotechnology3
BSPM 423Evolution and Classification of Insects3
BSPM 445Aquatic Insects4
BSPM 462/BZ 462/MIP 462Parasitology and Vector Biology5
1

 A minimum grade of 'C' (2.000) must be obtained in this course in order to complete the program.

2

Transfer students are required to take AB 270 in lieu of AB 120, AB 130, and AB 230

3

Select enough elective credits to bring the program total to 120, of which at least 42 must be Upper-Division (300- to 400-level).

Distinctive Requirements for Degree Program: A minimum grade of 'C' (2.000) is required for each course designated by footnote 1 on the Program Requirements tab. 

To prepare for first semester: The curriculum for the Agricultural Biology major assumes students enter college prepared to take calculus. Entering students who are not prepared to take calculus will need to fulfill pre-calculus requirements in the first semester. Those pre-calculus requirements are listed as benchmark courses in Freshman Semester 1 below. 

Freshman
Semester 1CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
AB 120Agricultural Biology--Freshman OrientationX  1
AREC 202Agricultural and Resource Economics (GT-SS1)X 3C3
CO 150College Composition (GT-CO2)X 1A3
Arts and Humanities  3B3
Electives   3
MATH 117, MATH 118, MATH 124, MATH 125 may be necessary for some students to fulfill pre-calculus requirements.X   
 Total Credits   13
Semester 2CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
AB 130Working with Agricultural Biology DataX  1
CHEM 107Fundamentals of Chemistry (GT-SC2)X 3A4
CHEM 108Fundamentals of Chemistry Laboratory (GT-SC1)X 3A1
Select one group from the following:   8
Group A:
    
Attributes of Living Systems (GT-SC1)X 3A 
Biology of Organisms-Animals and Plants (GT-SC1)X 3A 
Group B:
    
Principles of Animal Biology (GT-SC2)X 3A 
Animal Biology Laboratory (GT-SC1)X 3A 
Principles of Plant Biology (GT-SC1)X 3A 
Arts and Humanities X3B3
 Total Credits   17
Sophomore
Semester 3CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
BSPM 302Applied and General EntomologyX  2
MATH 155Calculus for Biological Scientists I (GT-MA1)X 1B4
SPCM 200Public SpeakingX  3
Select one course from the following:X  1-2
Entomology Laboratory: General    
Entomology Laboratory: Horticultural    
Entomology Laboratory: Agricultural    
Select one course from the following:   3
Writing in the Disciplines: Sciences (GT-CO3)  2 
Strategic Writing and Communication (GT-CO3)  2 
Specialized Professional Writing  2 
Select LAND 220/LIFE 220 Semester 3 if LIFE 320 will not be taken Semester 4:X  0-3
Fundamentals of Ecology (GT-SC2)  3A 
 Total Credits   13-14
Semester 4CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
AB 230Becoming an Agricultural Biology ProfessionalX  1
CHEM 245Fundamentals of Organic ChemistryX  4
CHEM 246Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry LaboratoryX  1
Select one course from the following:X  3
Plants and Civilizations (GT-SS3)  1C 
Environmental Issues in Agriculture (GT-SS3)  1C 
Environment, Food, and Social Justice (GT-SS3)  1C 
Select LIFE 320 Semester 4 if LAND 220/LIFE 220 was not taken Semester 3:   0-3
Ecology    
Select one course from the following:X  3
Introduction to Applied Statistical Methods    
Introduction to Biostatistics    
 Total Credits   15
Junior
Semester 5CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
BSPM 308Ecology and Management of WeedsX  3
BZ 220Introduction to EvolutionX  3
BZ 350Molecular and General GeneticsX  4
SOCR 240Introductory Soil ScienceX  4
 Total Credits   14
Semester 6CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
AB 330Applications in Agricultural Biology IX 4A,4B,4C2
BSPM 361Elements of Plant PathologyX  3
BSPM 487InternshipX  3
Agricultural Biology Elective (See list on Program Requirements Tab)   3
Electives X 5
 Total Credits   16
Senior
Semester 7CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
AB 430Applications in Agricultural Biology IIX 4A,4B,4C3
Agricultural Biology Elective (see list on Program Requirements Tab)   3
Electives X 9
 Total Credits   15
Semester 8CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
AB 410Understanding PesticidesX  3
AB 451Integrated Pest Management   3
AGED 210History of Agriculture in the United StatesX 3D3
Agricultural Biology Electives (see list on Program Requirements Tab)X  6
ElectivesX  1-2
 Total Credits   16-17
 Program Total Credits:   120