The sustainability of people and our planet relies on continued innovation in the way we grow food. Farming faces numerous complex challenges, as we need to feed a growing population, enhance the efficiency of agriculture, while addressing issues of soil degradation and pollution.

With a major in Soil and Crop Sciences in the Sustainable Agricultural Management Concentration, students gain a solid foundation of agronomic principles and practices to achieve economic and environmental sustainability while helping design and development the agroecosystems of tomorrow. Students build practical knowledge of farming systems and utilize advanced technologies to drive decision-making in cropping system management, while maintaining or improving soil health.

Effective Fall 2023

Freshman
AUCCCredits
AREC 202Agricultural and Resource Economics (GT-SS1)3C3
BZ 120Principles of Plant Biology (GT-SC1)3A4
CHEM 107Fundamentals of Chemistry (GT-SC2)3A4
CHEM 108Fundamentals of Chemistry Laboratory (GT-SC1)3A1
CO 150College Composition (GT-CO2)1A3
MATH 117College Algebra in Context I (GT-MA1)1B1
MATH 118College Algebra in Context II (GT-MA1)1B1
MATH 124Logarithmic and Exponential Functions (GT-MA1)1B1
SOCR 100General Crops 4
SOCR 193Pathways to Success 1
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion1C3
Arts and Humanities3B3
General Elective 1
 Total Credits 30
Sophomore
 
LAND 220/LIFE 220Fundamentals of Ecology (GT-SC2)3A3
NR 319Introduction to Geospatial Science 4
SOCR 210Microbiome Roles in a Sustainable Earth (GT-SC2)3A3
SOCR 221Cropping Systems Field Experience 1
SOCR 240Introductory Soil Science 4
Select one course from the following: 3
Weed Management and Control  
Ecology and Management of Weeds  
Select one course from the following: 3
General Statistics (GT-MA1)1B 
Introduction to Applied Statistical Methods  
Arts and Humanities3B3
Historical Perspectives3D3
General Elective 3
 Total Credits 30
Junior
 
BZ 440Plant Physiology 3
SOCR 330Principles of Genetics 3
SOCR 350Soil Fertility Management 3
SOCR 351Soil Fertility Laboratory 1
SOCR 370Climate-Smart Irrigation Principles 2
SOCR 405/ESS 405Global Agriculture and Environmental Change 3
Advanced Writing 23
Technical Electives 1 4-6
Upper-Division Electives2 6-8
 Total Credits 30
Senior
 
AB 451Integrated Pest Management 3
BSPM 302Applied and General Entomology 2
BSPM 303AEntomology Laboratory: General 2
SOCR 371Climate-Smart Irrigation Management 1
SOCR 425Internet of Ag Things--Sensors and Data Lab 2
SOCR 492Preparing for Impact--Your Career Journey4A,4C1
Choose one of the following: 3-4
Agroecosystem Management4A,4B,4C 
Plant Breeding and Biotechnology4A,4B,4C 
Select one course from the following: 1
Practicum4C 
Internship  
Techical Electives1 7-9
Upper-Division Electives2 5-8
 Total Credits 30
 Program Total Credits: 120

Technical Electives 

BSPM 361Elements of Plant Pathology3
SOCR 320Sustainable Forage Management for Livestock3
SOCR 322Principles of Microclimatology3
SOCR 343Composting Principles and Practices1
SOCR 400Soils and Global Change-Impacts and Solutions3
SOCR 424/HORT 424Topics in Organic Agriculture3
SOCR 441Soil Ecology3
SOCR 442Forest and Range Soils3
SOCR 455Microbiomes of Soil Systems3
1

Select from list of technical electives.

2

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

Freshman
Semester 1CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
CO 150College Composition (GT-CO2)X 1A3
MATH 117College Algebra in Context I (GT-MA1)X 1B1
MATH 118College Algebra in Context II (GT-MA1)X 1B1
MATH 124Logarithmic and Exponential Functions (GT-MA1)X 1B1
SOCR 100General CropsX  4
Arts and Humanities  3B3
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion  1C3
 Total Credits   16
Semester 2CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
AREC 202Agricultural and Resource Economics (GT-SS1)X 3C3
BZ 120Principles of Plant Biology (GT-SC1)X 3A4
CHEM 107Fundamentals of Chemistry (GT-SC2)X 3A4
CHEM 108Fundamentals of Chemistry Laboratory (GT-SC1)X 3A1
SOCR 193Pathways to SuccessX  1
General Elective   1
CO 150 and AUCC 1B (Quantitative Reasoning) must be completed by the end of Semester 2.X   
 Total Credits   14
Sophomore
Semester 3CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
LAND 220/LIFE 220Fundamentals of Ecology (GT-SC2)X 3A3
SOCR 221Cropping Systems Field ExperienceX  1
Select one course from the following:   3
Weed Management and Control    
Ecology and Management of Weeds    
Select one course from the following:X  3
General Statistics (GT-MA1)  1B 
Introduction to Applied Statistical Methods    
Arts and Humanities X3B3
General Elective   3
 Total Credits   16
Semester 4CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
NR 319Introduction to Geospatial Science   4
SOCR 210Microbiome Roles in a Sustainable Earth (GT-SC2)X 3A3
SOCR 240Introductory Soil ScienceX  4
Historical Perspectives X3D3
 Total Credits   14
Junior
Semester 5CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
SOCR 330Principles of Genetics   3
Advanced Writing  X23
Technical Electives   4-6
Upper-Division Electives X 3-5
 Total Credits   15
Semester 6CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
BZ 440Plant PhysiologyX  3
SOCR 350Soil Fertility ManagementX  3
SOCR 351Soil Fertility LaboratoryX  1
SOCR 370Climate-Smart Irrigation Principles   2
SOCR 405/ESS 405Global Agriculture and Environmental ChangeX  3
Upper-Division Elective   3
 Total Credits   15
Senior
Semester 7CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
BSPM 302Applied and General Entomology   2
BSPM 303AEntomology Laboratory: General   2
SOCR 371Climate-Smart Irrigation ManagementX  1
SOCR 492Preparing for Impact--Your Career JourneyX 4A,4C1
Choose one of the following:   3-4
Agroecosystem ManagementX 4A,4B,4C 
Plant Breeding and Biotechnology  4A,4B,4C 
Tecnical Electives   3
Upper-Divsion Electives   1-3
 Total Credits   15
Semester 8CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
AB 451Integrated Pest Management   3
SOCR 425Internet of Ag Things--Sensors and Data LabX  2
Select one course from the following:X  1
Practicum  4C 
Internship    
Tecnical Elective   4-6
Upper-Division Electives X 4-5
 Total Credits   15
 Program Total Credits:   120