BS in Plant Sciences

Degree Program Description

From the food on our plates to the homes we live in to the fuel in our vehicles, plants impact all aspects of our daily lives. As an ever-growing human population continues to increase the demand for crops and other plant products, so too does the demand for plant scientists. Plant Sciences addresses the challenges from the field to the laboratory.

Students enroll in a generalized core curriculum of foundational courses, then further refine their expertise by choosing among three emphasis areas: Breeding, Biology & Biotechnology; Crop Management; and Horticultural Science and Design. 

Major Program Requirements

Students earning a Bachelor of Science in Plant Sciences are required to complete all University general education, University graduation, and degree requirements, including selected foundational courses, which may fulfill some University general education requirements.  Students earning a degree in Plant Sciences must select at least one emphasis area

If you are planning to transfer courses (including AP credit) and would like to information on how they apply to this degree, you can email CAFNRadvising@missouri.edu for general recommendations.

Foundational Courses
MATH 1100College Algebra3
BIO_SC 1200General Botany with Laboratory5
CHEM 1320College Chemistry I *Required for BBB & Crop Mang emphasis3-4
or CHEM 1100 Atoms and Molecules with Lab
SOIL 2100Introduction to Soils3
ABM 1041Applied Microeconomics3
or ABM 1042 Applied Macroeconomics
or ECONOM 1014 Principles of Microeconomics
or ECONOM 1015 Principles of Macroeconomics
AGSC_COM 2220Verbal Communication in Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources3
or COMMUN 1200 Public Speaking
Major Requirements
General
PLNT_SCI 1120Career Development 1
PLNT_SCI 2125Plant Structure and Function4
PLNT_SCI 3210WPrinciples of Weed Science - Writing Intensive4
PLNT_SCI 3710Introductory Entomology3
PLNT_SCI 4500Biology and Pathogenesis of Plant-Associated Microbes4
Professional Development (Select One)3
AG_ED_LD 2250Introduction to Leadership3
or AG_ED_LD 2260 Team and Organizational Leadership
or ENGLSH 2030 Professional Writing
or AGSC_COM 3210 Fundamentals of Communications
or AGSC_COM 3240 Communicating on the Web
Select one course (3 credit hours) from ACCTCY, ABM, ECONOM, FINANC, MANGMT, MRKTNG, or FINPLN
Emphasis Requirements
The BS in Plant Sciences consists of three emphasis areas: Breeding, Biology & Biotechnology; Crop Management; and Horticultural Science & Design. Each emphasis area has a list of required classes and electives in addition to Major Requirements.
Capstone Experience (select one):
PLNT_SCI 4940Internship in Plant Science3
or PLNT_SCI 4950 Undergraduate Research in Plant Science
or PLNT_SCI 4975 Advanced Landscape Design
*PLNT_SCI 4975 is for Horticultural Science & Design students only
Total Credit Hours Required120

For additional course options see General Education List at http://generaleducation.missouri.edu/courses/ eligible must include an “HFA” in appropriate column.

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Semester Plan

Below is a sample plan of study, semester by semester.  A student's actual plan may vary based on course choices where options are available.

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
BIO_SC 12005CHEM 13204
PLNT_SCI 11201ENGLSH 10003
MATH 11003AGSC_COM 2220 or COMMUN 12003
ABM 10413State Requirement3
Humanities3Elective3
 15 16
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
Professional Development Course3SOIL 21003
Writing Intensive Course3SOIL 21062
Behavioral or Social Science Course3PLNT_SCI 21254
Emphasis Area Course3Professional Development3
Elective3Emphasis Area Course3
 15 15
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
PLNT_SCI 3210W4Emphasis Area Courses9
Emphasis Area Courses9Electives6
Elective3 
 16 15
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
PLNT_SCI 45004PLNT_SCI 37103
Capstone Experience3Emphasis Area Courses7
Emphasis Area Course3Elective3
Electives6 
 16 13
Total Credits: 121

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Degree Audit

The degree audit is an automated report reflecting a student’s academic progress toward the completion of a degree. 

MU students can request a degree audit by logging in to myDegreePlanner. Students may also access myDegreePlanner via myZou, in the Student Center, click on the Academic Progress Tile, then select Request Degree Audit. The audit automatically pulls in the student’s MU course work, transfer courses and courses in progress. This is available to current students, admitted students, and those who last attended less than three terms ago.

Past MU students can request a degree audit by contacting the Academic Advising Unit of the division in which they were last enrolled at MU. For contact information, go to https://advising.missouri.edu/contact/.

Prospective students, can access a preliminary MU degree audit via https://www.transferology.com. Information on the college credits already earned will have to be manually entered before it can be evaluated against current degree requirements.

For additional details on degree audits, go to https://registrar.missouri.edu/degrees-audits/degree-audits/.

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Major and Career Exploration

The University of Missouri has many resources to assist you in exploring majors and career possibilities. For guidance, visit the Majors and Careers website or view specific resources below.

  • If you are considering a change of major or are exploring multiple majors, schedule an appointment with an advisor in the Discovery Center by calling (573)884-9700 or through MU Connect Discovery Center service in you success network.

  • If you have decided on a major, visit an academic advisor in the School or College that you are interested in to discuss the process of declaring the major

  • If you would like to learn more about your career interests, abilities, values and talents, visit the MU Career Center. No Appointment is necessary to explore career options with one of our staff members.

For additional major and career exploration resources, visit Major & Career Exploration in the catalog.

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