Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences
Bachelor's of Science Degree
Overview
This broad discipline deals with crop production, utilization of soils, and stewardship of the environment. It is concerned with feeding the world, protecting the environment, and producing quality turfgrass. Graduates include professionals who monitor and work to improve water quality, who serve as agricultural loan officers for banks, who develop environmentally acceptable methods for protecting crops from pests, who advise municipalities on use of the land resource, and who maintain the greens and fairways at golf courses.
Graduates' familiarity with fundamentals of soil, plant, and environmental sciences prepares them for careers ranging from integrated pest management to international development, from environmental legislation to biotechnological investigation, from cash cropping to city planning. Students find employment in agribusiness (e.g. agricultural sales and consulting), soils-related activities (such as soil conservation and land-use planning), and other areas of environmental concern (e.g., biological control of pests and water quality assessment/control), as well as crop production (such as turf maintenance and farm management).
Because of its breadth and diversity, the crop and soil environmental sciences major is divided, for advising and curricular purposes, into five undergraduate options.
- Agroecology Option
- Biotechnology and Genetics Option
- International Agriculture Option
- Soil-Environmental Option
- Turfgrass Management Option
Requirements for a Major
All the curricula for the various options contain a core of courses to assist the student in developing knowledge and ability in basic sciences (biology and chemistry), computational skills ( mathematics, computer science, and statistics), communication skills (both writing and speaking), as well as crop, soil, and environmental sciences. A list of courses specified for each option may be obtained upon request from the department (Smyth 240) or on the CSES Options Webpage. In the following listing, semester hour credits are shown at the right.
| Core Curricular Requirements (All Options) | |
|---|---|
| Agricultural Economics/Economics | 6 |
| Biology | 6 |
| Chemistry | 8 |
| Communications | 3 |
| Creativity and Aesthetic Experience (Core Area 6) | 1/3 |
| Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences | 14 |
| English | 9 |
| Ideas, Cultural Traditions, and Values (Core Area 2) | 6 |
| Mathematics | 6 |
| Statistics | 3 |
| Some Option-Specific Course Requirement and Electives | |
| Agricultural and Applied Economics (in addition to above) | 0-9 |
| Biochemistry | 0-9 |
| Biology (in addition to above) | 0-18 |
| Chemistry (in addition to above) | 3-8 |
| Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences (in addition to above) | 6-21 |
| Entomology | 0-6 |
| Geology | 0-4 |
| Horticulture | 0-8 |
| Physics | 0-3 |
| Plant Pathology, Physiology, and Weed Science | 0-11 |
| Total Credits for B.S. Degree (minimum) | 120 |
Requirements for a Minor
The department offers a minor in crop and soil environmental sciences. The requirements include CSES 2444 (or 3444), 3114, and 3124 (or 3134) and 12 more credit hours selected from a set of 14 courses from within and outside the department. Consult the department Student Advising Center (241 Smyth) or your advisor for more information on a minor.
Satisfactory Progress
By the end of the academic year in which the student has attempted 60 hours (including transfer, advanced placement, advanced standing and credit by examination) "satisfactory progress" will include meeting the following minimum criteria:
- having a grade point average of at least 2.0
- passing at least 24 semester credits that apply to University Core
- passing the following:
CHEM 1035, 1036, 1045, 1046
CSES 1004 or 1054
CSES 3114 and 3124
6 hours of MATH and/or STAT
- declaring an option within CSES
Opportunities to Excel
Students with outstanding records can qualify for the Honors Program and graduate "in honors" in crop and soil environmental sciences. Other opportunities for personal and professional growth and for recognition include department-sponsored agronomy and turf clubs, membership in Alpha Zeta and Gamma Sigma Delta or other honoraries, and several scholarships. B.S. graduates are certifiable in the professional registry of the American Society of Agronomy.
Graduate courses and research opportunities lead to M.S. and Ph.D. specializations in soil mineralogy, soil microbiology, soil chemistry and biochemistry, soil morphology and genesis, soil physics, soil and crop management, soil fertility, biotechnology, bioremediation, crop breeding, crop ecology, crop physiology, and seed physiology. (See the Graduate Catalog for more information.)
Crop & Soil Environmental Sciences
330 Smyth Hall (0404)
Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University
Blacksburg, VA 24061
540-231.6305 (V)
540.231.3431 (F)
cses@vt.edu