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Crop Science Business & Industry

College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences

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	Crop Science Business and Industry
	Requirements and Core Courses
	Careers in Crop Science Business & Industry
	Salaries
	Scholarships and Financial Aid
	Related Fields of Study That May Interest You
	Contact Information

Crop Science Business and Industry

Crop science business and industry, an option within the crop science major, is for students interested in careers as company managers, loan/finance officers, marketing, farming, corporate farm management, production specialist positions, consulting, international careers, and agribusiness. • Offered at WSU: Bachelor of science in crop science with an option in business and industry, minor in crop science • Available at: Pullman

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Requirements and Core Courses

—Bachelor of Science in Crop Science with a Business and Industry option Students in this program take a minimum of 120 credits in courses to meet University general education requirements, departmental core requirements, requirements specific to the crop science business and industry option, and electives. Students should consult the General Catalog for course planning and must meet course requirements as outlined in the General Catalog in order to graduate. DEPARTMENTAL CORE REQUIREMENTS Bot 320—Introductory Plant Physiology Chem 106—Principles of Chemistry II      or Chem 102—Chemistry Related to Life Sciences Chem 240—Elementary Organic Chemistry CropS 101—Introductory Field Crop Science CropS 201—Growth & Development of World Crops CropS 305—Ecology and Management of Weeds CropS 411—Crop Environment Interactions CropS 412—Seminar CropS 498—Professional Internship      or CropS 499—Special Problems      or UH 450—Honors Thesis Math 107—Elementary Functions Pl P 429—General Plant Pathology SoilS 201—Soil: A Living System OPTION REQUIREMENTS: CropS 360—World Cropping Systems CropS 403—Advanced Cropping Systems CropS 445—Plant Breeding One of the following:      CropS 410—Seed Science and Technology      CropS 301—Turfgrass Culture      CropS 302—Forage Crops      Hort 320—Vegetable Production      Hort 420—Potato Production and Physiology      SoilS 467—Regional Landscape Inventory Analysis      SoilS 441—Soil Fertility      Acctg 230—Accounting One of the following sequences:      Ag Ec 340 & 440—Farm and Ranch Management      Ag Ec 350 & 450—Agricultural Marketing      Ag Ec 360 & 460—Agribusiness Management 7 Credits of upper division courses in Agricultural Economics or Business and Management. Courses may include internship, seminar, or special problems. Students choosing to minor in Agricultural Economics must take 7 credits in Agricultural Economics (overall total of 16 credits in Agricultural Economics).

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Careers in Crop Science Business & Industry

The crop science business and industry option prepares graduates for careers as company managers, loan/finance officers, marketing, farming, corporate farm management, production specialist positions, consulting, international careers, and agribusiness. Crop scientists (or agronomists) are involved in improving food, feed, and fiber production. They study metabolic and developmental processes of crop plants and seeds, develop improved crop varieties through plant breeding and biotechnology, design sustainable crop production and management systems that conserve natural resources while enhancing crop yields, and investigate the impact of cropping systems on agricultural and nonagricultural ecosystems. Employment is available in government and commercial agencies such as the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service, Natural Resource Conservation Service, and Cooperative Extension; the Environmental Protection Agency; the Washington State Department of Ecology, Department of Agriculture, and Department of Natural Resources; and in food processing companies, insurance agencies, and commercial concerns dealing with farm products, fertilizers and agricultural chemicals, and seeds. Opportunities also exist for further study and employment in international agriculture such as through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and The World Bank, international research institutes, church run agricultural development organizations, and the U.S. Peace Corps. Teaching, research, and extension careers are available in community colleges and universities for graduates with advanced degrees.

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Salaries

According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, beginning salary offers in 2005 for graduates with a bachelor’s degree in plant sciences averaged $31,226 a year; and in other agricultural sciences, $33,850 a year. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Standards reports that the median annual earnings of agricultural scientists and food scientists were $48,670 in 2002. The middle 50 percent earned between $35,770 and $65,990. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $28,750, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $85,460. Washington state agricultural technician positions have a salary range between $26,600 and $42,900 in 2005. The average salary for federal employees in agronomy in 2003 was $68,846.

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Scholarships and Financial Aid

Crop science students may be eligible for scholarships from the Department of Crop and Soil Science, as well as scholarships from the College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences. Students may also qualify for state, federal, and University-level scholarships and financial assistance. For more information contact the WSU Office of Scholarship Services.

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Related Fields of Study That May Interest You

• Crop science/biotechnology • Cropping systems • Environmental soil science • Precision farming • Soil management • Sustainable agriculture • Turf management

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Contact Information

Department of Crop and Soil Sciences

College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences Washington State University 201 Johnson Hall PO Box 646420 Pullman, WA 99164-6420 Phone: Fax: 509-335-8674

hillary@cahnrs.wsu.edu

509-335-2615

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Strengths of the Program

• WSU provides the state’s only four-year program in crop and soil sciences.
• Learn skills that can help solve environmental and food problems or create enjoyable living conditions.
• Study under faculty members who are among the field’s most productive and creative in the nation, several of whom are members of the National Academy of Science.
• Pursue direct research in such areas as organic crop production systems, plant breeding, biotechnology, groundwater contamination prevention, and turf and golf course management.
• Work with faculty who obtain research funding from the National Science Foundation, Department of Energy, Environmental Protection Agency, and Department of Agriculture.
• Receive top-quality classroom, field, and laboratory experiences required for well-paying careers in industry, government, and farming.
• You can join a math, science, and engineering community residence hall at WSU Pullman—share classes with your neighbors, study together, get free tutoring, and use the hall’s computer lab.

Office of Enrollment Management, PO Box 641067, Washington State University, Pullman WA 99164-1067, 888-GO TO WSU (888-468-6978), Contact Us