University Catalog 2024-2025

Crop and Soil Sciences (BS): Agronomy

The Bachelor of Science in Crop and Soil Sciences degree with a concentration in Agronomy is a flexible program that allows students to choose from a wide range of courses, based on their personal interests and career goals. Students gain understanding of how plants grow, how the environment impacts crop productivity, and how management and marketing decisions affect profits. Graduates of this program will feed and clothe a growing global population.

Contact Person

Undergraduate Programs Office
Crop & Soil Sciences Department
2234 Williams Hall
Campus Box 7620
919-515-5820
cropsoil-undergraduate-office@ncsu.edu

Plan Requirements

Orientation
ALS 103Freshman Transitions and Diversity in Agriculture & Life Sciences1
or ALS 303 Transfer Transitions and Diversity in Agriculture & Life Sciences
Mathematics & Natural Sciences
MA 121Elements of Calculus3
ST 311Introduction to Statistics3
BIO 181Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity4
CH 101Chemistry - A Molecular Science3
CH 102General Chemistry Laboratory1
CH 220Introductory Organic Chemistry3
CH 222Organic Chemistry I Lab1
PB 321Introduction to Whole Plant Physiology3
PY 131Conceptual Physics4
BIO 183Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology4
or PB 200 Plant Life
Communication/Advanced Writing
COM 110Public Speaking3
or COM 112 Interpersonal Communication
Select one:3
Communication Methods and Media
Communication for Engineering and Technology
Communication for Business and Management
Communication for Science and Research
Required Courses within Major
ARE 201Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics3
CSSC 290Professional Development in Crop & Soil Sciences1
CS 211Plant Genetics3
CS 213Crop Science 13
CS 214Crop Science Laboratory 11
CS 414Weed Science4
CS 415Integrated Pest Management3
SSC 200Soil Science 13
SSC 201Soil Science Laboratory 11
SSC 341Soil Fertility and Nutrient Management3
SSC 342Soil and Plant Nutrient Analysis1
SSC 462Soil-Crop Management Systems3
Electives
Foundation Elective (select one):3
Seeds, Biotechnology and Societies
Introduction to Agroecology
Land and Life
Crop Production Electives (select two):6
Southern Row Crop Production - Cotton, Peanuts, and Tobacco
Southern Row Crop Production - Corn, Small Grains and Soybeans
Production of Forage Crops
Experiential Learning (select one):3
Professional Internship Experience in Crop and Soil Sciences
Research Experience in Crop and Soil Sciences
Restricted Electives 17
General Education Program (GEP) Courses
ENG 101Academic Writing and Research 14
GEP Humanities6
GEP Social Sciences3
GEP Health and Exercise Studies2
GEP US Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion3
GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives2
GEP Global Knowledge (verify requirement)
World Language Proficiency (verify requirement)
Free Electives
Free Electives (12 Hr S/U Lmt) 26
Total Hours120
1

A grade of C- or higher is required.

2

Students should consult their academic advisors to determine which courses fill this requirement.

Restricted Electives

ACC 280Survey of Financial and Managerial Accounting3
ARE 215Small Business Accounting3
ARE 303Farm Management3
ARE 304Agribusiness Management3
ARE 306Agricultural Law3
ARE 309Environmental Law & Economic Policy3
ARE 311Agricultural Markets3
ARE 312Agribusiness Marketing3
ARE 323Agribusiness Finance3
ARE 332Human Resource Management for Agribusiness3
ARE 336Introduction to Resource and Environmental Economics3
BAE 325Introductory Geomatics3
BAE 435/535Precision Agriculture Technology3
BAET 323Water Management3
CS 216Southern Row Crop Production - Cotton, Peanuts, and Tobacco3
CS 218Southern Row Crop Production - Corn, Small Grains and Soybeans3
CS 224Seeds, Biotechnology and Societies3
CS 230Introduction to Agroecology3
CS 251Production of Forage Crops3
CS 411Crop Ecology3
CS 413Plant Breeding2
CS 418/518Introduction to Regulatory Science in Agriculture3
CS 428/528Advanced Regulatory Science in Agriculture3
CS 424/524Seed Physiology3
CS 430/530Advanced Agroecology4
ENT 425General Entomology3
FS 222Discover: Conventional, Organic and Genetically Engineered Foods3
GIS 280Introduction to GIS3
PP 315Principles of Plant Pathology4
SSC 185Land and Life3
SSC 332Environmental Soil Microbiology3
SSC 440/540Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in Soil Science and Agriculture3
SSC 427Biological Approaches to Sustainable Soil Systems3
SSC 410Soil Judging for Land Evaluation1
SSC 442Soil and Environmental Biogeochemistry3
SSC 452Soil Classification4
SSC 455Soils, Environmental Quality and Global Challenges3
SSC 461Soil Physical Properties and Plant Growth3
SSC 545Remote Sensing Applications in Soil Science and Agriculture3

Semester Sequence

This is a sample.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall SemesterHours
ALS 103
Freshman Transitions and Diversity in Agriculture & Life Sciences
or Transfer Transitions and Diversity in Agriculture & Life Sciences
1
BIO 181 Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity 4
ENG 101 Academic Writing and Research 4
MA 121 Elements of Calculus 3
Foundation Elective (select one): 3
Seeds, Biotechnology and Societies (Select one of the following Foundation electives:)
Introduction to Agroecology
Land and Life
CSSC 290 Professional Development in Crop & Soil Sciences 1
 Hours16
Spring Semester
CH 101 Chemistry - A Molecular Science 3
CH 102 General Chemistry Laboratory 1
COM 110
Public Speaking
or Interpersonal Communication
3
BIO 183
Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology
or Plant Life
4
Restricted Electives 3
GEP Health and Exercise Studies 1
 Hours15
Second Year
Fall Semester
ARE 201 Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics 3
CS 213 Crop Science 3
CS 214 Crop Science Laboratory 1
ST 311 Introduction to Statistics 3
GEP Humanities 3
GEP Health and Exercise Studies 1
 Hours14
Spring Semester
CH 220 Introductory Organic Chemistry 3
CH 222 Organic Chemistry I Lab 1
SSC 200 Soil Science 3
SSC 201 Soil Science Laboratory 1
PB 321 Introduction to Whole Plant Physiology 3
GEP Humanities 3
GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives 2
 Hours16
Third Year
Fall Semester
CS 414 Weed Science (Fall only) 4
SSC 341 Soil Fertility and Nutrient Management 3
Crop Production Electives (select one): 3
Southern Row Crop Production - Cotton, Peanuts, and Tobacco
Southern Row Crop Production - Corn, Small Grains and Soybeans
Production of Forage Crops
Restricted Electives 6
 Hours16
Spring Semester
CS 211 Plant Genetics 3
Select one: 3
Communication Methods and Media
Communication for Engineering and Technology
Communication for Business and Management
Communication for Science and Research
SSC 342 Soil and Plant Nutrient Analysis 1
Crop Production Electives (select one): 3
Southern Row Crop Production - Cotton, Peanuts, and Tobacco
Southern Row Crop Production - Corn, Small Grains and Soybeans
Production of Forage Crops
Restricted Electives 6
 Hours16
Fourth Year
Fall Semester
PY 131 Conceptual Physics 4
Experiential Learning (select one): 3
Professional Internship Experience in Crop and Soil Sciences
Research Experience in Crop and Soil Sciences
Restricted Electives 2
GEP Social Sciences 3
Free Elective 3
 Hours15
Spring Semester
CS 415 Integrated Pest Management 3
SSC 462 Soil-Crop Management Systems (Spring only) 3
GEP US Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion 3
Free Elective 3
 Hours12
 Total Hours120

Career Opportunities

The breadth and depth of education and experiences you will gain from our department will set you on a path toward a rewarding career in one of the following specialties:

  • Agronomist
  • Agronomy Sales and Management
  • Crop Advisor
  • Crops Systems Specialist
  • Extension Agent
  • Nutrient Management/ Waste Management Specialist 
  • Precision Agriculture Specialist
  • Research Station Manager
  • Seed Production Agronomist

Learn more about future job prospects, representative salaries, and major employers for each of the above listed careers at go.ncsu.edu/careers

Career Titles

  • Food & Drug Inspector
  • Landscape Architect
  • Soil Conservation Technician
  • Soil Conservationist
  • Soil Engineer
  • Soil Scientist
  • Winemaker / Vinter

Learn More About Careers

NCcareers.org
Explore North Carolina’s central online resource for students, parents, educators, job seekers and career counselors looking for high quality job and career information.

Occupational Outlook Handbook
Browse the Occupational Outlook Handbook published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to view state and area employment and wage statistics. You can also identify and compare similar occupations based on your interests.

Career One Stop Videos
View videos that provide career details and information on wages, employment trends, skills needed, and more for any occupation. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.

Focus 2 Career Assessment (NC State student email address required)
This career, major and education planning system is available to current NC State students to learn about how your values, interests, competencies, and personality fit into the NC State majors and your future career. An NC State email address is required to create an account. Make an appointment with your career counselor to discuss the results.