University Catalog 2024-2025

Crop and Soil Sciences (BS): Crop Biotechnology

The Bachelor of Science in Crop and Soil Sciences with a concentration in Crop Biotechnology is a program that trains the next generation of plant scientists primarily focused on crop improvement. Through hands-on classes, students will learn how crops develop and improve as a result of biotechnology through increased food quality and quantity once introduced into agricultural production systems. Plant breeders graduating from this program will develop the seeds used by the next generation of food producers.

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 131Calculus for Life and Management Sciences A3
MA 231Calculus for Life and Management Sciences B3
ST 311Introduction to Statistics3
BIO 181Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity4
BIO 183Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology4
CH 101Chemistry - A Molecular Science3
CH 102General Chemistry Laboratory1
CH 221Organic Chemistry I3
CH 222Organic Chemistry I Lab1
CH 223Organic Chemistry II3
CH 224Organic Chemistry II Lab1
PY 131Conceptual Physics4
BCH 351General Biochemistry3
Communication/Advanced Writing
COM 110Public Speaking3
or COM 112 Interpersonal Communication
Select one of the following: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
BIT 410Manipulation of Recombinant DNA4
CSSC 290Professional Development in Crop & Soil Sciences1
CS 213Crop Science 13
CS 214Crop Science Laboratory 11
CS 413Plant Breeding3
CS 211Plant Genetics3
PB 421Plant Physiology3
PB 480Introduction to Plant Biotechnology3
SSC 200Soil Science 13
SSC 201Soil Science Laboratory 11
Concentration Electives
Foundation Elective (select one):3
Technology in Society and Culture
Seeds, Biotechnology and Societies
Technology in Society and Culture
Contemporary Science, Technology and Human Values
Biotechnology Elective 4
Experiential Learning (select one):3
Professional Internship Experience in Crop and Soil Sciences
Research Experience in Crop and Soil Sciences
Restricted Electives 13
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.

Biotechnology Elective

BEC 463/563Fermentation of Recombinant Microorganisms2
BIO 572Proteomics3
BIT 100Current Topics in Biotechnology4
BIT 200Early Research in Biotechnology4
BIT 210Phage Hunters3
BIT 211Phage Genomics2
BIT 295Special Topics in Biotechnology1-3
BIT 462/5622
BIT 463/563Fermentation of Recombinant Microorganisms2
BIT 464/564Protein Purification2
BIT 465/565Real-time PCR Techniques2
BIT 466/566Animal Cell Culture Techniques2
BIT 467/567PCR and DNA Fingerprinting2
BIT 468/5682
BIT 471/571RNA Interference and Model Organisms2
BIT 473/573Protein Interactions2
BIT 474/574Plant Genetic Engineering2
BIT 476Applied Bioinformatics2
BIT 477Metagenomics2
BIT 478/5782
BIT 479/579High-Throughput Discovery2
BIT 480/580Yeast Metabolic Engineering2
BIT 481/581Plant Tissue Culture and Transformation2
BIT 492External Learning Experience1-6
BIT 493Special Problems in Biotechnology1-6
BIT 495Special Topics in Biotechnology1-3
BIT 501Ethical Issues in Biotechnology1
BIT 502Biotechnology Networking and Professional Development1
BIT 510Core Technologies in Molecular and Cellular Biology4
BIT 5692
BIT 590Independent Study in Biotechnology1-3
BIT 595Special Topics1-6
CH 572Proteomics3
CHE 463Fermentation of Recombinant Microorganisms2
CHE 563Fermentation of Recombinant Microorganisms2
MB 210Phage Hunters3
MB 211Phage Genomics2
PB 481Plant Tissue Culture and Transformation2
PO 466/566Animal Cell Culture Techniques2

Restricted Electives

AEC 360Ecology4
BIO 330Evolutionary Biology3
BIO 414Cell Biology3
BIT 476Applied Bioinformatics2
BIT 481/581Plant Tissue Culture and Transformation2
CS 211Plant Genetics3
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 414Weed Science4
CS 415Integrated Pest Management3
CS 418/518Introduction to Regulatory Science in Agriculture3
CS 428/528Advanced Regulatory Science in Agriculture3
CS 424/524Seed Physiology3
CS 430/530Advanced Agroecology4
CS 480Sustainable Food Production (capstone)1
CSSC 490Senior Seminar in Crop Science and Soil Science1
CSSC 495Special Topics in Crop and Soil Sciences1-6
ENT 425General Entomology3
GN 311Principles of Genetics4
GN 312Elementary Genetics Laboratory1
GN 421/521Molecular Genetics3
GN 423Population, Quantitative and Evolutionary Genetics3
MB 200The Fourth Horseman: Plagues that Changed the World3
MB 351General Microbiology3
MB 575Introduction to Mycology4
PB 200Plant Life4
PB 250Plant Biology4
PB 295Special Topics in Botany1-4
PB 345Economic Botany3
PB 346Economic Botany Lab1
PB 360Ecology4
PB 400Plant Diversity and Evolution4
PB 403Systematic Botany4
PB 413Plant Anatomy2
PB 481Plant Tissue Culture and Transformation2
PB 495Special Topics in Plant Biology1-6
PB 503Systematic Botany4
PB 513Plant Anatomy2
PB 570Plant Functional Ecology3
PB 575Introduction to Mycology4
PP 315Principles of Plant Pathology4
PP 495Special Topics in Plant Pathology1-3
PP 575Introduction to Mycology4
SSC 185Land and Life3
SSC 332Environmental Soil Microbiology3
SSC 341Soil Fertility and Nutrient Management3
SSC 342Soil and Plant Nutrient Analysis1
SSC 4213
SSC 427Biological Approaches to Sustainable Soil Systems3
SSC 440/540Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in Soil Science and Agriculture3
SSC 442Soil and Environmental Biogeochemistry3
SSC 452Soil Classification4
SSC 455Soils, Environmental Quality and Global Challenges3
SSC 461Soil Physical Properties and Plant Growth3
SSC 462Soil-Crop Management Systems3
SSC 470/570Wetland Soils3
ST 371Introduction to Probability and Distribution Theory3
STS 302Contemporary Science, Technology and Human Values3
STS 323World Population and Food Prospects3

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 131 Calculus for Life and Management Sciences A 3
Foundation Elective 3
CSSC 290 Professional Development in Crop & Soil Sciences 1
 Hours16
Spring Semester
BIO 183
Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology
or Plant Life
4
CH 101 Chemistry - A Molecular Science 3
CH 102 General Chemistry Laboratory 1
MA 231 Calculus for Life and Management Sciences B 3
GEP Health and Exercise Studies 1
GEP Humanities 3
 Hours15
Second Year
Fall Semester
CH 221 Organic Chemistry I 3
CH 222 Organic Chemistry I Lab 1
CS 213 Crop Science 3
CS 214 Crop Science Laboratory 1
SSC 200 Soil Science 3
SSC 201 Soil Science Laboratory 1
GEP Health and Exercise Studies 1
Restrictive Electives 3
 Hours16
Spring Semester
CH 223 Organic Chemistry II 3
CH 224 Organic Chemistry II Lab 1
COM 110 Public Speaking 3
CS 211 Plant Genetics 3
Restricted Electives 3
GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives 2
 Hours15
Third Year
Fall Semester
ARE 201 Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics 3
PY 131 Conceptual Physics 4
PB 421 Plant Physiology 3
ST 311 Introduction to Statistics 3
GEP Social Sciences 3
 Hours16
Spring Semester
BCH 351 General Biochemistry 3
BIT 410 Manipulation of Recombinant DNA 4
GEP Humanities 3
Restrictive Elective 3
 Hours13
Fourth Year
Fall Semester
Biotechnology Elective 4
PB 480 Introduction to Plant Biotechnology 3
GEP US Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion 3
Experiential Learning Elective 3
 Hours13
Spring Semester
CS 413 Plant Breeding 3
Select one of the following: 3
Communication for Engineering and Technology
Communication for Business and Management
Communication for Science and Research
Restrictive Elective 4
Free Elective 6
 Hours16
 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:

  • Crop Geneticist
  • Crops Systems Specialist
  • Plant Breeder
  • Plant Protection Specialist
  • Regulatory Scientist

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
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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.