Overview
The Bachelor of Agricultural Studies - Soil Science Option has been discontinued and applications for future student enrollment are no longer being accepted. DSU students who are currently enrolled in this program will be supported in completing their degree. If you have any questions, contact your advisor.
Degree Requirements:
- General Education
- Core Curriculum
- Option(s) Courses
- Electives
Student Learning Outcomes
Agricultural Studies graduates will be able to demonstrate:
- The application of basic scientific and economic principles to agricultural production, business, and resource management. (This learning outcome directly addresses Institutional Learning Outcome II.)
- The application of production concepts appropriate to the Northern Great Plains region. (This learning outcome directly addresses Institutional Learning Outcomes II and VI.)
- Oral, written, and graphical communication skills. (This learning outcome directly addresses Institutional Learning Outcome III.)
- An understanding of agricultural resource management in a broader global, socioeconomic context. (This learning outcome directly addresses Institutional Learning Outcomes I and V.)
- The application of leadership skills necessary for successful advocacy at local, state, regional, and national levels. (This learning outcome directly addresses Institutional Learning Outcome IV.)
Career Options
Why should you pursue a Bachelor of Science Degree - Agricultural Studies: Soil Science Option?
Students pursuing the soil science option of the bachelor’s in agricultural studies combine a strong science foundation with an understanding of soils, agriculture and resource management to prepare for employment as a soil scientist in government service at the local, state and federal levels or in the conservation and reclamation of many different types of natural resource areas.
Possible Career Paths
- Government Service, Entry-level Soil Scientists
- Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
- Soil Conservation District (SCD)
- NGO Environmental Consulting (domestic and international)
- Agronomy Consulting
- Land Reclamation
- Environmental Consultant
Requirements
THE FOLLOWING ARE REQUIRED AS PART OF GENERAL EDUCATION
AGRICULTURAL STUDIES CORE CURRICULUM
| AGEC 241 | Introduction to Agricultural Economics | 3 |
| AGEC 342 | Introduction to Agricultural Management | 3 |
| AGRI 350 | Agricultural Data Analysis and Statistics | 4 |
| AGRI 391 | Junior Seminar | 1 |
| AGRI 394 | Undergraduate Research | 1 |
| H&CE 241 | Leadership and Presentation Techniques | 3 |
| PLSC 110 | World Food Crops | 3 |
| RNG 236 | Introduction to Range Management | 4 |
| SOIL 210 | Introduction to Soil Science | 4 |
One course from the following two courses (3 credits):
One course from the following two courses (3 credits):
One course from the following two courses (1 credit):
AGRI 491 and RNG 491 are capstone experience seminars that consist of an independent study with a public presentation and a professional paper requirement.
One course from the following three courses (3 credits):
| AGRI 280 | Technology in Agriculture | 3 |
| GIS 380 | Applied Arc GIS | 3 |
| GIS 381 | Geographic Information Systems for Business | 3 |
One course from the following four courses (3 credits):
| BOTE 210 | Business Communication | 3 |
| COMM 212 | Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
| COMM 216 | Intercultural Communication | 3 |
| COMM 317 | Organizational and Group Communication | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 39 |
Soil Science Option
Students pursuing the Soil Science option combine a strong science foundation with an understanding of soils, agriculture and resource management to prepare for employment as a soil scientist in government service.
Students will be required to take GIS 380 – Applied Arc GIS as part of the Agricultural Studies core curriculum. They will be required to take GEOL 105, GEOL 105L – Physical Geology and Lab as the General Education science elective. If not taken as a General Education class, it must be taken to fulfill the Soil Science option requirements.
Select four of the five following courses (12-13 credits):
One course from the following two courses (3 credits):
One course from the following two courses (3 credits):
| PLSC 225 | Principles of Crop Production | 3 |
| RNG 350 | Range Plants and Communities | 3 |
Two pairs of courses from the following choices (8 credits):
Semester Sequence
First Semester
Second Semester
Third Semester
Fourth Semester
Fifth Semester
Sixth Semester
Seventh Semester
Eighth Semester
Soil Electives (Pick 4 or 5)
- SOIL 321 - Soil Management and Conservation (3 credits)
- SOIL 322: Fertility and Fertilizers (3 credits)
- SOIL 350: Soil Health and Productivity (3 credits)
- SOIL 444: Soil Genesis & Survey (4 credits)
- SOIL 455 - Soil Microbiology (3 credits)
Science Elective B (Pick 1 or 2)
Communication Elective (3 Credits)
- BOTE 210: Business Communication (3 credits)
- COMM 212: Oral Interpretation
- COMM 317: Organization and Group Communication
- If taken COMM 216: Interpersonal Communication (3 credits), elective is met