Undergraduate Program

The Department of Plant, Soil & Insect Sciences (PSIS) was formed by a merger of Plant & Soil Sciences with Entomology and Plant Pathology. Currently, the PSIS Undergraduate Program offers a Major in Plant & Soil Sciences, and three Minor Degree Programs in Plant & Soil Sciences, Entomology, and Plant Pathology. Please look over the information presented, and feel free to contact the Department for updates.

| Department Description | The Major | Major Curriculum | Career & Grad Opportunities |
| Transfer Student? | Minors |

The Department:

PSIS is the academic home to faculty, staff, and students interested in environmentally conscious and socially responsible management of plant and soil ecosystems. This includes managed crop production and the interface of managed and natural systems within urban and suburban settings, focusing on plant, soil, and water resource management. Research, teaching, and outreach programs emphasize the study of and technology transfer related to growth of food and ornamental crops, protection of soil and water resources, study and management of insects and plant diseases, improvement of plants, development of new crops, management of harvested materials, remediation of pollution in soil and water, and use of urban and agricultural by-products.

PSIS Faculty members, Adjunct Faculty, Lecturers, & Instructors have a combined expertise in a wide range of disciplines including: crop production; genetics and plant breeding; plant physiology, nutrition, and growth regulation; entomology; plant pathology; environmental stress; soil physics, chemistry, morphology, and microbiology; and mathematical modeling.

Unergraduate Major In Plant & Soil Sciences

The Plant & Soil Sciences Undergraduate Major, through the combined study of plants, soils, and the environment, prepares students for an active role promoting the quality of life through environmentally conscious and socially responsible management of plant and soil resources. Majors in Plant & Soil Sciences learn effective techniques for land and crop management, growing and breeding plants, reducing pesticide use, and using plants and soil microorganisms to remove environmental contaminants from ecosystems. A degree in Plant & Soil Sciences is for students interested in such issues as:

The Curriculum for Plant & Soil Sciences Undergraduate Majors

The undergraduate curriculum in Plant, Soil & Insect Sciences (PSIS) is unique, developed so that students can tailor course work to best reflect individual academic interests and career goals. The major encompasses a broad range of related disciplines dealing with plants, soils, and the environment. Students begin their studies with introductory classes in plant, soils and insects with general education courses required of all University students. These initial courses, which include classes in botany, soils, math, statistics, and computer applications, form the foundation for more advanced study in PSIS. The exact sequence of courses depends upon the student's selection of a program concentration area. In addition to choosing an area of concentration, each student must also select a program track to follow. Independent studies and internships are also available, providing students with the opportunity to integrate laboratory, field work, and practical pre-professional experience into their curriculum.

Program Concentration Areas:

The following programs of study are available. (Click on the headings below to view a complete program description including a list of required course work under each concentration area.)

Program Tracks

Each student must select either a Business Management Track or a Science Track to complete their studies. Selection of a track is usually dependent upon a student's long-term career goals. Consultation with a Plant, Soil & Insect Sciences' academic advisor is recommended if a student is not certain which Track is most appropriate.

Career and Graduate School opportunities:

Students who graduate with a Major in Plant & Soil Sciences are highly employable within their field of specialization. Our graduates are employed in professions as varied as environmental consulting, agronomic and horticultural crop production, secondary school instruction, and golf course and parks management, just to name a few. Graduates have careers as: growers of ornamental and edible crops; regulatory officials; sales representatives; managers of golf courses, parks, garden centers, greenhouses, and nurseries; secondary and university level teachers; supervisors of landscape construction and maintenance organizations; scientists and researchers; environmental consultants; and soil and wetland delineators.

A significant number of our graduates continue working towards advanced degrees which provide additional opportunities in research, teaching, consulting and public service in their chosen area of specialization.


Transferring From Another College or University?

Students interested in transferring to the University should have taken courses in a variety of disciplines (including writing/composition, humanities, social sciences, mathematics, and natural sciences). The Plant, Soil & Insect Sciences (PSIS) major requires more than 60 semester credit hours of plant and soil sciences or related course work, so early transfer is recommended to avoid delay of graduation. We recommend that prospective transfer students, contact our Undergraduate Program Office as early as possible to discuss appropriate transfer course work. All PSIS majors must complete coursework in introductory botany, soils, chemistry, statistics and mathematics through the pre-calculus level.


            Interested? Please contact:

Deborah Picking
Undergraduate Program Director
Plant, Soil & Insect Sciences
103 French Hall
University of Massachusetts
Amherst MA 01003
Tel. (413) 545-2249
FAX (413) 545-3075
E-Mail:dpicking@psis.umass.edu