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Sustainable Agriculture
Concentration
This
program area focuses on the production of food, fiber, and other plant
commodities through ecologically sound, economically viable, and socially
conscience approaches. Students have the opportunity to focus their studies
in the areas of agronomy, fruit and/or vegetable production. The curriculum
emphasizes sustainable crop production, cultural requirements, crop physiology,
soil productivity, prevention of soil and water degradation, integrated
pest management, food quality, and post-harvest handling and storage.
The University's location in the Pioneer Valley, a major vegetable production
area, affords students access to local farms for first-hand views of modern
cultural practices. Our nearby orchard serves as a living laboratory where
students study commercial apple production as well as learning about stone
fruits, small fruits, and berry crop production. The program stresses
the concepts and practices vital to the preservation of natural resources
in managed plant systems.
In addition to the foundation
course work required of all Plant Soil & Insect Sciences students, the
following courses are required:
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PLSOILIN
Required Courses
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PLSOILIN |
120
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Organic
Farming and Gardening
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(3
cr.)
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PLSOILIN |
297A
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Sustainable
Agriculture
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(3
cr.)
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PLSOILIN |
310
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Weed
Management
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(3
cr.)
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PLSOILIN |
350
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Crop
Science
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(3
cr.)
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Select at least one of the following crop production
courses:
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PLSOILIN |
280
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Herbs,
Spices, and Medicinal Plants
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(3
cr.)
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| |
PLSOILIN |
300
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Deciduous
Orchard Science
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(3
cr.)
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| |
PLSOILIN |
305
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Small
Fruit Production
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(3
cr.)
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| |
PLSOILIN |
325
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Vegetable
Production
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(4
cr.)
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| |
PLSOILIN |
370
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Tropical
Agriculture
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(3
cr.)
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Select at least two 500-level courses:
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PLNTSOIL |
520
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Crop
Physiology
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(3
cr.)
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PLNTSOIL |
530
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Plant
Nutrition
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(4
cr.)
|
| |
PLNTSOIL |
540
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|
Plant
Breeding
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(3
cr.)
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| |
PLNTSOIL |
545
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|
Post
Harvest Physiology
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(4
cr.)
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| |
PLNTSOIL |
550
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Plant
Growth Regulators
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(3
cr.)
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| |
PLNTSOIL |
555
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Environmental
Stress
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(3
cr.)
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| |
PLNTSOIL |
560
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Advanced
Weed Science
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(3
cr.)
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| |
PLNTSOIL |
565
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Soil
Formation and Classification
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(4
cr.)
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| |
PLNTSOIL |
575
|
|
Environmental
Soil Chemistry
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(4
cr.)
|
| |
PLNTSOIL |
580
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Soil
Fertility
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(3
cr.)
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Select from the following list to bring credit
total to at least 23 credits:
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PLSOILIN |
200
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Plant
Propagation
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(3
cr.)
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| |
PLSOILIN |
235
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Pruning
Fruit Crops
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(2
cr.)
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| |
PLSOILIN |
315
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Greenhouse
Management
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(4
cr.)
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| |
PLSOILIN |
365
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Hydroponics
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(4
cr.)
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| |
PLSOILIN |
375
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Soil
and Water Conservation
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(3
cr.)
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| |
PLSOILIN |
397D
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Soils
and Land Use
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(2
cr.)
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| |
PLSOILIN |
397C
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Community
Food Systems
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(4
cr.)
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| |
PLSOILIN |
397S
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Controversial
Issues in Agriculture
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(2
cr.)
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Other Required Courses
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| |
Plant
Pathology |
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PLNTSOIL 505 (4 cr.) OR
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| |
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MICROBIO
104 (3 cr.) AND PLNTSOIL 515 (3 cr.)
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| |
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Entomology |
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|
ENTOMOL
581 Integrated Pest Management (5 cr.)
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OR
any 300+ level PLSOILIN Insect course
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