Plant Sciences, Bachelor of Science College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences
The Major Program
The Plant Sciences major is designed for students who are interested in a scientific understanding of how plants grow and develop in managed agricultural ecosystems and how plant products are utilized for food, fiber and environmental enhancement. Advances in science and technology have provided new insights and options for using plants to address the issues associated with providing renewable food, fiber and energy resources for a growing global population while minimizing adverse impacts on the natural environment. Graduates in Plant Sciences are able to apply their skills and knowledge to a diverse range of agricultural and environmental goals or pursue advanced degrees in plant sciences.
The Program
The curriculum provides depth in the biological and physical sciences and a sound understanding of how plants obtain and utilize resources from their environment to sustain their growth and development. The influences of genetics, management systems and environmental inputs on crop development and productivity are emphasized along with the postharvest preservation and marketing of plant products. Students will develop an area of specialization with options in Crop Production, Plant Genetics & Breeding, or Postharvest Biology & Technology. An Individual option is also available to match specific subject matter or career goal interests in the plant sciences. All students gain practical experience through a combination of practical laboratory courses and internships. Students may also pursue an Honors thesis in their senior year.
Master Advisor
Advising for the major is located in 1220 Plant & Environmental Sciences. Please visit our department website for more information.
Career Alternatives
Graduates from this program are prepared to pursue a wide range of careers, including various technical and management positions in agricultural & business enterprises, farming, or consulting; public, private & non-profit agencies; Cooperative Extension; international development; teaching; or agricultural & environmental journalism and communication services. Graduates are qualified to pursue graduate studies in the natural and agricultural sciences, such as plant biology, genetics, breeding, horticulture, agronomy, biotechnology, ecology, environmental studies, pest management, education, or business management.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Preparatory Subject Matter | ||
| Biological Science | 10 | |
| Introduction to Biology: Essentials of Life on Earth | ||
| Introduction to Biology: Principles of Ecology & Evolution | ||
| Plant Sciences & Statistics | 12 | |
| Botany & Physiology of Cultivated Plants | ||
| Seminar: Overview of the Plant Sciences Major (Pending Approval) | ||
| Application of Computers in Technology | ||
or PLS 021V | Application of Computers in Technology | |
| Applied Statistics in Agricultural Sciences | ||
| Chemistry | 16-22 | |
| General Chemistry | ||
| General Chemistry | ||
| Choose a series: | ||
| Organic Chemistry: Brief Course | ||
| Organic Chemistry: Brief Course | ||
| OR | ||
| Organic Chemistry for Health & Life Sciences | ||
| Organic Chemistry for Health & Life Sciences | ||
| Organic Chemistry for Health & Life Sciences | ||
| Physics | 12 | |
| General Physics | ||
| General Physics | ||
| General Physics | ||
| Mathematics | 8 | |
| Calculus for Biology & Medicine | ||
| Calculus for Biology & Medicine | ||
| Preparatory Subject Matter Subtotal | 58-64 | |
| Depth Subject Matter | ||
| Soil Science | 5 | |
| Principles of Soil Science | ||
| Plant Science | 25 | |
| Metabolic Processes of Cultivated Plants | ||
| Growth & Yield of Cultivated Plants | ||
| Environmental Interactions of Cultivated Plants | ||
| Metabolic Processes of Cultivated Plants Laboratory | ||
| Growth & Yield of Cultivated Plants Laboratory | ||
| Environmental Interactions of Cultivated Plants Laboratory | ||
| Agriculture & the Environment | ||
| Plant Genetics | ||
| Internship (Capstone Experience: Internship/Research Report) | ||
or PLS 199 | Special Study for Advanced Undergraduates | |
| Restricted electives; choose at least two from two different categories: | 7-10 | |
| Plant Diversity/evolution/taxonomy | ||
| Taxonomy & Ecology of Environmental Plant Families | ||
| Introduction to Evolution | ||
| California Floristics | ||
| Systematics & Evolution of Angiosperms | ||
| Evolution of Crop Plants | ||
| Plant Morphology & Evolution | ||
| Ecology | ||
| Plant Ecology | ||
| Sustainability & Agroecosystem Management | ||
ENH 160 series: | ||
| Restoration Ecology | ||
| Restoration Ecology Laboratory | ||
PLS 147 series: | ||
| California Plant Communities | ||
| California Plant Communities Field Study | ||
| Pest management | ||
| Introduction to Plant Pathology | ||
| Arthropod Pest Management | ||
| Plant Nematology | ||
| Concepts in Pest Management | ||
| Introduction to Weed Science | ||
| Population Biology of Invasive Plants & Weeds | ||
| Depth Subject Matter Subtotal | 37-40 | |
| Areas of Specialization; choose one*: | 21-34 | |
*In consultation with an advisor, a student may complete requirements for more than one specialization, which can be noted on the student’s transcript. | ||
| Total Units | 116-138 | |
Areas of Specialization
Plant Informatics Option
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required courses: | 15 | |
| PLS 124 | Introduction to Digital Agriculture (Pending Approval) | 3 |
| PLS 125 | (Pending Approval) | 3 |
| PLS 123 | Introduction to Plant & Crop Systems Modeling | 3 |
| BIT 150 | Applied Bioinformatics | 4 |
| Depth (choose 3): | 11-12 | |
| PLS 105 | Concepts in Pest Management | 3 |
| ABT/LDA 150 | Introduction to Geographic Information Systems | 4 |
| PLS 150 | Sustainability & Agroecosystem Management | 4 |
| PLS 157 | Physiology of Environmental Stresses in Plants | 4 |
| PLS 158 | Mineral Nutrition of Plants | 4 |
| HYD 124 | Plant-Water-Soil Relationships | 4 |
Ecological Management & Restoration Option
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required Major Electives (not included in AOS unit count): | 24-32 | |
| PLS/PLB 102 | California Floristics | 5 |
| Ecological Management and Restoration (Choose at least 4): | 12-17 | |
| PLB/EVE 119 | Population Biology of Invasive Plants & Weeds | 3 |
| ENH 120 | Management of Container Media | 3 |
| PLS 130 | Rangelands: Ecology, Conservation & Restoration | 3 |
| PLS 135 | Ecology & Community Structure of Grassland & Savannah Herbivores | 3 |
| ESM 141 | Role of Fire in Natural Ecosystems | 4 |
| PLS/ESM 144 | Trees & Forests | 4 |
| PLS 147 & 147L | California Plant Communities and California Plant Communities Field Study | 4 |
| PLS 150 | Sustainability & Agroecosystem Management | 4 |
| ESP 155 | Wetland Ecology | 4 |
| ENH 160 & 160L | Restoration Ecology and Restoration Ecology Laboratory | 5 |
| PLS 162 | Urban Ecology | 3 |
| PLS 163 | Ecosystem & Landscape Ecology | 4 |
| PLS 171 | Principles & Practices of Plant Propagation | 4 |
| Environmental Analysis, Monitoring, and Policy (Choose at least 2): | 7-9 | |
| ESM 108 | Environmental Monitoring | 3 |
| LDA/ABT 150 | Introduction to Geographic Information Systems | 4 |
| ESP 160 | The Policy Process | 4 |
| ESP 172 | Public Lands Management | 4 |
| ESP 179 | Environmental Impact Assessment | 4 |
| Outreach and Communication (choose 1): | 3-4 | |
| EDU 142 | Introduction to Environmental Education | 4 |
| Internship: | 2 | |
| PLS 164 | Practicum in Ecological Restoration | 1 |
| PLS 192 | Internship | 1-2 |
Environmental Horticulture & Urban Landscape Management Option
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required major electives (not included in AOS unit count): | ||
| PLS 105 | Concepts in Pest Management | 3 |
| ENH 105 | Taxonomy & Ecology of Environmental Plant Families | 4 |
| Required courses: | 8 | |
| PLS 162 | Urban Ecology | 3 |
| PLS 157 | Physiology of Environmental Stresses in Plants | 4 |
| Depth | ||
| Choose at least 3 of the following: | 9-13 | |
| ENH 100 | Urban Forestry | 4 |
| ENH 133 | Woody Plants in the Landscape: Growth, Ecology & Management | 4 |
| SSC 112 | Soil Ecology | 3 |
| LDA/ABT 150 | Introduction to Geographic Information Systems | 4 |
| ENH 120 | Management of Container Media | 3 |
| ENH 125 | Greenhouse & Nursery Crop Production | 5 |
| PLS 171 | Principles & Practices of Plant Propagation | 4 |
| PLS 158 | Mineral Nutrition of Plants | 4 |
| PLS 123 | Introduction to Plant & Crop Systems Modeling | 3 |
| Choose one: | 4 | |
| ESP 171 | Urban & Regional Planning | 4 |
| ESP 179 | Environmental Impact Assessment | 4 |
Crop Production & Agroecology Option
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required major electives (not included in AOS unit count): | ||
| PLS 150 | Sustainability & Agroecosystem Management | 4 |
| Required courses: | 8 | |
| HYD 124 | Plant-Water-Soil Relationships | 4 |
| PLS 158 | Mineral Nutrition of Plants | 4 |
| Production (choose 2): | 4-9 | |
| PLS 049 | Organic Crop Production Practices | 3 |
| PLS 112 | Forage Crop Production | 3 |
| PLS 113 | Biological Applications in Fruit Tree Management | 2 |
| PLS 114 | Biological Applications in Fruit Production | 2 |
| PLS/IAD 160 | Agroforestry: Global & Local Perspectives | 3 |
| PLS 170A | Fruit & Nut Cropping Systems | 2 |
| PLS/ESM 144 | Trees & Forests | 4 |
| PLS 170B | Fruit & Nut Cropping Systems | 2 |
| PLS 007 | Just Coffee: The Biology, Ecology & Socioeconomic Impacts of the World’s Favorite Drink | 4 |
| or PLS 007V | Just Coffee: The Biology, Ecology & Socioeconomic Impacts of the World's Favorite Drink | |
| ENH 125 | Greenhouse & Nursery Crop Production | 5 |
| PLS 110 | Crop Management Systems for Vegetable Production | 4 |
| ENH 120 | Management of Container Media | 3 |
| PLS 111 | Principles of Agronomic Crop Production Systems | 4 |
| PLS 171 | Principles & Practices of Plant Propagation | 4 |
| Advanced soil science (choose 1): | 3-4 | |
| SSC 111 | Soil Microbiology | 4 |
| SSC 102 | Environmental Soil Chemistry | 3 |
| SSC 112 | Soil Ecology | 3 |
| SSC 109 | Sustainable Nutrient Management | 4 |
| Global food systems (choose 1): | 4 | |
| ARE 015 | Population, Environment & World Agriculture | 4 |
| IAD 010 | Introduction to International Agricultural Development | 4 |
| CRD 020 | Food Systems | 4 |
| Pest management (choose 1 in addition to core): | 3-5 | |
| PLS 176 | Introduction to Weed Science | 4 |
| VEN 118 | Grapevine Pests, Diseases & Disorders | 3 |
| PLP 120 | Introduction to Plant Pathology | 4 |
| NEM 100 | Plant Nematology | 4 |
| ENT 110 | Arthropod Pest Management | 5 |
| PLS 105 | Concepts in Pest Management | 3 |
| PLB/EVE 119 | Population Biology of Invasive Plants & Weeds | 3 |
| Outreach and communication (choose 1): | 4 | |
| EDU 142 | Introduction to Environmental Education | 4 |
Plant Breeding, Genetics, & Genomics Option
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required courses: | 18 | |
| BIS 101 | Genes & Gene Expression | 4 |
| PLS 154 | Introduction to Plant Breeding | 4 |
| BIT 160 | Principles of Plant Biotechnology | 3 |
| BIT 161B | Plant Genetics & Biotechnology Laboratory | 4 |
| BIT 171 | Professionalism & Ethics in Genomics & Biotechnology | 3 |
| Production (choose 1): | 2-5 | |
| PLS 049 | Organic Crop Production Practices | 3 |
| PLS 112 | Forage Crop Production | 3 |
| PLS 113 | Biological Applications in Fruit Tree Management | 2 |
| PLS 114 | Biological Applications in Fruit Production | 2 |
| PLS/IAD 160 | Agroforestry: Global & Local Perspectives | 3 |
| PLS 170A | Fruit & Nut Cropping Systems | 2 |
| PLS/ESM 144 | Trees & Forests | 4 |
| PLS 170B | Fruit & Nut Cropping Systems | 2 |
| PLS 007 | Just Coffee: The Biology, Ecology & Socioeconomic Impacts of the World’s Favorite Drink | 4 |
| or PLS 007V | Just Coffee: The Biology, Ecology & Socioeconomic Impacts of the World's Favorite Drink | |
| ENH 125 | Greenhouse & Nursery Crop Production | 5 |
| PLS 110 | Crop Management Systems for Vegetable Production | 4 |
| PLS 111 | Principles of Agronomic Crop Production Systems | 4 |
| ENH 120 | Management of Container Media | 3 |
| PLS 171 | Principles & Practices of Plant Propagation | 4 |
| Restricted Elective (choose 1): | 3-5 | |
| Choose one additional course from either Production or Depth Subject Matter | 3-5 | |
Crop Quality & Safety Option
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required courses: | 14 | |
| PLS 172 | Biology and Quality of Harvested Crops | 4 |
| PLS 173 | Molecular & Cellular Aspects of Postharvest Biology | 3 |
| PLS 174 | Microbiology & Safety of Fresh Fruits & Vegetables | 3 |
| PLS 196 | Postharvest Technology of Horticultural Crops | 3 |
| Depth (choose 8 units): | 8 | |
| FST 117 | Design & Analysis for Sensory Food Science | 4 |
| ARE 100A | Intermediate Microeconomics: Theory of Production & Consumption | 4 |
| FST 109 | Principles of Quality Assurance in Food Processing | 3 |
| PLS 007 | Just Coffee: The Biology, Ecology & Socioeconomic Impacts of the World’s Favorite Drink | 4 |
| or PLS 007V | Just Coffee: The Biology, Ecology & Socioeconomic Impacts of the World's Favorite Drink | |
| PLS 006 | Flower Power; Art & Science of Flowers & Their Uses | 2 |
| or PLS 006V | Flower Power; Art & Science of Flowers & Their Uses | |
| FST 131 | Food Packaging | 4 |
| PLS 113 | Biological Applications in Fruit Tree Management | 2 |
| PLS 114 | Biological Applications in Fruit Production | 2 |
Individual Option
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Choose a minimum of 23 upper division units, with approval from the master advisor, to form a coherent program of study resulting in expertise and competence in a sub-discipline of plant sciences. | 23 | |
| Total Units | 23 | |