The Washington State University General Catalog

Agriculture and Food Security

The online catalog includes the most recent changes to courses and degree requirements that have been approved by the Faculty Senate, including changes that are not yet effective.

WARNING: The following information reflects a degree requirement which expired as of Summer 2023. Please click the appropriate link under "Degree Programs" on the right side of this page to view the currently effective requirements for this program. If a link to this program does not appear, the program may no longer be available, or may be available under a different academic unit. You can find past requirements under the appropriate archived catalog.

Agriculture and Food Security (120 Credits)

Students in this major are the protectors of the world’s plant-based food supply. The Agriculture and Food Security major prepares students to manage plant pests and diseases from a holistic perspective.

Students learn to understand the complexity of relationships within agricultural ecosystems, how external factors influence these systems, and how to effectively manage pests and diseases without incurring undue risks to human or environmental health. Course offerings begin with a strong scientific base in biology and chemistry, and expand to focus on crop science, soil science, integrated pest management, and plant pathology.

The major is an exciting blend of classroom instruction and field experience that is tailored to the eventual employment goals of the student. Graduates who can evaluate and diagnose pest and plant disease problems and recommend economically and ecologically sound ways to correct them are in great demand. Excellent employment opportunities exist with state, federal, and international agricultural, environmental, and regulatory agencies, agrichemical companies, agricultural and environmental consulting firms, food processing, forest product, and vegetable and seed companies, and a wide range of other agribusiness enterprises.

A student may be admitted to the Agriculture and Food Security major upon making their intention known to the department.
First Year
First TermCredits
ANIM SCI 1013
CHEM 101 [PSCI] or 105 [PSCI]4
ECONS 101 [SSCI]3
HISTORY 105 [ROOT]3
HORT / CROP SCI 1023
Second TermCredits
[COMM] Course (COM 102 [COMM] or H D 205 [COMM] recommended)3 or 4
CHEM 102 or 1064
ENGLISH 101 [WRTG]3
HORT / CROP SCI 2024
Second Year
First TermCredits
BIOLOGY 107 [BSCI] or 120 [BSCI]4
Diversity [DIVR]3
Humanities [HUM]3
SOIL SCI 2013
Electives3
Second TermCredits
AFS 2013
Arts [ARTS]3
BIOLOGY 1064
ENTOM 3513
STAT 212 [QUAN]4
Complete Writing Portfolio
Third Year
First TermCredits
CROP SCI 3053
CROP SCI 3603
ECONS 35013
ENTOM 343 [M]3
Electives3
Second TermCredits
AFS Core Systems Elective23
IPM 4523
SOIL SCI/AFS 302 [M]33
Electives6
Fourth Year
First TermCredits
AFS 3363
CROP SCI 4033
PL P 3002
PL P 4293
Electives3
Second TermCredits
400-500-level Seminar in CAHNRS41
AFS 401 [CAPS]3
SOIL SCI 4413
Electives6

Footnotes
1ECONS 352, which is only offered in the spring, may be used as an alternative for ECONS 350.
2AFS Core Systems Electives: AGTM 310, ANIM SCI 464 [M], 472 [M], 474 [M], BIOLOGY 372 [M], CROP SCI 302, ECONS 351, HORT 320, SOE 300, SOIL SCI 368, or other systems courses approved by your advisor. Coursework must include a total of two [M] courses.
3SOIL SCI 414 and 415 can be taken as an alternative to SOIL SCI 302 [M]. However another [M] course will be required.
4400-500-level Seminar: AGTM 451, CROP SCI/SOIL SCI 412, HORT/VIT ENOL 409, or as approved by advisor.

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