About the B.S. in Plant and Soil Science
The department offers a Bachelor of Science in Plant and Soil Science degree designed to build on a foundation of basic biological and physical science principles. This foundation provides students a broad base of knowledge as well as hands-on experience in many aspects of the plant and soil sciences industry. Students learn the latest methods to produce agronomic, forage, horticultural, and turfgrass crops while conserving natural soil and water resources. In addition, students learn current management techniques to control or prevent plant diseases, insects, and weed species as well as efficient soil nutrient and water management.
A bachelor’s degree in plant and soil science prepares students to manage properly a wide variety of plant and soil issues, such as fertilization and pesticide application, mitigation of urban heat load through appropriate use of landscape plants, improved crop production through plant breeding and biotechnology, and appropriate management practices for vineyards and wineries.
Students may focus on one of six areas of concentration: crop science, environmental soil and water science, horticulture and turfgrass science, viticulture and enology, horticulture at a distance, or local food and wine production. This degree prepares students to meet the challenges of sustainable production of plants for food, fiber, fuel, and aesthetic beauty while preserving natural resources and environmental integrity.
The Department of Plant and Soil Sciences offers a resident, a distance program, and a hybrid/off-campus program requiring 120 semester credit hours. For the distance program, students will need to complete a portion of their general coursework at another institution and complete the last 30 semester credit hours through Texas Tech University. For the hybrid/off-campus program, students may need to complete a portion of their general coursework at another institution and complete the last 30 semester credit hours at Texas Tech University’s Lubbock Campus, Fredericksburg Campus, or online. Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses required for graduation. All electives are subject to departmental approval.
Communication Literacy Requirement. Texas Tech University’s transition from the Writing Intensive requirement to the Communication Literacy requirement signals the university’s awareness that in addition to the fundamental role that writing plays in enabling students to explore, develop, focus, and organize a message, other types of communication must also be taught as appropriate for a student’s discipline. Throughout each program of study, then, students must be given ample opportunity to develop their skills in forms of communication central to that program. Communication Literacy courses for the Plant and Soil Science major are PSS 1100 , PSS 3323 , PSS 4421 , and PSS 4100 .
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