Seed Science

Administered by the Departments of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Agronomy, Horticulture, and Plant Pathology.

Seed Science must be taken as a secondary major in conjunction with a primary major. The seed science program is designed for students with career interests in one or more aspects of the seed industry. Areas of study focus on seeds including production, conditioning, pathology, physiology, quality control, marketing, and seed plant designs.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon graduation, students should be able to:

1. Demonstrate understanding of the science and principles of seed production systems, including seed quality assessment and conditioning, and clearly communicate the importance of seeds to our society.
2. Articulate the opportunities in the seed industry for seed-related careers.
3. Apply seed science and technology knowledge for solving seed quality and production problems encountered in the seed industry.

CURRICULUM IN SEED SCIENCE (SECONDARY MAJOR)

Total Degree Requirement:  128 cr.

COMPLETE COMMUNICATION AND LIBRARY REQUIREMENTS OF PRIMARY MAJOR AND 3 CR. FROM THE FOLLOWING:

ENGL 302	Business Communication	3
ENGL 309	Proposal and Report Writing	3
ENGL 312	Communicating Science and Public Engagement	3
ENGL 314	Technical Communication	3
SP CM 312	Business and Professional Speaking	3

BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES: 7 CR.

BIOL 211 & 211L	Principles of Biology I and Principles of Biology Laboratory I	4
or BIOL 212 & 212L	Principles of Biology II and Principles of Biology Laboratory II
AGRON 320	Genetics, Agriculture and Biotechnology	3
or BIOL 313	Principles of Genetics

PHYSICAL SCIENCES: 8-9 CR.

CHEM 163 & 163L	College Chemistry and Laboratory in College Chemistry	5
or CHEM 177 & 177L	General Chemistry I and Laboratory in General Chemistry I
One of the following:
AGRON 259	Organic Compounds in Plants and Soils	3
BBMB 221	Structure and Reactions in Biochemical Processes	3
CHEM 231 & 231L	Elementary Organic Chemistry and Laboratory in Elementary Organic Chemistry	4

MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES 6 CR.

MATH 140	College Algebra	3
or MATH 150	Discrete Mathematics for Business and Social Sciences
Statistics course		3

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES: 28-29 CR.

AGRON 181	Introduction to Crop Science	3
or HORT 221	Principles of Horticulture Science
AGRON 182	Introduction to Soil Science	3
AGRON 206	Introduction to Weather and Climate	3
AGRON 217	Weed Identification	1-2
or AGRON 331	Crops Practicum
AGRON 316	Crop Structure-Function Relationships	3
or HORT 321	Horticulture Physiology
AGRON 354	Soils and Plant Growth	3
9 credits from AGRON, HORT, or TSM (6 credits at 300-400 level)		9

ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS: 9 CR.

ECON 101	Principles of Microeconomics	3
Six credits from the following:		6
ACCT 284	Financial Accounting
ECON 102	Principles of Macroeconomics
ECON 230	Farm Business Management
ECON 234	Small Business Management
ECON 235	Introduction to Agricultural Markets
ECON 236	Agricultural Selling
ECON 334	Entrepreneurship in Agriculture
MGMT 370	Managing Organizations
MKT 340	Principles of Marketing

SEED SCIENCE: 16 CR.

AGRON 317	Principles of Weed Science	3
AGRON 338	Seed Science and Technology	3
AGRON 421	Introduction to Plant Breeding	3
ENT 376	Fundamentals of Entomology and Pest Management	3
PL P 408	Principles of Plant Pathology	3
One of the following:
AGRON 311	Professional Internship in Agronomy (seed related)	1
AGRON 491	Seed Science Internship Experience	1-2
HORT 391	Horticultural Management Experience	1

HUMANITIES:  3 CR.

3 cr. from approved humanities list: http://www.cals.iastate.edu/student-services/humanities 

SOCIAL SCIENCES: 3 CR.

3 cr. from approved social sciences list: http://www.cals.iastate.edu/student-services/social-sciences

ETHICS:  3 CR.

3 cr. from approved ethics list: http://www.cals.iastate.edu/student-services/ethics

REMAINING CREDITS (STUDENT CHOICE).

Because seed science is a secondary major, the courses taken by the student during the first year will vary, depending on the primary major (see typical program for the primary major).