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Department of Plant Science

The College of
Agricultural Sciences and Technology

MAHLON M. S. HILE, Chair
Agriculture Building, Room 222
(559) 278-2861
FAX: (559) 278-7413

http://cast.csufresno.edu/PlantSci

B.S. in Plant Science
Options: Agronomy, Horticulture, Plant Health
Emphases: Production Management, Science and Technology

M.S. in Plant Science

Minor in Plant Science

Faculty

Mahlon M. S. Hile, Chair
Arthur J. Olney, Graduate Coordinator
Ken Heupel, Lecturer
Michael Spiess, Lecturer

Daniel P. Bartell, Sharon E. Benes, Earl H. Bowerman, James J. Farrar, Charles F. Krauter, Gary L. Ritenour

The faculty hold advanced degrees in their fields of specialization from leading agricultural institutions and universities in the United States. They are well-qualified teachers who, through extensive research and interaction with major agricultural industries, bring a wealth of basic and practical information into the classroom. A faculty academic adviser is assigned to work with each student to plan and design an individualized program of study to meet the student's educational and career objectives.

Most of the faculty are involved in one or more of the California Agricultural Technology Institute Centers the Center for Irrigation Technology and the Viticulture and Enology Research Center and the San Joaquin Experimental Range. The centers offer excellent opportunities to undergraduate and graduate students who gain experience by participating in applied research projects that address and help solve problems faced by California's agricultural industry.

Plant Science

Join the leader in science, technology, and management. The Department of Plant Science offers programs in production with classes in science and technology and in business management. Within the production or science emphasis, students select an option in agronomy (CR SC and SW courses), horticulture (OH, FR SC, VIT, and some CR SC courses), or plant health (PLT H, CR SC, FR SC, OH, and VIT courses).

Courses offered by the department integrate physiology, soils and nutrition, cultural practice, protection against plant pests, marketing, storage and handling practices, and mechanization to provide students with a well-balanced background for positions in plant/soil sciences, and crop production. In addition, courses in areas such as micropropagation, plant improvement, and seed technology provide students with a background for further studies in plant biotechnology.

Each degree option integrates departmental curricula with the basic sciences (e.g., biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics) and management skills to build a well-balanced foundation.

The irrigation and viticulture programs have received the Western Region and National Awards for Excellence in Agricultural Technology Instruction respectively. These prestigious awards are sponsored by the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture and R. J. Reynolds Industries Inc.

For information about laboratory units and supervised projects, contact the department office.

Career Opportunities

The courses offered within each of the disciplinary areas in the department provide the required background and experience to qualify graduates of these programs for many exciting, well-paying careers. For a list of career opportunities, contact the department office.

Plant Science Courses

Plant Science Degrees

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