The Section of Soil and Crop Sciences offers the opportunity for a student in any major to complete a minor in Soil Science or Crop Management.
Crop Management
A minor in Crop Management can be used to broaden your experience and enhance your career prospects. You can tailor the minor to complement any major at Cornell University. The minor enables students with majors in fields such as applied economics and management, communication, ESS, IARD and sociology to gain technical and scientific knowledge for careers in areas such as food production systems, evaluating effects of climate change on food security, and policy related to agricultural sustainability. Students in biological and technical majors such as animal science, entomology and BEE can broaden their studies and enhance employment possibilities. Transfer credit can be used to meet requirements.
Requirements
A total of 12 credits beyond those required of a student’s major from the following areas:
- at least 3 credits of crop science (PLSCS 2110, PLSCS 4050, PLSCS 3170, PLSCS 4130, PLSCS 4140)
- at least 3 credits of plant protection/pest management (PLSCS 3150, PLSCS 4440, ENTOM 2410, PLPPM 3010)
- at least 3 credits of soil science (PLSCS 2600, PLSCS 3210, PLSCS 3650, ANSC 4120, PLSCS 4660, PLSCS 4720)
Equivalent transferred courses can be substituted. For students with majors such as Agricultural Sciences and Plant Science, addition of this minor helps prepare them for the Certified Crop Advisor examination, which provides an important credential for jobs in agriculture and environmental management. A complete list of requirements and eligible courses is available on the Crop Management application form.
Soil Science
A minor in Soil Science prepares students for work on agricultural and natural ecosystems by learning to identify, understand and manage soils in agriculture and forestry in an environmentally responsible way. The soil science minor is available to students with any major at Cornell University; transfer credit can be used to meet requirements. Graduates with soils training can choose from a range of excellent professional opportunities and challenging careers, including those with government agencies.
Requirements
The minor requires 15 credits, with:
- at least two courses (minimum 8 credits; PLSCS 2600 required) in soil science
- at least one course (minimum 3 credits) in environmental information sciences (PLSCS 4110, PLSCS 4200)
Students qualify for the Civil Service classification as Soil Scientist (GS-0470) if they take an additional 12 credits in biological, physical, and earth sciences. Civil Service classification as Soil Conservationist (GS-0457) is achieved with the minor plus 12 credits in natural resources and agriculture and 3 credits in applied plant science. A complete list of requirements and eligible courses is available on the Soil Science application form.
Contact Us
Students wishing to pursue either the crop management or soil science minor should contact the undergraduate advisor in the Section of Soil and Crop Sciences, Professor Antonio DiTommaso (ad97@cornell.edu).