Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources Plant Biology
Description
Website: http://agronomy.unl.edu/plant-biology
The plant biology degree program provides flexible entry for undergraduate students that have an interest in the plant sciences. Once enrolled in the program, students will take a core of classes that will allow them to continue in the plant biology degree program or allow them to easily transfer to other Life Sciences programs. Students will have the opportunity to interact and gain research experience with the faculty of the Center for Plant Science Innovation as well as the above departments and schools for advising, internships, and research opportunities.
Studying plant biology will allow students to explore their knowledge of plants at the following levels:
- Molecular. (Biotechnology Option)
- Cellular and organismal. (biological, biochemical/chemical sciences)
- Whole plant/applied physiological. (horticulture and agronomy courses)
- Ecological. (Ecology and Management Option)
Students may select a bachelor of science track through the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. Every student must complete a set of core courses that provide breadth in basic sciences. Introduction to plant biology should be taken during the first semester in the program. Students also must complete an emphasis to provide depth in one of the following options: Biotechnology or Ecology and Management.
The plant biology program includes a career experience/internship course (PLAS 295/RNGE 295/SOIL 295; BIOS 395; PLAS 395T; NRES 497) which provides the opportunity to gain work experience in an off-campus setting related to a student’s academic and career objectives.
A research project initiated by the beginning of the junior year is required. The presentation of this work will be part of the Plant Biology Portfolio and Assessment course.
Students interested in plant biology through the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources are advised to make an initial appointment with Program Director David Holding and/or academic advisors, Christian Elowsky or Cheryl Dunn.
College Requirements
College Admission
Requirements for admission into the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (CASNR) are consistent with general University admission requirements (one unit equals one high school year): 4 units of English, 4 units of mathematics, 3 units of natural sciences, 3 units of social sciences, and 2 units of world language. Students must also meet performance requirements: a 3.0 cumulative high school grade point average OR an ACT composite of 20 or higher, writing portion not required OR a score of 1040 or higher on the SAT Critical Reading and Math sections OR rank in the top one-half of graduating class; transfer students must have a 2.0 (on a 4.0 scale) cumulative grade point average and 2.0 on the most recent term of attendance.
Admission Deficiencies/Removal of Deficiencies
Students who are admitted to CASNR with core course deficiencies must remove these deficiencies within the first 30 credit hours at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, or within the first calendar year at Nebraska, whichever takes longer. College-level coursework taken to remove deficiencies may be used to meet degree requirements in CASNR.
Deficiencies in the required entrance subjects can be removed by the completion of specified courses in the University or by correspondence.
The Office of Admissions, Alexander Building (south entrance), City Campus, provides information to new students on how deficiencies can be removed.
College Degree Requirements
Curriculum Requirements
The curriculum requirements of the College consist of three areas: ACE (Achievement-Centered Education), College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources Core, and Degree Program requirements and electives. All three areas of the College Curriculum Requirements are incorporated within the description of the Major/Degree Program sections of the catalog. The individual major/degree program listings of classes ensure that a student will meet the minimum curriculum requirements of the College.
World Languages/Language Requirement
Two units of a world language are required. This requirement is usually met with two years of high school language.
Experiential Learning
All undergraduates in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources must take an Experiential Learning (EL) designated course. This may include 0-credit courses designed to document co-curricular activities recognized as Experiential Learning.
Minimum Hours Required for Graduation
The College grants the bachelors degree in programs associated with agricultural sciences, natural resources, and related programs. Students working toward a degree must earn at least 120 semester hours of credit. A minimum cumulative grade point average of C (2.0 on a 4.0 scale) must be maintained throughout the course of studies and is required for graduation. Some degree programs have a higher cumulative grade point average required for graduation. Please check the degree program on its graduation cumulative grade point average.
Grade Rules
Removal of C-, D, and F Grades
Only the most recent letter grade received in a given course will be used in computing a student’s cumulative grade point average if the student has completed the course more than once and previously received a grade or grades below C in that course.
The previous grade (or grades) will not be used in the computation of the cumulative grade point average, but it will remain a part of the academic record and will appear on any transcript.
A student can remove from their cumulative average a course grade of C-, D+, D, D-, or F if the student repeats the same course at the University of Nebraska and receives a grade other than P (pass), I (incomplete), N (no pass), W (withdrew), or NR (no report). If a course is no longer being offered, it is not eligible for the revised grade point average computation process.
For complete procedures and regulations, see the Office of the University Registrar website at http://www.unl.edu/regrec/course-repeats.
Pass/No Pass
Students in CASNR may take any course offered on a Pass/No Pass basis within the 24-hour limitation established by the Faculty Senate. However, a department may specify that the Pass/No Pass status of its courses be limited to non-majors or may choose to offer some courses for letter grades only.
GPA Requirements
A minimum cumulative grade point average of C (2.0 on a 4.0 scale) must be maintained throughout the course of studies and is required for graduation. Some degree programs have a higher cumulative grade point average required for graduation. Please check the degree program on its graduation cumulative grade point average.
Transfer Credit Rules
To be considered for admission a transfer student, Nebraska resident or nonresident, must have an accumulated average of C (2.0 on a 4.0 scale) and a minimum C average in the last semester of attendance at another college. Transfer students who have completed less than 12 credit hours of college study must submit either ACT or SAT scores.
Ordinarily, credits earned at an accredited college are accepted by the University. The College, however, will evaluate all hours submitted on an application for transfer and reserves the right to accept or reject any of them. Sixty (60) is the maximum number of hours the University will accept on transfer from a two-year college. Ninety (90) is the maximum number of hours the University will accept from a four-year college. Transfer credit in the degree program must be approved by the degree program advisor on a Request for Substitution Form to meet specific course requirements, group requirements, or course level requirements in the major. At least 9 hours in the major field, including the capstone course, must be completed at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln regardless of the number of hours transferred.
The College will accept no more than 10 semester hours of C-, D+, D, and D- grades from other schools. The C-, D+, D, and D- grades can only be applied to free electives. This policy does not apply to the transfer of grades from UNO or UNK to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
Joint Academic Transfer Programs
The College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources has agreements with many institutions to support joint academic programs. The transfer programs include dual degree programs and cooperative degree programs. Dual degree programs offer students the opportunity to receive a degree from a participating institution and also to complete the requirements for a bachelor of science degree in CASNR. Cooperative programs result in a single degree from either the University of Nebraska–Lincoln or the cooperating institution.
Dual Degree Programs
A to B Programs
The A to B Program, a joint academic program offered by the CASNR and participating community colleges, allows students to complete the first two years of a degree program at the participating community college and continue their education and study in a degree program leading toward a bachelor of science degree.
The A to B Program provides a basic knowledge plus specialized coursework. Students transfer into CASNR with junior standing.
Depending on the community college, students enrolled in the A to B Program may complete the requirements for an associate of science at the community college, transfer to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, and work toward a bachelor of science degree.
Participating community colleges include:
- Central Community College
- Metropolitan Community College
- Mid-Plains Community College
- Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture
- Nebraska Indian Community College
- Northeast Community College
- Southeast Community College
- Western Nebraska Community College
3+2 Programs
Two specialized degree programs in animal science and veterinary science are offered jointly with an accredited college or school of veterinary medicine. These two programs permit CASNR animal science or veterinary science students to receive a bachelor of science degree from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln with a degree in animal science or veterinary science after successfully completing two years of the professional curriculum in veterinary medicine at an accredited veterinary school. Students who successfully complete the 3+2 Program, must provide transcripts and complete the Application for Degree form via MyRED. Students without MyRED access may apply for graduation in person at Husker Hub in the Canfield Administration Building, or by mail. Students should discuss these degree programs with their academic advisor.
Cooperative Degree Programs
Academic credit from the University and a cooperating institution are applied towards a four-year degree from either the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (University degree-granting program) or the cooperating institution (non-University degree-granting program). All have approved programs of study.
UNL Degree-Granting Programs
A University of Nebraska–Lincoln degree-granting program is designed to provide students the opportunity to complete a two-year program of study at one of the four-year institutions listed below, transfer to CASNR, and complete the requirements for a bachelor of science degree.
Chadron State College. Chadron State College offers a 2+2 program leading to a grassland ecology and management degree program and a transfer program leading to a bachelor of science in agricultural education in the teaching option.
Wayne State College. Wayne State College offers a 3+1 program leading to a bachelor of science in plant biology in the ecology and management option and a 3+1 program leading to a bachelor of science in Applied Science.
University of Nebraska at Kearney. Transfer programs are available for students pursuing degree programs leading to a bachelor of science degree.
University of Nebraska at Omaha. Transfer programs are available for students pursuing degree programs leading to a bachelor of science degree.
Non University of Nebraska–Lincoln Degree-Granting Programs
CASNR cooperates with other institutions to provide coursework that is applied towards a degree at the cooperating institution. Pre-professional programs offered by CASNR allow students to complete the first two or three years of a degree program at the University prior to transferring and completing a degree at the cooperating institution.
Chadron State College–Range Science. The 3+1 Program in range science allows Chadron State College students to pursue a range science degree through Chadron State College. Students complete three years of coursework at Chadron State College and one year of specialized range science coursework (32 credit hours) at CASNR.
Dordt College (Iowa)–Agricultural Education: Teaching Option. This program allows students to pursue an Agricultural Education Teaching Option degree leading toward a bachelor of science in agricultural education. Students at Dordt College will complete 90 credit hours in the Agricultural Education: Teaching Option Transfer Program.
Residency
Students must complete at least 30 of the total hours for their degree using University of Nebraska–Lincoln credits. At least 18 of the 30 credit hours must be in courses offered through CASNR1 (>299) including the appropriate ACE 10 degree requirement or an approved ACE 10 substitution offered through another Nebraska college and excluding independent study regardless of the number of hours transferred. Credit earned during education abroad may be used toward the residency requirement if students register through the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and participate in prior-approved education abroad programs. The University of Nebraska–Lincoln open enrollment and summer independent study courses count toward residence.
- 1
Includes courses taught by CASNR faculty through interdisciplinary prefixes (e.g., LIFE, MBIO, ENVR, SCIL, EAEP, HRTM, ENSC) and CASNR crosslisted courses taught by non-CASNR faculty.
Online and Distance Education
There are many opportunities to earn college credit online through the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Some of these credits may be applicable not only as elective credits but also toward the fulfillment of the College’s education requirements. Credits earned online may count toward residency. However, certain offerings may not be counted toward scholarship requirements or academic recognition criteria.
For further information, contact:
Office of Online and Distance Education
University of Nebraska–Lincoln
305 Brace Labs
Lincoln, NE 68588-0109
402-472-4681
http://online.unl.edu/
Independent Study Rules
Students wishing to take part in independent studies must obtain permission; complete and sign a contract form; and furnish copies of the contract to the instructor, advisor, departmental office, and the Dean’s Office. The contract should be completed before registration. Forms are available in 103 Agricultural Hall or online at the CASNR website.
Independent study projects include research, literature review or extension of coursework under the supervision and evaluation of a departmental faculty member.
Students may only count 12 hours of independent study toward their degrees and no more than 6 hours can be counted during their last 36 hours earned, excluding senior thesis, internships, and courses taught under an independent study number.
Other College Degree Requirements
Capstone Course Requirement
A capstone course is required for each CASNR degree program. A capstone course is defined as a course in which students are required to integrate diverse bodies of knowledge to solve a problem or formulate a policy of societal importance.
ACE Requirements
All students must fulfill the Achievement Centered Education (ACE) requirements. Information about the ACE program may be viewed at ace.unl.edu.
The minimum requirements of CASNR reflect the common core of courses that apply to students pursuing degrees in the college. Students should work with an advisor to satisfy ACE outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 10 with the college requirements.
Catalog Rule
Students must fulfill the requirements stated in the catalog for the academic year in which they are first admitted to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln or when they were first admitted to a Joint Academic Transfer Program. Students transferring from a community college, but without admission to a Joint Academic Transfer Program, may be eligible to fulfill the requirements as stated in the catalog for an academic year in which they were enrolled at the community college prior to attending the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. This decision should be made in consultation with academic advisors, provided the student a) was enrolled in a community college during the catalog year they are utilizing, b) maintained continuous enrollment at the previous institution for 1 academic year or more, and c) continued enrollment at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln within 1 calendar year from their last term at the previous institution. In consultation with advisors, a student may choose to follow a subsequent catalog for any academic year in which they are admitted to and enrolled as a degree-seeking student at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. Students must complete all degree requirements from a single catalog year. The catalog which a student follows for degree requirements may not be more than 10 years old at the time of graduation.
Learning Outcomes
Graduates of plant biology will be able to:
- Be confident in explaining how various plants grow and reproduce and predict how they will respond to their growing environment.
- Plan and conduct experiments that are designed to test hypotheses and then communicate their discoveries in formats designed for other scientists or for the public.
- Use the principles of ecology to analyze and interpret the interactions of the plant, animal, environmental, and economic aspects of grassland ecosystems. (Ecology and Management Option)
- Identify management strategies for grasslands that ensure sustained productivity and resilience. (Ecology and Management Option)
- Envision and design genetic and production improvements in plants to better meet the needs of people or changes in plant production environments. (Biotechnology Option)
- Be competitive applicants for graduate programs worldwide in plant biology.
Major Requirements
The core requirements and one of the options must be completed.
Core Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| College Integrative Course (ACE 8) | ||
| SCIL 101 | Science and Decision-Making for a Complex World | 3 |
| Career Experience | ||
| Select one of the following: | 1 | |
| Internship | ||
| Career Experiences in Natural Resource Sciences | ||
| Internship | ||
| Internship in Agronomy | ||
| Internship in Horticulture | ||
| Internship in Turfgrass Science and Management | ||
| Independent Study/Current Project | ||
| Plant Biology Portfolio and Assessment | ||
| Select one course at the 300 or 400 level Independent Study/Research in any of the following subject codes: BIOC, BIOS, ENTO, MBIO, NRES, PLAS, PLPT, RNGE, SOIL | 1 | |
| Biochemistry Research Experience | ||
| Undergraduate Research in Biochemistry | ||
| Independent Research in Biological Sciences | ||
| Experiential Learning for Career Development in Insect Science Research Experience | ||
| Independent Study in Entomology | ||
| Independent Research | ||
| Special Topics in Horticulture | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Credit Hours Subtotal: | 5 | |
| Mathematical and Statistics (ACE 3) | ||
| MATH 106 | Calculus I | 5 |
| STAT 218 | Introduction to Statistics | 3 |
| Credit Hours Subtotal: | 8 | |
| Communications | ||
| Written Communication (ACE 1) | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Writing and Inquiry | ||
| Writing for Change | ||
| Writing and Communities | ||
| Basic Business Communication | ||
| Technical Communication I | ||
| Technical Communication II | ||
| Oral Communication (ACE 2) | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Interpersonal Skills for Leadership | ||
| Communication in the 21st Century | ||
| Public Speaking | ||
| Communicating in Small Groups | ||
| Visual Communication | ||
| Interpersonal Communication | ||
| Business and Professional Communication | ||
| Technical Communication II | ||
| Sales Communication | ||
| Introduction to Conservation Photography | ||
| Visual Communication with Animation | ||
| Credit Hours Subtotal: | 6 | |
| Natural Sciences | ||
| PLAS 153 / SOIL 153 | Soil Resources | 4 |
| Chemistry | ||
| CHEM 109A & CHEM 109L | General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Laboratory (ACE 4) | 4 |
| CHEM 110A & CHEM 110L | General Chemistry II and General Chemistry II Laboratory | 4 |
| Select from the following: | 4-8 | |
| If you plan to take BIOC 401 & BIOC 401L, select one sequence from the following: | ||
| Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry I Laboratory and Organic Chemistry II | ||
| Mechanistic Organic Chemistry I and Mechanistic Organic Chemistry I Laboratory and Mechanistic Organic Chemistry II | ||
| If you plan to take BIOC 431, select one sequence from the following: | ||
| Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry I Laboratory | ||
or CHEM 261 | Mechanistic Organic Chemistry I | |
| Mechanistic Organic Chemistry I and Mechanistic Organic Chemistry II and Mechanistic Organic Chemistry I Laboratory | ||
| Select 4 - 5 hours from the following: | 4 | |
| Physics for Life Sciences I | ||
| Elements of Physics | ||
| Select 4 hours from the following: 1 | 4 | |
| Elements of Biochemistry and Laboratory for Elements of Biochemistry | ||
| Biochemistry I: Structure and Metabolism | ||
| Credit Hours Subtotal: | 24-28 | |
| Biological Sciences | ||
| PLAS 215 | Genetics | 4 |
| or BIOS 206 | General Genetics | |
| PLAS 278 | Botany | 4 |
| PLAS 325 | Introductory Plant Physiology | 4 |
| LIFE 120 & LIFE 120L | Fundamentals of Biology I and Fundamentals of Biology I laboratory | 4 |
| LIFE 121 & LIFE 121L | Fundamentals of Biology II and Fundamentals of Biology II Laboratory 1 | 4 |
| NRES 220 & NRES 222 | Principles of Ecology and Ecology Laboratory | 4 |
| or BIOS 207 | Ecology and Evolution | |
| Credit Hours Subtotal: | 24 | |
| Economics, Humanities and Social Sciences (ACE 6) | ||
| AECN 141 | Introduction to the Economics of Agriculture | 3 |
| ECON 200 | Economic Essentials and Issues | 3 |
| ECON 211 | Principles of Macroeconomics | 3 |
| or ECON 212 | Principles of Microeconomics | |
| Select one course each from ACE outcomes 5, 7, and 9 | 12 | |
| Credit Hours Subtotal: | 21 | |
| Option Requirements | ||
| Complete requirements | 37-38 | |
| Credit Hours Subtotal: | 38 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 126-130 | |
- 1
Minimum C grade required.
Ecology and Management Option
Within this option one course must be taken to fulfill the ACE 10 outcome. Suggested courses are:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ACE 10 Courses | ||
| Ecological Interactions | ||
| Ecosystem Ecology | ||
| Grassland Conservation: Planning and Management | ||
| Scientific Writing and Communication | ||
| Agroecology | ||
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| NRES 245 / PLAS 245 | Introduction to Grassland Ecology and Management | 3-4 |
| or NRES 310 | Introduction to Forest Management | |
| PLAS 444 / GRAS 444 / NRES 444 / RNGE 444 | Ecosystem Monitoring and Assessment | 3 |
| Credit Hours Subtotal: | 6-7 | |
| Earth Sciences | ||
| Water/Climate | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Weather and Climate | ||
| Climate Literacy in Natural Resources | ||
| Microclimate: The Biological Environment | ||
| Introduction to Water Science | ||
| Geospatial Information Sciences | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Introduction to Remote Sensing | ||
| Introduction to Geospatial Technologies | ||
| GIS for Agriculture and Natural Resources | ||
| Credit Hours Subtotal: | 6-8 | |
| Biology | ||
| Plant Identification | ||
| PLAS 442 / GRAS 442 / NRES 442 / RNGE 442 | Wildland Plants | 3 |
| Plant-Animal-Organismal Interactions | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Range Management and Improvement | ||
| Soil Microbial Ecology | ||
| The Biology of Plants | ||
| Plants in Human Medicine: Biological, Social, and Ethical Dimensions | ||
| Avian Biology | ||
| Mammalogy | ||
| Insect Biology and Insect Identification | ||
| Introduction to Conservation Biology | ||
| Wildlife Ecology and Management | ||
| Wildlife Damage Management | ||
| Credit Hours Subtotal: | 6-7 | |
| Ecology and Management | ||
| Select two of the following: | 7-8 | |
| Ecological Interactions | ||
| Ecosystem Ecology | ||
| Introduction to Forest Management | ||
| Agroforestry Systems in Sustainable Agriculture | ||
| Forest Ecology | ||
| Limnology | ||
| Wetlands | ||
| Resource-Efficient Crop Management | ||
| Forage Crop and Pasture Management | ||
| Great Plains Ecosystem | ||
| Credit Hours Subtotal: | 7-8 | |
| Electives | ||
| Select 7-13 credits | 7-13 | |
| Credit Hours Subtotal: | 7-13 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 32-43 | |
Biotechnology Option
Within this option one course must be taken to fulfill the ACE 10 outcome. Suggested courses are:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ACE 10 Courses | ||
| Plant Biochemistry | ||
| Microbial Diversity | ||
| Advanced Genetics | ||
| Molecular Genetics | ||
| Bioinformatics and Molecular Evolution | ||
| Scientific Writing and Communication | ||
| Bioinformatics Applications in Agriculture | ||
| Introduction to Plant Diagnostics | ||
| Specialty Crop Innovations | ||
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| BIOS 312 | Microbiology | 3 |
| BIOS 478 / PLAS 478 | Plant Anatomy | 4 |
| Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Computational Biology | ||
| Bioinformatics and Molecular Evolution | ||
| Applications of Bioinformatics | ||
| Practical Bioinformatics Laboratory | ||
| Bioinformatics Applications in Agriculture | ||
| Select at least 3 hours from each of the three categories below for a total of 17 hours or more: | 17 | |
| Biological Sciences | ||
| Genetics, Molecular and Cellular Biology Laboratory | ||
| Cell Biology | ||
| The Biology of Plants | ||
| Advanced Genetics | ||
| Molecular Genetics | ||
| Plant Biotechnology | ||
| Plant Systematics | ||
or BIOS 429 | Phylogenetic Biology | |
| Bioinformatics and Molecular Evolution | ||
| Biological Invaders | ||
| Plant Biochemistry | ||
| Soil Microbial Ecology | ||
| Applied Plant Biology | ||
| Plants in Human Medicine: Biological, Social, and Ethical Dimensions | ||
| Plant Ecophysiology: Theory and Practice | ||
| Plant Science and Agronomic Plant Science Laboratory | ||
| Plant Science and Horticultural Plant Science Laboratory | ||
| Plant Propagation | ||
| Microclimate: The Biological Environment | ||
| Crop Genetic Engineering | ||
| Crop and Weed Genetics | ||
| Plant and Food System Management | ||
| Insect Biology and Insect Identification | ||
| Food Composition and Analysis | ||
| Resource-Efficient Crop Management | ||
| Forage Crop and Pasture Management | ||
or PLAS 227 | Introductory Turfgrass Management | |
| Crop Management Strategies (ACE 10) | ||
| Agroecology | ||
| Invasive Plants | ||
| Introduction to Plant Diagnostics | ||
| Animal, Food and Industrial Uses of Grain | ||
| Producing Grain for Animal, Food and Industrial Uses | ||
| Specialty Crop Innovations | ||
| Greenhouse Practices and Management | ||
| Perennial, Pot and Bedding Plant Production Laboratory | ||
| Credit Hours Subtotal: | 27-28 | |
| Electives | ||
| Select 10-11 credits | 10-11 | |
| Credit Hours Subtotal: | 10-11 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 37-39 | |
Additional Major Requirements
Grade Rules
C- and D Grades
A grade of C or better is required in all courses (except free electives) in the major or minor.
Pass/No Pass
Students in plant biology may not take any of the core or option courses required for the degree Pass/No Pass except for the Exploring Plant Biology and Career Experience courses.
Program Assessment. To gauge the effectiveness of this program, students will be required to start and maintain an experiential portfolio throughout their program and complete an assessment survey.
Requirements for Minor Offered by Department
Requirements for the minor include a minimum of 19 hours of coursework with a minimum of 7 hours at the 300 level or above.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Requirements | ||
| PLAS 131 & PLAS 132 | Plant Science and Agronomic Plant Science Laboratory | 4 |
| or PLAS 131 & PLAS 133 | Plant Science and Horticultural Plant Science Laboratory | |
| PLAS 278 | Botany | 4 |
| PLAS 325 | Introductory Plant Physiology | 4 |
| Credit Hours Subtotal: | 12 | |
| Focus | ||
| Select one focus from the following: | 7-8 | |
| Biotechnology Focus | ||
| Genetics | ||
or BIOS 206 | General Genetics | |
| Select any 300- or 400-level course from the following: | ||
| Computational Biology | ||
| Cell Biology | ||
| Microbiology | ||
| The Biology of Plants | ||
| Applications of Bioinformatics | ||
| Plants in Human Medicine: Biological, Social, and Ethical Dimensions | ||
| Advanced Genetics | ||
| Molecular Genetics | ||
| Plant Biotechnology | ||
| Practical Bioinformatics Laboratory | ||
| Phylogenetic Biology | ||
| Ecosystem Ecology | ||
| Plant Systematics | ||
| Bioinformatics and Molecular Evolution | ||
| Plant Anatomy | ||
| Plant Ecophysiology: Theory and Practice | ||
| Greenhouse Practices and Management | ||
| Perennial, Pot and Bedding Plant Production Laboratory | ||
| Scientific Writing and Communication | ||
| Crop Management Strategies | ||
| Microclimate: The Biological Environment | ||
| Crop Genetic Engineering | ||
| Crop and Weed Genetics | ||
| Invasive Plants | ||
| Plant Biochemistry | ||
| Agroecology | ||
| Animal, Food and Industrial Uses of Grain | ||
| Producing Grain for Animal, Food and Industrial Uses | ||
| Specialty Crop Innovations | ||
| Soil Microbial Ecology | ||
| Intermediate Plant Pathology | ||
| Ecology and Management Focus | ||
| Principles of Ecology | ||
| Ecology Laboratory | ||
Select any 300- or 400-level course from the following: | ||
| The Biology of Plants | ||
| Plants in Human Medicine: Biological, Social, and Ethical Dimensions | ||
| Ecological Interactions | ||
| Ecosystem Ecology | ||
| Avian Biology | ||
| Mammalogy | ||
| Introduction to Remote Sensing | ||
| Introduction to Forest Management | ||
| Wildlife Ecology and Management | ||
| Wildlife Damage Management | ||
| Microclimate: The Biological Environment | ||
| Agroforestry Systems in Sustainable Agriculture | ||
| Forest Ecology | ||
| Grassland Conservation: Planning and Management | ||
| Limnology | ||
| Wetlands | ||
| Range Management and Improvement | ||
| Scientific Writing and Communication | ||
| Great Plains Ecosystem | ||
| Wildland Plants | ||
| Ecosystem Monitoring and Assessment | ||
| Soil Microbial Ecology | ||
| Credit Hours Subtotal: | 7 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 19 | |
Grade Rules
C- and D Grades
A grade of C or better is required in all courses in the minor.
Description: A survey of the impact of fungi on human history and welfare. Topics include: fungi as agents of plant and human diseases; fungal toxins that impact food safety and indoor air quality; decay and decomposition; fungi as food and fermenters; medicinal fungi and metabolites; and mycorrhizae, mutualism and biodiversity.
| Credit Hours: | 3 |
|---|---|
| Max credits per semester: | 3 |
| Max credits per degree: | 3 |
| Grading Option: | Graded with Option |
Credit Hours:3
ACE:
Description: Introduction to fungi, bacteria, nematodes and viruses that cause plant diseases. The impact that plant diseases can have on society and the environment. Strategies used in managing plant diseases in agricultural and landscape environments.
This course is a prerequisite for: PLPT 400L
| Credit Hours: | 2 |
|---|---|
| Max credits per semester: | 2 |
| Max credits per degree: | 2 |
| Grading Option: | Graded with Option |
Credit Hours:2
ACE:
Prerequisites: 3 hrs biological sciences.
Description: Impact of exotic species and invasive organisms: agricultural and medical emerging disease; predicting biological invasions; biological control; regulatory, monitoring, and control efforts; ecological impact.
| Credit Hours: | 3 |
|---|---|
| Max credits per semester: | 3 |
| Max credits per degree: | 3 |
| Grading Option: | Graded with Option |
Credit Hours:3
ACE:
Description: Exploring the biology of plant pathogens, pathogen-host plant interactions, and environmental influences on plant diseases. Examining cultural, chemical, and biological strategies, along with host resistance, for plant disease management. Builds on topics covered in PLPT 210, with additional emphasis on the strategies employed by the four major groups of plant pathogens, plant responses to disease-causing organisms, and approaches to disease management.
| Credit Hours: | 3 |
|---|---|
| Max credits per semester: | 3 |
| Max credits per degree: | 3 |
| Grading Option: | Graded with Option |
| Offered: | SPRING |
Credit Hours:3
ACE:
Prerequisites: BIOS/PLPT 369 or one semester of introductory plant pathology.
Description: Pathogens, epidemiology, and control of diseases specific to turfgrass.
| Credit Hours: | 1 |
|---|---|
| Max credits per semester: | 1 |
| Max credits per degree: | 1 |
| Grading Option: | Graded with Option |
Credit Hours:1
ACE:
Prerequisites: PLPT 210 or PLPT 369 or equivalent
Taught online only. This is an 8-week mini-course.
Description: Introduction to the important diseases affecting corn (maize) in Nebraska and other areas of the United States. Pathogen biology, favorable conditions, disease diagnosis based on symptomatology and management strategies are emphasized
| Credit Hours: | 1 |
|---|---|
| Max credits per semester: | 1 |
| Max credits per degree: | 1 |
| Grading Option: | Graded |
Credit Hours:1
ACE:
BIOS 312 is recommended.
Description: Inheritance, exchange, and regulation of genes in prokaryotic microorganisms: gene structure and function; gene transfer and the elements (plasmids, phages, and transposons) involved; DNA mutations, repair, and genetic analysis; genome sequencing, microbial genome databases, and global gene expression analysis.
| Credit Hours: | 3 |
|---|---|
| Max credits per semester: | 3 |
| Max credits per degree: | 3 |
| Grading Option: | Graded |
| ACE Outcomes: | ACE 10 Integrated Product |
Credit Hours:3
ACE:ACE 10 Integrated Product
Prerequisites: Junior standing.
Description: Experience in a work place setting that is directly related to Plant Pathology.
| Credit Hours: | 1-3 |
|---|---|
| Max credits per semester: | 3 |
| Max credits per degree: | 5 |
| Grading Option: | Pass No Pass |
Credit Hours:1-3
ACE:
Prerequisites: Advanced approval of the plan of study and permission.
Description: Research, literature review, extension of course work, or preparation of teaching materials.
| Credit Hours: | 1-5 |
|---|---|
| Max credits per semester: | 5 |
| Max credits per degree: | 5 |
| Grading Option: | Graded with Option |
Credit Hours:1-5
ACE:
Prerequisites: Permission.
Description: Independent research in areas of plant pathology.
| Credit Hours: | 1-3 |
|---|---|
| Max credits per semester: | 3 |
| Max credits per degree: | 6 |
| Grading Option: | Graded with Option |
Credit Hours:1-3
ACE:
Prerequisites: Admission to the University Honors Program and permission
AGRI 299H recommended
Description: Conduct a scholarly research project and write a University Honors Program or undergraduate thesis.
| Credit Hours: | 3-6 |
|---|---|
| Max credits per semester: | 6 |
| Max credits per degree: | 6 |
| Grading Option: | Graded |
Credit Hours:3-6
ACE:
PLEASE NOTE
This document represents a sample 4-year plan for degree completion with this major. Actual course selection and sequence may vary and should be discussed individually with your college or department academic advisor. Advisors also can help you plan other experiences to enrich your undergraduate education such as internships, education abroad, undergraduate research, learning communities, and service learning and community-based learning.
Plant Biology - Biotechnology
Critical - Performance Measure: 2.00 GPA required for graduation.
- ***Total Credits Applying Toward 120 Total Hours***
Plant Biology - Ecology & Management
Critical - Performance Measure: 2.00 GPA required for graduation.
- ***Total Credits Applying Toward 120 Total Hours***
Career Information
The following represents a sample of the internships, jobs and graduate school programs that current students and recent graduates have reported.
Transferable Skills
- Communicate results of scientific experiments to scientific and non-scientific audiences
- Apply mathematical and scientific skills to solve real-world problems
- Make predictions using mathematical, statistical, and scientific modeling methods
- Define problems and identify causes
- Understand and use proper laboratory and technical skills and instruments
- Collaborate with a team to develop solutions
- Confidently navigate complex, ambiguous projects and environments
- Design and implement research experiments
- Document and replicate processes and procedures
Jobs of Recent Graduates
- North American Trait Integration Breeder, Monsanto - Chesterfield, MO
- Plant Protection Technician, USDA - Lincoln, NE
- Data Analyst, Zoex Corporation - Houston, TX
- Associate Sales Manager, Theisen Seed LLC - Atkinson, NE
- Distance Education Instructor, University of Nebraska-Lincoln - Lincoln, NE
- Site Manager, Sustainable Agriculture Education - Berkeley, CA
- Groundskeeper, Burr Oak Lodge - Eagle, NE
- Graduate Research Assistant, University of Nebraska-Lincoln - Lincoln, NE
Internships
- Intern, DuPont Pioneer - Johnston, IA
- Research Assistant, Plant Pathology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln - Lincoln, NE
- Cover Crop Research Intern, University of Nebraska-Lincoln - Lincoln, NE
- Research Intern, Nebraska Forest Service - Lincoln NE
- Intern, Grassland Ecology - Wood River, NE
- Pioneer Sales Associate Intern, Theisen Seed LLC - Atkinson, NE
- Crop Production Intern, University of Nebraska-Lincoln - Lincoln, NE
- Research Intern, Molecular Plant Physiology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln - Lincoln, NE
Graduate & Professional Schools
- Ph.D., Genetics, Iowa State University - Ames, IA
- Ph.D., Evolutionary Ecology, Colorado State University - Fort Collins, CO
- Ph.D., Plant Breeding and Genetics, Purdue University - Lafayette, IN
- Ph.D., Entomology, University of Arkansas - Fayetteville, AR
- Ph.D., Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln - Lincoln, NE
- Master's in Agronomy, University of Nebraska-Lincoln - Lincoln, NE
- Master's in Plant Breeding and Genetics, University of Nebraska-Lincoln - Lincoln, NE
- Master's in Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln - Lincoln, NE
- Master's in Entomology and Plant Pathology, Colorado State University - Fort Collins, CO
- Master's in Horticulture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln - Lincoln, NE
- More...
- Ph.D., Horticulture, University of Nebraska Lincoln - Lincoln, NE