Minors and Certificates
We offer minors and certificates to complement your degree and give you the competitive edge you need to succeed after graduation. Any student interested in pursuing a minor through the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences should consult with their academic advisor and check the Texas A&M Academic Calendar for important dates and deadlines. The minor application will open and close on the same dates as the Change of Curriculum application. Visit the Office of the Registrar for more information about adding a minor.
Agronomy Minor
The Department of Soil and Crop Sciences offers a minor in Agronomy. The minor in Agronomy prepares agricultural majors for a career in the nation’s food, feed, fiber, greenspace, shelter, and bioenergy industries. Exposure to this academic discipline could lead students to the pursuit of advanced degrees and a career in the field of agronomy or several related agricultural fields. Agronomy is the cornerstone of modern agriculture that provides the necessities of human existence at a level unprecedented in human history. Continued advancement in productivity must be made in order to feed, clothe, shelter, and meet other basic human needs as global population continues to expand.
Please speak with an advisor concerning courses prior to registering.
Requirements and Declaration Details
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences requires a grade of C or better in any course used to fulfill the requirements of a minor.
The following courses are required:
- SCSC 105 (World Food & Fiber Crops) or SCSC 205 (Problem Solving in Plant and Soil Systems)
- SCSC 301 – Soil Science
- 8 hours of electives
- Any 300-400 level SCSC course
- Please refer to the Undergraduate Course Catalog for a list of available courses. You may wish to choose courses in related subject areas like turfgrass, crops, and soil & water.
Steps to declare a minor in Agronomy:
- Meet with your departmental academic advisor to discuss minor options and how these courses may apply to your specific degree plan. Your advisor can “apply” the minor request to your degree plan record. The minor abbreviation for your advisor to add is “AGRO.” No permission from the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences is needed.
- You may wish to meet with an academic advisor from the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences to discuss courses for your particular interest area and proper course sequence.
- When you have completed the classes for your minor (with grades of “C” or better in all courses) if will be recognized on your transcript at graduation. If you wish to terminate your minor, you must discuss this with your academic advisor prior to your graduation semester.
Environmental Soil Science
The Department of Soil and Crop Sciences offers a minor in Environmental Soil Science. The minor in Environmental Soil Science prepares agricultural majors for a career in industry, government, and non-government organizations that address environmental issues related to soil, soil science, and water quality. Additional career avenues include industry and agencies dealing with food, feed, fiber, greenspace, shelter, and bioenergy. Exposure to this academic discipline could lead students to the pursuit of advanced degrees and a career in the field of soil science or several related agricultural fields. See an advisor for more details.
Requirements and Declaration Details
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences requires a grade of C or better in any course used to fulfill the requirements of a minor. All courses must have the word soil in the title to be used towards this minor
The following courses are required:
- SCSC 301
An additional 11 hours must be taken from:
- SCSC 309-spring
- SCSC 310-spring
- SCSC 405
- SCSC 406
- SCSC 401-fall
- SCSC 422-fall
- SCSC 432-fall
- SCSC 455-spring
- SCSC 458-spring
Steps to declare a minor in Environmental Soil Science:
- Meet with your departmental academic advisor to discuss minor options and how these courses may apply to your specific degree plan. Your advisor can “apply” the minor request to your degree plan record. The minor abbreviation for your advisor to add is “ENVS.” No permission from the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences is needed.
- You may wish to meet with an academic advisor from the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences to discuss courses for your particular interest area and proper course sequence.
- When you have completed the classes for your minor (with grades of “C” or better in all courses) if will be recognized on your transcript at graduation. If you wish to terminate your minor, you must discuss this with your academic advisor prior to your graduation semester.
Plant Breeding Minor
The Department of Soil and Crop Sciences offers a Minor in Plant Breeding. The minor in plant breeding prepares agricultural majors for a career in nation’s variety development industry and exposes the student to an academic discipline that could lead to the pursuit of advanced degrees and a career in the field of plant breeding. Plant breeders develop new varieties that are the cornerstone of modern agriculture and improve the genetic basis of improved yield, quality, and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses affecting or nation’s food, feed, fiber, greenspace, shelter, and bioenergy plants.
The Plant Breeding minor offers the opportunity for students to explore their interest in applied biological sciences in the areas of plant breeding, crop improvement, crop biotechnology, and genetics. Students must have an overall GPA of 2.75 or better to enter the program.
Requirements and Declaration Details
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences requires a grade of C or better in any course used to fulfill the requirements of a minor. The minor requires 15 hours of course work and students must have and maintain a 2.75 GPA.
The following courses are required:
- SCSC 304 or HORT 404
- GENE 310 (GENE 301 may be substituted)
An additional 9 hours must be taken from:
- SCSC 311-Principles of Crop Production
- SCSC 301-Soil Science
- SCSC 410-International Agricultural Systems
- SCSC 305-Production Agricultural Experience
- SCSC 402-Crop Stress Management
- SCSC 411 (GENE OR MEPS 411)-Biotechnology in Crop Improvement
Steps to declare a minor in Plant Breeding:
- Meet with your departmental advisor to discuss minor options and how these courses may apply to your specific degree plan. Your advisor can apply the minor request to your degree plan record. The minor abbreviation is “PLBR”. No permission from the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences is needed,
- You may wish to meet with an academic advisor from the WFES advising hub to discuss courses for your particular interest area and proper course sequence.
- When you have completed all the classes for your minor with grades of “C” or better, it will be recognized on your transcript at graduation. If you wish to terminate your minor, you must discuss this with your academic advisor prior to your graduation semester.
