Fields of Study
Agriculture and Food Security
College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences
- Offered as:
- Major
Overview
Students in this major are the protectors of the world’s plant-based food supply. The agriculture and food security major prepares students to manage plant pests and diseases from a holistic perspective.
Students learn to understand the complexity of relationships within agricultural ecosystems, how external factors influence these systems, and how to effectively manage pests and diseases without incurring undue risks to human or environmental health.
Course offerings begin with a strong scientific base in biology and chemistry, and expand to focus on crop science, soil science, integrated pest management, and plant pathology.
The major is an exciting blend of classroom instruction and field experience that is tailored to the eventual employment goals of the student. Graduates who can evaluate and diagnose pest and plant disease problems and recommend economically and ecologically sound ways to correct them are in great demand.
- Signature courses and program information
-
Required/prerequisite courses
These courses, generally taken in the freshman year, prepare you for the more in-depth courses of the major.
- ANIM_SCI 101: Introductory Animal Science
- CHEM 101: Introduction to Chemistry
- CHEM 102: Chemistry Related to Life Sciences
- CROP_SCI/HORT 102: Cultivated Plants
- AFS 101: Introduction to Agricultural and Food Systems
- HD 205: Developing Effective Communication and Life Skills
Signature courses
The agriculture and food safety major is built around core courses like these:
- CROP_SCI 305: Ecology/Management of Weeds
- ENTOM 340: Agricultural Entomology
- IPM 452: Pesticides and the Environment
- PL_P 300: Diseases of Fruit Crops
- SOIL_SCI 441: Soil Fertility
You can delve deeper into areas that interest you with electives like these:
- Pest Management
- Plant Breeding
- Organic Agriculture
- Crop Biotechnology
- Field Analysis of Sustainable Food Systems
- Insect-Plant Interactions
- Host Plant Resistance to Insects & Pathogens
- Soil Fertility
- Intro to Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
- Remote Sensing & Air Photo Interpretation
Graduation requirements
See the WSU Catalog for degree requirements and talk with your academic advisor about planning and scheduling your courses. All students must meet requirements as outlined in the catalog in order to graduate.
- Scholarships and financial aid
-
A variety of state, federal, and university-sponsored programs are available to help students with educational costs.
For all students at WSU
Washington State University awards millions of dollars in financial aid and scholarships to students every year based on financial need, academic merit, or a combination of the two.
To get all the financial help WSU can provide, start by doing these two things:
- Complete the University's general scholarship application so you can be eligible for scholarship consideration.
- Complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) so WSU can consider you for aid (scholarships, grants, loans, etc.) based on financial need.
Click here for more info about WSU scholarships and financial aid
For agriculture majors
The College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS) annually awards more than $500,000 to students. For more information, see the CAHNRS scholarships page.
- Careers
-
Graduates who can evaluate and diagnose pest and plant disease problems and recommend economically and ecologically sound ways to correct them are in great demand.
Employment opportunities are available in a wide variety of settings. For instance:
- Agrichemical Companies
- State Agencies
- Federal Agencies
- International Agriculture
- Environmental and Regulatory Agencies
- Agrichemical Companies
- Agricultural and Environmental Consulting Firms
- Food Processing
- Forest Products
- Vegetable and Seed Companies
Agriculture and food security majors often work as:
- Crop Consultant or Researchers
- Farm Owners or Managers
- Greenhouse Managers
- Nursery Operators
- Plant Breeders
- Plant Nutrition Specialists
- Soil Chemists
- Soil Conservationists
- Weed Scientists