Degree Programme

Bachelor of Science (Agr.)

The Bachelor of Science (Agr.) with a major in Plant Science is a four-year program for students with a passion for plants. This program provides students with a broad background combining basic and applied knowledge. Students become familiar with how plants grow and how to grow plants. Relationships between plants and other components of their ecosystems are investigated with an aim to achieve sustainability, in terms of productivity, profitability and positive environmental impact. Students can concentrate on certain types of crops or take courses related to a variety of crop types (field crops, vegetables, fruit, ornamental and specialty crops). Most courses include weekly laboratory exercises which provide hands-on activities where students learn how to identify and work with different plants in field, greenhouse, growth chamber, and tissue culture conditions. All students plan and conduct an individual research project under the supervision of a faculty member.

Graduates will be prepared to follow various paths including research, consulting, agricultural production, agribusiness, processing, or marketing of plant-related products or supplies. Some graduates choose to continue with a subsequent degree while others begin or resume their careers. Employment opportunities are varied and usually abundant.

Course requirements include the College Core group of courses, which are taken by all B. Sc. (Agr.) majors. In addition to the College Core, the following courses are required for the Plant Science major:

1. BIOL2000 Cell Biology
2. BIOL2002 Plant Physiology
3. BIOL2004 Structural Botany
4. BIOL2005 Principles of Plant Pathology
5. BIOL2008 Plant Diversity
6. BIOL3000 General Entomology
7. BIOL3002 Weed Science
8. CHEM2000 Organic Chemistry I
9. either CHEM3000 Biochemistry or CHEM3001 Biochemical Pathways
10. GENE2000 Genetics
11. MICR2000 Microbiology
12. PLSC4002 Plant Eco-physiology
13. SOIL2000 Introduction to Soil Science
14. SOIL3000 Soil Fertility and Nutrient Management
15. A plant science production course from the list below
16. A plant science production course from the list below

NSAC Plant Science Production Courses:

AGRN2000 Organic Field Crop Management
AGRN2001 Cereal-based Cropping Systems
AGRN2002 Forage-based Cropping Systems
AGRN2008 Potato Production
HORT2000 Vegetable Production
HORT2001 Principles of Organic Horticulture
HORT2004 Introduction to Viticulture
HORT2006 Tree Fruit Crops
HORT2007 Small Fruit Crops
HORT2009 Landscape Plant Nursery Management
HORT2010 Greenhouse and Floriculture Crop Management
HORT4002 Management of Specialized Turf
PLSC1000 Farm Woodlot Management
PLSC2000 Specialty Crops
PLSC2001 Theory and Practice of Plant Propagation

Recommended Syllabus for a Major in Plant Science

Year 1 Semester I
AGRI1000 Agricultural Ecosystems (A)
BIOL1002 Biology I
CHEM1000 General Chemistry I
ECON1000 Principles of Microeconomics (A) *
MATH1000 Calculus I

Year 1 Semester II
BIOL1003 Biology II
CHEM1001 General Chemistry II
ECON1000 Principles of Microeconomics (A) *
MATH1001 Calculus II
Elective **

* ECON1000 can be taken in either semester, depending on the choice of the electives listed below.
** ENGL1000, ENGL1001, ENGL1002, GEOG1000, or SOCI1000

Year 2 Semester III
CHEM2000 Organic Chemistry I
GENE2000 Genetics
SOIL2000 Introduction to Soil Science (A)
BIOL2000 Cell Biology
BIOL2008 Plant Diversity

Year 2 Semester IV
BIOL2002 Plant Physiology
CHEM3001 Biochemical Pathways* (or CHEM3000 in semester or V)
MICR2000 Microbiology
BIOL2004 Structural Botany
Elective

Year 3 Semester V
CHEM3000 Biochemistry* (or CHEM3001 in semester IV)
BIOL3002 Weed Science (A)
BIOL3000 General Entomology (A)
STAT2000 Introduction to Statistics * (or in semester VI)
Elective

Year 3 Semester VI
RESM4008 Plant Science Project - Seminar I (A)
SOIL3000 Soil Fertility & Nutrient Management (A)
BIOL2005 Principles of Plant Pathology (A)
Elective
Elective

Year 4 Semester VII
RESM4009 Plant Science Project - Seminar II (A)
PLSC4002 Plant Ecophysiology (A)
Elective
Elective
Elective

Year 4 Semester VIII
Elective
Elective
Elective
Elective
Elective

Electives must include two Humanities courses, one of which must be at the 3000 or 4000 level; and at least two plant production courses (A).