2024-2025 General Catalog
School of Plant, Environmental & Soil Sciences
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For information regarding the GRADUATE PROGRAM, click here.
CURRICULA:
- Environmental Management Systems (Environmental Analysis and Risk Management; Policy Analysis; Resource Conservation)
- Plant & Soil Systems (Crop Science; Environmental Horticulture; Horticultural Science; Landscape Management; Medicinal Plant Sciences; Soil Science; Sustainable Production Systems; Turfgrass Management)
The School of Plant, Environmental, and Soil Sciences (SPESS) offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in plant, environmental, and soil sciences. These programs provide students with the knowledge and skills they need to pursue careers in academia, industry, government, or non-profit organizations.
We offer undergraduate degree programs in Plant and Soil Systems and Environmental Management Systems and graduate degree programs in Agronomy and Horticulture. In the spirit of the land-grant university system, the school offers unique opportunities for students to gain valuable work experience by working with our diversified research faculty on projects that cover a broad range of plant, environmental and soils topics.
Our extension faculty, with specializations in agronomy, soil, horticulture, and weed science, work with parish extension agents to deliver the latest science-based information to Louisiana citizens.
Environmental Management Systems
Louisiana has developed one of the strongest professional environmental communities in the world to protect public and ecological health, and to restore air, soil, and water quality. Environmental Management Systems students vary widely in their interests and career goals, but they all share a commitment to a professional career and a passion to preserve our natural resources and protect environmental quality.
Students in the Environmental Management Systems curriculum choose one of three areas of concentration: (1) environmental analysis and risk management, (2) policy analysis, and (3) resource conservation. Each concentration includes courses that allow students to gain expertise in specific areas that interest them and to prepare for related career paths within the broad environmental management field. The environmental management systems curriculum is designed to be sufficiently flexible to allow students to prepare for positions in the public or private sectors working in the office, laboratory, or field.
Graduates with a concentration in environmental analysis and risk management will have a knowledge and practical understanding of: principles and techniques in environmental chemistry, site investigation methods; human and ecological risk assessment, and federal and local regulations governing site assessment, evaluation, and remediation. Career possibilities include environmental laboratory or field scientist, environmental manager, and environmental inspector..
Graduates with a concentration in policy analysis will have a knowledge and practical understanding of the role and scope of state and federal regulatory agencies; environmental laws and regulations; mechanisms for implementation of regulations, compliance with regulations, permits, audits, etc.; environmental auditing systems; environmental permitting; the role of scientific, social, economic and political considerations in decision-making. Career possibilities include environmental regulator, environmental project coordinator, and sustainability manager.
Graduates with a concentration in resource conservation will have a knowledge and practical understanding of chemical, physical, and biological properties of soil; soil and water conservation and associated federal programs; coastal restoration; soil-plant relationships; fundamentals of natural resource management; land use planning; and soil and water assessment and remediation principles. Career possibilities include conservationist, environmental analyst/manager, and environmental project coordinator. This concentration is designed for students interested in working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Students who complete the Associates of Science in General Science with a concentration in Environmental Management Systems at Baton Rouge Community College and who have been admitted to LSU with a declared major in Environmental Management Systems in the College of Agriculture, can enter the Environmental Management Systems program at junior-level standing.
Plant & Soil Systems
Plant & Soil Systems is an interdepartmental curriculum in areas of agronomy, entomology, horticulture, plant pathology, and crop physiology. All students in this curriculum take core courses that provide a basic knowledge required for specialization in one of eight areas of concentration: (1) agricultural pest management, (2) crop science, (3) horticultural sciences, (4) medicinal plant sciences, (5) turf and landscape management, (6) soil science, (7) sustainable production systems, and (8) urban entomology. Each area is further individualized by the addition of approved and free electives. For information about the agricultural pest management concentration see the section for the Department of Entomology or the Department of Plant Pathology and Plant Physiology. For the urban entomology concentration see the Department of Entomology.
The crop science concentration focuses on the science behind healthy farming. Students will apply basic agronomic information to radical situations or problems by studying weeds, soils, crop physiology, insects, genetics, precision agronomy, and experimental statistics. The concentration provides a good background for students in a variety of career paths; such as, crop scientist, consultant, extension and state regulatory agencies, farm manager, landscape manager, nursery manager, plant breeder, public health, graduate or professional school.
Students selecting the horticulture sciences area of concentration will be prepared for careers in ornamental crop production, the production and processing of fruits, nuts, and vegetables or graduate studies in horticulture and related sciences. Careers include interior and exterior landscape managers, horticulture educations, wholesale production of horticulture plants, retail managers and owners, arboreta, botanical gardens, and tissue culture propagation. Career opportunities in vegetable and fruit science include jobs as field representatives and farm consultants, food processors, agricultural chemical suppliers, and produce brokers. Horticultural scientists may also conduct research in areas such as crop culture and management; molecular biology; plant breeding and genetics; plant growth and development; plant metabolism and nutrition; propagation; post-harvest and stress physiology; and tissue culture.
Students selecting the medicinal plant sciences area of concentration are prepared to grow a variety of plant species in highly controlled environments for medicinal uses. This science-based education will encompass courses focused on plant identification, propagation, growth, processing, as well as courses in entomology, plant pathology, and chemistry. Careers within this area would include owning or working for intensive plant growing operations, professional employment by the urban agricultural products industry, or prepares students for graduate education.
The soil science concentration focuses on soil and its importance in agricultural production and environmental sustainability. Students in this concentration learn about physical, chemical, and biological factors that affect crop production, soil fertility, air and water quality, and soil conservation. The soil science concentrations prepares students for careers across a variety of ecological systems as soil scientist, soil conservationist, field and lab technicians, extension and state regulatory agencies, and graduate or professional school. The sustainable production systems concentration is a blend of applied agronomy and horticulture, with less emphasis on science and more focus on economics than the other concentrations. It prepares students for careers in management, consulting, agricultural sales, and other production-related occupations.
Students selecting the turf and landscape management area of concentration are prepared to construct landscape sites, plant and maintain woody and herbaceous plants, turfgrass, ornamental bulbs, and related crops. Careers include owning and operating landscape management companies, sports field management, golf course superintendents, or professional employment by the urban agricultural products industry. In addition to the basic core courses in the curriculum, students study pest identification and control, pesticide application techniques, and landscape design.
ProgramsMajorMinor
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