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Agricultural Plant & Soil Sciences, B.S.

Creating tomorrow’s visionary leaders in developing 21st-century agricultural solutions for California’s Salinas Valley.

The Agricultural Plant & Soil Sciences program offers you a dynamic, forward-thinking experience integrating the scientific principles of plant biology, soil science, agronomy, and pest management with the kind of cutting-edge applications that will set you apart in the field.

Improving Lives, Empowering Futures

You’ll be empowered for a fulfilling career improving lives and communities through enhanced crop productivity, improved nutrition and health outcomes, and increasing farm profitability.

You’ll gain the knowledge, skills, and perspective it takes to positively impact food production and quality throughout California and beyond, by addressing key agricultural challenges facing the Salinas Valley.

When you graduate from the Agricultural Plant & Soil Sciences program you’ll be ready to join the ranks of our alumni who have blazed their own unique professional paths and achieved great things in the industry. Employers of our alumni include:

  • Braga Fresh Family Farms
  • County of Monterey
  • D’Arrigo
  • Dole Vegetables
  • Driscoll’s
  • Enza Zaden
  • Green Valley Farm Supply
  • Growing Transplant
  • MORI
  • PLANASA
  • SAKATA
  • Tanimura & Antle
  • Taylor Farms
  • USDA Agricultural Research Service
  • USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
  • Vilmorin Mikado
  • Wilbur Ellis

The program’s keen focus on developing cutting-edge solutions in plant growth, soil fertility and conservation, irrigation management, and pest and disease management offers you the comprehensive preparation to thrive in a wide range of professional roles, including:

  • Agriculture inspector/biologist
  • Agronomists 
  • Crop research field scout 
  • Farm manager
  • Food safety & quality control specialist 
  • Harvest manager 
  • Pest control advisor 
  • Plant breeding technician 
  • Production supervisor
  • Research associates
  • Sales and product development specialists 
  • Soil conservationist 
  • Technical and field operations manager
Aerial Image of Campus

Public University Price, Private University Experience

A Lifetime of Value

Tuition & Fees Financial Aid

Agricultural Plant & Soil Sciences, B.S.

The plant science program develops visionary, skilled professionals in the agricultural sector through its distinctive blend of hands-on learning, enthusiastic support from faculty mentors, and an unparalleled focus on issues unique to the Salinas Valley.

Educational Objectives

Our emphasis on hands-on learning creates a dynamic and engaging experience – fueled by lab work and Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs) – which will empower you with the skills to succeed on day one.

Our cohort learning model and low student-to-faculty ratio ensures that you’ll get all the individualized mentorship and opportunities to collaborate you need to make the most of your experience and gain the best possible preparation to succeed.

Our proximity to the Salinas Valley delivers a setting unlike any other in one of the most important agricultural regions in the world, enriching your learning experience and uniquely preparing you to thrive and succeed in the field.

Our college-to-career pathway provides internship opportunities and professional networking with global leaders in the agricultural sector, leading to an exciting range of career opportunities when you graduate.

Complete all of the following courses:

Complete one of the following course/course combinations:

Complete one of the following courses:

Complete at least 3 units from the following courses, not previously taken:

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You’ll study plant and agricultural science in the Salinas Valley, a region known as the “Salad Bowl of the World.” Our close proximity to large-scale producers of fresh vegetables and fruits means you’ll be immersed within a hub of agricultural innovation and gain the kind of preparation to succeed that most schools simply cannot match.

We strive every day to improve lives and communities, putting our knowledge and skills to work in settings where they’re most needed. You’ll complete at least 25 hours of service working with public and non-profit partner organizations, including the Food Bank for Monterey County’s five-acre farm. You’ll help create a crop management plan for the food bank’s farm, harvest produce, develop sustainability plans, and gain an understanding of the socio-economic factors affecting our region.

This service-focused learning will equip you with a broadened perspective and unique set of experiences that employers and graduate schools will appreciate and respect.

News

Read about our student success and faculty innovation in CSUMB News

Questions? We’re Here to Help!

Don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions you have about the Agricultural Plant & Soil Sciences program.

Our experienced and supportive admissions staff is here to provide all the individualized guidance you need.

Study Agricultural Plant & Soil Sciences in an inspiring coastal environment where we are truly committed to mentorship and an engaging student experience.