BS Plant Sciences (Crop Management)

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Missouri

Program Overview

The BS Plant Sciences (Crop Management) at the University of Missouri prepares students to manage food and fiber crops by combining plant science fundamentals with practical training in crop production, soil fertility, plant nutrition, genetics, crop physiology, and pest management. The program suits students interested in careers such as crop consulting, agronomy, crop sales, pest management, farming and agricultural entrepreneurship, while also providing a foundation for advanced study.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students establish their scientific foundation through PLNT_SCI 1500 – Fundamental Biology of Plants, MATH 1100 – College Algebra, and CHEM 1400/1401 – College Chemistry I and Laboratory, alongside applied agriculture and communication studies. PLNT_SCI 1120 – Career Development also introduces students to the Plant Sciences field and professional preparation.

Year 2: Students move into more specialised plant and soil science through PLNT_SCI 2125 – Plant Structure and Function, SOIL 2100 – Introduction to Soils, and SOIL 2106 – Soil Science Laboratory. The Crop Management emphasis also introduces PLNT_SCI 3213 – Genetics of Agricultural Plants and Animals and STAT 1200 – Introductory Statistical Reasoning, giving students tools for understanding crop genetics, soils and agricultural data.

Year 3: The curriculum becomes strongly focused on crop management, with PLNT_SCI 3225 – Plant Breeding and Genetics, PLNT_SCI 4313 – Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition, and PLNT_SCI 3210W – Principles of Weed Science. Students also select specialised subjects such as PLNT_SCI 3270 – Forage Crops, PLNT_SCI 3275 – Grain Crops, or PLNT_SCI 4360 – Precision Agriculture Science and Technology, while completing an internship or research experience as part of the capstone pathway.

Year 4: Students develop advanced expertise through PLNT_SCI 4315 – Crop Physiology, PLNT_SCI 3710 – Introductory Entomology, and PLNT_SCI 4500 – Biology and Pathogenesis of Plant-Associated Microbes. The final year also allows students to complete PLNT_SCI 4940 – Internship in Plant Science or PLNT_SCI 4950 – Undergraduate Research in Plant Science, providing a direct connection between their academic training and professional or research experience.

Focus areas:

Crop production and management, soil science, plant nutrition, crop physiology, plant breeding and genetics, weed science, entomology, plant-associated microbes, precision agriculture, forage and grain crops, and agricultural entrepreneurship.

Learning outcomes:

Students develop the scientific and practical knowledge needed to improve crop growth and protection, manage soil and plant resources, address disease, insect and weed pressures, evaluate crop-production practices, and apply plant science knowledge to real-world agricultural problems.

Professional alignment (accreditation):

The official program page does not state a specific professional accreditation for the BS Plant Sciences (Crop Management). Instead, the curriculum is aligned with professional agricultural practice through its combination of classroom and outdoor experiences, internship/research options, and specialised crop-management coursework.

Reputation (employability rankings):

The University of Missouri states that students completing the B.S. in Plant Sciences are highly competitive for the strong job market in crop management, plant breeding, biotechnology and horticultural science and design. The Crop Management program specifically identifies employment opportunities with universities, the USDA Agricultural Research Service and private companies.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The BS Plant Sciences (Crop Management) at the University of Missouri gives students a strong practical foundation by combining classroom learning with outdoor experiences, laboratory work, field research and applied crop-management training. Students learn to address real agricultural challenges involving crop production, soils, weeds, insects, plant diseases and crop improvement, while the program provides a dedicated pathway into internships or undergraduate research as a capstone experience.

Students can build hands-on experience through several opportunities:

Crop-management field experience: The program combines classroom and outdoor experiences, allowing students to apply plant and crop science to real-world agricultural problems.
Soil laboratory: SOIL 2106 – Soil Science Laboratory gives Crop Management students practical laboratory experience related to soil properties and agricultural production.
Crop science and field production: Students study PLNT_SCI 4315 – Crop Physiology, PLNT_SCI 4313 – Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition, PLNT_SCI 3275 – Grain Crops and PLNT_SCI 3270 – Forage Crops, developing applied knowledge of crop growth and production.
Precision agriculture: PLNT_SCI 4360 – Precision Agriculture Science and Technology is available as an emphasis elective, allowing students to explore technology-based approaches to modern crop production.
Plant protection: PLNT_SCI 3210W – Principles of Weed Science, PLNT_SCI 3710 – Introductory Entomology and PLNT_SCI 4500 – Biology and Pathogenesis of Plant-Associated Microbes provide applied preparation in weed, insect and disease management.
Internship: PLNT_SCI 4940 – Internship in Plant Science combines study, observation and employment with an industry or government agency in agronomy or horticulture. Students complete written and oral reports and receive a faculty evaluation.
Industry internship experience: PLNT_SCI 4945 – Experiential Learning in Industry Internship in Plant Science provides a supervised experience combining observation, application and reflection within a discipline-based industry internship.
Undergraduate research: PLNT_SCI 4950 – Undergraduate Research in Plant Science is a capstone experience involving investigations that support an undergraduate thesis or special project portfolio.
Faculty research: PLNT_SCI 4955 – Experiential Learning in Research in Plant Science allows students to participate in a supervised learning experience contributing to faculty research.
Industry exposure: The university identifies internship and employment connections for Plant Sciences students with organisations including Bayer, Corteva Agriscience, Nutrien Ag Solutions, Missouri Botanical Gardens and Ryan Lawn and Tree.
Study abroad: CAFNR offers agriculture-focused study-abroad experiences, including programs in Italy, Holland and New Zealand, where students can explore food, agriculture, sustainability and horticultural production in international settings.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The BS Plant Sciences (Crop Management) at the University of Missouri prepares students for careers that combine crop production, plant health, soil management and agricultural technology. The program specifically identifies opportunities as a crop consultant, agronomist, crop sales representative, pest management specialist, farmer or entrepreneur, while also preparing students for advanced education and roles with universities, the USDA Agricultural Research Service and private companies.

Typical career opportunities include:

Agronomist
Crop Consultant
Crop Protection/Pest Management Specialist
Agricultural Sales Representative

Career progression is supported through:

Career services: The Mizzou Career Center provides career exploration, job and internship leads through Handshake, career communities, professional-development resources, career fairs, employer events and one-on-one career coaching.
CAFNR career support: The College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources provides dedicated career-development support, helping students connect their degree with employment and professional opportunities.
Internships and industry exposure: Plant Sciences students can gain practical experience through internships; Mizzou highlights employers such as Bayer, Corteva Agriscience and Nutrien Ag Solutions as internship and employment destinations for Plant Sciences students.
Real-world career pathway: A Mizzou Crop Management graduate featured by CAFNR completed a four-month crop scout internship after connecting with an employer through the CAFNR Career Fair and subsequently moved into a full-time crop-related position after graduation.
Employment outcomes: Mizzou reports a 95.4% successful career outcomes rate for 2025 graduates within six months of spring graduation, with 2,098 unique entities hiring MU Tigers, including Fortune 500 employers. This is a university-wide figure rather than a Crop Management-specific statistic.
Agricultural industry connections: The program's identified employment destinations include Bayer, Corteva Agriscience and Nutrien Ag Solutions, while crop-management graduates may also work with universities, the USDA Agricultural Research Service and private companies.
Professional development and advanced credentials: The curriculum builds expertise in soil fertility and plant nutrition, crop physiology, plant breeding and genetics, precision agriculture science and technology, providing a strong technical foundation for professional agricultural roles and further study.
Further career specialisation: Graduates can progress into areas such as soil and plant science, agricultural management, crop protection, agricultural sales and postsecondary agricultural education, all listed among Mizzou's common career paths for Plant Sciences (Crop Management).

Further Academic Progression: The degree can lead into advanced education and graduate-level study in plant science, agronomy, crop science, soil science, plant breeding, agricultural technology or related agricultural disciplines. Mizzou specifically identifies advanced education as an opportunity for Crop Management graduates, while the program's strong foundation in research, crop production and plant science provides preparation for further specialisation.