Bachelor of Science Degree in Applied Science

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Nebraska Lincoln

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Applied Science at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln is a flexible degree designed for students interested in food production, agriculture, agribusiness, natural resources and related applied-science fields, allowing them to shape their studies around their career goals. Students can combine coursework across areas such as ecology, food genetics, entrepreneurship, economics, policy, animal science and plant science, creating an individualized academic pathway rather than following a narrowly defined major.

Curriculum Structure:

Year 1:

Students build a strong foundation in science, mathematics, communication and agricultural subjects. Depending on their pathway, foundational coursework can include Fundamentals of Biology I and Lab, College Algebra and Trigonometry or Calculus I, and Introduction to Statistics, establishing the scientific and analytical skills needed for advanced study.

Year 2:

Students broaden their applied knowledge through subjects connected to agriculture, natural resources, economics and business. Coursework may include areas such as Chemistry in Context I, Physical Geography, Introduction to Environmental Science, entrepreneurship, economics and other courses selected to support the student's chosen academic direction.

Year 3:

Students move into more specialized and interdisciplinary study, choosing coursework that reflects their career interests. Options can include The Science of Food, Insect Science, Genetics, Biotechnology: Food, Health and Environment, Food Genetics, Biotechnology and Processing, and Earth's Natural Resource Systems, allowing students to connect scientific knowledge with practical applications.

Year 4:

The final year emphasizes advanced applied learning, career-focused electives and the integration of knowledge from different disciplines. Students may study areas such as Resource and Environmental Economics I, Marketing Ag Commodities, Laboratory Earth: Earth's Changing Systems, and complete AGRI 485: Investigations in Applied Science, providing a capstone-style opportunity to bring their applied-science learning together.

Focus Areas:

Agriculture, food production, agribusiness, natural resources, ecology, food genetics, biotechnology, economics, entrepreneurship, policy, animal science and plant science.

Learning Outcomes:

Students develop the ability to combine scientific knowledge with practical applications, work across multiple disciplines, apply analytical and scientific skills to real-world agricultural and natural-resource challenges, communicate effectively, and tailor their academic preparation toward specific professional goals. The program also provides opportunities to incorporate internships, research, education abroad and other experiential learning into the degree pathway.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):

The Bachelor of Science in Applied Science is offered through the University of Nebraska–Lincoln's College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (CASNR). The official program information does not identify a separate professional accreditation specifically for the Applied Science bachelor's degree; its flexible structure is designed to align coursework with individual academic and career objectives.

Reputation (Employability Rankings):

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln provides students with a broad, career-oriented academic environment through CASNR, while the Applied Science degree's flexible curriculum allows students to build coursework around their intended career direction. The university has also highlighted successful outcomes from students completing the Applied Science degree through flexible and online pathways, including graduates using the degree to enter areas such as natural-resource conservation.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Bachelor of Science in Applied Science at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln gives students the flexibility to build practical experience around their individual interests, with more than half of the degree coursework selected from the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. Students can connect classroom learning with hands-on activities in areas such as digital agriculture, food and biotechnology, agriculture, natural resources and agribusiness, while the program also provides a dedicated Applied Science Internship (AGRI 395) for mentored, supervised professional experience.

The program's practical focus becomes especially valuable through courses such as Technologies and Techniques in Digital Agriculture (AGST 316), which introduces digital agriculture technologies, sensing, data processing and decision-making for crop and livestock systems. Students can also gain experience through internships, research opportunities, specialized CASNR facilities and career-development resources, allowing them to connect their chosen coursework with real industry settings:

Applied Science Internship (AGRI 395): Students complete advanced work experience in their chosen area of specialization in a mentored and supervised setting, supported by assignments such as discussions and writing activities.
Digital agriculture: AGST 316 – Technologies and Techniques in Digital Agriculture provides hands-on exposure to sensing, data processing and decision-making technologies used in crop and livestock production systems.
Industry internships: Official program examples include internships with Pioneer Hi-Bred, Helena Chemical Company, Monsanto, Bartlett Grain, Anderson Grain and Cargill, covering areas such as trait efficacy, wholesale sales, operations, grain marketing and crop-inputs marketing.
Research and specialized facilities: CASNR provides access to laboratories and specialized facilities supporting teaching and research. The Beadle Center for Genetics and Biomaterials Research houses research and teaching spaces and includes the Center for Biotechnology, Department of Biochemistry, School of Biological Sciences, Center for Plant Science Innovation, Redox Biology Center and Microbiology Undergraduate Program.
Innovation Campus: Students are connected to Nebraska Innovation Campus, a research-focused environment designed to facilitate partnerships between the university and private-sector organizations. CASNR's Food Science and Technology Department is based there.
Research and mentorship: CASNR encourages students to participate in research, internships, service, speakers and mentorship, with faculty and alumni providing opportunities for research involvement, professional guidance and networking.
Career technology and digital tools: CASNR Career Development provides career resources and digital badges, while its résumé labs help students work with their computers on résumés, cover letters and Handshake for employment and internship searches.
Career-focused experiences: CASNR Career Development supports students with major and career exploration, experiential-learning opportunities, job-search skills and job-offer negotiation, giving Applied Science students structured support in turning their degree experience into career opportunities.
Practical career exposure: Previous Applied Science graduates have moved into roles such as agronomist, crop consultant, farm loan officer trainee, feedlot manager, grain merchandiser, applicator and agricultural sales representative, demonstrating the range of professional directions available through different Applied Science course combinations.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Bachelor of Science in Applied Science at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln is designed to give students a flexible foundation that can lead into agriculture, natural resources, food-related industries, agribusiness and other applied-science careers. Because students can shape their coursework around their interests, graduates can enter different professional areas rather than being limited to a single career path.

Typical career roles include: Agronomist, Crop Consultant, Agricultural Sales Representative, Grain Merchandiser.

Career support: CASNR Career Development provides students with career coaching, résumé reviews, internship preparation, networking advice and assistance with finding jobs and internships. CASNR also has academic advisors who help students connect their academic plans with professional goals.
Employment support and outcomes: CASNR's Ensuring Your Future program guarantees that a CASNR graduate who completes the program's requirements and actively seeks employment will receive at least one relevant job offer within six months of graduation. The college also reports that more than 90% of its students find jobs in their field or continue with professional education.
Salary information: The university does not currently publish a specific salary figure for Bachelor of Science in Applied Science graduates on the official program pages, so a program-specific salary figure should not be assumed.
University–industry connections: Applied Science students can gain professional experience through the program's AGRI 395 Applied Science Internship, with official examples of internships involving organizations such as Pioneer Hi-Bred, Helena Chemical Company, Monsanto, Bartlett Grain, Anderson Grain and Cargill. These experiences allow students to connect their customized academic pathway with real agricultural and business environments.
Long-term professional value: The degree's interdisciplinary structure can support careers across agriculture, food production, natural resources, agribusiness and related applied-science areas. Its flexibility also allows students to build coursework around their intended professional direction rather than committing to a narrowly defined specialization.
Graduation outcomes: CASNR reports that its four-year graduation rate has increased by 13 percentage points since 2012 and that more than 87% of first-year CASNR students return for their second year.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the bachelor's degree, students can continue into graduate study within the University of Nebraska–Lincoln's College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. Relevant options include the Master of Applied Science, as well as master's programs in areas such as Agricultural Economics, Agronomy, Animal Science, Biochemistry, Food Science & Technology, Natural Resource Sciences and Plant Pathology; CASNR also offers doctoral programs in fields including Agricultural Economics, Agronomy & Horticulture, Animal Science, Biological Engineering, Biochemistry, Food Science & Technology and Natural Resource Sciences.