Minors and specialization provide students with the opportunity to gain additional knowledge and a more diverse background to complement their academic program. These options are available as an elective to any student who is enrolled in a Bachelor of Science degree program at Michigan State University as long as the minor or specialization is outside of the student’s degree program.
Minor in Agronomy
The Minor in Agronomy is designed to serve students with majors in fields other than Crop & Soil Sciences who are interested in agronomy and who plan to pursue careers in agriculture for which a basic familiarity with the science of cropping systems is important. The minor will provide an opportunity for students to gain a fundamental understanding of the science of food production, including crop management, soil management, and plant breeding and biotechnology.
Minor in Agronomy Requirements:
- All of the following courses: (9 credits)
- CSS 101 Introduction to Crop Science – 3 credits
- CSS 210 Fundamentals of Soil Science – 3 credits
- CSS 488 Agricultural Cropping Systems – 3 credits
- One of the following courses: (2 or 3 credits)
- CSS 222 New Horizons in Biotechnology – 2 credits
- CSS 350 Introduction to Plant Genetics – 3 credits
- CSS 441 Plant Breeding and Biotechnology – 3 credits
- One of the following courses: (2 or 3 credits)
- CSS 135 Crop Scouting and Investigation – 2 credits
- CSS 151 Seed and Grain Quality – 2 credits
- CSS 201 Forage Crops – 3 credits
- CSS 212 Advanced Crop Production – 2 credits
- CSS 251 Organic Farming Principles and Practices – 3 credits
- CSS 302 Principles of Weed Management – 3 credits
- CSS 424 Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems – 3 credits
- CSS 431 International Agricultural Systems – 3 credits
- CSS 467 Bioenergy Feedstock Production – 3 credits
- One of the following courses: (2 or 3 credits)
- CSS 330 Soil Chemistry – 2 credits
- CSS 340 Applied Soil Physics – 2 credits
- CSS 360 Soil Biology – 3 credits
- CSS 470 Soil Resources – 3 credits
Minor in Entomology
The Minor in Entomology is designed to provide students with majors in agriculture and ecology-related fields, with a general understanding of insect identification, life history, and management.
Minor in Entomology Requirements:
- ENT 404 Fundamentals of Entomology – 3 credits
- Complete 12 credits from the following:
- ENT 205 Pests, Society, and Environment – 3 credits
- ENT 364 Turfgrass Entomology – 3 credits
- ENT 407 Diseases and Insects of Forest and Shade Trees – 4 credits
- ENT 410 Apiculture and Pollination – 2 credits
- ENT 422 Aquatic Entomology – 3 credits
- ENT 460 Medical and Veterinary Entomology – 3 credits
- ENT 469 Biomonitoring of Streams – 3 credits
- ENT 470 Nematology – 3 credits
- ENT 478 Integrated Pest Management – 3 credits
- ENT 479 Organic Pest Management – 3 credits
Minor in Horticulture
The Minor in Horticulture is designed to provide an opportunity for students to gain a fundamental understanding of the science of horticulture and tailor their studies to food production, greenhouse and nursery crops, landscape design and management, or plant breeding and genetics.
Minor in Horticulture Requirements:
- Both of the following courses: (5 credits)
- HRT 203 Principles of Horticulture – 3 credits
- HRT 204 Plant Propagation – 2 credits
- Complete 12 credits from the following:
- HRT 205 Plant Mineral Nutrition – 1 credit
- HRT 206 Training and Pruning Plants – 1 credit
- HRT 211 Landscape Plants I – 3 credits
- HRT 212 Landscape Plants II – 3 credits
- HRT 213 Landscape Maintenance – 2 credits
- HRT 213L Landscape Maintenance Field Laboratory – 1 credit
- HRT 218 Landscape Irrigation – 3 credits
- HRT 219 Landscape Computer Aided Design – 2 credits
- HRT 221 Greenhouse Structures and Management – 3 credits
- HRT 222 Ornamental Grasses – 1 credit
- HRT 242 Passive Solar Greenhouses for Protected Cultivation – 1 credit
- HRT 243 Organic Transplant Production – 1 credit
- HRT 244 Culinary and Medicinal Herbs – 1 credit
- HRT 251 Organic Farming Principles and Practices – 3 credits
- HRT 253 Compost Production and Use – 1 credit
- HRT 310 Nursery Management – 3 credits
- HRT 311 Landscape Design and Management Specifications – 4 credits
- HRT 323 Floriculture Production – 3 credits
- HRT 332 Tree Fruit Production and Management – 2 credits
- HRT 335 Berry Crop Production and Management – 1 credit
- HRT 341 Vegetable Production and Management – 3 credits
- HRT 361 Applied Plant Physiology – 3 credits
- HRT 362 Applied Crop Improvement – 1 credit
- HRT 403 Handling and Storage of Horticultural Crops – 3 credits
- HRT 407 Horticulture Marketing – 3 credits
- HRT 411 Landscape Contract Management – 3 credits
- HRT 415 Natural Landscape, Native Plants & Landscape Restoration – 2 credits
- HRT 417 Sustainable Sites and Environmental Landscape Practices – 3 credits
Agribusiness Management Specialization
The Specialization in Agribusiness Management is designed to serve students with majors in other fields who are interested in careers in agribusiness. The primary educational objective of the specialization is to provide students with a fundamental knowledge of business management in relation to agribusiness firms.
Specialization Requirements:
- One of the following courses: (3 credits)
- ABM 100 Decision-Making in the Agri-Food System – 3 credits
- ABM 130 Farm Management I – 3 credits
- One of the following courses: (3 credits)
- ABM 225 Commodity Marketing I – 3 credits
- ABM 332 Agribusiness Operations Management – 3 credits
- ABM 430 Farm Management II – 3 credits
- Two of the following courses including at least one course at the 300 or 400 level. Courses not used to satisfy requirements 1. and 2. may be used to substitute for courses listed in requirement 3. (6 credits).
- ABM 222 Agribusiness and Food Industry Sales – 3 credits
- ABM 337 Labor and Personnel Mgt in the Agri-Food System – 3 credits
- ABM 400 Public Policy Issues in the Agri-Food System – 3 credits
- ABM 422 Vertical Coordination in the Agri-Food System – 3 credits
- ABM 425 Commodity Marketing II – 3 credits
- ABM 427 Global Agri-Food Industries and Markets – 3 credits
- ABM 435 Financial Management in the Agri-Food System – 3 credits
- ABM 437 Agribusiness Strategic Management – 3 credits
- One of the following courses (3 credits):
- ACC 201 Principles of Financial Accounting – 3 credits
- ACC 230 Survey of Accounting Concepts – 3 credits
- One of the following courses (3 credits):
- GBL 323 Introduction to Business Law – 3 credits
- MGT 325 Management Skills and Processes – 3 credits
- MSC 327 Introduction to Marketing – 3 credits
- RET 373 Merchandising Management Entrepreneurship – 3 credits
Specialization in International Agriculture
This International Agriculture Specialization seeks to increase student understanding of global agriculture, particular agriculture-related problems and issues in developing and developed nations, and issues related to sustainability and stewardship of the Earth. Students who complete this specialization will be prepared for effective employment in the arena of international agriculture and/or multinational firms.
Specialization Requirements:
- Foreign Language: 0 – 8 credits
- Study Abroad Experience: 6 – 12 credits
- Both of the following courses: (4 credits)
- CSS 294 International Agriculture – 1 credits
- CSS 431 World Soil and Plant Resources – 3 credits
- One of the following courses: (3 credits)
- ABM 427 Global Agri-Food Industries and Markets – 3 credits
- ANP 470 Food, Hunger and Society – 3 credits
- ANR 250 Global Issues in Agriculture and Natural Resources – 3 credits
- ANS 480 Animal Systems in International Development – 3 credits
- EEP 260 World Food, Population and Poverty – 3 credits
- FOR 450 Forestry in International Development – 3 credits
Specialization in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems
The Specialization in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems is designed to foster active learning about agriculture and food systems for undergraduate students from different disciplinary backgrounds. Contemporary agriculture and food systems issues will be considered in biological, ecological, social, and economic contexts.
Specialization Requirements:
- Both of the following courses: (4 credits)
- CSS 124 Introduction Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems – 1 credits
- CSS 424 Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems – 3 credits
- Three of the following courses, including at least one course from the Agricultural Sciences and one course from the Social Sciences: (9 credits)
- Agricultural Sciences
- CSS 101 Introduction to Crop Science – 3 credits
- CSS 360 Soil Biology – 3 credits
- CSS 431 International Agricultural Systems – 3 credits
- ENT 479 Organic Pest Management – 3 credits
- HRT 203 Principles of Horticulture – 3 credits
- HRT 251 Organic Farming Principles and Practices – 3 credits
- HRT 341 Vegetable Production and Management – 3 credits
- Social Sciences
- EEP 255 Ecological Economics – 3 credits
- EEP 260 World Food, Population and Poverty – 3 credits
- ESA 343 Community Food and Agricultural Systems – 3 credits
- ESA 444 Pesticides, People and Politics – 3 credits
- GEO 410 Geography of Food and Agriculture – 3 credits
- RCAH 292B Engagement and Reflection (D) – 3 credits
- Agricultural Sciences
Additional Minors & Specializations
For a listing of all undergraduate minors available at Michigan State University, please see the University Curriculum and Catalog Minors. For a listing of all specializations available, see the University Curriculum and Catalog Specializations.