Plant Breeding - Minor

The Department of Soil and Crop Sciences offers a Minor in Plant Breeding. The minor in plant breeding prepares agricultural majors for a career in nation’s variety development industry and exposes the student to an academic discipline that could lead to the pursuit of advanced degrees and a career in the field of plant breeding. Plant breeders develop new varieties that are the cornerstone of modern agriculture and improve the genetic basis of improved yield, quality, and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses affecting or nation’s food, feed, fiber, greenspace, shelter, and bioenergy plants.

SCSC 304, plant breeding and genetics, and GENE 310, principles of heredity, are required courses.  Students select an additional nine hours of course work and a C or better is required in all coursework.  GENE 301  may be substituted for GENE 310.  The Plant Breeding minor offers the opportunity for students to explore their interest in applied biological sciences in the areas of plant breeding, crop improvement, crop biotechnology, and genetics.  Students must have an overall GPA of 2.75 or better to enter the program.