Cultivate plant-based solutions to feed, clothe and fuel our planet for generations to come.
With a B.S. in Plant Sciences, you can solve some of our planet's greatest challenges -- from food and energy security to environmental and human health. We offer two distinct degree emphases so you can work with world-renowned faculty in our botanically rich region to conduct research and prepare for a career in medicine, pharmacy, plant breeding, microbiology or biotechnology.
Students in the plant sciences major can choose one of two emphases:
General Plant Sciences Emphasis: Pursue a customizable plant sciences degree that focuses on your unique interests.
Plant Health Sciences Emphasis: Focus your studies on plant health to prepare for a career in crop improvement and agricultural sustainability.
The College of Agriculture, Life & Environmental Sciences offers $1 million in scholarships to our students! Combine these options with university scholarships and support from privately funded scholarships and you're well on your way to achieving your educational goals at a price you can afford.
Students in the School of Plant Sciences have exclusive access to nearly $21,000 program-specific scholarships, awarded from 11 different scholarships -- in addition to $230,000 in scholarships that are available to all or most CALES students.
A degree in plant sciences prepares you for careers in food production, renewable energy, medicine, agriculture and manufacturing. It also can serve as a springboard for graduate school. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay for careers related to agricultural and food science was $74,940 per year with 6% faster-than-average job growth overall (2022).
There are a variety of career opportunities available to students who complete a B.S. in plant sciences, including:
- Research assistant/technician: Perform research or other laboratory tasks under the supervision of a senior scientist in plant breeding, propagation or pest control companies, or in academic, institutional or government research laboratories.
- Agronomist: Manage soil and field crop production, conduct research, and develop new crop hybrids and varieties.
- Ecologist: Collect, study and report data on the quality of food, soil and water.
- Plant pathologist: Research and work to understand plant responses to pests to design strategies for pest management.
- Plant breeder: Develop crops adapted to arid and semi-arid environments.
General Plant Sciences Emphasis:
| Origins of Food Plants |
| Plant Biochemistry and Metabolic Engineering |
| Plant Genetics and Genomics |
Plant Health Sciences Emphasis:
| Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition |
| Microbial Diversity |
| Insect Pest Management for Desert Cropping Systems |
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