371 Moore Hall, 1575 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706; 608/262-1390; agronomy.wisc.edu
Professors Tracy (chair), Albrecht, Balke, Boerboom, Casler, Coors, Doll, Duke, S. Kaeppler, Lauer, Osborn, Posner, Stoltenberg, Tracy, Undersander; Associate Professors Henson, H. Kaeppler; Assistant Professors Ane, Borges, Jackson, Luschei
Agronomy is biology striving to meet the world's expanding need for food and fiber in an efficient, environmentally sound and sustainable manner. The agronomy curriculum offers undergraduate and graduate studies in plant biotechnology, breeding, genetics, physiology, agroecology, crop management and protection strategies, and sustainable agriculture.
Agronomy undergraduate students concentrate on plant science courses, but also select related courses in soil science, genetics, economics, business, engineering, entomology, and the animal sciences depending upon their interests. The undergraduate agronomy program prepares graduates for an expanding array of employment opportunities. Career possibilities include biotechnology, research, agribusiness, resource conservation, and crop management. In addition to classroom learning, most students gain practical experience in their area of interest and earn degree credit at the same time through internships or independent study.
The agronomy major also serves as an excellent foundation for students interested in pursuing advanced studies in plant biotechnology, breeding, genetics, physiology, crop management or sustainable agriculture. Graduate programs are described in the Graduate School Catalog.
A student may elect any one of four degree programs: Agricultural Sciences, Natural Resources, International Agriculture and Natural Resources, or Natural Sciences. Each program is flexible enough to provide for a student's individual needs and interests. Students interested in going to graduate school should elect the Natural Sciences degree program.
100 Principles and Practices in Crop Production. I; 4 cr (B-E). Plant science applied to the growth, production, management, distribution and utilization of field crops. P: Open to Fr.
289 Honors Independent Study. I, II, SS; 1-2 cr (I). P: Enrolled in the Cals Honors Prgm & So ro Jr st. Inter-Ag 288.
299 Independent Study. I, II, SS; 1-3 cr (I). P: Open to Fr or So or Jr st & written cons inst.
300 Cropping Systems. II; 3 cr. Comparisons and implications of specific cropping systems with emphasis on environmental, management, and economic considerations. Tillage systems and ecological constraints as related to agronomic crop production are also emphasized. P: Agron 100; or Botany 130 and cons inst.
302 Forage Management and Utilization. I; 3 cr (B-I). Establishment, management, harvesting and utilization of forage crops for use as hay, pasture and silage. Emphasis on cool season perennial grasses and legumes. P: Jr st & Agron 100 or cons inst.
326 Plant Nutrition Management. (Crosslisted with Soil Sci, Hort) II; 3 cr (P-I). Functions, requirements and uptake of essential plant nutrients; chemical and microbial processes affecting nutrient availability; diagnosis of plant and soil nutrient status; fertilizers and efficient fertilizer use in different tillage systems. P: Soil Sci 230 or 301 and one of the following: Bot 100 or 130; Hort 120 or 122; Agron 100.
328 Integrated Weed Management. (Crosslisted with Hort) I; 4 cr. Prevalence and persistence of weeds, evaluation of competitive and allelopathic effects, methods and principles of control including proper identification of common weed species. P: Agron 100 or intro crse in botany or cons inst.
334 Nutrient Management: Agronomic Crops. (Crosslisted with Soil Sci) I; 1 cr (I). Nutrient requirements of major agronomic crops; nutrient sources; nutrition management for agronomic crops from yield, quality, economic and environmental perspectives. P: Soil Sci/Hort/Agron 326.
338 Plant Breeding and Biotechnology. (Crosslisted with Hort) II; 3 cr. Principles of transferring plant genes by sexual, somatic, and molecular methods and the application of gene transfer in plant breeding and genetic engineering to improve crop plants. P: Botany 130 or Genetics 160 or Biocore 301 or cons inst.
339 Plant Biotechnology: Principles and Techniques I. (Crosslisted with Botany, Hort) I; 4 cr (I). Theoretical and practical training in plant biotechnology including molecular biology, protein biochemistry and basic bioinformatic techniques used in fundamental and applied research on plants. Valuable hands-on training to those interested in careers in biotechnology. P: Bot/Zoo 152 or equiv & Chem 104 or equiv.
340 Plant Biotechnology: Principles and Techniques II. (Crosslisted with Botany, Hort) II; 4 cr (I). Theoretical and practical training in plant biotechnology including plant-cell and tissue culture, plant genetic engineering, experimental design and statistical analysis used in fundamental and applied research on plants. Valuable hands-on training to those interested in careers in biotechnology. P: Agronomy 339.
350 World Hunger and Malnutrition. (Crosslisted with Nutr Sci, Inter-AG, AAE) II; 3 cr (B-I). Hunger and poverty in developing countries and the United States. Topics include: nutrition and health, population, food production and availability, and income distribution and employment.
377 Cropping Systems of the Tropics. II; 3 cr (B-I). Crops and cropping systems of the tropics. The environmental requirements of the major crops, their botany, and how they fit into local farming systems will be emphasized. For students with broad interests in tropical agriculture and food production. P: Intro crse in botany or cons inst.
399 Coordinative Internship/Cooperative Education. I, II, SS; 1-8 cr (A). P: Cons suprvsg inst, advisor, & intrshp progm coordinator.
500 Senior Capstone Experience. II; 2 cr. A stepping stone between the classroom and society. Emphasizes discussion and activities for enhancing integration of diverse bodies of knowledge, critical thinking, and effective written and oral communication. P: Sr st; Agronomy 399, 699, or cons inst.
501 Principles of Plant Breeding. (Crosslisted with Hort) II; 3 cr (B-I). Principles involved in breeding and maintaining economic crops; factors affecting the choice of breeding methods; alternative approaches through hybridization and selection. P: Intro crse in genetics, 1 yr biol.
502 Techniques of Plant Breeding. (Crosslisted with Hort) II; 1 cr (B-I). Lab and field techniques used in breeding and maintaining economic crops. P: An intro crse in genetics & 1 yr of biology.
565 The Ethics of Modern Biotechnology. (Crosslisted with Med Hist, Philos, Rur Soc) I or II; 3-4 cr (H-I). Study of ethical issues arising from the application of modern biotechnology to microorganisms, crops, and non-human animals. Readings cover moral theory, technology studies, political philosophy, the science used in biotechnology, and current regulations governing its use. P: Jr st & cons inst.
630 Ecotoxicology: Toxicant Effects on Ecosystems. (Crosslisted with M&Envtox, Entom, Wl Ecol) I; Odd yrs.; 3 cr (B-A). Study of how toxicants mediate interactions between organisms and their biotic and abiotic environments. Addresses biochemical and physiological mechanisms of toxicity; defenses against toxicants; population, community, ecosystems and evolutionary ecotoxicology; socio-economic impact and current research. P: Two semesters intro biology & one semester organic chem or cons inst.
632 Ecotoxicology: The Chemical Players. (Crosslisted with M&Envtox, Entom, Wl Ecol) I; Odd yrs.; 1 cr. Introduction to natural and man-made toxins/toxicants, their distribution, transport, and fate in the environment. Includes lectures, current research presentations, and discussions. P: 2 sem intro biol & 1 sem organic chem, or cons inst.
633 Ecotoxicology: Impacts on Individuals. (Crosslisted with M&Envtox, Entom, Wl Ecol) I; Odd yrs.; 1 cr. Addresses absorption, biotransformation, elimination of toxins in a wide variety of taxa (plants, invertebrates, vertebrates), and includes lectures, current research presentations, and discussions. P: M&Envtox 632, or 2 sem intro biol & M&Envtox 631, or cons inst.
634 Ecotoxicology: Impacts on Populations, Communities and Ecosystems. (Crosslisted with M&Envtox, Entom, Wl Ecol) I; Odd yrs.; 1 cr. Focuses on the impact of toxicants on populations, communities, ecosystems, and includes risk evaluation. Includes lectures, current research presentations, and discussions. P: M&Envtox 633, or M&Envtox 625, 626 & 631, or cons inst.
681 Senior Honors Thesis. I, II, SS; 2-4 cr (A). P: Hon progm candidacy.
682 Senior Honors Thesis. I, II, SS; 2-4 cr. Continuation of 681. P: Honors program candidacy & Agronomy 681.
699 Special Problems. I, II, SS; 1-4 cr (A). Offered at Madison and the branch experiment stations. P: Sr st & cons inst.