X. Degree Programs

Bachelor of Science in Agriculture [B.Sc.(Agr.)]

Crop, Horticulture and Turfgrass Sciences (CHAT)

Department of Plant Agriculture, Ontario Agricultural College

The Crop, Horticultural and Turfgrass Sciences major is for students who want to apply the latest advancements in the biological sciences to contemporary problems in the plant production industries. This major is appropriate for students with a focus on the production of field crops for food, fuel or biomaterials, management of today’s advanced commercial greenhouses, horticultural production, breeding improved crop varieties, or using turfgrass and other plant species to enhance urban environments. The flexibility provided in semester 6 permits students to participate in international exchanges and semesters abroad. Students can also incorporate a variety of field trips, experiential learning in the workplace and independent study into their program of studies.

Semester 1

AGR*1110 [1.00] Introduction to the Agri-Food Systems
BIOL*1050 [0.50] Biology of Plants & Animals in Managed Ecosystems
CHEM*1040 [0.50] General Chemistry I
MATH*1080 [0.50] Elements of Calculus I

Semester 2

AGR*2050 [0.50] Agroecology
BIOL*1090 [0.50] Introduction to Molecular and Cellular Biology
CHEM*1050 [0.50] General Chemistry II
FARE*1400 [1.00] Economics of the Agri-Food System

Semester 3

AGR*2320 [0.50] Soils in Agroecosystems
AGR*2350 [0.50] Animal Production Systems, Health and Industry
AGR*2470 [0.50] Introduction to Plant Agriculture
FARE*2700 [0.50] Survey of Natural Resource Economics
MBG*2400 [0.50] Fundamentals of Plant and Animal Genetics

Semester 4

BIOC*2580 [0.50] Introduction to Biochemistry
BOT*2100 [0.50] Life Strategies of Plants
ENVS*2040 [0.50] Plant Health and the Environment
STAT*2040 [0.50] Statistics I
0.50 electives or restricted electives
Note: Students who wish to add business courses to their program are advised to takeACCT*1220 in semester 4 and ACCT*2230 in semester 5.

Semester 5 to 8

Students must choose either Option A (Production and Management) or B (Research).

Option A - Production and Management

Semester 5
FOOD*3090 [0.50] Food Science and Human Nutrition
2.00 electives or restricted electives
Semester 6
PBIO*3110 [0.50] Crop Physiology
2.00 electives or restricted electives
Semester 7
One of:
ENVS*4090 [0.50] Soil Management
ENVS*4160 [0.50] Soil and Nutrient Management

2.00 electives or restricted electives

Semester 8
AGR*4600 [1.00] Agriculture and Food Issues Problem Solving
1.50 electives or restricted electives
Restricted Electives - Option A

Students should note that some restricted electives require other courses not included among the required courses for the major as prerequisites. Students should consult the most recent undergraduate calendar for specific requirements.

  1. A minimum of 1.00 credits from the following list:

    AGR*3010 [0.50] Special Studies in Agricultural Science I
    AGR*3450 [0.50] Research Methods in Agricultural Science
    AGR*3500 [0.50] Experiential Education
    CROP*4260 [0.50] Crop Science Field Trip
    EDRD*3050 [0.50] Agricultural Communication
    EDRD*3140 [0.50] Organizational Communication
    FARE*3310 [0.50] Operations Management
    FARE*4220 [0.50] Advanced Agribusiness Management
    FARE*4310 [0.50] Resource Economics
    FARE*4550 [0.50] Independent Studies I
  2. Students must select a minimum of 3.00 credits from the below, without regard to group. Courses are organized into three subject areas only to provide guidance to students who wish to concentrate in a particular area of plant agriculture.

    Crop Science:

    AGR*2500 [0.50] Field Course in International Agriculture
    CROP*3300 [0.50] Grain Crops
    CROP*3310 [0.50] Protein and Oilseed Crops
    CROP*3340 [0.50] Managed Grasslands
    CROP*4220 [0.50] Cropping Systems
    CROP*4240 [0.50] Weed Science
    ENVS*3080 [0.50] Soil and Water Conservation
    ENVS*3210 [0.50] Plant Pathology
    ENVS*4100 [0.50] Integrated Management of Invasive Insect Pests
    HORT*4380 [0.50] Tropical and Sub-Tropical Crops
    MBG*2040 [0.50] Foundations in Molecular Biology and Genetics
    MBG*3100 [0.50] Plant Genetics
    MBG*4160 [0.50] Plant Breeding
    OAGR*2070 [1.00] Introduction to Organic Agriculture
    OAGR*4050 [1.00] Design of Organic Production Systems
    PBIO*3750 [0.50] Plant Tissue Culture
    PBIO*4070 [0.50] Biological and Cultural Control of Plant Diseases
    PBIO*4750 [0.50] Genetic Engineering of Plants

    Horticultural Science:

    CROP*4240 [0.50] Weed Science
    ENVS*3210 [0.50] Plant Pathology
    ENVS*4100 [0.50] Integrated Management of Invasive Insect Pests
    HORT*2450 [0.50] Introduction to Turfgrass Science
    HORT*3010 [0.50] Annual, Perennial and Indoor Plants - Identification and Use
    HORT*3150 [0.50] Principles and Applications of Plant Propagation
    HORT*3270 [0.50] Medicinal Plants
    HORT*3280 [0.50] Greenhouse Production
    HORT*3310 [0.50] Plants, Food and Health
    HORT*3510 [0.50] Vegetable Production
    HORT*4300 [0.50] Postharvest Physiology
    HORT*4420 [0.50] Fruit Crops
    MBG*2040 [0.50] Foundations in Molecular Biology and Genetics
    MBG*3100 [0.50] Plant Genetics
    MBG*4160 [0.50] Plant Breeding
    PBIO*3750 [0.50] Plant Tissue Culture
    PBIO*4070 [0.50] Biological and Cultural Control of Plant Diseases
    PBIO*4750 [0.50] Genetic Engineering of Plants

    Turfgrass Science:

    CROP*4240 [0.50] Weed Science
    ENVS*3020 [0.50] Pesticides and the Environment
    ENVS*3140 [0.50] Management of Turfgrass Diseases
    HORT*2450 [0.50] Introduction to Turfgrass Science
    HORT*3050 [0.50] Management of Turfgrass Insect Pests and Weeds
    HORT*4200 [0.50] Plants, the Environment and Society
    HORT*4450 [0.50] Advanced Turfgrass Science
  3. A minimum of 7.00 credits must be at the 3000 level or higher, of which 5.00 credits must be in agricultural science and of which 3.50 credits must be at the 4000 level. Refer to Program Counsellor for list of agricultural

  4. A humanities or social science courses (0.50 credits) at the 1000-level or above from the College of Arts or College of Social and Applied Human Sciences. See Program Counsellor for acceptable list of courses.

Option B - Research

Semester 5
AGR*3450 [0.50] Research Methods in Agricultural Science
FOOD*3090 [0.50] Food Science and Human Nutrition
1.50 electives or restricted electives
Semester 6
PBIO*3110 [0.50] Crop Physiology
2.00 electives or restricted electives
Semester 7
AGR*4450 [1.00] Research Project I
One of:
ENVS*4090 [0.50] Soil Management
ENVS*4160 [0.50] Soil and Nutrient Management
1.00 electives or restricted electives
Semester 8
AGR*4460 [1.00] Research Project II
1.50 electives or restricted electives
Restricted Electives - Option B

Students should note that some restricted electives require other courses not included among the required courses for the major as prerequisites. Students should consult the most recent undergraduate calendar for specific requirements.

  1. During semesters 4-8 students must select a minimum of 3.00 credits from the lists of restricted electives below, without regard to group. Courses are organized into three subject areas only to provide guidance to students who wish to concentrate in a particular area of plant agriculture.

    Crop Science:

    AGR*2500 [0.50] Field Course in International Agriculture
    CROP*3300 [0.50] Grain Crops
    CROP*3310 [0.50] Protein and Oilseed Crops
    CROP*3340 [0.50] Managed Grasslands
    CROP*4220 [0.50] Cropping Systems
    CROP*4240 [0.50] Weed Science
    ENVS*3080 [0.50] Soil and Water Conservation
    ENVS*3210 [0.50] Plant Pathology
    ENVS*4100 [0.50] Integrated Management of Invasive Insect Pests
    HORT*4380 [0.50] Tropical and Sub-Tropical Crops
    MBG*2040 [0.50] Foundations in Molecular Biology and Genetics
    MBG*3100 [0.50] Plant Genetics
    MBG*4160 [0.50] Plant Breeding
    OAGR*2070 [1.00] Introduction to Organic Agriculture
    OAGR*4050 [1.00] Design of Organic Production Systems
    PBIO*3750 [0.50] Plant Tissue Culture
    PBIO*4070 [0.50] Biological and Cultural Control of Plant Diseases
    PBIO*4750 [0.50] Genetic Engineering of Plants

    Horticultural Science:

    CROP*4240 [0.50] Weed Science
    ENVS*3210 [0.50] Plant Pathology
    ENVS*4100 [0.50] Integrated Management of Invasive Insect Pests
    HORT*2450 [0.50] Introduction to Turfgrass Science
    HORT*3010 [0.50] Annual, Perennial and Indoor Plants - Identification and Use
    HORT*3150 [0.50] Principles and Applications of Plant Propagation
    HORT*3270 [0.50] Medicinal Plants
    HORT*3280 [0.50] Greenhouse Production
    HORT*3310 [0.50] Plants, Food and Health
    HORT*3510 [0.50] Vegetable Production
    HORT*4300 [0.50] Postharvest Physiology
    HORT*4420 [0.50] Fruit Crops
    MBG*2040 [0.50] Foundations in Molecular Biology and Genetics
    MBG*3100 [0.50] Plant Genetics
    MBG*4160 [0.50] Plant Breeding
    PBIO*3750 [0.50] Plant Tissue Culture
    PBIO*4070 [0.50] Biological and Cultural Control of Plant Diseases
    PBIO*4750 [0.50] Genetic Engineering of Plants

    Turfgrass Science:

    CROP*4240 [0.50] Weed Science
    ENVS*3020 [0.50] Pesticides and the Environment
    ENVS*3140 [0.50] Management of Turfgrass Diseases
    HORT*2450 [0.50] Introduction to Turfgrass Science
    HORT*3050 [0.50] Management of Turfgrass Insect Pests and Weeds
    HORT*4200 [0.50] Plants, the Environment and Society
    HORT*4450 [0.50] Advanced Turfgrass Science
  2. A minimum of 7.00 credits must be at the 3000 level or higher, of which 5.00 credits must be in agricultural science and of which 3.50 credits must be at the 4000 level. Refer to the Program Counsellor for the list of agricultural science courses.

  3. A humanities or social science courses (0.50 credits) at the 1000-level or above from the College of Arts or College of Social and Applied Human Sciences. See Program Counsellor for acceptable list of courses.

    Business Electives:

    Students in either Option A or Option B who wish to add business courses to their program are advised to select courses from the following list:

    FARE*3310 [0.50] Operations Management
    FARE*4220 [0.50] Advanced Agribusiness Management
    FARE*4240 [0.50] Futures and Options Markets
    FARE*4370 [0.50] Food & Agri Marketing Management
    MGMT*3320 [0.50] Financial Management
University of Guelph
50 Stone Road East
Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1
Canada
519-824-4120