Student Learning Outcomes

Program-Wide Student Learning Outcomes (Core)

Upon completion of the Environmental Plant Science (EPS) program, students will be able to:

• Identify and explain plant structures and functions.
  • Describe vegetative and reproductive structures and core physiological processes (photosynthesis, respiration, transpiration, growth, fertilization, fruit/seed formation).
• Identify environment–plant–soil interactions.
  • Evaluate how temperature, light, water, soils, and biotic/abiotic stresses influence growth, yield, and quality; recommend strategies to optimize conditions.
• Apply soil science concepts to improve plant performance.
  • Classify soils and assess soil fertility and physical properties; recommend practices to improve fertility, structure, drainage, and water quality/availability.
• Diagnose plant health and production constraints.
  • Identify nutritional deficiencies, abiotic diseases and stressors, insects, pathogens, and weeds across agricultural production systems.
• Evaluate sustainable production practices.
  • Recognize practices that conserve soil and water, reduce erosion and environmental impact, and support long term productivity across field and horticultural systems.
• Apply integrated pest management practices (IPM).
  • Sustainably manage pest, weed, and disease problems.  Propose integrated, evidence-based solutions for control of common pest problems.
• Demonstrate information literacy and scientific reasoning.
  • Locate, interpret, and synthesize literature and data; distinguish scientific evidence from opinion in plant science contexts.
• Communicate effectively to diverse audiences.
  • Develop technical and informative content for professional peers, stakeholders, and the public.
• Collaborate professionally.
  • Work effectively in teams, demonstrating coordination, accountability, and professional behaviors.
• Engage in supervised, hands-on learning.
  • Apply skills in field, greenhouse, lab, or industry settings through internships, practicums, or equivalent experiences.
• Evaluate the societal and economic roles of plant science and its applications.
  • Analyze how plant science contributes to economic vitality, environmental stewardship, and community well-being in both current and future contexts.

Agronomy Emphasis

In addition to the EPS core, students in the Agronomy emphasis will be able to:

• Analyze sustainable production of food, feed, and fiber.
  • Design and evaluate sustainability focused practices for commodity crop systems.
• Understand management practices in agronomic systems.
  • Review propagation and management techniques under varying environmental, market, and financial conditions.
• Optimize field environments for improved yield and quality.
  • Recommend modifications to environmental conditions and production systems to enhance field crop performance.
• Improve soils and protect natural resources.
  • Evaluate soils and nutrient management for large scale crop systems; recommend practices to improve fertility, reduce erosion, and enhance water quality and availability.
• Integrate agronomy with economy and policy.
  • Analyze how crop science interfaces with economic drivers, environmental considerations, and public discourse; critically evaluate current events and information relevant to crop science.

Biotechnology Emphasis

In addition to the EPS core, students in the Biotechnology emphasis will be able to:

• Apply genetics and molecular biology to plant improvement.
  • Analyze and interpret plant genetic information to inform breeding and biotechnology strategies.
• Demonstrate biotechnology laboratory proficiency.
  • Use DNA/RNA extraction and analysis, PCR, genetic marker technologies, molecular cloning, and gene editing tools appropriately and safely.
• Critically evaluate biotech evidence and implications.
  • Assess scientific literature and datasets in biotechnology; evaluate the sustainability and ethical implications of biotech approaches in plant improvement and environmental management.

Horticulture Emphasis

In addition to the EPS core, students in the Horticulture emphasis will be able to:

• Identify horticultural and ornamental plant species and plant structures.
  • Identify common herbaceous and woody ornamental plants and horticultural crops, as well as plant structures and their functions within the plant.
• Manage horticultural and ornamental crops.
  • Plan, establish, manage, and harvest fruit, vegetables, and nut crops; apply integrated pest management (IPM) by identifying economic thresholds and developing knowledge-based recommendations for pest control in ornamental and horticultural systems; and develop, draft, and implement landscape designs.
• Define and manage protected culture practices.
  • Introduce and apply practices for growing in high tunnels, greenhouses, and other protected culture systems by planning and managing specialized production within these structures, modifying soil or substrate conditions for optimal drainage and growth, and developing the skills needed to design structures and plan logistics for commercial protected culture operations.
• Diagnose and manage plant nutrition in horticulture.
  • Determine tissue fertility status, identify nutrient deficiencies, and design effective fertility programs for horticultural systems.
• Introduce and implement specialized plant propagation techniques.
  • Define and apply sexual and asexual plant propagation timelines and techniques—including seed, cuttings, grafting, budding, layering, and tissue culture—and demonstrate these methods in laboratory, protected culture, and/or field settings.