Agronomy is the application of sciences to the production of field crops and the management of soils. Agronomists are concerned with producing food and with protecting soil and water resources. The Crop Science option emphasizes primarily the physiology, production, and quality of forage crops. The Soil Science option emphasizes the characteristics and management of soils for growing plants, construction sites, wastewater treatment, and surface mine reclamation. Agronomists qualify for a wide variety of occupations including farming, soil conservation, soil survey, agricultural sales, extension, research, plant breeding, and turf grass management. The Division of Plant and Soil Sciences, which houses the Agronomy Program, offers students hands-on training. Learning is enhanced by experience at the Davis College's farms in the Morgantown area as well as the campus greenhouses. Another benefit is that faculty members who teach and advise students are involved in research related to the student's major. As a result, students are able to learn about ongoing research and service projects in their particular areas of study. Majors in the Davis College of Agriculture, Forestry and Consumer Sciences Agribusiness Management & Rural Development B Agricultural & Extension Education B, M Agricultural & Resource Economics M Agriculture Education M Agriculture, Forestry, & Consumer Sciences M Agronomy B, M Animal & Food Sciences D Animal & Veterinary Sciences B, M Basic Sciences B Biochemistry B Child Development & Family Studies B, M Entomology M Environmental Microbiology M Environmental & Natural Resource Economics B Environmental Protection B Family & Consumer Sciences M Forest Resources Management B Forest Resources Science D Forestry M Genetics & Developmental Biology M, D Horticulture B, M Human Nutrition & Foods B Interior Design B Landscape Architecture B Natural Resource Economics D Plant Pathology M Plant & Soil Sciences D Recreation, Parks, & Tourism Resources B, M Reproductive Physiology M, D Textiles, Apparel & Merchandising B Wildlife & Fisheries Resources B, M Wood Science & Technology B B = Bachelor's; M = Master's; D = Doctorate For more information, contact Barton S. Baker at (304) 293-4817, Barton.Baker@mail.wvu.edu Or visit the Web site at www.cafcs.wvu.edu/PLSC/ agronomy.html

WVU Davis College of Agriculture, Forestry, and Consumer Sciences
The Davis College has 18 undergraduate major fields of study that are divided into five academic divisions: Animal and Veterinary Sciences; Family and Consumer Sciences; Forestry; Plant and Soil Sciences; and Resource Management. The excellent instructional facilities of the Davis College offer many learning opportunities. The Agricultural Sciences Building contains most offices, classrooms, and laboratories for agricultural programs. Percival Hall houses the Division of Forestry’s offices, classrooms, and laboratories, including the wood processing facilities. In Allen Hall, Family and Consumer Science classes are held, and the laboratory nursery school is located on the Evansdale Campus. Maintaining eight farms, two campus greenhouses, and more than 8,000 acres of forest land for teaching and research, the Davis College offers students a variety of educational opportunities with hands-on experiences.

Students are offered fields of study that complement various careers. The study of ecology is interwoven throughout courses to offer students the education necessary for careers emphasizing the protection of environmental quality and the management, utilization, and conservation of our soil, water, forests, wildlife, domestic animals, food, and fiber.

Admission
Students who meet University admission requirements may be accepted directly into the Davis College as Agronomy majors.

Curriculum
West Virginia University baccalaureate graduates are expected to possess knowledge and experience in meeting the nine objectives of the General Education Curriculum (GEC). In addition to developing competence in major and minor fields of study, WVU graduation requirements include courses to be taken in the nine objective areas.

Course Work

Accreditation
West Virginia University is fully accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

Career Opportunities
Agricultural scientists hold approximately 29,000 jobs. A bachelor’s degree in agricultural science is sufficient for some jobs in applied research or in assisting in basic research, but a master’s or doctoral degree is required for basic research. Nearly three out of ten agriculture scientists work for the federal government, mostly for the Department of Agriculture. A large number work for state governments. About 5,000 agricultural scientists are self-employed, mainly as consultants.

Graduate School Opportunities
Students with undergraduate degrees in Agronomy have backgrounds suitable to enter graduate school in a wide variety of specialized disciplines, such as soil science, turf grass, weed science, field crops, and forage crops. Many of the emerging environmental and biological fields are based on the sciences taught in agronomic programs and also are avenues for further study.

WVU offers a master’s degree in Agronomy.

Salary Range
Average federal salaries for employees in nonsupervisory and managerial positions in certain agricultural science specialties, including agronomy, start in the range of $25,000 to $30,000.