CASNR Core
Major Core
Agronomy option
Horticulture option
Landscape Design and Management option
Turfgrass Science and Management option
4-Year Plans
4-year plan for PLAS Agronomy Option – select Online Version, Excel File or PDF File.
4-year plan for PLAS Horticulture Option – select Online Version, Excel File or PDF File.
4-year plan for PLAS Landscape Design and Management Option – select Online Version, Excel File or PDF File.
4-year plan for PLAS Turfgrass Science and Management Option – select Online Version, Excel File or PDF File.
Plant and Landscape Systems Emphases
- Agronomic Crop Production
- Ecological Landscape Design
- Entrepreneurship
- Flowers
- Natural Resources Conservation
- Plant Breeding, Genetics, and Biotechnology
- Plant Protection
- Plant Science Research
- Soil Science
- Specialty Crop Production
- Sustainable Landscape Management
- Turfgrass Science and Management
- Urban Food Systems
- Water for Food
All students in the Plant and Landscape Systems major, must complete all the courses listed in the CASNR Core and the Major Core.
Options: All students in the Plant and Landscape Systems major must complete course requirements in one option – agronomy, horticulture, landscape design and management, or turfgrass science and management.
Course Descriptions: To see a course description, use the search box on the UNL Undergraduate Catalog page (https://catalog.unl.edu/undergraduate/). Click on ‘Course’, then type in the course prefix and number (i.e. AGRO 100), and click ‘search’.
Semester of Course Offering: Courses are typically offered during the same semester (spring, summer, or fall) each year. Rarely are changes made to the semester in which the course is offered. The day(s) and time of day when the course is taught is often the same from year to year. You can use this information to make sure you do not have any time conflicts with the courses you want to take by looking the previous and/or future days and times the courses are offered. See the course availability list for details.
Plant and Landscape Systems Options
*course has a prerequisite that is not included in the core or option. Free electives may be used to complete the prerequisite.
You must choose two emphasis areas, one emphasis and one minor, or two minors. If you choose two minors, one must be in CASNR.
Emphases
There are 14 emphasis areas in the Plant and Landscape Systems major. Details of those emphases are below. * indicates that at least one additional course is required as a prerequisite. Any course taken as a prerequisite can be used to fill free electives. There are 14-17 free electives available in each of the options, which count toward the 120 credits needed to graduate. Courses used in one emphasis area cannot be applied to a second emphasis area.
- Courses used in an option cannot apply to any emphasis area. For example, HORT 214 cannot be used in the Flowers emphasis for students who take it in the horticulture or landscape design and management options.
- Courses used in one emphasis cannot be used in a second emphasis. For example, SOIL 269 cannot be used in both the Natural Resources Conservation and Soil Science emphases.
- Courses cannot be double counted in a minor and an emphasis. For example, HORT 213 cannot be used in both the Ecological Landscape Design emphasis and the Urban Forestry minor.
- All emphases must have a minimum of 12 unique hours.
- Completion of a second major will count for one emphasis.
* indicates that at least one additional course is required as a prerequisite
**taught only in the summer
Agronomic Crop Production emphasis
For students completing the Agronomy option, the Agronomic Plant Production emphasis provides advanced coursework in crop and soil management and prepares students for careers as agronomists, seed and input sales representatives, crop advisors, and farm managers. Students completing this emphasis from outside of the Agronomy option will benefit from foundational knowledge in agronomic crop and soil fertility management.
PLAS 452 requires physics (MYSM 109, PHYS 141 or 151). *indicates that at least one additional course is required as a prerequisite. **taught only in the summer
Requirement | Credit Hours |
---|---|
Required, but do not count toward 12 credits if completed in an option:
|
9-10 |
Choose 3-12 credits from:
|
3-12 |
Total | 12-13 |
Ecological Landscape Design emphasis
Students completing the Ecological Landscape Design emphasis will benefit from foundational knowledge in plant and landscape design. For students in the Landscape Design and Management option who selected the landscape management capstone (PLAS 470), the Ecological Landscape Design emphasis provides advanced knowledge in landscape design. You will need to take PLAS 319, PLAS 469, and two courses from PLAS 300, PLAS 467, and PLAS 326 that are not taken in the option.
Requirement | Credit Hours |
---|---|
Three credits required, but do not count toward the 12 credits if completed in an option. Choose 0-3 credits from:
|
0-3 |
Choose 9-12 credits from:
|
9-12 |
Total | 9 – 12 |
Entrepreneurship emphasis
The Entrepreneurship emphasis focuses on opportunities to create a unique path that fulfills your career purpose. This emphasis will allow you to explore the mindset and process of becoming an entrepreneur. These skills are critical to compete in the 21st century workplace as well as preparing for business ownership.
Requirement | Credit Hours |
---|---|
Choose 5-6 entrepreneurship credits from:
|
5-6 |
Choose 3 accounting credits from:
|
3 |
Choose 3-6 marketing, finance or management credits from:
|
3-6 |
Total | 12-14 |
Flowers emphasis
The Flowers emphasis will prepare students for careers in the floral industry including growing and managing floral crops and designing and marketing floral arrangements and ornamental plants.
Requirement | Credit Hours |
---|---|
PLAS 261 Floral Design I (ACE 7) – 3 cr. | 3 |
Choose 9 credits in Identification, production, and design from:
|
9 |
Total | 12 |
Natural Resources Conservation emphasis
The Natural Resources Conservation emphasis prepares students for careers in soil, water, and landscape conservation. These professionals could be experts in providing technical and conservation planning assistance related to agricultural operations and environmental conservation. Emphasis completion meets the minimum requirements for the current federal occupational requirements in positions in soil and/or natural resources conservation or management. To meet the occupational requirements, the SOIL subject codes on cross-listed courses is required.
*NRES 451 requires SOIL 361. SOIL 361 requires a second semester of chemistry, either CHEM 106 or 110. SOIL 354 requires physics, MYSM 109, PHYS 141 or 151. SOIL 455 requires CHEM 110A&L and CHEM 221 or 251.
Requirement | Credit Hours |
---|---|
|
8 |
Choose 4 credits from:
|
4 |
Total | 12 |
Plant Breeding, Genetics, and Biotechnology emphasis
The Plant Breeding, Genetics and Biotechnology emphasis prepares students for careers in the seed industry. These professionals could be experts in generating and evaluating new varieties in the field or conducting DNA-based analysis in the lab.
*BIOS 425 requires BIOS 206. BIOS 206 can be subbed for PLAS 215. BIOS 206 requires LIFE 120+L and LIFE 121+L. BIOS 471 requires LIFE 121+L. Contact your advisor as soon as you know you have an interest in this emphasis.
Requirement | Credit Hours |
---|---|
Required, but does not count toward 12 credits if completed in an option:
|
4 |
Choose 8-12 credits from:
|
8-12 |
Total | 12 |
Plant Protection emphasis
The Plant Protection emphasis prepares students for careers in the plant protection industry with advanced coursework in weed science, entomology, plant pathology, and wildlife management. These professionals may enjoy careers as crop scouts and advisors, agronomists and horticulturists, chemical sales representatives, custom applicators, and farm and greenhouse managers.
Requirement | Credit Hours |
---|---|
|
0-6 |
Choose 3 insect credits from:
|
3-6 |
Choose three credits from:
|
3-6 |
Total | 12 |
Plant Science Research emphasis
The Plant Science Research emphasis is designed for students interested in pursuing M.S. or Ph.D. degrees in agronomy, horticulture, or turfgrass science. Coursework in physics, math, and chemistry provides broad expertise in the life sciences, and fulfills graduate admission requirements at most research universities – including UNL.
Requirement | Credit Hours |
---|---|
|
8-9 |
Choose 4 credits from:
|
4 |
Total | 12-18 |
Soil Science emphasis
The Soil Science emphasis prepares students for careers as a soil scientist, agronomist, or crop advisor. These professionals may enjoy careers as a soil conservationist, in a soil testing laboratory, or consulting with farmers about soil management.
*PLAS 455 requires CHEM 110A&L and CHEM 221 or 251. NRES 451 requires SOIL 361. SOIL 361 requires a second semester of chemistry, either CHEM 106 or 110 and NRES 281.
Requirement | Credit Hours |
---|---|
Choose any 12 credit from:
|
12 |
Total | 12 |
Specialty Crop Production emphasis
For students completing the Horticulture option, the Specialty Crop Production emphasis provides advanced coursework with a focus on pest and fertility management in field and controlled environment specialty crop systems. This emphasis leads to careers in farm management, greenhouse and hydroponic production, seed and input sales, and crop consulting. Students completing this emphasis from outside of the Horticulture option will benefit from foundational knowledge in specialty crop propagation and production.
Requirement | Credit Hours |
---|---|
Required, but do not count toward 12 credits if completed in option:
|
0-3 |
Choose 9-12 credits from:
|
9-12 |
Total | 12 |
Sustainable Landscape Management emphasis
Students completing the Sustainable Landscape Management emphasis will benefit from foundational knowledge in landscape management. For students in the Landscape Design and Management option who select the design capstone (PLAS 469), you will need to select four of five classes from PLAS 227, PLAS 300, PLAS 319, PLAS 326 and PLAS 470. This emphasis may lead to careers in management of public parks, arboreta and gardens, zoos, city and state properties, corporate landscapes, and private residences.
Requirement | Credit Hours |
---|---|
Three credits required, but do not count toward the 12 credits if completed in an option:
|
0-3 |
Choose 9-12 credits from:
|
9-12 |
Total | 12 |
Turfgrass Science and Management emphasis
The Turfgrass Science and Management emphasis is targeted toward students who desire additional turfgrass science knowledge to support their professional goals. These goals could be to expand seed, chemical and fertilizer sales and management services to turfgrass systems. Students in the Turfgrass Science and Management option cannot pursue this emphasis.
Requirement | Credit Hours |
---|---|
|
9 |
Choose any 3 credits from:
|
3 |
Total | 12 |
Urban Food Systems emphasis
The Urban Food Systems emphasis offers a multidisciplinary exploration of urban agriculture and local food systems. Courses in specialty crop production, urban soils, food science and nutrition, and entrepreneurship will prepare students to manage or consult with urban farms and food system stakeholders.
*PLAS 455 requires CHEM 110A&L and CHEM 221 or 251.
Requirement | Credit Hours |
---|---|
Choose at least 3 production credits from:
|
3-6 |
Choose 3 soils credits from:
|
3-6 |
Choose 2-3 food credits from:
|
2-3 |
Choose 3 marketing, business, or entrepreneurship credits from:
|
3-6 |
Total | 12 |
Water for Food emphasis
The Water for Food emphasis provides an opportunity for specialization in water quality and management leading to careers working in landscapes with high ground water vulnerability and in irrigated plant production systems.
*SOIL 361 requires a second semester of chemistry, either CHEM 106 or 110. PLAS 452 and SOIL 354 require physics, MYSM 109, PHYS 141 or 151.
Requirement | Credit Hours |
---|---|
Choose 12 credits from:
|
12 |
Total | 12 |
Students in the Plant and Landscape Systems major cannot select minors in agronomy, horticulture, landscape design and management, or turfgrass science and management. Instead select the Agronomic Plant Production, Specialty Crop Production, Ecological Landscape Design, Sustainable Landscape Management, or Turfgrass Science and Management emphasis.
The PLAS major has 24 total credits allocated to two emphases and/or minors. In addition, each option has 14-17 free electives that can be used toward minors to stay within the 120 credits needed for graduation.
Minor notes:
- If two minors are chosen, one must be in CASNR. For a list of CASNR minors see: https://catalog.unl.edu/undergraduate/majors/#filter=.filter_26.
- If one minor and one emphasis is chosen, the minor may be any UNL minor. All UNL minors are listed here: https://catalog.unl.edu/undergraduate/majors/.
- Double counting courses taken for a requirement in the CASNR core, major core, or option is allowed for minors. This is commonly done with careful section of ACE courses. For example, HORT 200 can be used as an ACE 9 course and as part of the International Agriculture and Natural Resources minor.
- Courses cannot be double counted in a minor and an emphasis. For example, HORT 213 cannot be used in both the Ecological Landscape Design emphasis and the Urban Forestry minor.
- Double counting is not allowed in two minors. For example, AECN 235 cannot be counted in both the agribusiness and agricultural economics minors.
CASNR Minors
CASNR minors that pair well with PLAS options (six or fewer free electives needed). The table is based on the Fall 2021 catalog. See the complete list of CASNR minors here.
Minors | Courses that can apply toward a minor and another degree requirement. | Net credits need | # of credits from free electives* |
---|---|---|---|
Agribusiness | AECN 141 or ECON 212 (ACE 6) | 15 | 3 |
Agricultural & Environmental Science | None | 18 | 6 |
Agricultural Economics | AECN 141 or ECON 212 (ACE 6) | 15 | 3 |
Animal Science | None | 18 | 6 |
Applied Climate Science | NRES 104 (ACE 9) | 15 | 3 |
Energy Science | ENSC 110 (ACE 9) | 15 | 3 |
Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship** | AGRI 310 (ACE 9)*** | 12-18 | 0-6 |
Environmental Education | ENVR 201 (ACE 8, if needed) | 15-18 | 3-6 |
Environmental Studies | Several ACE 8 (if needed); several ACE 9 to choose from; COMM 101, 210 or 283 (ACE 2); ENGL 317 or GEOG 334 (ACE 5) | 6-9 | 0 |
Fisheries and Wildlife | NRES 220 (horticulture core select from) | 15-18 | 3-6 |
Food, Energy and Water in Society | SCIL 101 (CASNR core), ENSC 110 (ACE 9) | 12 | 0 |
Grassland Ecology and Management | AGRO 153 (core) | 14 | 2 |
Grazing Livestock Systems | AGRO 240 (agronomy core select from) | 15-18 | 3-6 |
Insect Science | ENTO 105 | 16 | 4 |
International Agriculture & Natural Resources** | Several courses that complete ACE 9; HORT 200 (ACE 7) | 9-12 | 0 |
Leadership and Communication | ALEC 102 (ACE 2), ALEC 388 (ACE 8, if needed) | 12-15 | 0-3 |
Leadership and Entrepreneurship | ALEC 102 (ACE 2) | 15 | 3 |
Precision Agriculture** | AGRO 431 (agronomy core select from) | 10-13 | 0-1 |
Sustainability Studies | ACE 8 (if needed); HORT 200 in track 1 or 2 (ACE 7 or 9); HORT 326 in track 3 | 12-15 | 0-3 |
Urban Forestry** | HORT 213 (horticulture or landscape design and management options), CRPL 300 (ACE 9) | 10 | 0 |
*The number of credits needed from free electives is the net credits needed minus 12 credits that are allocated for each emphasis or minor.
**There are 12- and 18-hour minors for the Engler Agribusiness minor and the International Agriculture & Natural Resources minor. The Precision Agriculture minor is 13 credits. The Urban Forestry minor is 16 credits.
***International Study tour, usually requires international travel.
Minors Outside of CASNR
Minors outside of CASNR that pair well with the PLAS options. Many other 18-hour minors are available that may require 6 or fewer free elective credits to complete. See the complete list of minors outside of CASNR here.
Minors | Courses that can count twice | Net credits need | # of Credits from Free Electives* |
---|---|---|---|
Business | BLAW 300 (ACE 8, if needed), ECON 200 (ACE 6) | 12-15 | 0-3 |
Chemistry – Plan B | CHEM 109A&L (core), CHEM 110A&L (in horticulture option select from) | 8-12 | 0 |
Community and Regional Planning | CRPL 300 (ACE 9) and one additional ACE 5 or ECON 200, 211 or 212 | 12 | 0 |
Communication studies | COMM 101 (ACE 2) | 15 | 3 |
Global Leadership | BSAD 320 (ACE 9) | 9 | 0 |
Global Studies | GLST 160 (ACE 9) | 15 | 3 |
Geography | GEOG 289, 334, or 377 (ACE 5); GEOG 200 (ACE 7); GEOG 140, 181, 272, 377, 378, or 380 (ACE 9) | 9 | 0 |
Hospitality, Restaurant & Tourism Management | HRTM 475 (in turfgrass science and management option select from) | 15-18 | 3-6 |
Landscape Architecture | PLAS 200 (ACE 7), LARC 241 (ACE 5), CRPL 400 (ACE 8, if needed) | 9-12 | 0 |
Law and Business | None | 12 | 0 |