Bachelor of Science in Integrated Plant Sciences
IPS majors explore the science of plant development and production from the perspectives of a variety of disciplines. All students in the program take a core set of interdisciplinary courses selected specifically to give them a solid foundation on which they can build expertise in a specific discipline.
In addition to WSU’s Six Learning Goals of the Baccalaureate, successful IPS graduates also will be able to:
- Understand and put into practice the scientific basis and interdisciplinary nature of plant production and utilization systems
- Understand and put into practice the growth and development of horticultural and agronomic crop plants, current management practices, and factors that influence aesthetic and end-use quality
- Understand and put into practice the physiological and biochemical processes that occur during growth, development, maturation, and harvest of crop plants
- Use the skills, facts, concepts, principles, and research methods from plant and other sciences to participate actively in a wide variety of environmental, scientific and agricultural activities, including research, outreach, education and management
- Understand and appreciate the importance of horticultural and agronomic crop plants to global society and use this knowledge to contribute to the welfare of global society
- Clearly and compellingly communicate solutions to local, regional, national, and global problems in writing or orally using appropriate traditional and emerging technological media
- Understand and appreciate the wide array of professional opportunities in plant sciences.
The hands-on possibilities within the IPS degree are numerous. Students are required to participate in undergraduate research projects, work as part-time employees with research and extension personnel, and/or participate in professional internships to put their classroom training to work. Student clubs also provide a variety of ways to interact with peers, faculty, and staff within the college, yet another way to enrich the educational experience.
Scholarships for IPS majors are available on a competitive basis and are awarded based on ability, need, and interest in a career path in plant sciences. In order to certify in an IPS major, a student must have a minimum of 24 credits with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0.
Transfer Students
Students planning to transfer into the IPS program should take courses that meet the university’s general education requirements (GERs), and that also meet the IPS core requirements when possible. Students are strongly encouraged to consult with an advisor within the IPS program for further guidance.
Schedule of Studies
Students must complete one American Diversity [D] course to meet the General Education Requirements (GERs). The American Diversity course can be double designated by choosing one humanities, social science, or Tier III course that also is designated as an [D] course. Note: Honors students will complete Honors requirements instead of GERs.