Agricultural Sciences

About the College

Richard Roush, Dean, College of Agricultural Sciences

The College of Agricultural Sciences was the first college established at Penn State and awarded the nation's first baccalaureate degrees in agriculture in 1861. The college offers 17 undergraduate majors, 23 minors, three two-year programs and two certificate programs. Students can earn degrees related to animal and plant sciences; ecosystems and the environment; food and fuel; human and veterinary health and medicine; business, government, and nonprofits; teaching and extension; engineering; and more. Over 3,000 undergraduate students across the commonwealth call the college home. 80 percent are from non-agricultural backgrounds. Each year, the college invests $97 million into research and graduate study and $2.5 million into student scholarships. Penn State Extension, which fulfills the University's responsibility as Pennsylvania's designated land-grant institution, is administered through the college. Penn State Extension disseminates University expertise and resources to address the social, educational, and physical needs of citizens in each of the state's 67 counties.

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Mission and Goals

The mission of Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences is to discover, integrate, translate, and disseminate knowledge to enhance the food and agricultural system, natural resources and environmental stewardship, and economic and social well-being, thereby improving the lives of people in Pennsylvania, the nation, and the world. Our goal is to assert leadership and foster innovation through organizational improvement and change. By strategic investment of resources, we aim to address the changing needs of the Commonwealth.

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Departments and Schools

Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering

Founded in 1930, the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering in Penn State's Colleges of Agricultural Sciences and Engineering, provides high quality engineering education, research, and outreach. Our mission is to advance the engineering sciences, business, and technical management of biological and agricultural systems by promoting scholarship and engaging our students and stakeholders.

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Department of Agricultural Economics, Sociology, and Education

The scholarship in AESE is related to people, society, and economic systems grounded in theory and methods from the social, behavioral and economic sciences. We develop and employ approaches to discover fundamental and applied principles that advance science and improve the health, prosperity and welfare of people in Pennsylvania and beyond.

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Department of Animal Science

The Department of Dairy and Animal Science originated in 1887, when Henry Armsby became director of the Agricultural Experiment Station. Today the department encompasses all food production animals and companion animals. We offer world-class teaching, research, and extension programs in a variety of key areas in animal agriculture and the food system.

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Department of Ecosystem Science and Management

The Department of Ecosystem Science and Management is Pennsylvania’s leader in preparing students for careers in sustainable management of natural resources. We conduct research to create new knowledge about forests, wildlife and fisheries, soils, and watersheds, and disseminate that knowledge through the classroom and extension education programs serving various stakeholders.

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Department of Entomology

The diverse members of the Department of Entomology investigate fundamental and applied biological questions from the level of the molecule to population and community. Our mission is to conduct outstanding research on insect science that will improve human health, quality of life, and the sustainability of our food and ecosystems.

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Department of Food Science

The Department of Food Science at Penn State is one of the premier food science departments in the country. Our undergraduate food science major offers students hands-on science dealing with real-world applications; small, friendly atmosphere; world-class internship experiences; excellent scholarship opportunities, and near-100% job placement.

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Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology

The Department of Plant Pathology provides students with top-ranked educational and research opportunities in a collegial and friendly atmosphere. A major goal of our department is to support growth of healthy plants in order to beautify our living spaces, sustain our food supply, and maintain an inhabitable ecosystem.

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Department of Plant Science

The Department of Plant Sciences encompasses horticulture, agronomy and crops and soils sciences. Our mission is to enhance our understanding and management of agronomic and horticultural crops and managed landscapes that are the foundation for managed ecosystems, food and fiber production, landscapes and environmental quality to enhance human environments.

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Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences

The Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences at Penn State achieves excellence in research, teaching, and outreach in biomedical sciences and veterinary medicine. Our Department offers three undergraduate degrees at Penn State: Immunology and Infectious Disease, Toxicology, and Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences.

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College Procedures

Change of Campus

All students who begin their studies at one of the Penn State campuses are expected to complete their first two years at that campus. Students may request a temporary or permanent change of campus via LionPATH. More information about the change-of-campus process can be found at our website.

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Concurrent Majors

A Concurrent Majors Program is one in which students take courses to concurrently meet the requirements of at least two majors, with graduation for all majors in the program occurring during the same semester.

To add a concurrent major in the College of Agricultural Sciences, students must:

  1. Initiate the "Add Major" function in LionPATH (Update Academics)
  2. Complete both paper forms (the university form and the college form)
  3. Once the forms are completed and submitted, the LionPATH approval can take place.

READ SENATE POLICY 60-00: COMPLETING MORE THAN ONE UNDERGRADUATE MAJOR PROGRAM

Academic Warning

A student who fails to earn a 2.00 cumulative grade-point average will be placed on academic warning. A student placed on academic warning will have a hold placed on registration and will be required to meet with an academic adviser in order for this registration hold to be removed. To remove academic warning, the cumulative grade-point average must be 2.00 or higher.

Students in Academic Warning should work closely with their assigned academic adviser or the College of Agricultural Sciences Advising Center to identify and address issues impacting their academic success.

READ SENATE POLICY 54-20: ACADEMIC WARNING

Academic Suspension

A student in academic warning who fails to maintain a semester grade-point average of 2.00 or higher will be academically suspended. A student who has been academically suspended may not schedule courses at the University for two consecutive semesters. (Note: Summer session is equal to one semester.)

Students who are academically suspended should work closely with their assigned academic adviser or the College of Agricultural Sciences Advising Center to develop a success plan that will be implemented during suspension. At the conclusion of suspension, students must apply for re-enrollment and submit the required materials for college review.

READ SENATE POLICY 54-40: ACADEMIC SUSPENSION

Resources

Career Services and Experiential Learning

Students in the College of Agricultural Sciences are encouraged to seek out opportunities that will enrich their academic experience, outside of the classroom. The College of Agricultural Sciences offers programs and support for career readiness, including internship and job placement, undergraduate research opportunities, and professional growth and development.

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Study Abroad

Where will your education take you? The college offers an array of international experiences aligned with your interests. Global experience broadens your horizons, giving you a deeper understanding of what you learn, prepares you professionally, and changes how you see the world. Visit our website for courses, programs, funding, and more!

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Honors Programs

Schreyer Honors College

The Schreyer Honors College, regarded as one of the nation’s top programs of its kind, promotes achieving academic excellence with integrity, building a global perspective, and creating opportunities for leadership and civic engagement. Schreyer Scholars, including those admitted after their first or second year of enrollment, are a diverse and motivated group of approximately 2,000 students at University Park and 20 Commonwealth campuses. The College strives to educate students who will have an important and ethical influence in the world, to improve educational practice, and to continue to be recognized as a leading force in honors education nationwide.

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Contact

COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES
101 Agricultural Administration Bldg.
University Park, PA 16802
814-865-7521
AGAdvising@psu.edu

https://agsci.psu.edu/