Plant Science – Soil Science Concentration
Sample Course Sequence
UConn Graduation Requirements – including major and Common Curriculum requirements – can be found at UConn’s Undergraduate Catalog.
Students normally average 15 credits per semester over a 4-year period (fall/spring only) to meet the 120 academic credits required.
First Year
Fall Semester
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| PLSC 1120 – Introduction to Plant Science | 4 |
| TOI/Gen Ed or Elective (Recommended: PLSC 1125 – Insects, Food and Culture (TOI 2, 4)** | 3 |
| ENGL 1007 or 1010 or 1011 – First Year Writing Seminar | 4 |
| BIOL 1108 – Principles of Biology II OR BIOL 1110 – Introduction to Botany | 4 |
| UNIV 1800 OR 1810 – First Year Experience course | 1 |
| Total Credits: 16 | |
Spring Semester
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| CHEM 1122 OR 1124Q OR 1127Q – General Chemistry | 4 |
| MATH 1020Q (or higher) – Problem Solving | 3 |
| TOI/Gen Ed or Elective (Recommended: PLSC 1150 – Agricultural Technology and Society (TOI 2, 5))*** | 3 |
| TOI/Gen Ed or Elective | 3 |
| TOI/Gen Ed or Elective | 3 OR 4 |
| Total Credits: 16 | |
Second Year
Fall Semester
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| PLSC 3120E – Fungi, Fire, and Flood: Soil Microbes in a Changing World (TOI 4, 6) | 3 |
| PLSC 2100 – Environmental Sustainability of Food Production in Developing Countries (TOI 2, 4) | 3 |
| TOI/Gen Ed or Elective | 3 |
| TOI/Gen Ed or Elective | 3 |
| TOI/Gen Ed or Foreign Language* | 3 |
| Total Credits: 15 | |
Spring Semester
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| PLSC 2120 – Environmental Soil Science | 3 |
| PLSC 2125 – Soils Lab (TOI 6L) | 1 |
| PLSC 2560W – Written Communications in Horticulture | 1 |
| TOI/Gen Ed or Elective | 3 |
| TOI/Gen Ed or Elective | 3 |
| TOI/Gen Ed or Foreign Language* | 3 |
| Total Credits: 14 | |
Third Year
If considering Education Abroad, the Spring semester of the junior year is recommended in some majors.
Fall Semester
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| PLSC 3620 – Soil Fertility | 3 |
| PLSC 3820 – Ecology and Control of Weeds | 3 |
| PLSC 3610 – Organic and Sustainable Vegetable Production | 4 |
| TOI/Gen Ed or Elective | 3 |
| TOI/Gen Ed or Elective | 3 |
| Total Credits: 16 | |
Spring Semester
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| PLSC 3710 – Soil Management, Soil Health, & Climate Change | 3 |
| PLSC 2500E – Principles and Concepts of Agroecology (TOI 4) | 3 |
| TOI/Gen Ed or Elective | 3 |
| TOI/Gen Ed or Elective | 3 |
| TOI/Gen Ed or Elective | 3 |
| Total Credits: 15 | |
Summer Session (optional): PLSC 3081 – Summer Internship Experience1 – 0 credits
Fourth Year
Fall
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| PLSC 3990 – Field Study Internship1 | 3 |
| PLSC 3700 – Soil Morphology**** | 3 |
| TOI/Gen Ed or Elective | 3 |
| TOI/Gen Ed or Elective | 3 |
| TOI/Gen Ed or Elective | 3 |
| Total Credits: 15 | |
Spring Semester
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| PLSC 4210 – Plant Physiology: How Plants Work | 3 |
| PLSC 3440 – Small Fruit Production | 3 |
| TOI/Gen Ed or Elective | 3 |
| TOI/Gen Ed or Elective | 3 |
| TOI/Gen Ed or Elective | 3 |
| Total Credits: 15 | |
*Required if student has not met the University requirement of 3 years of a single foreign language in high school.
**Only offered in the fall of odd years | ***Only offered in the spring of even years | ****Only offered in the Fall of even years
1Internships may be done in the Fall or Spring semester. For internships done in the summer, students may enroll in PLSC3081 Summer Internship Experience (for 0 credit) in the summer, and in the subsequent fall enroll in PLSC 3990 Field Study Internship for credit and submission of report. Students should discuss options with major advisor.
Students can elect to enroll in Summer/Winter sessions. Course options can be found at the Summer Session and Winter Session sites.
Students interested in Education Abroad should discuss options (semester, winter or summer) with major advisor.
All students beginning in Fall 2025 will be taking courses that fall into six Topics of Inquiry (TOIs) and three Competencies, while students who matriculated prior to Fall 2025 will continue to follow the General Education Curriculum. Transfer students will have the option to follow either the TOI requirements or the General Education Curriculum. Please consult with your advisor if you have questions.