Agronomy, which includes the soil and water environments associated with crop production, is the primary source of food for our world's population. Agroeconomic activities are very important at the state, national and global levels. Many opportunities await agronomists with M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. Positions are available in the private sector as well as in government and universities. The graduate faculty of the school is engaged in both applied and basic research. Most agronomy and environmental management faculty members have joint appointments in the LSU Agricultural Center. These scientists conduct research and impart education and training to sustain productivity of food, feed and fiber while maintaining environmental quality with efficient use of natural resources.

Horticulture at LSU has a great tradition. Some of the most important U.S. varieties of sweet potatoes, strawberries and peaches have been developed at LSU during the past 50 years. Plant breeding remains a significant focus, but there is a new emphasis in woody ornamentals and floriculture. Traditional cultural practices of the past are now modified by a trend toward sustainable agricultural methods with less impact on the environment. In the last decade, physiological research in fruit, vegetable, floriculture and ornamental production systems has increased. Turfgrass science and management have also become important areas of horticulture research. The horticulture faculty is unique in its strong emphasis on postharvest processing and technology.

Soils represent one of our greatest natural resources; a source for growing food, fiber and building materials. Students in soil science are provided hands-on experience with advanced technologies such as inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy, x-ray fluorescence spectrometry, GreenSeeker proximal nitrogen sensor, global positioning system, carbon/nitrogen combustion analyzer and gas chromatograph. Studies in pollution management and spatial/temporal variation in soil properties are modeled with advanced software such as ArcGIS. Students completing degrees in soil science have many career options available to them, including government sector (USDA-NRCS, Bureau of Land Management, Forest Service, Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality), private sector (consulting, industrial services, wetland delineation, soil survey) and academia.

Environmental management uses scientific information to manage natural resources in ways that will ensure environmental sustainability. Both teaching and research in the School of Plant, Environmental, and Soil Sciences are directly related to sustainability and provide graduate students with a background in such environmental management areas as wetlands conservation, water pollution prevention, waste management, pest-management practices and environmental remediation.

Master of Science (MS) in Plant, Environmental Management, and Soil Science (PEMSS)

• at least nine hours credit must be 7000 or above (not including thesis credits)
• at least one hour credit from seminar classes AGRO 7001/HORT 7913 and one exit seminar (non-credit)

The student must pass a comprehensive oral examination (thesis defense). Students are strongly encouraged to publish manuscript(s) from their MS research in appropriate peer-reviewed, scholarly journals.

The non-thesis option MS degree, approved only under special circumstances, requires a minimum of 36 hours credit at the graduate level of well-defined course work. A non-thesis option MS is considered to be a terminal degree and the curricular requirements include:

• 18 hours of which must be 7000 or above
• completion of a short project with a written comprehensive report
• two semesters of seminar (two hours credit)

One semester service assisting in a laboratory course is recommended for non-thesis students. The student must pass a comprehensive oral examination.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Plant, Environmental Management, and Soil Science (PEMSS)

The individualized program of study for each student will be developed in consultation with and approved by the student’s graduate advisory committee. The committee will include the student’s major professor and at least two additional members of the graduate faculty such that the LSU Graduate School’s requirements for graduate committees are satisfied.

A dissertation is a requirement for the proposed degree. A minimum of 51 hours of credit at the graduate level must be earned plus a maximum of nine hours of credit for the dissertation for a total of 60 hours credit. The curricular requirements include:

• at least 12 hours credit must be 7000 or above (not including thesis credits)
• at least two hours credit from seminar classes AGRO 7001/HORT 7913 (one proposal seminar and one exit seminar). One seminar class may be substituted with a seminar presented in the minor department if a minor is being undertaken.

Approximately halfway through the student’s doctoral program, he/she will be required to pass qualifying exams en route to becoming a candidate for the PhD. The qualifying exams may include written and/or oral examinations at the discretion of the graduate committee and in accordance with Graduate School guidelines. Once a candidate for the PhD, the students must pass a comprehensive oral examination in defense of his/her dissertation. Students are strongly encouraged to publish manuscript(s) from their doctoral research in appropriate peer-reviewed, scholarly journals.

Applicants for admission to the M.S. and Ph.D. programs are required to submit a completed application plus transcripts of all previous college work and scores on the verbal and quantitative portions of the GRE. Applications should be submitted at least three months prior to the beginning of a new term. In addition, international applicants must submit scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Applicants for admission to the graduate programs in the School of Plant, Environmental, and Soil Sciences must first be admitted by the Graduate School.

• Agronomy Courses Description
• Environmental Management Systems Courses Description
• Horticulture Courses Description
• LSU Course Offerings
• LSU General Catalog
• LSU Schedule of Classes

In the School of Plant, Environmental, and Soil Sciences, both teaching and research assistantships are available to some students. Stipends are competitive with other programs around the country, and tuition waivers apply. To ensure consideration for financial aid, all application materials should be submitted in accordance with deadlines established by the LSU Graduate School. Students holding teaching assistantships may assist in the teaching of a course or teach one to two laboratory sections. Graduate assistants are required to work up to 20 hours per week. Students are assigned to supervisors who may or may not be their major professor.