Skip Navigation
Home  |  CAFNR  |
Along with the Plant Sciences Core Curriculum students in the plant protection emphasis area are required to take theses additional courses.
Required Courses
for Emphasis Area:
Credit
Pest Sequence-Enroll in course not taken as part of core.
3-5
Theory & Concepts of Plant Pathology
3*
Pesticide Application Equipment
3
Insect Pest Management for Plant Protection
3
Intro. Plant Pathology Lab
2
Soil Fertility & Plan Nutrition
3
Soil Fertility & Plant Nutrition Lab
2
Select THREE:
Dendrology
4
Forest Health and Protection
4
Ornamental Woody Plants I
3
Ornamental Herbaceous Plants
3
Greenhouse Management
4
Forage Crops
3
Grain Crops
3
Crop Physiology
3
Turf
3
Small Fruit & Vegetable Production
3
Total Credits:
27-30
* No additional credit given if taken as part of the core curriculum.

Plant Protection

The most destructive enemies of plants take the form of insects, weeds, and diseases. Worldwide, each year they destroy over 30% of the crop plants we depend on for food and fiber. In addition to affecting a plant's productivity, these plant enemies affect a plant's aesthetic value too. To meet the increasing demand for food and to care for the large number of plants in our fields, landscapes and turf areas, individuals trained in plant protection are needed.

Plant protection involves many disciplines, requiring knowledge of the biology of pests, principles of crop production, biotechnology, pesticide toxicology, and environmental science. Careers can include: working for a seed company or chemical company, employment with a city or municipality to manage landscape plants, serving to manage pests in agricultural settings while employed for a cooperative, working for a turf or landscape service, or becoming an independent consultant. Your career could be found in Missouri or almost anywhere plants are found. Students graduating with an emphasis in plant protection could also pursue an advanced graduate degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) in a specific discipline such as entomology, weed science, or plant pathology.

Explore a career in plant protection and become trained as a "plant care specialist"!