The Department of Agronomy offers many courses ranging from introductory courses for majors and non-majors, to advanced courses for majors and graduate students in Agronomy and related disciplines.

A full course list can also be found in the Agronomy Guide page.

Some courses may be offered every year, every other year, or less frequently. Check the course search and enroll app in your student center for current/future offerings or contact the Agronomy office.

AGRONOMY 100 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES IN CROP PRODUCTION: 4 credits. Fall Semester. Instructor: William Tracy Course Description: Plant science applied to the growth, production, management, distribution and utilization of field crops. Prerequisites: None, Open to freshman

AGRONOMY 103 AN INTRODUCTION TO THE ECOLOGY OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE: 3 credits. Fall Semester. Instructor: Michael Bell & Claudio Gratton. Course Description: Agroecology has blossomed across the world in recent decades as not only a science, but also a practice, and a movement. Employ the multiple disciplines and perspectives that Agroecology affords to analyze our agricultural and food systems within a broader context of dynamic social and ecological relationships. Plant science applied to the growth, production, management, distribution and utilization of field crops. Crosslisted with: Agroecology, C&E Soc, Entomology, and Environmental Studies. Prerequisites: None, Open to freshman

AGRONOMY 203 INTRODUCTION TO GLOBAL HEALTH: 3 credits. Spring and Fall Semester. Instructor:  Sherry Tanumihardjo Course Description: Introduces students to global health concepts through multidisciplinary speakers dedicated to improving health through their unique training. It targets students with an interest in public health and those who wish to learn how their field impacts their global issues. Crosslisted with: Entomology, Nutritional Sciences Prerequisites: None, Open to freshman

AGRONOMY 289 HONORS INDEPENDENT STUDY:  1-2 credits. Available each semester. Course Description: Research work under direct guidance of an Agronomy faculty or instructional academic staff member. Enroll Info: Students are responsible for arranging the work and credits with the supervising instructor. Intended for students in the CALS Honors Program. Prerequisites: Consent of instructor

AGRONOMY 299 INDEPENDENT STUDY: 1-3 credits. Available each semester. Instructor:  Course Description: Research work under direct guidance of a faculty or instructional academic staff member. Enroll Info: Students are responsible for arranging the work and credits with the supervising instructor. Prerequisites: Consent of instructor

AGRONOMY 300 CROPPING SYSTEMS: 3 credits. Spring Semester. Instructor: David Stoltenberg Course Description: Agronomic cropping systems of the Midwest: environmental impacts, productivity, and profitability. Cropping system diversification and sustainable agriculture. An agroecological approach, the application of ecological concepts and principles for the improvement of cropping systems is emphasized. Prerequisites: Agronomy 100 or graduate/professional standing

AGRONOMY 302 FORAGE MANAGEMENT AND UTILIZATION: 3 credits. Fall Semester. Instructor: Valentin Picasso Course Description: Establishment, management, harvesting and utilization of forage crops for use as hay, pasture and silage. Emphasis on cool season perennial grasses and legumes. Crosslisted with: Prerequisites: Junior standing and (DY SCI/​AN SCI  101, ZOOLOGY/​BIOLOGY  101, ZOOLOGY/​BIOLOGY/​BOTANY  151, AGRONOMY 100, or BIOCORE 381) or graduate/professional standing

AGRONOMY 326 PLANT NUTRITION MANAGEMENT: 3 credits. Spring Semester. Instructor: Phillip Barak Course Description: Functions, requirements and uptake of essential plant nutrients; chemical and microbial processes affecting nutrient availability; diagnosis of plant and soil nutrient status; fertilizers and efficient fertilizer use in different tillage systems. Crosslisted with: Horticulture and Soil Science Prerequisites: (CHEM 103, 109, or 115 and SOIL SCI/​ENVIR ST/​GEOG  230) or SOIL SCI 301, or graduate/professional standing

AGRONOMY 338 PLANT BREEDING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY: 3 credits. Spring Semester. Instructor: Lucia Gutierrez Course Description: Principles of transferring plant genes by sexual, somatic, and molecular methods and the application of gene transfer in plant breeding and genetic engineering to improve crop plants. Crosslisted with: Horticulture Prerequisites: (BOTANY/​BIOLOGY  130, GENETICS 466, 467, or BIOCORE 381) or graduate/professional standing

AGRONOMY 339 PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY: PRINCIPLES AND TECHNIQUES I: 4 credits. Offerings: varies. Course Description: Theoretical and practical training in plant biotechnology including molecular biology, protein biochemistry and basic bioinformatic techniques used in fundamental and applied research on plants. Valuable hands-on training to those interested in careers in biotechnology. Crosslisted with: Botany and Horticulture Prerequisites: (ZOOLOGY/​BIOLOGY/​BOTANY  152 or ZOOLOGY/​BIOLOGY  102) and (CHEM 104, 109, or 116) or graduate/professional standing

AGRONOMY 340 PLANT CELL CULTURE AND GENETIC ENGINEERING: 4 credits. Some Spring Semesters. Instructor: Heidi Kaeppler Course Description: Presents an overview of the techniques, biology and underlying theory of plant tissue culture, genetic engineering and genome editing. Overviews of research and commercial applications, and issues/challenges in the area of plant biotechnology are also covered. Crosslisted with: Botany and Horticulture Prerequisites: (BOTANY/​BIOLOGY  130, ZOOLOGY/​BIOLOGY/​BOTANY  152, or ZOOLOGY/​BIOLOGY  102) and (CHEM 104, 109, or 116) or graduate/professional standing

AGRONOMY 350 WORLD HUNGER AND MALNUTRITION: 3 credits. Spring Semester. Instructor:  Jean-Paul Chavas & Taiya Bach Course Description: Hunger and poverty in developing countries and the United States. Topics include: nutrition and health, population, food production and availability, and income distribution and employment.  Crosslisted with: AAE, Inter-AG, and Nutritional Sciences Prerequisites: None

AGRONOMY 354 DIAGNOSING AND MONITORING PEST AND NUTRIENT STATUS OF FIELD CROPS: 1 credit. Some Spring Semesters. Course Description: Provides students with information necessary to diagnosis and monitor corn, soybean, alfalfa and wheat for pests (insects, weeds, diseases) and nutrient deficiency symptoms including perspectives from Agronomy, Entomology, Horticulture, Plant Pathology and Soil Science. Proper soil and pest sampling information will be provided as will proper crop staging techniques which are essential for pest and nutrient management. Crosslisted with: Entomology, Horticulture, Plant Pathology and Soil Science Prerequisites: None

AGRONOMY 360 GENETICALLY MODIFIED CROPS: SCIENCE, REGULATION & CONTROVERSY: 2 credits. Spring Semester. Instructor:  Jeffrey Endelman Course Description: Explores how and why genetically modified (GM) crops are created and their regulation at the federal and state level. Through case studies, students will learn about the impacts of GM crops and critically evaluate arguments both for and against their use. Readings and discussion introduce students to the complex economic, cultural, and political issues surrounding GM crops Crosslisted with: Horticulture Prerequisites: ZOOLOGY/​BIOLOGY  101, BOTANY/​BIOLOGY  130, ZOOLOGY/​BIOLOGY/​BOTANY  151, BIOCORE 381, GENETICS 466, or GENETICS 467

AGRONOMY 367 INTRODUCTION TO ORGANIC AGRICULTURE: PRODUCTION, MARKETS, AND POLICY: 3 credits. Course Description: Provides an in-depth understanding of the history of organic agriculture, its production, processing, marketing, and social dimensions, and its impact on environmental, community, and human health. Crosslisted with: AAE, Horticulture, and Plant Pathology Prerequisites: ENVIR ST/​AGROECOL/​AGRONOMY/​C&E SOC/​ENTOM 103 or graduate/professional standing

AGRONOMY 370 GRASSLAND ECOLOGY: 3 credits. Fall Semester. Instructor:  Randy Jackson Course Description: Understand factors driving global, continental, regional, and local distribution of grasslands. Discuss how management affects provision of grassland ecosystem goods and services. Compare and contrast plant community and ecosystem dynamics in native prairie and intensively managed pastures. Crosslisted with: Botany and Soil Science Prerequisites: PL PATH/​BOTANY  123, BOTANY/​BIOLOGY  130, SOIL SCI/​ENVIR ST  101, SOILSCI 132, ZOOLOGY/​BIOLOGY/​BOTANY  151, BIOCORE 381, BOTANY 100, or AGRONONY 100, or graduate/professional standing

AGRONOMY 371 MANAGED GRAZING FIELD STUDY: 1-2 credits. Some Fall Semesters. Course Description: For those interested in developing a comprehensive understanding of the principles, practices, and conservation potential of managed grazing systems, and how these farming systems may contribute to the sustainability and diverse tapestry of Wisconsin’s working landscape. Visit managed grazing systems of successful grazing-based farmers (grazers) across southern/central counties in Wisconsin, and/or research sites at UW’s Arlington and/or Lancaster Research Stations and/or the Discovery Farms Program. An opportunity to discuss at length with farm managers and researchers the practices in place at each farm and research site. Includes introduction to UWEX pasture forage/nutrient management planning and budgeting software. Crosslisted with: Agroecology and Dairy Science Prerequisites: Consent of instructor

AGRONOMY 375 SPECIAL TOPICS: 1-4 credits. Spring and Fall Semesters. Course Description: Special topics on issues relevant to Agronomy. Varies with section, see course search and enroll for available topics. Prerequisites: None

AGRONOMY 376 TROPICAL HORTICULTURAL SYSTEMS: 1 credits. Fall Semester. Instructor:  Claudia Calderon Course Description: Highlight the connections between tropical plants and society through a combination of readings, writing assignments, lectures, and collaborative work. Discussions include multidisciplinary reflections on the biology of tropical plants, as well as an overview of different production systems and some of the social and environmental problems associated with the utilization of plants in the context of local and global markets. Provides the opportunity to demonstrate comparative skills with respect to local and international challenges posed by the topics we address in class. By the end of this course, the student will be able to make connections between horticulture and conservation, food security, nutrition, and global health. Crosslisted with: Horticulture Prerequisites: Junior standing

AGRONOMY 377 GLOBAL FOOD PRODUCTION AND HEALTH: 3 credits. Spring Semester. Instructor:  Valentin Picasso Course Description: Crops, food, and cropping systems from different parts of the world and their impact on global sustainability and health. Introduction to crop biology, environmental requirements, and agronomic production practices of major food crops. Environmental, socioeconomic, and health impacts of farming systems and how to assess their sustainability. For those with broad interests in global issues, agroecology, food, environment, health, and agriculture. Prerequisites: (BOTANY/​BIOLOGY  130 or ZOOLOGY/​BIOLOGY/​BOTANY  152) or graduate/professional standing. See a video for the course Here.

AGRONOMY 399 COORDINATIVE INTERNSHIP/COOPERATIVE EDUCATION: 1-8 credits. Available every semester. Course Description: An internship under guidance of a faculty or instructional academic staff member in Agronomy and internship site supervisor. Enroll Info: Students are responsible for arranging the work and credits with the faculty or instructional academic staff member and the internship site supervisor. Prerequisites: Consent of instructor

AGRONOMY 400 STUDY ABROAD IN AGRONOMY: 1-6 credits. Available every semester. Course Description: Provides an area equivalency for courses taken on Madison Study Abroad Programs that do not equate to existing UW courses. Prerequisites: None, but must be enrolled in a UW Madison study abroad program

AGRONOMY 471 FOOD PRODUCTION SYSTEMS AND SUSTAINABILITY: 3 credits. Spring Semester. Instructor:  Michel Wattiaux Course Description: Delves into aspects of natural sciences (biology and agricultural sciences) and social sciences underpinning the assessment of food production systems as related to a variety of outcomes including but not restricted to human and environmental health, air and water quality, greenhouse gases emission, land use, economic opportunity, social justice, as well as mitigation and adaptation to climate change, locally, regionally, domestically, across continents, and globally. Crosslisted with: Inter-Ag and Dairy Science Prerequisites: (Graduate/professional standing) or junior standing and satisfied Quantitative Reasoning (QR) B requirement

AGRONOMY 500 SENIOR CAPSTONE EXPERIENCE: 2 credits. Spring Semester. Instructor:  Varies Course Description: A stepping stone between the classroom and society. Emphasizes discussion and activities for enhancing integration of diverse bodies of knowledge, critical thinking, and effective written and oral communication. Prerequisites: Senior Standing

AGRONOMY 501 PRINCIPLES OF PLANT BREEDING: 3 credits. Fall Semester. Instructor:  Julie Dawson & Natalia de Leon Course Description: Principles involved in breeding and maintaining economic crops; factors affecting the choice of breeding methods; alternative approaches through hybridization and selection. Crosslisted with: Horticulture Prerequisites: (GENETICS 466 or 467) and (BOTANY/​BIOLOGY  130, ZOOLOGY/​BIOLOGY/​BOTANY  151, or BIOCORE 381) or graduate/professional standing

AGRONOMY 502 TECHNIQUES OF PLANT BREEDING: 1 credit. Offering varies. Course Description: Lab and field techniques used in breeding and maintaining economic crops. Crosslisted with: Horticulture Prerequisites: (GENETICS 466 or 467) and (BOTANY/​BIOLOGY  130, ZOOLOGY/​BIOLOGY/​BOTANY  151, or BIOCORE 381) or graduate/professional standing

AGRONOMY 532 ENVIRONMENTAL BIOPHYSICS: 3 credits. Every other Fall Semester. Instructor:  Christopher Kucharik Course Description: Plant-environment interactions with particular reference to energy exchanges and water relations. Models are used to provide a quantitative synthesis of information from plant physiology, soil physics, and micrometeorology with some consideration of plant-pest interactions. Enroll Info: Students should have completed at least one course in Botany, Agronomy, or Plant Sciences to feel comfortable with the course content. Crosslisted with: ATM&OCN Sciences and Soil Science Prerequisites: BIOLOGY/​BOTANY  130 and (MATH 211, 217, 221 or 275) and (PHYSICS 103, 201, 207, or 247), or graduate/professional standing

AGRONOMY 565 THE ETHICS OF MODERN BIOTECHNOLOGY: 3-4 credits. Fall Semester. Instructor:  Robert Streiffer Course Description: Study of ethical issues arising from the application of modern biotechnology to microorganisms, crops, and non-human animals. Readings cover moral theory, technology studies, political philosophy, the science used in biotechnology, and current regulations governing its use. Crosslisted with: C&E Soc, Med Hist, and Philosophy Prerequisites: Consent of instructor

AGRONOMY 615 GENETIC MAPPING: 3 credits. Some Spring Semesters. Course Description: Computing-intensive course to prepare students for genetic mapping research; linkage analysis and QTL mapping in designed crosses; linkage disequilibrium and association analysis (GWAS). Enroll Info: Recommended preparation is undergraduate courses in genetics and statistics and prior experience writing R scripts (such as module 1 of STAT 327). Crosslisted with: Animal Science, Genetics, Horticulture Prerequisites: Graduate/professional standing

AGRONOMY 632 ECOTOXICOLOGY: THE CHEMICAL PLAYERS: 1 credit. Some Fall Semesters. Course Description: Introduction to natural and man-made toxins/toxicants, their distribution, transport, and fate in the environment Crosslisted with: Entomology, F&W Ecology, M&Envir Tox Prerequisites: (CHEM 341 or 343) and ((BOTANY/​BIOLOGY  130 and ZOOLOGY/​BIOLOGY  102) or ZOOLOGY/​BIOLOGY/​BOTANY  152 or BIOCORE 383); or graduate/professional standing

AGRONOMY/​ENTOM/​F&W ECOL/​M&ENVTOX  633 — ECOTOXICOLOGY: IMPACTS ON INDIVIDUALS: 1 credit. Some Fall Semesters. Course Description: Addresses absorption, biotransformation, elimination of toxins in a wide variety of taxa (plants, invertebrates, vertebrates). Crosslisted with: Entomology, F&W Ecology, M&Envir Tox Prerequisites: Agronomy 632

AGRONOMY 634 ECOTOXICOLOGY: IMPACTS ON POPULATIONS, COMMUNITIES AND ECOSYSTEMS: 1 credits. Some Fall Semesters. Course Description: Focuses on the impact of toxicants on populations, communities, ecosystems, and includes risk evaluation. Includes lectures, current research presentations, and discussions Crosslisted with: Entomology, F&W Ecology, M&Envir Tox Prerequisites: Agronomy 633 or declared in Molecular and Environmental Toxicology, PhD program

AGRONOMY 681 SENIOR HONORS THESIS: 2-4 credits. Fall Semester. Course Description: Individual study for majors completing theses for Agronomy Honors degrees. Prerequisites: Consent of instructor. Honors only course

AGRONOMY 682 SENIOR HONORS THESIS: 2-4 credits. Spring Semester. Course Description: Individual study for majors completing theses for Honors degrees as arranged with a faculty member. Enroll Info: Requires consent of supervising instructor. Continuation of AGRONOMY 681. Enrolled in CALS Honors Program. Prerequisites: Consent of instructor. Honors only course

AGRONOMY 699 SPECIAL PROBLEMS: 1-4 credits. Every Semester. Course Description: Independent research guided by an Agronomy faculty or instructional academic staff member. Students are responsible for arranging the work and credits with the supervising instructor. Prerequisites: Consent of instructor

AGRONOMY 724 AGROECOSYSTEMS AND GLOBAL CHANGE: 3 credits. Every other Fall Semester. Instructor:  Christopher Kucharik Course Description: Impacts of global change drivers (climate change, atmospheric chemistry, bioenergy, urbanization, policy) on agroecosystems and their associated goods and services; environmental impacts of agricultural land use and feedbacks to climate; modeling approaches; critical review of current scientific literature. Crosslisted with: Agroecology and Environmental Studies Prerequisites: (ZOOLOGY/​BIOLOGY/​BOTANY  152 or ZOOLOGY/​BOTANY/​ENVIR ST  260) and (PHYSICS 103 or CHEM 103, 109 or 115); or graduate/professional standing

AGRONOMY 771 EXPERIMENTAL DESIGNS: 1 credit. Fall Semester. Instructor:  Julie Dawson & Lucia Gutierrez Course Description: Review of methods for controlling error in research experiments; review and in-depth development of factorial treatment designs; theory, analysis, and examples of advanced experimental designs for plant and animal research. Enroll Info: Knowledge of statistics such as FSTAT 571 is strongly encouraged. Prerequisites: Graduate/professional standing

AGRONOMY 772 APPLICATIONS IN ANOVA: 1 credit. Offering varies. Course Description: Development of models, programs, inferences, and interpretations of analysis of variance in biological research; mixed vs. random effects models and their development; choosing the correct inference range; variance and covariance analyses; repeated measures; dealing with missing data; SAS programming. Enroll Info: Knowledge of statistics such as FSTAT 571 is strongly encouraged. Prerequisites: Graduate/professional standing

AGRONOMY 799 PRACTICUM IN AGRONOMY TEACHING: 1-3 credits. Fall Semester. Course Description: Instructional orientation to teaching at the higher education level in the agricultural and life sciences, direct teaching experience under faculty supervision, experience in testing and evaluation of students, and the analysis of teaching performance Prerequisites: Consent of instructor

AGRONOMY 811 BIOMETRICAL PROCEDURES IN PLANT BREEDING: 3 credits. Some Fall Semesters. Course Description: Use of statistical methods to facilitate improvements in quantitative traits of cultivated plants. Crosslisted with: Horticulture Prerequisites: (STAT/​F&W ECOL/​HORT  572, GENETICS 466 or GENETICS 467) or graduate/professional standing

AGRONOMY 812 SELECTION THEORY FOR QUANTITATIVE TRAITS IN PLANTS: 2 credits. Spring Semester. Instructor: Natalia de Leon & Jeffrey Endelman Course Description: Discuss advanced topics in selection theory and the utilization of molecular markers in selection. Crosslisted with: Horticulture Prerequisites: Graduate/professional standing

AGRONOMY 875 SPECIAL TOPICS: 1-4 credits. Offerings vary. Course Description: Special topics on issues relevant to Agronomy. See course search and enroll for available topics Prerequisites: Graduate/professional standing

AGRONOMY 920 SEMINAR: 1 credit. Spring and Fall Semester. Course Description: Weekly seminar topics in agronomy and horticulture. Prerequisites: Graduate/professional standing

AGRONOMY 953 INTRODUCTION TO ECOLOGY RESEARCH AT UW-MADISON: 1-2 credits. Fall Semester. Instructor:  Monica Turner Course Description: Introduces new graduate students to the diversity of ecologists across the UW-Madison campus. Includes discussions of key topics in professional development, research presentations by faculty members, and discussions of assigned papers with senior graduate students. Crosslisted with: ATM&OCN Sci, Botany, Entomology, Envir Studies, F&W Ecology, Geography, and Zoology Prerequisites: Graduate/professional standing

AGRONOMY 957 SEMINAR-PLANT BREEDING: 1 credit. Spring and Fall Semester. Course Description: Graduate seminar in Plant Breeding Plant Genetics (PBPG) that requires students to give oral scientific presentations on topics chosen by the instructors and/or the students thesis research. This seminar is coordinated by PBPG faculty on a rotating basis. Crosslisted with: Genetics and Horticulture Prerequisites: Graduate/professional standing

AGRONOMY 990 RESEARCH: 1-9 credits. Every Semester. Course Description: Independent writing and research to complete thesis or dissertation requirements. Prerequisites: Consent of instructor