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College of Agricultural and Life Sciences

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Agronomy

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Agronomy

The Agronomy Major at Wisconsin

As a student in agronomy, you can learn how to find answers to the important challenges facing agriculture. Whether you're interested in plant biology, ecology, genetics, biotechnology, crop management and protection, or other aspects of crop production systems, an education in agronomy offers many learning opportunities and career options. In agronomy, you can interact with professors and students in small class settings. Your professors will also be your advisors, helping you to learn both inside and outside the classroom, as well as make important education and career decisions.

Diverse Opportunities For Agronomy Graduates

A degree in Agronomy offers diverse opportunities for careers in many fields. An Agronomy degree also provides an excellent foundation for graduate study in the biological sciences. Agronomy graduates find jobs and successful careers in many areas:

  • Biotechnology
  • Environmental protection
  • Resource conservation
  • Plant breeding and genetics
  • Sales, marketing, and international agribusiness
  • Crop consulting
  • Crop management and protection
  • Farm management
  • Agricultural research and teaching
  • Agricultural extension

Tailor Your Academic Program to Fit Your Career Goals

  • Biotechnology and Plant Science
    • If you're interested in a career in biotechnology, genetics, plant biochemistry, or doing research on crop management and protection, you'll be interested in our Natural Science Option.
    • Agroecology and Resource Conservation
    • Agronomy is an important component of conserving our natural resources, protecting the environment, and sustaining agriculture. Our Natural Resource option prepares you to work with businesses or organizations that deal with land use and management, water and soil conservation, and other agroecological aspects of food production.
    • Food and Farming Systems
    • If your goal is to work in crop management and protection, crop consulting or any of the many businesses that comprise our food system you should consider the Agricultural Science-Production or the Agricultural Science-Business options. The production option focuses on agricultural, food and environmental sciences, while the business option includes courses from the School of Business and the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics.
    • World Food Systems and the Environment
  • Students interested in working on agricultural issues with people from other cultures and countries should consider the International Agriculture and Natural Resources option. This option requires competency in a foreign language and an international learning experience.

Classroom Learning is Just the Beginning

The agronomy program emphasizes hand-on learning. Students in agronomy at UW-Madison work closely with agronomy professors, who are national and international leaders in their research areas. Agronomy researchers work in many areas including crop biotechnology and genetics, sustainable cropping practices, plant biochemistry, crop management and protection, and international agriculture. Most agronomy students also work with Wisconsin's farmers, crop production specialists or the agribusiness community.

Examples of learning experiences:

  • Plant science research opportunities are available both on and off campus. These can be field or laboratory experiences. Many students gain experience in both the lab and the field.
  • Summer internships provide both a learning opportunity and work experience that is invaluable when seeking employment. Most interns are paid and receive degree credit.
  • Independent research under the direction of leading researchers.
  • The junior-year semester-abroad programs provide the challenges and rewards of experiencing another culture.
  • The Badger Crops Club, a student group that organizes professional and social activities. Seminars and informal discussions that provide insight into current research and agricultural issues.

Financial Assistance

The College of Agricultural and Life Sciences offers many scholarships that are granted based on academic performance, need or extracurricular activities. For more information on scholarships, loans and work-study programs contact the UW-Madison Office of Financial Services.

For more information contact: The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an AA/EEO institution. University policies create additional protection that prohibits harassment on the basis of cultural background and ethnicity. Inquires concerning these policies may be directed to the appropriate campus admitting or employing unit or to the Equity and Diversity Resource Center, 179-A, Bascom Hall, (608) 263-2378, TTY (608) 263-2473.