The University of Arizona
Agribusiness Economics and Management
The Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics prepares students to assume responsible positions in the management of the world's natural and human resources (land, people, food, water). Private firms and governmental agencies seek employees with excellent problem-solving and communication skills. Students develop these skills through their studies in agribusiness management, finance, economic theory, natural resource economics, environmental regulation, quantitative techniques, and economic development (domestic and international). The program provides options that focus on either business management or agricultural economics and prepare undergraduates for exciting careers in the United States or abroad.
Agricultural Systems Management
This major is offered in conjunction with the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (ABE), which is affiliated with both the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the College of Engineering and Mines. This program is only available in Yuma, Arizona, and leads to a Bachelor of Science degree.
Agricultural Technology Management and Education
The primary mission of the department is education focusing on the integration, application, and dissemination of knowledge in the agricultural and applied sciences. The programs of study in agricultural education prepare students for entering careers in a variety of settings. These positions require preparation in basic science, technical agriculture, and the principles and techniques of the teaching-learning process, communication skills, and the ability to work with people. Students may choose an option in agricultural technology management or teaching. The agricultural technology management option prepares students for careers in agribusiness and farming technology. The teaching option prepares students as secondary school or community college teachers. It meets the requirements for Arizona secondary school certification in agricultural education and general science.
Animal Sciences
Animal Sciences studies the production, marketing, and use of animals in agriculture, entertainment, and companionship. Students learn the biological processes involved in genetics, nutrition, and reproduction, as well as the business aspects of racing and livestock management. Specializations include animal industry, science, pre-professional training, and race track industry.
Biosystems Engineering

This program is in conjunction with the College of Engineering. Biosystems engineers use engineering, math, and biology to design and manage resources such as food, soil, air, water and biomaterials. They work on projects involving wise use of energy, materials, biochemicals, and recyclable wastes. They combine technical knowledge, computer techniques, and control systems for a deeper understanding of biological processes - knowledge which someday may be used to design life support systems for colonies on other planets. Students may specialize in bioenvionmental engineering, biological engineering, irrigation and water resource engineering, or pre-medicine.

Crop Production
The University of Arizona Crop Production program is directed and managed by the departments of Soil, Water and Environmental Science and Plant Sciences. This undergraduate major provides a solid foundation for students who want a career in modern agriculture and crop production. It is also important to note that this degree program provides a good base for students who could enter into work associated with field crop, permanent tree crop production, and/or a broad array of horticultural crops that are grown throughout the western United States and other regions in the world. The fundamentals derived from this type of educational program can be applied to crop production systems and land management programs (soil and water management in general), not only in Arizona and in western United States, but also anywhere in the world. In addition, graduates from this program will be well prepared academically to enter graduate degree programs.
Environmental & Water Resource Economics
The impact of economic activity on the quality of our environment will be a major public issue in the coming decades. This academic major prepares students for public and private jobs in natural resource and environmental management. Students receive training in the economic, social, and physical aspects of environmental problems. Students in this major are encouraged to minor in a complementary field such as political science, watershed management, or soil and water science.
Environmental Science
This major integrates biology, ecology, chemistry, physics, and agriculture with the study of the environmental quality of land and water resources. It also provides skill development in mathematics, computers, problem solving, and communications. The major is interdisciplinary, and include courses in law, political science, economics, safety, and those sciences pertaining to environmental issues. Environmental scientists investigate environmental problems and identify solutions. They develop risk assessments and environmental technology products, analyze environmental policies, and work in regulatory development and enforcement. They may also act as internal environmental control officers or consultants for businesses Students may choose specializations in land and water (emphasis on pollution issues), environmental microbiology (microbiological methods of cleaning contaminated sites), environmental health sciences (a quantitative approach to solving environmental problems), environmental systems (integrating various scientific disciplines), and environmental biology (relationships between pollution and ecosystems).
Family & Consumer Sciences Education
Family and Consumer Sciences Education (FACS) is a teaching-oriented major for students who enjoy classroom- or community-based instruction. Majors study the functions of home economics educators, program development, and educational techniques. This major is administered with the College of Education and one track leads to provisional teacher certification in secondary education (grades 7-12) and vocational FACS. Another track prepares students as family life educators, certified to teach in non-formal settings.
Family Studies & Human Development
The Family Studies and Human Developmentis major allows students to explore family, interpersonal and human development issues in a program that includes research and community-based internships and practica. The curriculum is designed to establish a foundation in family/interpersonal processes and human development across the life span. Complementary courses provide a background in social, behavioral, and biological sciences, as well as career-enhancing skills in research, writing, communication, and program planning/evaluation. No FSHD graduate leaves without opportunities for hands-on experience in the field and a head start on a future career.
Microbiology
Microbiology is the perfect multidisciplinary curriculum for students interested medical school, graduate school, or other health professions. The program provides a well rounded, cutting-edge education, and includes courses in virology, microbial physiology, genetics, and infectious diseases. The major coursework fulfills medical and graduate school pre-requisites. Microbiology uses the techniques of chemistry, biochemistry, genetics, ecology, pathology, and physiology to study organisms and also to investigate gene expression at the molecular level, the biochemistry of cell surfaces, cell populations in various organs, and the role of microorganisms in biodegradation. The Microbiology faculty members are experienced educators who also conduct state-of-the-art research programs. Undergraduate research opportunities are available in many faculty research laboratories, and provide students with the valuable and unique opportunity to work one-on-one with well known scientists.
Natural Resources (previously Wildlife, Watershed and Rangeland Resources)
All students earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Renewable Natural Resources with a major in Wildlife, Watershed, and Rangeland Resources (WWRR). Professionals in this field specialize in the conservation and management of natural resources. Students learn the physical, biological, and social sciences necessary to conserve, protect, and manage natural resources. Topics of study include plant and animal biology, endangered species, aquatic ecosystems, forest hydrology, fire management, wildlife management, land re-vegetation, grazing, ecology, and uses of advanced technologies in resource management. All students complete a core of eight natural resource courses, and select a concentration in one aspect of resource management: wildlife science, fisheries science, watershed hydrology and management, landscape analysis and assessment, or rangeland science and management.
Nutritional Sciences
Nutritional science is the study of nutrition and foods in health and disease, humans, and animals. Major courses cover nutrition education, dietetics, nutritional evaluation, and nutritional biochemistry. Nutritional science combines medicine, food chemistry, cell biology, and biochemistry, with a focus on nutrition and foods. Students may specialize in either dietetics or nutrition. The dietetics specialization prepares students to apply for dietetic internships and become registered dietitians (RD). Registered dietitians work in governmental agencies, industry, and in health care facilities as administrative and clinical dietitians, food service managers, and nutritional consultants. The Nutrition specialization prepares students for graduate and professional schools, for careers in the food and food supplement industries, and for technical positions in nutrition research. Nutritional Sciences students have also been accepted to pharmacy schools, dental schools, naturopathic medical schools, physician assistant programs, and a wide variety of graduate programs in nutrition, public health and biochemistry.
Plant Sciences
This program is for students who are interested in plants - growing them, learning how they grow, and understanding how to improve them. The field involves the study of a wide range of organisms, from the smallest bacteria to the largest of living things. Plant scientists investigate processes that occur on a time scale from fractions of a second to eons. They may examine plant structure, growth, ecology, and genetics, as well as a variety of agricultural technologies. The Plant Sciences major offers different areas of emphasis. You can choose from Controlled Environment Agriculture, Horticultural Systems, Plant Biology, or Plant Microbiology. Plant scientists improve our supply of foods, fibers, medicines, building materials, turf and landscape plants. They may be involved in managing parks, forests, rangelands and wilderness areas, and in helping to solve problems related to environment quality.
Retailing and Consumer Sciences
Retailing and Consumer Sciences majors examine retail marketing and management principles that are applied across a broad spectrum of national and global retail businesses including store, catalog, internet, and service firms that support these retailers. One of the few four-year undergraduate retailing programs nationally, RCSC offers a broad selection of courses emphasizing various principles employed in managing the retail supply chain in order to satisfy consumer needs. Academic and research programs focus on retail marketing of products and services to consumers. A Retail Technology area of concentration is also available. Outstanding instructional and research programs delivered by RCSC's energetic and dedicated faculty are responsible for the program's growing reputation for excellence and its proven track record for career placement of its graduates.
Veterinary Science
Veterinary Science is a major that prepares students for careers concerned with animal or human health and welfare, biological or biomedical sciences and biotechnology, or related fields that require science-based academic preparation. Students explore human-animal relationships, animal reproduction, and the care of animal populations. This curriculum is strong in the sciences, including chemistry, physics, microbiology, anatomy and physiology, and immunology, as well as numerous classes about diseases and their causes. Other elective courses include areas such as nutrition, animal management and production, business, histology, etc.