Bachelor of Science, Major in Plant and Soil Sciences with Teaching Certification

This is an archived copy of the 2023-2024 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.shsu.edu.

Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources (AFNR) Teacher Certification

The primary emphasis of the teaching certification program is the preparation of secondary teachers of Agricultural, Food, and Natural Resources (AFNR). Students gain a broad background in the agricultural sciences along with professional preparation courses in agricultural education and secondary pedagogy. This comprehensive and diverse background prepares students for a wide variety of professional agricultural careers.

The teaching certification option can be chosen with any of the agricultural emphasis majors as shown. Students seeking teaching certification may double major in Interdisciplinary Agriculture and Secondary Education or major in Agricultural Business, Agricultural Engineering Technology, Animal Science or Plant and Soil Sciences with Teacher Certification.

All students seeking teaching certification must be advised each semester to ensure proper sequencing of classes.

Bachelor of Science, Major in Plant and Soil Sciences with Teaching Certification
Core Curriculum
Component Area I (Communication)6
Component Area II (Mathematics) 13
Component Area III (Life and Physical Science) 28
Component Area IV (Language, Philosophy, and Culture)3
Component Area V (Creative Arts) 33
Component Area VI (U.S. History)6
Component Area VII (Political Science/Government)6
Component Area VIII (Social and Behavioral Sciences) 43
Component Area IX (Component Area Option)4
Degree Specific Requirements
ACOM 3360Communication Skills for Agriculturists3
AGRI 1309Computers in Agriculture (or approved substitute)3
or CSTE 1330 Introduction to Computers
CHEM 1406Inorganic & Envir Chemistry 24
or CHEM 1411 General Chemistry I
CHEM 1407Intro Organic and Biochemistry 24
or CHEM 1412 General Chemistry II
MATH 1314Pre Calculus Algebra 13
or MATH 1324 Mth for Mngl Decision Making
or MATH 1332 College Mathematics
MATH 1342Elementary Statistics3
Major: Foundation
AGBU 2317Principles of Agri Economics3
AGBU 2389Agribusiness Financl Analysis3
AGED 3310Teaching Ag Technology3
AGED 3320The Secondary Agriculture Education Program3
AGED 4388Secondary Agriculture Education Program Management3
AGET 2303Intro to Ag Engineering Tech3
AGET 4381Adv Agricultural Mechanics3
AGRI 1131Intro to Pro Leadership Skills1
ANSC 1319
ANSC 1119
Animal Science
and Animal Science Laboratory
4
ANSC 3373Animal Nutrition3
ANSC 4360Livestock Mgt Techniques3
PLSC 1307
PLSC 1107
Plant Science
and Plant Science Laboratory
4
PLSC 2395Ornamental Plant Identification3
PLSC 2399Floral Design 33
PLSC 3440Soil Science4
PLSC 3398Landscape Design I3
PLSC 4370Forage Crops & Pasture Mgmt3
or PLSC 3395 Plant Propagation Techniques
Major: Required
Animal Production Electives - Select one from the following:3
Meat Science
Sheep & Goat Production & Mgt
Beef Cattle Production & Mgmt
Equine Science
Game Animal Production
Major: Prescribed Electives
PLSC Advanced Electives3
Teaching Certification
CISE 3384The Teaching Profession3
CISE 4364Mth Tch Secondary Schools3
CISE 4379Differentiated Pedagogy3
CISE 4380Respon Of Pro Educator3
READ 4378Multiple Literacies in Secondary Education3
AFNR Student Teaching
AGED 4364Methods of Teaching Agriculture Education3
AGED 4365Student Teaching in Agriculture Education3
AGED 4366Student Teaching in Agriculture Education3
AGED 4394Agriculture Education Learning Environments3
Minor: Not Required 5,6
Total Hours133
1

MATH 1314 and MATH 1332 satisfy Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area II (Mathematics) as well as the Degree Specific requirement.

2

CHEM 1406 or CHEM 1411 and CHEM 1407 or CHEM 1412 satisfies the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area III (Life and Physical Science) and the Degree Specific requirement.

3

PLSC 2399 satisfies Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area V (Creative Arts).

4

ANSC 2360 is recommended and satisfies Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area VIII (Social and Behavioral Sciences). 

5

A minor is not required for this degree program; however, a student has the option to add a minor, but to do so additional semester credits hours will be needed above the degree program’s stated total semester credit hours. 

6

The following minors cannot be paired with this degree program: Minor in Early Childhood Education and Minor in Plant and Soil Sciences. 

Notes

Students must earn a 2.0 minimum overall GPA in all coursework. 

Students must meet a 2.75 minimum overall major GPA in all major coursework.

Students must earn a 2.0 minimum SHSU GPA in all coursework.

Students must meet a 2.75 minimum SHSU Education major GPA in all major coursework.

Students must earn a "C" or better in all Education coursework.

Students must earn a "C" or better in all agricultural science major coursework.

Students must earn an overall GPA of 2.75 to earn teacher certification.

First Year
FallHoursSpringHours 
Component Area IX1AGRI 1309 or CSTE 13303 
AGRI 11311ANSC 1319
ANSC 1119
4 
ENGL 130113ENGL 130213 
HIST 130123HIST 130223 
MATH 1314, 1324, or 133233POLS 230543 
PLSC 1307
PLSC 1107
4  
 15 16 
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours 
AGET 23033Component Area VIII73 
CHEM 1406 or 141154AGBU 23173 
MATH 13423CHEM 1407 or 141254 
PLSC 23953PLSC 33983 
PLSC 239963POLS 230643 
 16 16 
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHoursSummerHours
AGBU 23893ANSC 33733Component Area IX3
AGED 33203Animal Production Elective83AGED 33103
AGET 43813CISE 43803AGED 43883
CISE 33843PLSC 4370 or 33953ACOM 33603
PLSC 34404READ 43783 
 16 15 12
Fourth Year
FallHoursSpringHours 
Component Area IV3AGED 43643 
ANSC 43603AGED 43653 
CISE 43643AGED 43663 
CISE 43793AGED 43943 
PLSC Advanced Elective3  
 15 12 
Total Hours: 133
1

Satisfies Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area I (Communications).

2

Satisfies Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area VI (U.S. History).

3

Satisfies Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area II (Mathematics).

4

Satisfies Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area VII (Political Science/Government).

5

Satisfies Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area III (Life and Physcial Science).

6

Satisfies Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area V (Creative Arts).

7

ANSC 2360 is recommended and satisfies Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area VIII (Social and Behavioral Sciences). 

8

Select one from the following: ANSC 3376, ANSC 4376, ANSC 4380, EQSC 2364, WMGT 3381 

Notes

Students must earn a 2.0 minimum overall GPA in all coursework. 

Students must meet a 2.75 minimum overall major GPA in all major coursework.

Students must earn a 2.0 minimum SHSU GPA in all coursework.

Students must meet a 2.75 minimum SHSU major GPA in all major coursework.

A minor is not required for this degree program; however, a student has the option to add a minor, but to do so additional semester credits hours will be needed above the degree program’s stated total semester credit hours. 

The following minors cannot be paired with this degree program: Minor in Early Childhood Education and Minor in Plant and Soil Sciences. 

Students must earn a "C" or better in all Education coursework.

Students must earn a "C" or better in all agricultural science major coursework. 

Students must earn an overall GPA of 2.75 to earn teacher certification.

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) marketable skills initiative is part of the state’s 60x30TX plan and was designed to help students articulate their skills to employers.  Marketable skills are those skills valued by employers and/or graduate programs that can be applied in a variety of work or education settings and may include interpersonal, cognitive, and applied skill areas.

The BS in Plant and Soil Sciences with Teaching Certification is designed to provide graduates with the following marketable skills:

  • Recognize soil characteristics for optimum plant growth.

  • Evaluate plants of importance in our society and how those plants are utilized.

  • Analyze major insect, disease, and weed pests and control strategies.

  • Develop entry level technical knowledge and skills required of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources teachers in Agricultural Communications, Agricultural Business, Agricultural Engineering Technology, Animal Science and Plant and Soil Science.

  • Manage, organize, and conduct Supervised Agricultural Experience Programs, Leadership, Career and Speaking Development Events.

  • Develop annual and long range plans (program of activity, semester, and lesson plans, etc.)

  • Use effective research-based techniques to develop a positive classroom environment.

  • Create lessons and units of instruction to meet the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills requirements for Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources classes.