Applied Plant and Soil Sciences

APPLIED PLANT AND SOIL SCIENCES

*Please note, the Applied Plant and Soil Sciences major will no longer be accepting new students. If you are a current LFS student and started the major prior to the 2018 Winter Session, you may complete your degree using the requirements listed below. If you would like to switch to the new Sustainable Agriculture and Environment major, you should first consult with LFS Student Services.*

Do you get fired up about the pivotal role plants play in maintaining a balanced ecosystem? Have you got a hunch that humans could improve crop production, if only you could get in there and figure out the way? UBC’s Applied Plant and Soil Sciences (APSS) major opens those doors for you.

What You Need to Know

*Please note, as of the 2018 Winter Session, the Applied Plant and Soil Sciences major will no longer be accepting new students. The information below is for current Applied Plant and Soil Sciences students only.*

The Applied Plant and Soil Sciences degree integrates plant-soil-atmosphere systems with a focus on the science underpinning crop production and ecosystem management. As an APSS student, you’ll have the flexibility to emphasize a major area of interest such as plant production and protection, soil quality, climate change, food security or land reclamation. Classroom learning meets hands-on experience in our rooftop garden, in urban community gardens and at the Centre for Sustainable Food Systems at UBC Farm.

APSS combines your core academic courses with electives that allow you to focus on your individual interests. You’ll have opportunities to develop your research skills and build your real-world skills through internships, practicums, co-ops and job placements. By the end of your degree, you’ll possess deep competencies in integrating scientific principles and communicating these effectively to diverse audiences.

In Applied Plant and Soil Sciences, you will take a combination of degree requirements (required of all students), restricted electives (courses selected from a curated list of approved electives) and general electives (courses you get to pick yourself). Some examples include:

  • APBI 200: Introduction to Soil Science
  • APBI 210: Vascular Plants
  • APBI 324: Introduction to Seed Plant Taxonomy
  • APBI 351: Plant Physiology
  • APBI 442: Grapevine and Berry Crop Biology

To see the complete list of required courses for this program, please consult the UBC Academic Calendar. Current students, please use the ‘Degree Navigator’ tool in your Student Service Centre (SSC) to track your progress.

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Minors

You may choose to supplement your Applied Plant and Soil Sciences Major with a Minor program; a minor involves taking courses in a subject area outside of your specialization – Applied Biology students are eligible to apply for a Minor in Arts, a Minor in Commerce, a Minor in Fermentations or a Minor in Science. Learn more about minors, including application timelines, here.

Dual Degree with Master of Management

Interested students may apply for the Bachelor of Science (Applied Biology) – Master of Management Dual Degree program option. For details regarding this dual degree option and application see the Faculty of Commerce and Business Administration section of the UBC Academic Calendar.

As noted above, the Applied Plant and Soil Sciences major will no longer be accepting new students as of the 2018 Winter Session. If you are a current APBI student interested in the Applied Plant and Soil Sciences major and if you started prior to the 2018 Winter Session, you will be prompted to select your specialization through your Student Service Centre (SSC) when registering for second year. This major is not competitive. You may also wish to review the new Sustainable Agriculture and Environment major to see if which option is best for you.

If you are a high school, college or university student and you want to major in Applied Plant and Soil Sciences at UBC, please review the exciting new Sustainable Agriculture and Environment major for information and application instructions.

Where Can a Degree in Applied Plant and Soil Sciences Take You?

LFS graduates in the area of Applied Plant and Soil Sciences can pursue the following careers:

  • biometeorologist
  • natural resource planner
  • ecologist
  • seed production agronomist
  • agroforestry consultant
  • conservation officer
  • land management specialist
  • academic instructor
  • land remediation specialist
  • greenhouse manager
  • organic farming specialist
  • farm weather consultant
  • crop protection technician
  • biodiversity specialist
  • ecosystem restoration consultant
  • soil fertility consultant
  • irrigation and drainage consultant

Get a head start on your career-related work experience while you’re at UBC. Check out our job board for postings that relate to your field of study!

Got Questions?

If you have general questions about planning for or choosing this major, or have questions about how your transfer credits apply, please please review the information about the Sustainable Agriculture and Environment major and then get in touch. One of our academic advisors in LFS Student Services will be glad to help you.

If you are already in the Applied Plant and Soil Sciences major, and have specific questions about restricted electives and directed studies, please contact your program advisor, Andy Black.

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