Agricultural Scientists

High School

Follow your high school's college preparatory program, including English, foreign language, mathematics, and government courses. Also, take biology, chemistry, physics, and other science courses. You must also become familiar with basic computer skills, including programming. It may be possible for you to perform laboratory assistant duties for your science teachers. Visiting research laboratories and attending lectures by agricultural scientists can also be helpful.

Postsecondary Training

Educational requirements for agricultural scientists are very high. A doctorate is usually mandatory for careers as college or university professors, independent researchers, or field managers. A bachelor's degree may be acceptable for some entry-level jobs, such as testing or inspecting technicians or as technical sales or service representatives. Promotions, however, are minimal for these employees if they earn advanced degrees.

To become an agricultural scientist, you should pursue an agricultural and biological science degree. As an undergraduate, you should have a firm biology foundation with chemistry, physics, mathematics, and English courses. You should also complete at least one internship. Most colleges and universities have agricultural science curriculums, although liberal arts colleges may emphasize the biological sciences. Every state has at least one land grant university offering a strong curriculum in agriculture, engineering, and natural sciences. For a listing of land grant universities, visit the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities members section at https://www.aplu.org.

The U.S. Department of Labor reports, "Undergraduate coursework for food scientists and technologists and for soil and plant scientists typically includes biology, chemistry, botany, and plant conservation. Students preparing to be food scientists take courses such as food chemistry, food analysis, food microbiology, food engineering, and food-processing operations. Students preparing to be soil and plant scientists take courses in plant pathology, soil chemistry, entomology (the study of insects), plant physiology, and biochemistry."

While pursuing an advanced degree, you'll participate in research projects and write a dissertation on your specialized study area. You'll also do fieldwork and laboratory research along with your classroom studies.

Visit https://www.careerplacement.org/colleges for a list of agronomy, crop science, soil science, and environmental science college programs and courses.

Other Education or Training

The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, American Dairy Science Association, American Society of Agronomy, Biotechnology Innovation Organization, Crop Science Society of America, Institute of Food Technologists, Renewable Fuels Association, and Soil Science Society of America provide conferences, webinars, classes, workshops, and other continuing education opportunities. Contact these organizations for more information.