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.
- Agribusiness Technicians
- Agricultural Consultants
- Agricultural Equipment Technicians
- Agricultural Pilots
- Air Quality Engineers
- Animal Behaviorists
- Animal Breeders and Technicians
- Animal Caretakers
- Animal Physical Therapists
- Aquaculturists
- Aquarists
- Arborists
- Astrobiologists
- Astrogeologists
- Beekeepers
- Biochemical Engineers
- Biochemists
- Bioenergy/Biofuels Workers
- Biofuels Processing Technicians
- Biofuels Production Managers
- Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers
- Bioinformatics Specialists
- Biologists
- Biomass Plant Technicians
- Biomass Power Plant Managers
- Biomedical Engineers
- Biomedical Equipment Technicians
- Biophysicists
- Biosecurity Monitors
- Biotechnology Production Workers
- Biotechnology Research Assistants
- Botanists
- Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers
- Cartographers
- Chemical Engineers
- Chemical Technicians
- Chemists
- Chief Sustainability Officers
- Climate Scientists
- Corporate Climate Strategists
- CRISPR Scientists
- Cytogenetic Technologists
- Cytotechnologists
- Dairy Products Manufacturing Workers
- Drug Developers
- Ecologists
- Energy Conservation Technicians
- Energy Consultants
- Environmental Economists
- Environmental Education Program Directors
- Environmental Engineers
- Environmental Lawyers
- Environmental Lobbyists
- Environmental Planners
- Environmental Restoration Planners
- Environmental Scientists
- Environmental Technicians
- EPA Special Agents
- Epidemiologists
- Epigenetics Researchers
- Farm Crop Production Technicians
- Farm Equipment Mechanics
- Farmers
- Farmers' Market Managers/Promoters
- Fish and Game Wardens
- Fishers
- Food Technologists
- Forensic Experts
- Forensic Meteorologists
- Foresters
- Forestry Technicians
- Genetic Counselors
- Genetic Engineers
- Genetic Genealogists
- Genetic Scientists
- Geodetic Surveyors
- Geographers
- Geographic Information Systems Specialists
- Geological Technicians
- Geologists
- Geophysicists
- Geospatial Analytics Specialists
- Geotechnical Engineers
- Geothermal Energy Industry Workers
- Geothermal Production Managers
- Geothermal Technicians
- Grain Merchants
- Green Builders
- Green Hotel/Resort Ecomanagers
- Green Products Manufacturers
- Green Transportation Careers
- Groundwater Professionals
- Hazardous Waste Management Specialists
- Hazardous Waste Management Technicians
- Horticultural Inspectors
- Horticultural Technicians
- Hydropower and Marine Energy Industry Workers
- Indoor Environmental Health Specialists
- Industrial Ecologists
- Laboratory Technicians and Technologists
- Laboratory Testing Technicians
- Land Acquisition Professionals
- Land Trust or Preserve Managers
- Landscape Architects
- Marine Biologists
- Meatcutters and Meat Packers
- Medical Scientists
- Meteorologists
- Methane/Landfill Gas Collection System Operators
- Methane/Landfill Gas Generation System Technicians
- Microbiologists
- Molecular and Cellular Biologists
- Nanomaterials Scientists
- Nanotechnicians
- Nanotechnologists
- National Park Service Employees
- Naturalists
- Neuroscientists
- Nuclear Medicine Physicians
- Nursery Owners and Managers
- Oceanographers
- Organic Farmers
- Paleontologists
- Park Rangers
- Pathologists
- Pharmacists
- Pharmacologists
- Physicians
- Preventive Medicine Physicians
- Range Managers
- Recycling and Reclamation Workers
- Recycling Coordinators
- Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists
- Remote Sensing Technicians
- Renewable Energy Careers
- Renewable Energy Engineers
- Rewilders
- Soil Conservationists and Technicians
- Soil Scientists
- Space Meteorologist
- Surveying and Mapping Technicians
- Surveyors
- Tobacco Products Industry Workers
- Toxicologists
- Veterinarians
- Wastewater Treatment Plant Operators and Technicians
- Water/Wastewater Engineers
- Zoo and Aquarium Curators and Directors
- Zoologists