When the Departments of Agronomy and Horticulture officially merged in 2023, they had a unique opportunity. Each department originally had one major: agronomy and horticulture. These two academic programs began over a century ago at UW-Madison and welcomed thousands of students over the decades. When agronomy and horticulture joined to create the Department of Plant and Agroecosystem Sciences, they had the rare opportunity to collaborate in new ways, including how their academic programs were structured. As such, the new department decided to reshape its undergraduate majors.
Restructuring curriculum for a major is no easy task. It requires significant research on current career pathways and predicting future industry needs, designing courses to meet these outcomes, and creating course requirements that are flexible enough to allow students to prepare for several post-graduation pathways.
After years of planning, plant and agroecosystem sciences created two new majors: agroecology and plant science and technology. Both majors have deep roots in horticulture and agronomy but branch out into distinct scientific disciplines. The agroecology major weaves together a breadth of disciplines including entomology, soil science, community and environmental sociology, and more. The plant science and technology major centers on concepts from agronomy and horticulture while delving into emerging technologies in agriculture.
“While the agronomy and horticulture majors have evolved into our new plant science and technology and agroecology majors, our commitment to preparing students for careers in the agronomy and horticulture industries remains as strong as ever,” says Amaya Atucha, chair of the Department of Plant and Agroecosystem Sciences. “These new programs build on the strengths of our long-standing disciplines while incorporating emerging areas such as precision agriculture, plant biotechnology, data-driven crop management, and sustainable production systems. Our graduates will leave with the scientific foundation and technical skills needed to excel in high-demand, high-impact careers.”
Faculty and staff are actively engaged in the continuous development of the new majors. Over the last year, much of this effort has focused on refining the plant science and technology curriculum and creating a flexible program that allows students to tailor their coursework towards careers in crop production systems; plant biotechnology and plant breeding; crop production and consulting; and research in plant sciences.
Personnel across the department have also collaborated to craft plant science and technology courses. The courses are designed and taught by faculty and instructional staff whose expertise extends well beyond the classroom. As researchers and extension professionals, they work directly with farmers, businesses, and public agencies to solve real-world problems. This close connection between teaching, research, and industry ensures that students learn the science, technologies, and practical skills that are shaping the future of agriculture.
Over the past few years, the department has welcomed several outstanding new faculty members who are bringing fresh perspectives and expertise to the undergraduate programs. Among them is Dr. Sarah Kezar, who joined the department summer of 2025 as an assistant professor specializing in weed science. Dr. Kezar will teach Plant Science 310: Plant Science and Technology in Cropping Systems, a cornerstone of the major. Developed collaboratively by faculty across the department, the course integrates classroom learning with practical challenges facing modern crop production. The course uses real-world production challenges, case studies, and problem-solving exercises to help students apply scientific concepts to the kinds of decisions they will encounter in their careers.
After years of planning, the agroecology major officially opened to students fall of 2024, and the plant science and technology major opened fall of 2025. “One of the most rewarding parts of what we do is helping students discover their passion and preparing them for careers where they can make a real impact,” says Atucha. “We are excited to welcome the next generation of agricultural leaders into our programs.”