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Studies & Degrees in Plant Breeding

Agronomy is the science of growing field crops and managing the soil they grow in. Plant breeding is the part of it that develops new plant varieties: plants that yield more, resist diseases and pests, or tolerate drought. The two are usually taught together. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics describes plant and soil scientists as people who work to improve crop yields and the productivity of soil through crop breeding, soil management, and controlling pests and weeds.

Plant breeding is as old as farming. The International Seed Federation recalls that the first farmers selected the best plants to provide seed for their next crop. Today breeders rely on genetics and plant biology to develop characteristics such as disease resistance or drought tolerance more precisely, in crops grown for food, animal feed, fuel and fibre.

What students learn

A programme in agronomy and plant breeding combines biology with field practice. Typical subjects are:

  • plant genetics, plant physiology and biotechnology
  • crop production and crop protection (pests, diseases and weeds)
  • soil science, soil fertility and water management
  • statistics, field trial design and, increasingly, data from precision agriculture
  • farm and business management

Much of the teaching takes place outside the classroom. McGill University points to an on-campus farm with crop fields and orchards, and Northeast Community College uses a 500-acre college farm.

Qualifications and levels

  • Two-year degrees. In the United States, community colleges award associate degrees. The Associate of Applied Science in Agronomy at Northeast Community College (Nebraska) covers crop production, soil science and precision agriculture. Graduates can enter work directly or transfer to a four-year institution for a bachelor's degree.
  • Bachelor's degrees. The Department of Agronomy at Purdue University offers the majors Crops, Soils, and Agroecosystem Sciences and Plant Genetics, Breeding, and Biotechnology. The second has a Breeding and Genetics concentration for students who want to work with seed companies to develop and test new plant varieties. At McGill University, students of the Bachelor of Science (Agricultural and Environmental Sciences) add a 24-credit specialisation in plant biology, plant production or professional agrology.
  • Engineering degrees in Latin America. Agronomy is often taught as a five-year engineering degree. The Universidad de Antioquia in Colombia, for example, lists its Ingeniería Agropecuaria as a programme of 10 semesters.
  • Master's degrees and doctorates. Plant breeding is largely a postgraduate specialisation. Purdue offers MS and PhD degrees in topics that include plant genetics and breeding, plant physiology, crop production and soil science. The M.Sc. in Plant Science at McGill is a 45-credit course and research programme, and plant breeding is one of the department's research areas.
  • Semesters abroad. Perrotis College, part of the American Farm School in Thessaloniki (Greece), receives visiting students for a semester or a summer term in fields that include sustainable agriculture, with courses taught in English.

In some countries the title of agronomist is regulated. McGill notes that graduates of certain majors can be eligible for membership in the Ordre des agronomes du Québec. Students who plan to work in a specific country should ask the school what professional recognition its degree has there.

Where to study it

Our directory lists 8 active schools for this subject: 4 in the United States and 1 each in Canada, Argentina, Greece and Colombia. They include research universities such as Purdue University, McGill University, West Virginia University and the Universidad de Antioquia, community colleges such as Northeast Community College and Redlands Community College, and the Fundación CIEP in Argentina.

The language of instruction follows the country: English in the United States, at McGill and at Perrotis College, and Spanish in Colombia and Argentina. Because crops, soils and climate differ from region to region, it is worth checking which crops a school works with before choosing.

Careers

Graduates work as crop advisers and field agronomists for growers and agricultural suppliers, as farm managers, in seed companies and plant breeding stations, in agricultural inspection, and in research and teaching. Purdue describes its applied agronomy route as suitable for students who want to farm or to advise growers directly, and its breeding route as leading to seed companies.

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, agricultural and food scientists typically need at least a bachelor's degree, and employers may prefer or require a master's or doctoral degree. The Bureau counted 19,900 soil and plant scientists in the United States in 2025 and projects that employment of agricultural and food scientists as a whole will grow 6 percent from 2025 to 2035, faster than the average for all occupations. It adds that a bachelor's degree in agricultural science is also a useful background for farming, agricultural inspection and other companies in the agrifood system. These figures apply to the United States only.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between agronomy and plant breeding?

Agronomy deals with growing crops and managing soils. Plant breeding is the specialisation that develops new plant varieties, for example with better disease resistance or drought tolerance.

Do I need a master's degree to become a plant breeder?

Often, yes. A bachelor's degree is the usual minimum for agricultural scientists, and the US Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that employers may prefer or require a master's or doctoral degree.

How long does a degree in agronomy take?

It depends on the country and the level. An associate degree at a US community college takes two years, and the Ingeniería Agropecuaria of the Universidad de Antioquia has 10 semesters.

Can I study agronomy in English outside the United States?

Yes. McGill University in Canada teaches in English, and Perrotis College in Greece offers semester and summer programmes with courses taught in English.