In the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences .
Course Offerings
Agriculture is an exciting and dynamic field involving a wide range of disciplines. The Agricultural Sciences major trains students to be broad thinkers who are scientifically skilled and knowledgeable about socioeconomic issues related to agriculture and the environment. This interdisciplinary program is for students wishing to pursue a general education in agriculture to prepare for careers that require knowledge of food systems and natural resources. Such careers may include the production and marketing of plant/animal foods, agricultural education in secondary schools, organic farming, cooperative extension, and crop consultation. By providing students with focused categories of courses from which to choose, the Agricultural Sciences program is designed to allow students to work with their advisor in developing a curriculum that best fits the needs of each individual. The program allows students to focus on one or two areas of concentration while gaining a broad exposure to the agricultural courses across the college.
All students are required to take the core courses in sustainable agriculture, soil science, and integrated pest management, as well as gain practical experience by completing an internship and a “hands-on” experiential learning capstone course addressing real problems in agricultural science. Concentrations requiring at least 12 credits are available in Animal Science, Applied Economics and Management, Education and Communication, Crop Production and Management, and Sustainable Agriculture.
Students graduating with an Agricultural Sciences major will be trained to address complex global agricultural issues of today and will have a knowledge base that leads to employment in a variety of fields. The required emphasis on one or two concentration areas also allows students to become experts in the area of agriculture that is most exciting to them.
Since students in the Agricultural Sciences program come from across the college, we create a family of students who take courses, study, learn, and discuss together as a group. We do this by organizing activities that facilitate learning in an interdisciplinary setting, such as inviting guest speakers from various sectors of the agricultural industry to lead discussions, offering professional development workshops to train students for the workforce, and hosting social events for students in the major. Opportunities are also available in research and outreach experiences, and in summer employment, which serve to enrich the students’ practical experience.
Faculty
R. Bellinder, D. Buckley, A. DiTommaso, L. Drinkwater, G. Fick, R. Gravani, P. Hobbs, Q. Ketterings, W. Knoblauch, J. Losey, W. Miller, R. Nelson, T. Park, J. Russell-Anelli, T. Setter, J. Thies, H. van Es, D. Viands, C. Wien