Agricultural Science (BS)

Affiliation: School of Sciences & Mathematics

THE MAJOR

Pursuit of an undergraduate degree in Agricultural Science affords the opportunity for students to experience a holistic approach to the study of food and fiber production and their association and interaction with societal concerns. Our focus is on a sustainable agricultural system. For majors, the goals of the agriculture program are:

1. To offer students a unique, liberal arts and sciences-based preparation for advanced study in graduate school, veterinary medicine, or other professional schools. A solid foundation in basic agricultural concepts along with advanced focus courses also prepare students for entry-level positions in business, agriculture production or government settings where a multidisciplinary, problem-solving approach is useful.
2. To graduate students possessing a multidisciplinary understanding of agriculture. Students gain philosophical, historical, sociological, political, economic, business, scientific, technical, and multicultural perspectives on the mobilization of agricultural inputs and their relationships with the production, processing, and delivery of food and fiber and the intricate association with society and the environment.
3. To graduate students with proficiency in basic skills, higher order thinking and problem-solving skills, leadership and management capabilities, and an appreciation for the need for collaboration.
4. To empower students with a well-developed understanding of their personal values.
5. To graduate students with the technical skills and scientific knowledge needed for entry into the agriculture industry and to foster a life-long approach to learning. 

For students seeking a minor or students with non-degree seeking interest in agricultural science, the goals of the program are twofold. The first is to educate students about the agrarian contributions to human culture, about food and fiber production, and about the environmental and social consequences of using agriculture-related technology. The second goal is to promote and foster skills and attitudes associated with a liberal education and to utilize those skills on multidisciplinary investigations concerning science and society as a whole. 

COMMUNICATION IN AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE

All Agricultural Science majors will develop their skills as speakers and as writers.  Courses in the Agricultural Science core curriculum require establishing familiarity with conventions of scientific writing, producing written products of varying lengths and formats, and speaking and presenting.  For example, students in the Animal Agriculture class engage in critical thinking and writing through a comparative analysis of animal production systems; students in Ethical Issues in Sustainable Agriculture prepare a research paper on an agricultural practice or technique and also develop public speaking skills by leading and participating in large- and small-group discussions; students in the Agriculture Practicum Capstone present the results of their group project via a written report and oral presentation.  As students take elective courses specific to their particular area of interest within agriculture, they further practice written communication specific to that area, from writing summaries of peer-reviewed research articles for an animal science class to writing a business plan for a course in equine business management.

DEPARTMENTAL HONORS IN AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE

Students who excel in all areas of scholarly activity may be eligible for Departmental Honors. Recipients of Departmental Honors must meet all of these criteria:

1. 3.50 or above cumulative GPA.
2. Achieve 75th percentile or higher on approved senior test for agriculture.
3. Complete an experiential learning activity and present outcome. This criterion may be fulfilled by any of the following:
    a.  Perform individual faculty-mentored research project, with results presented at the Student Research Conference (or other approved meeting).
    b.  Study abroad and present experience and major learning outcomes to peers and faculty.
    c.  Complete an internship related to agriculture and present experience and major learning outcomes to peers and faculty.
4. Approval of a majority of non-abstaining AGSC faculty. 

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS: