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. Areas of specialization within agricultural science include:

Pre-Veterinary Medicine/Animal Science
Equine Studies
Agricultural Business
Horticulture/Agronomy

Due to differences in career focus, the Bachelor of Science requirements and Required Support courses differ for the Agricultural Business specialization as compared to the other three (science-based) specializations.

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. 

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. Complete an individual research project (as approved/supervised by a faculty member) and present at the Student Research Conference or appropriate professional meeting or submit a paper for publication in an appropriate journal or research bulletin.
3. Achieve 75th percentile or above on ACAT or other approved senior test for agriculture.
4. Approval of a majority of non-abstaining AGSC faculty. 

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS: