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Agricultural Studies

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OVERVIEW

Administered by the Department of Agricultural Education and Studies

For undergraduate curricula in agriculture and life sciences education, and agricultural studies, leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science, see College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Curricula.

The department offers three curricula for students desiring to enter careers in agriculture and related fields. These curricula are agricultural communication, agricultural and life sciences education and agricultural studies. The agricultural communication curriculum prepares graduates to communicate about agricultural science with diverse audiences within and outside the agricultural sector locally, nationally, and globally, using various communication channels and tools. The agricultural and life sciences education curriculum prepares persons for careers as agricultural education instructors, and educational specialists for industry, nonprofit organizations, and governmental agencies. The agricultural studies curriculum has two options, production and management and multidisciplinary. Graduates are prepared for careers in production agriculture and agricultural industry. Graduates of all three curricula accept positions in agricultural business, industry, agencies, and production agriculture.

Student Learning Outcomes

Graduates will have a broad base of agricultural knowledge, and will be skilled in decision making, planning, organizing, presenting, and evaluating information. Through the successful completion of the required coursework, active participation in clubs and organizations, and the acquisition of technical skills and experiences associated with work experiences, internships, and international travel, graduates of our baccalaureate programs meet the university, college, and departmental outcomes in the following nine areas:

  1. Professional, interpersonal, and cross-cultural communications
  2. Problem solving and critical thinking
  3. Leadership
  4. Entrepreneurship
  5. Life-long learning
  6. Ethics
  7. Environmental awareness
  8. U.S. cultures and communities (formerly U.S. diversity)
  9. International perspectives.

More information regarding the departmental learning outcomes can be found at www.ageds.iastate.edu/.

Curriculum in Agricultural Studies

Administered by the Department of Agricultural Education and Studies. Students are encouraged to develop one or more areas of concentration in agricultural sciences and economics.

Production and Management Option

Total Degree Requirement: 120 cr.

Only 65 cr. from a two-year institution may apply which may include up to 16 technical cr.; 9 P-NP cr. of free electives; 2.00 minimum GPA.

University Requirements.:
ENGL 1500Critical Thinking and Communication3
ENGL 2500Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition3
International Perspectives from approved list3
LIB 1600Introduction to College Level Research1
U.S. Cultures and Communities (formerly U.S. Diversity) from approved list3
Total Credits13
CALS Requirements
Communications Proficiency:

6 cr. of English composition with a C or better and 3 cr. of speech fundamentals with a C or better.

AGEDS 3110Presentation and Sales Strategies for Agricultural Audiences3
BIOL 1010Introductory Biology3
or BIOL 2110 Principles of Biology I
CHEM 1630College Chemistry4
CHEM 1630LLaboratory in College Chemistry1
ECON 1010Principles of Microeconomics3
Ethics Elective from approved list3
Humanities Elective from approved list3
Life Science elective from approved list3
MATH 1400College Algebra3
STAT 1040Introduction to Statistics3
Total Credits29
Major Requirements
ACCT 2840Financial Accounting3
AGEDS 1100Professional Development in Agricultural Education and Studies: New Student Seminar1
AGEDS 2150Professional Development in Agricultural Education and Studies: Career Seminar1
AGEDS 3150Personal, Professional, and Entrepreneurial Leadership in Agriculture3
AGEDS 3270Survey of Agriculture and Life Sciences Communication3
AGEDS 4500Farm Management and Operation3
AGEDS 4510Agricultural Law3
AGRON 1810Introduction to Crop Science3
AGRON 1820Introduction to Soil Science3
AGRON 2800Crop Development, Production and Management3
ANS 1010Working with Animals2
ANS 1140Survey of the Animal Industry2
And 6 credit hours from ANS, any level or approved list 6
ECON 2300Farm Business Management3
ECON 2350Introduction to Agricultural Markets3
Econ 3000 Level from Department Approved List3
NREM 1200Introduction to Renewable Resources3
or NREM 1300 Natural Resources and Agriculture
Total Credits48
Other Required Course:
Electives: Select courses to get to 120 credits.

No more than 4 cr. of or 3970 may count toward graduation.

No more than 6 cr. of 4900 may count toward graduation.

Multidisciplinary Option

Total Degree Requirement: 120 cr.

Only 65 cr. from a two-year institution may apply which may include up to 16 technical cr.; 9 P-NP cr. of free electives; 2.00 minimum GPA.

University Requirements
ENGL 1500Critical Thinking and Communication3
ENGL 2500Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition3
LIB 1600Introduction to College Level Research1
International Perspective from approved list3
U.S. Cultures and Communities (formerly U.S. Diversity) from approved list3
Total Credits13
CALS Requirements
Communications Proficiency:

6 cr. of English composition with a C or better and 3 cr. of speech fundamentals with a C or better.

BIOL 1010Introductory Biology3
or BIOL 2110 Principles of Biology I
Ethics Elective from approved list3
Humanities Elective from approved list3
Life Science Elective from approved list3
MATH 1400College Algebra3
Physical Science Elective from approved list5
Speech Elective from approved list3
Social Science Elective from approved list3
STAT 1040Introduction to Statistics3
Total Credits29
Major Requirements
Agriculture and Life Sciences Core
AGEDS 1100Professional Development in Agricultural Education and Studies: New Student Seminar1
AGEDS 2150Professional Development in Agricultural Education and Studies: Career Seminar1
AGEDS 4120Internship in Agricultural Education and Studies3
AGEDS 4900CBusiness, Industry, and Production Agriculture3
Select one CALS area, including 6 credits at 3000-4000 level taken at Iowa State *15
Select one CALS area, including 6 credits at 3000-4000 level taken at Iowa State *15
Select one other area, including 6 credits at 3000-4000 level taken at Iowa State *15
Total Credits53
*

An individual course may only apply towards one area.

Other Required Course:
Electives: Select courses to get to 120 credits.

Preveterinary Studies

Preparation for admission to veterinary medicine may be accomplished through the agricultural studies curriculum.

Agricultural Studies, B.S.

Production and Management Option

Freshman
FallCreditsSpringCredits
AGEDS 11001ANS 11402
ECON 10103AGRON 18203
NREM 1200 or 13003ANS 10102
MATH 14003STAT 10403
ENGL 15003ENGL 25003
LIB 16001Humanities Elective3
AGRON 18103 
 17 16
Sophomore
FallCreditsSpringCredits
AGEDS 21501ACCT 28403
BIOL 10103Life Science Elective3
AGRON 28003U.S. Cultures and Communities (formerly U.S. Diversity) Elective3
Intl Perspective Elective3ANS Elective3
ECON 23503Elective3
 13 15
Junior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ANS Elective3AGEDS 31103
AGEDS 31503ECON 23003
CHEM 16304Ethics Elective3
CHEM 1630L1Elective7
Elective6 
 17 16
Senior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
AGEDS 45003AGEDS 45103
AGEDS 32703Elective11
Econ Elective - Select from Approved List3 
Elective3 
 12 14
Total Credits: 120

Multidisciplinary Option

Freshman
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ENGL 15003BIOL 10103
AGEDS 11001ENGL 25003
LIB 16001International Perspectives3
MATH 14003Humanities Elective3
Area Course3Area Course3
Social Science Elective3 
 14 15
Sophomore
FallCreditsSpringCredits
AGEDS 21501Free Elective6
Free Elective4Area Course3
Area Course3Area Course3
Area Course3U.S. Cultures and Communities (formerly U.S. Diversity) Elective3
Physical Science Elective5 
 16 15
Junior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
AGEDS 31503Speech Elective3
STAT 10403Area Course3
Ethics Elective3Area Course3
Area Course3Area Course3
Free Elective3Free Elective3
 15 15
Senior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
Free Elective3Free Elective9
Life Science Elective3Area Course3
Area Course3Area Course3
Area Course3 
Area Course3 
 15 15
Total Credits: 120
*

A 2.00 grade point average is required.