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Agricultural and Rural Policy Studies

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AGRICULTURAL & RURAL POLICY STUDIES

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Agriculture is more than just farming; it is about food, energy, and conservation. Rural is more than just small towns; it is the linkages between cities, urban consumers, and the global economy. Our major prepares students to guide policy decisions impacting agriculture, the environment, and the well-being or rural communities. In short, our major is the people and policy side of agriculture. Students will learn about the social and policy dimensions of agriculture and about strategies to promote rural resiliency and community vitality. The major will train students to engage with diverse audiences to discuss controversial issues, to promote public-private partnerships, and to lead and manage policy programs. Our goal is to give students the tools to help rural people and places thrive in the 21st century.

Our curriculum is flexible to meet the interests and needs of each student. A specialization area outside the major is required. Internships, experiential learning, and study abroad are important parts of the major. Graduates work as policy and legislative advisors, agriculture and farmer relations specialists, government affairs specialists, public information and communications officers, extension educators, community and economic developers, and in agriculture.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students will develop the necessary skills to become effective leaders in agriculture-related companies, non-profit associations and organization, and state and local government agencies working on agriculture and rural issues. Specific learning outcomes include:

  1. Making connections between agriculture, the environment, and rural communities.
  2. Making linkages between local, national, and global agricultural systems.
  3. Investigating how social, economic, and cultural systems affect decisions.
  4. Analyzing information and recommending solutions to guide decisions.
  5. Evaluating program and policy outcomes.
  6. Communicating information and ideas to others to guide decisions.
  7. Leading and managing policy programs.
  8. Promoting civic engagement among diverse groups.

CURRICULUM IN AGRICULTURAL & RURAL POLICY STUDIES

Administered by the Department of Sociology

Total Degree Requirement: 120 cr.

The major in Agricultural and Rural Policy Studies requires a minimum of 120 credits and a 2.00 minimum GPA. Only 65 credits from a two-year institution may apply, which may include up to 16 technical credits. Up to 9 P-NP credits of free electives can be applied toward the degree.

University Requirements:

ENGL 1500Critical Thinking and Communication3
ENGL 2500Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition3
ENGL 3020Business Communication3
or ENGL 3090 Proposal and Report Writing
LIB 1600Introduction to College Level Research1
U.S. Cultures and Communities (formerly U.S. Diversity) from approved list3
International Perspectives from approved list (Met by SOC 3480)3
CALS Communication Proficiency Requirement: A grade of C or better in 6 cr. of composition (ENGL 1500, ENGL 2500, ENGL 3020, or ENGL 3090); and a C or better in speech fundaments (COMST 2140 or AGEDS 3110)
Total Credits10-16

CALS Requirements:

Mathematics from approved list (MATH 1400, MATH 1430, MATH 1450, MATH 1500, MATH 1510, MATH 1600, or MATH 1650) 13
STAT 1010Principles of Statistics3-4
or STAT 1040 Introduction to Statistics
Physical Sciences from approved list (MTEOR 2060, [CHEM 1630 & CHEM 1630L], GEOL 1010, [GEOL 1020 & GEOL 1020L]) 25
BIOL 1010Introductory Biology3
or BIOL 2110 Principles of Biology I
Life Sciences from approved list (Met by AGRON 1810)3
Ethics from approved list (Met by SOC 3250)3
Humanities from approved list 33
Social Sciences from approved list (Met by SOC 2300)3
AGEDS 3110Presentation and Sales Strategies for Agricultural Audiences3
or COMST 2140 Professional Communication
Total Credits20-30
1

Mathematics approved list: https://www.cals.iastate.edu/content/math-statistics-and-physical-sciences

2

Physical Sciences approved list: https://www.cals.iastate.edu/content/math-statistics-and-physical-sciences

3

Humanities approved list: https://www.cals.iastate.edu/student-services/humanities

Major Requirements -- Agricultural and Rural Policy Studies Core

SOC 1100Orientation to Agricultural and Rural Policy Studies1
SOC 2300Rural Society in Transition3
SOC 2620Data Discovery and Civic Engagement3
SOC 2640Facilitation of Public Issues in Agriculture3
or SOC 2100 Social & Civic Innovation
SOC 3250Agriculture in Transition3
SOC 3480Global Poverty, Resources and Sustainable Development3
SOC 3500Human Diversity in Agriculture and the Food System3
SOC 3820Environmental Sociology3
SOC 4150Agrifood Policy and Social Change3
SOC 4330Strategies for Rural Resiliency and Vitality3
SOC 4440Sociology of Food and Agricultural Systems3
AGEDS 3150Personal, Professional, and Entrepreneurial Leadership in Agriculture3
or POLS 4750 Management in the Public Sector
Total Credits34

Major Requirements -- Social Science Foundation

AGEDS 4510Agricultural Law3
ECON 1010Principles of Microeconomics3
ECON 2350Introduction to Agricultural Markets3
POLS 2830, POLS 3350, POLS 3440, or another approved POLS course3
Total Credits12

Major Requirements -- Agricultural Science Foundation

AGRON 1800Global Agriculture in a Changing World3
AGRON 1810Introduction to Crop Science3
ANS 1140Survey of the Animal Industry2
FSHN 2420The US Food System3
or AGRON 3420 World Food Issues: Past and Present
Total Credits11

Major Requirements -- Minor or Co-Major

Minimum of 15 cr. in a declared minor (9 cr. must stand alone; 6 cr. must be at 3000 or higher); or a declared co-major (30 cr. must stand alone)15
Total Credits15

Electives

Complete 15 cr. for a second minor or co-major plus 3 cr. free electives; or complete 18 cr. free electives18
Total Credits18

AGRICULTURAL AND RURAL POLICY STUDIES, B.S.

Freshman
FallCreditsSpringCredits
SOC 11001SOC 26203
SOC 23003ECON 23503
SOC 26403AGRON 18103
ECON 10103ENGL 25003
ANS 11402LIB 16001
ENGL 15003Mathematics3
 15 16
Sophomore
FallCreditsSpringCredits
SOC 34803SOC 32503
SOC 35003POLS 3350, 3440, or 28303
AGRON 18003FSHN 2420 or AGRON 34203
BIOL 1010 or 21103STAT 1010 or 10403-4
Physical Science3Physical Science1
Physical Science1Humanities3
 16 16-17
Junior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
SOC 44403SOC 38203
AGEDS 3150 or POLS 47503SOC 41503
COMST 2140 or AGEDS 31103ENGL 3020 or 30903
Minor3Minor3
Minor3Minor3
 15 15
Senior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
SOC 43303AGEDS 45103
Minor3Free Elective3
Free Elective3Free Elective3
Free Elective3Free Elective3
Free Elective3 
 15 12

GRADUATE STUDY

The department offers work for the degrees Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy with majors in sociology and rural sociology and minor work for students majoring in other departments. For M.S. and Ph.D. departmental requirements, see Program of Graduate Study for Degrees in Sociology and Rural Sociology, available from the department office. The department offers concentrations in a number of areas, e.g., community studies and development; sociology of families, inequality, food systems, agriculture and environment; methodology; social change and development; criminology; the economy, organizations and work; and social psychology. The Department of Sociology does not offer a nonthesis master’s program.

Graduates have a broad understanding of sociology, address complex societal problems, and communicate effectively with scientific colleagues and the general public in both formal and informal settings. They understand sociological theory, conduct research, and are prepared to educate college students and contribute to public policy. Although the department stipulates no language requirement for either the degree Master of Science or the degree Doctor of Philosophy, specifying competence in one or more languages may be desirable in some instances.

The department also participates in the interdepartmental program in interdepartmental majors in sustainable agriculture, transportation and water resources, and interdepartmental minors in gerontology (see Index).