Agriculture and Society
College of Agriculture— Agriculture & Society
This undergraduate degree emphasizes the application of social science knowledge to issues related to agriculture and society. The interdisciplinary major draws largely on courses from sociology, political science and economics. Its goal is to prepare students to become leaders in addressing complex issues related to the social and human dimensions of agriculture at both the local and global level. Students will learn social science concepts and skills to understand, analyze and communicate complex ideas, information and data related to agricultural systems.
Internships are an important part of the Agriculture & Society major. The curriculum offers the flexibility needed to accommodate the special interests and needs of each student.
The curriculum is designed to provide students with the following skills and competencies:
- Recognize, analyze and evaluate the critical human and social factors (e.g. practices, policies, laws, institutions) impacting agriculture.
- Understand the social dimensions of agriculture and its connections with food and environmental systems.
- Develop problem solving, critical thinking, and leadership skills to positively influence human impacts on agriculture.
- Understand the perspectives of diverse stakeholders and develop strategies to communicate clearly and effectively to a range of audiences.
Students will develop the necessary skills to become effective leaders with companies, local, national and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and government agencies that work on agricultural, food and environmental related issues. Graduates can work as public policy analysts, government relations, public relations, program analyst, program specialists, marketing, sales, agriculture, educators, and executive directors.
Curriculum in Agriculture & Society
Administered by the Department of Sociology
Total Degree Requirement: 128 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.
International Perspective: 3 cr.
U.S. Diversity: 3 cr.
Communications Proficiency (C or better):
| 6 credits of English Composition | 6 | |
| Three credits of Speech Fundamentals | 3 | |
Communication/Library:
| ENGL 150 | Critical Thinking and Communication | 3 |
| ENGL 250 | Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition | 3 |
| SP CM 212 | Fundamentals of Public Speaking | 3 |
| P R 305 | Publicity Methods | 3 |
| LIB 160 | Information Literacy | 1 |
Humanities and Social Sciences: 6 cr.
| 3 credits from approved humanities list | 3 | |
| 3 credits from approved social science list | ||
Ethics: 3 cr.
3 cr. from approved list.
Life Sciences: 6 cr.
| BIOL 101 | Introductory Biology | 3 |
| or BIOL 211 | Principles of Biology I | |
| Three credits from approved life sciences list | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 6 | |
Mathematical and Physical Sciences: 12 cr.
| MATH 150 | Discrete Mathematics for Business and Social Sciences | 3 |
| STAT 101 | Principles of Statistics | 4 |
| Five credit hours from: | 5 | |
| Introduction to Weather and Climate | ||
| Introduction to Weather and Climate | ||
or ASTRO, CHEM, GEOL, PHYS | ||
| Total Credits | 12 | |
Sociology 15 cr.
| SOC 110 | Orientation to Public Service and Administration in Agriculture | R |
| SOC 230 | Rural Society in Transition | 3 |
| SOC 325 | Transition in Agriculture | 3 |
| or SOC 382 | Environmental Sociology | |
| SOC 415 | Dynamics of Social Change | 3 |
| SOC 420 | Complex Organizations | 3 |
| or SOC 380 | Sociology of Work | |
| SOC 464 | Strategies for Community Engagement | 3 |
| Total Credits | 15 | |
Economics and Agricultural Education and Studies: 16 cr.
| ECON 101 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| ECON 102 | Principles of Macroeconomics | 3 |
| ECON 235 | Introduction to Agricultural Markets | 3 |
| or ECON 380 | Environmental and Resource Economics | |
| ECON 344 | Public Finance | 3 |
| AGEDS 451 | Agricultural Law | 4 |
| Total Credits | 16 | |
Political Sciences: 15 cr.
| POL S 215 | Introduction to American Government | 3 |
| POL S 310 | State and Local Government | 3 |
| POL S 371 | Introduction to Public Administration | 3 |
| POL S 475 | Management in the Public Sector | 3 |
| C R P 436 | Community Economic Development | 3 |
| Total Credits | 15 | |
Additional Pol S, Econ, or Soc at 300 level or above.
Agricultural Sciences: 9 cs.
Complete 9 cr. from MTEOR 206 Introduction to Weather and Climate or Agron, An S, AST, Ent, FS HN, Hort, or NREM.
Area of Concentration: 15 cr.
Complete 15 cr. from approved specialization area.
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).
