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Agricultural Studies

This is an archived copy of the 2020-2021 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.iastate.edu.

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Undergraduate Study

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 two curricula for students desiring to enter careers in agriculture and related fields. These curricula are agriculture and life sciences education and agricultural studies. 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 agriculture and life sciences education curriculum has two options, teacher certification and communications. The agricultural studies curriculum prepares persons for careers in production agriculture and agricultural industry. Graduates of both curricula accept positions in agricultural business, industry, agencies, and production agriculture.

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. 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.

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.

International Perspective:

3 cr. from approved list.

U.S. Diversity:

3 cr. from approved list.

Communications Proficiency:

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

Communication/Library 13 cr.:
ENGL 150Critical Thinking and Communication3
ENGL 250Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition3
AGEDS 311Presentation and Sales Strategies for Agricultural Audiences3
AGEDS 327Survey of Agriculture and Life Sciences Communication3
LIB 160Information Literacy1
Total Credits13
Humanities and Social Sciences: 6 cr.
ECON 101Principles of Microeconomics3
Plus 3 credit hours from approved humanities list3
Total Credits6
Ethics: 3 cr.

3 cr. from approved list.

Math Physical and Life Sciences: 17 crs.
BIOL 101Introductory Biology3
or BIOL 211 Principles of Biology I
Life Science Elective from College Approved List3
CHEM 163College Chemistry4
or CHEM 177 General Chemistry I
CHEM 163LLaboratory in College Chemistry1
or CHEM 177L Laboratory in General Chemistry I
STAT 104Introduction to Statistics3
MATH 140College Algebra3
Total Credits17
Agricultural Sciences and Economics: 43 cr.
AGEDS 110BAgricultural Studies (Fall only)1
AGEDS 215Career Seminar1
AGEDS 315Personal, Professional, and Entrepreneurial Leadership in Agriculture3
AGEDS 450Farm Management and Operation3
AGEDS 451Agricultural Law3
AGRON 181Introduction to Crop Science3
AGRON 182Introduction to Soil Science3
AGRON 280Crop Development, Production and Management3
AN S 101Working with Animals2
AN S 114Survey of the Animal Industry2
ECON 230Farm Business Management3
ECON 235Introduction to Agricultural Markets3
Econ 300 Level from Department Approved List3
NREM 120Introduction to Renewable Resources3
or NREM 130 Natural Resources and Agriculture
And 6 credit hours from AN S, any level. 6
Total Credits42
Other Required Course:
Electives: Select courses to get to 120 credits.

No more than 4 cr. of or 397 may count toward graduation.

No more than 6 cr. of 490 may count toward graduation.

Preveterinary Studies

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

Agricultural Studies, B.S.

Freshman
FallCreditsSpringCredits
AGEDS 110B1AN S 1142
ECON 1013AGRON 1823
NREM 120 or 1303AN S 1012
MATH 1403STAT 1043
ENGL 1503ENGL 2503
LIB 1601Humanities Elective3
AGRON 1813 
 17 16
Sophomore
FallCreditsSpringCredits
AGEDS 2151ACCT 2843
BIOL 1013Life Science Elective3
AGRON 2803U.S. Diversity Elective3
Intl Perspective Elective3AN S Elective3
ECON 2353Elective3
 13 15
Junior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
AN S Elective3AGEDS 3113
AGEDS 3153ECON 2303
CHEM 1634Ethics Elective3
CHEM 163L1Elective7
Elective6 
 17 16
Senior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
AGEDS 4503AGEDS 4513
AGEDS 3273Elective10
Econ Elective - Select from Approved List3 
Elective3 
 12 13