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 has two options, production and management and multidisciplinary. Students are prepared 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:
- professional, interpersonal, and cross-cultural communications
- problem solving and critical thinking
- leadership
- entrepreneurship
- life-long learning
- ethics
- environmental awareness
- U.S. diversity
- 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 150 | Critical Thinking and Communication | 3 |
| ENGL 250 | Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition | 3 |
| International Perspectives from approved list | 3 | |
| LIB 160 | Information Literacy | 1 |
| US Diversity from approved list | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 13 | |
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 311 | Presentation and Sales Strategies for Agricultural Audiences | 3 |
| BIOL 101 | Introductory Biology | 3 |
| or BIOL 211 | Principles of Biology I | |
| CHEM 163 | College Chemistry | 4 |
| CHEM 163L | Laboratory in College Chemistry | 1 |
| ECON 101 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| Ethics Elective from approved list | 3 | |
| Humanities Elective from approved list | 3 | |
| Life Science elective from approved list | 3 | |
| MATH 140 | College Algebra | 3 |
| STAT 104 | Introduction to Statistics | 3 |
| Total Credits | 29 | |
Major Requirements
| ACCT 284 | Financial Accounting | 3 |
| AGEDS 110B | Agricultural Studies (Fall only) | 1 |
| AGEDS 215 | Career Seminar | 1 |
| AGEDS 315 | Personal, Professional, and Entrepreneurial Leadership in Agriculture | 3 |
| AGEDS 327 | Survey of Agriculture and Life Sciences Communication | 3 |
| AGEDS 450 | Farm Management and Operation | 3 |
| AGEDS 451 | Agricultural Law | 3 |
| AGRON 181 | Introduction to Crop Science | 3 |
| AGRON 182 | Introduction to Soil Science | 3 |
| AGRON 280 | Crop Development, Production and Management | 3 |
| AN S 101 | Working with Animals | 2 |
| AN S 114 | Survey of the Animal Industry | 2 |
| And 6 credit hours from AN S, any level or approved list | 6 | |
| ECON 230 | Farm Business Management | 3 |
| ECON 235 | Introduction to Agricultural Markets | 3 |
| Econ 300 Level from Department Approved List | 3 | |
| NREM 120 | Introduction to Renewable Resources | 3 |
| or NREM 130 | Natural Resources and Agriculture | |
| Total Credits | 48 | |
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.
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 150 | Critical Thinking and Communication | 3 |
| ENGL 250 | Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition | 3 |
| LIB 160 | Information Literacy | 1 |
| International Perspective from approved list | 3 | |
| US Diversity from approved list | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 13 | |
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 101 | Introductory Biology | 3 |
| or BIOL 211 | Principles of Biology I | |
| Ethics Elective from approved list | 3 | |
| Humanities Elective from approved list | 3 | |
| Life Science Elective from approved list | 3 | |
| MATH 140 | College Algebra | 3 |
| Physical Science Elective from approved list | 5 | |
| Speech Elective from approved list | 3 | |
| Social Science Elective from approved list | 3 | |
| STAT 104 | Introduction to Statistics | 3 |
| Total Credits | 29 | |
Major Requirements
Agriculture and Life Sciences Core
| AGEDS 110B | Agricultural Studies (Fall only) | 1 |
| AGEDS 215 | Career Seminar | 1 |
| AGEDS 412 | Internship in Agricultural Education and Studies | 3 |
| AGEDS 490C | Business, Industry, and Production Agriculture | 3 |
| Minor from College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Courses may not be double counted among minors | 15 | |
| Minor from College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Courses may not be double counted between minors | 15 | |
| Minor from any ISU College Courses may not be double counted among minors | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 53 | |
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 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| AGEDS 110B | 1 | AN S 114 | 2 |
| ECON 101 | 3 | AGRON 182 | 3 |
| NREM 120 or 130 | 3 | AN S 101 | 2 |
| MATH 140 | 3 | STAT 104 | 3 |
| ENGL 150 | 3 | ENGL 250 | 3 |
| LIB 160 | 1 | Humanities Elective | 3 |
| AGRON 181 | 3 | ||
| 17 | 16 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| AGEDS 215 | 1 | ACCT 284 | 3 |
| BIOL 101 | 3 | Life Science Elective | 3 |
| AGRON 280 | 3 | U.S. Diversity Elective | 3 |
| Intl Perspective Elective | 3 | AN S Elective | 3 |
| ECON 235 | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| 13 | 15 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| AN S Elective | 3 | AGEDS 311 | 3 |
| AGEDS 315 | 3 | ECON 230 | 3 |
| CHEM 163 | 4 | Ethics Elective | 3 |
| CHEM 163L | 1 | Elective | 7 |
| Elective | 6 | ||
| 17 | 16 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| AGEDS 450 | 3 | AGEDS 451 | 3 |
| AGEDS 327 | 3 | Elective | 11 |
| Econ Elective - Select from Approved List | 3 | ||
| Elective | 3 | ||
| 12 | 14 | ||
| Total Credits: 120 | |||
Multidisciplinary Option
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| AGEDS 110B | 1 | BIOL 101 | 3 |
| ENGL 150 | 3 | ENGL 250 | 3 |
| LIB 160 | 1 | International Perspectives | 3 |
| MATH 140 | 3 | Humanities Elective | 3 |
| Minor Course | 3 | Minor Course | 3 |
| Social Science Elective | 3 | ||
| 14 | 15 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| AGEDS 215 | 1 | Free Elective | 6 |
| Free Elective | 4 | Minor Course | 3 |
| Minor Course | 3 | Minor Course | 3 |
| Minor Course | 3 | US Diversity Elective | 3 |
| Physical Science Elective | 5 | ||
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| AGEDS 315 | 3 | Speech Elective | 3 |
| STAT 104 | 3 | Minor Course | 3 |
| Ethics Elective | 3 | Minor Course | 3 |
| Minor Course | 3 | Minor Course | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | Free Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Free Elective | 3 | Free Elective | 9 |
| Life Science Elective | 3 | Minor Course | 3 |
| Minor Course | 3 | Minor Course | 3 |
| Minor Course | 3 | ||
| Minor Course | 3 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits: 120 | |||
| * | A 2.00 grade point average is required. |