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Agricultural Studies

This is an archived copy of the 2021-2022 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 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:

  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.

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 150Critical Thinking and Communication3
ENGL 250Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition3
International Perspectives from approved list3
LIB 160Information Literacy1
US 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 311Presentation and Sales Strategies for Agricultural Audiences3
BIOL 101Introductory Biology3
or BIOL 211 Principles of Biology I
CHEM 163College Chemistry4
CHEM 163LLaboratory in College Chemistry1
ECON 101Principles of Microeconomics3
Ethics Elective from approved list3
Humanities Elective from approved list3
Life Science elective from approved list3
MATH 140College Algebra3
STAT 104Introduction to Statistics3
Total Credits29
Major Requirements
ACCT 284Financial Accounting3
AGEDS 110BAgricultural Studies (Fall only)1
AGEDS 215Career Seminar1
AGEDS 315Personal, Professional, and Entrepreneurial Leadership in Agriculture3
AGEDS 327Survey of Agriculture and Life Sciences Communication3
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
And 6 credit hours from AN S, any level or approved list 6
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
Total Credits48
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 150Critical Thinking and Communication3
ENGL 250Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition3
LIB 160Information Literacy1
International Perspective from approved list3
US 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 101Introductory Biology3
or BIOL 211 Principles of Biology I
Ethics Elective from approved list3
Humanities Elective from approved list3
Life Science Elective from approved list3
MATH 140College Algebra3
Physical Science Elective from approved list5
Speech Elective from approved list3
Social Science Elective from approved list3
STAT 104Introduction to Statistics3
Total Credits29
Major Requirements
Agriculture and Life Sciences Core
AGEDS 110BAgricultural Studies (Fall only)1
AGEDS 215Career Seminar1
AGEDS 412Internship in Agricultural Education and Studies3
AGEDS 490CBusiness, Industry, and Production Agriculture3
Minor from College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Courses may not be double counted among minors15
Minor from College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Courses may not be double counted between minors15
Minor from any ISU College Courses may not be double counted among minors15
Total Credits53
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 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 3273Elective11
Econ Elective - Select from Approved List3 
Elective3 
 12 14
Total Credits: 120

Multidisciplinary Option

Freshman
FallCreditsSpringCredits
AGEDS 110B1BIOL 1013
ENGL 1503ENGL 2503
LIB 1601International Perspectives3
MATH 1403Humanities Elective3
Minor Course3Minor Course3
Social Science Elective3 
 14 15
Sophomore
FallCreditsSpringCredits
AGEDS 2151Free Elective6
Free Elective4Minor Course3
Minor Course3Minor Course3
Minor Course3US Diversity Elective3
Physical Science Elective5 
 16 15
Junior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
AGEDS 3153Speech Elective3
STAT 1043Minor Course3
Ethics Elective3Minor Course3
Minor Course3Minor Course3
Free Elective3Free Elective3
 15 15
Senior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
Free Elective3Free Elective9
Life Science Elective3Minor Course3
Minor Course3Minor Course3
Minor Course3 
Minor Course3 
 15 15
Total Credits: 120