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 m
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:
- Making connections between agriculture, the environment, and rural communities
- Making linkages between local, national, and global agricultural systems
- Investigating how social, economic, and cultural systems affect decisions
- Analyzing information and recommending solutions to guide decisions
- Evaluating program and policy outcomes
- Communicating information and ideas to others to guide decisions
- Leading and managing policy programs
- 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 150 | Critical Thinking and Communication | 3 |
| ENGL 250 | Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition | 3 |
| ENGL 302 | Business Communication | 3 |
| or ENGL 309 | Proposal and Report Writing | |
| LIB 160 | Introduction to College Level Research | 1 |
| U.S. Diversity from approved list | 3 | |
| International Perspectives from approved list (Met by SOC 348) | 3 | |
| CALS Communication Proficiency Requirement: A grade of C or better in 6 cr. of composition (ENGL 150, ENGL 250, ENGL 302, or ENGL 309); and a C or better in speech fundaments (COMST 214 or AGEDS 311) | ||
| Total Credits | 10-16 | |
CALS Requirements:
| Mathematics from approved list (MATH 140, MATH 143, MATH 145, MATH 150, MATH 151, MATH 160, or MATH 165) 1 | 3 | |
| STAT 101 | Principles of Statistics | 3-4 |
| or STAT 104 | Introduction to Statistics | |
| Physical Sciences from approved list (MTEOR 206, [CHEM 163 & CHEM 163L], GEOL 101, [GEOL 102 & GEOL 102L]) 2 | 5 | |
| BIOL 101 | Introductory Biology | 3 |
| or BIOL 211 | Principles of Biology I | |
| Life Sciences from approved list (Met by AGRON 181) | 3 | |
| Ethics from approved list (Met by SOC 325) | 3 | |
| Humanities from approved list 3 | 3 | |
| Social Sciences from approved list (Met by SOC 230) | 3 | |
| AGEDS 311 | Presentation and Sales Strategies for Agricultural Audiences | 3 |
| or COMST 214 | Professional Communication | |
| Total Credits | 20-30 | |
- 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 110 | Orientation to Agricultural and Rural Policy Studies | 1 |
| SOC 230 | Rural Society in Transition | 3 |
| SOC 262 | Data Discovery and Civic Engagement | 3 |
| SOC 264 | Facilitation of Public Issues in Agriculture | 3 |
| or SOC 210 | Social & Civic Innovation | |
| SOC 325 | Agriculture in Transition | 3 |
| SOC 348 | Global Poverty, Resources and Sustainable Development | 3 |
| SOC 350 | Human Diversity in Agriculture and the Food System | 3 |
| SOC 382 | Environmental Sociology | 3 |
| SOC 415 | Agrifood Policy and Social Change | 3 |
| SOC 433 | Strategies for Rural Resiliency and Vitality | 3 |
| SOC 444 | Sociology of Food and Agricultural Systems | 3 |
| AGEDS 315 | Personal, Professional, and Entrepreneurial Leadership in Agriculture | 3 |
| or POL S 475 | Management in the Public Sector | |
| Total Credits | 34 | |
Major Requirements -- Social Science Foundation
| AGEDS 451 | Agricultural Law | 3 |
| ECON 101 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| ECON 235 | Introduction to Agricultural Markets | 3 |
| POL S 283, POL S 335, POL S 344, or other approved POL S course | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 12 | |
Major Requirements -- Agricultural Science Foundation
| AGRON 180 | Global Agriculture in a Changing World | 3 |
| AGRON 181 | Introduction to Crop Science | 3 |
| AN S 114 | Survey of the Animal Industry | 2 |
| FS HN 242 | The US Food System | 3 |
| or AGRON 342 | World Food Issues: Past and Present | |
| Total Credits | 11 | |
Major Requirements -- Minor or Co-Major
| Minimum of 15 cr. in a declared minor (9 cr. must stand alone; 6 cr. must be at 300 or higher); or a declared co-major (30 cr. must stand alone) | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 15 | |
Electives
| Complete 15 cr. for a second minor or co-major plus 3 cr. free electives; or complete 18 cr. free electives | 18 | |
| Total Credits | 18 | |
AGRICULTURAL AND RURAL POLICY STUDIES, B.S.
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| SOC 110 | 1 | SOC 262 | 3 |
| SOC 230 | 3 | ECON 235 | 3 |
| SOC 264 | 3 | AGRON 181 | 3 |
| ECON 101 | 3 | ENGL 250 | 3 |
| AN S 114 | 2 | LIB 160 | 1 |
| ENGL 150 | 3 | Mathematics | 3 |
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| SOC 348 | 3 | SOC 325 | 3 |
| SOC 350 | 3 | POL S 335, 344, or 283 | 3 |
| AGRON 180 | 3 | FS HN 242 or AGRON 342 | 3 |
| BIOL 101 or 211 | 3 | STAT 101 or 104 | 3-4 |
| Physical Science | 3 | Physical Science | 1 |
| Physical Science | 1 | Humanities | 3 |
| 16 | 16-17 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| SOC 444 | 3 | SOC 382 | 3 |
| AGEDS 315 or POL S 475 | 3 | SOC 415 | 3 |
| COMST 214 or AGEDS 311 | 3 | ENGL 302 or 309 | 3 |
| Minor | 3 | Minor | 3 |
| Minor | 3 | Minor | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| SOC 433 | 3 | AGEDS 451 | 3 |
| Minor | 3 | Free Elective | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | Free Elective | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | Free Elective | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | ||
| 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).