College of Agriculture

www.ag.iastate.edu

Dean: Richard F. Ross

Departments of the College (majors)

Students enrolled in the College of Agriculture are provided a broad-based education that includes coursework in communications; biological, physical, and social sciences; humanities; and technical subject matter.
Upon graduation students find diverse career opportunities because of the well balanced education they have received as undergraduates. Opportunities for graduates include production agriculture, business and industry, public agencies, education, biological and environmental sciences, value-added processing, natural resource management, rural development, animal and human health professions, and graduate studies.

High School Preparation
Requirements for students entering from high school or transferring with less than 24 college credits into the College of Agriculture include four years of English; three years of mathematics which must include one year each of algebra, geometry, and advanced algebra; three years of science which must include one year each of biology and chemistry, or biology and physics, or chemistry and physics; and two years of social studies. No foreign language is required for admission to the College of Agriculture.
Majors in the College of Agriculture
A student has many majors from which to choose. Each major is unique but there are courses common to many. This is helpful to students in that they may transfer from one 
agriculture major to another before the second year with little, if any, loss of credits. Options and areas of specialization further define the majors and required coursework within some majors. In all cases, majors are designed to help students succeed in their chosen professions. Majors in agriculture are:

Primary Majors
Agricultural Biochemistry
Agricultural Business
Agricultural Education
Agricultural Studies
Agricultural Systems Technology
Agronomy
Animal Ecology
Animal Science
Dairy Science
Dietetics
Entomology
Environmental Science
Food Science 
Forestry
Genetics
Horticulture
Microbiology
Nutritional Science
Plant Health and Protection
Professional Agriculture (off-campus)
Public Service and Administration in Agriculture 
Zoology

Secondary Majors
Agricultural Extension Education 
Environmental Studies
International Agriculture
Pest Management
Seed Science
A secondary major must be taken in conjunction with a primary major. 

Minors
Agricultural Biochemistry 
Agricultural Education and Studies 
Agricultural Systems Technology 
Agronomy
Animal Ecology
Entomology
Environmental Science
Environmental Studies
Food Science
Forestry
Genetics
Horticulture
International Agriculture
Microbiology
Nutrition
Pest Management
Plant Health and Protection
Zoology

Special Programs
General Agriculture
General Agriculture is a starting place for students who wish to pursue careers in agriculture but who are unsure of which majors to choose. The Agriculture Student Services Office provides advising for general agriculture students until they select their majors. 

Preveterinary Medicine
Students in the College of Agriculture may complete the requirements for admission to the College of Veterinary Medicine by enrolling in any major within the college. Because a solid foundation in the sciences is basic to the program in veterinary medicine, those majors that emphasize the sciences are usually more compatible with preveterinary medicine (see College of Veterinary Medicine section of this catalog for specific admissions requirements).
Students who are undecided about choice of major may enroll in general preveterinary studies (Gen PV). These students will also enroll in an orientation course, which describes the various college majors. A Gen PV student has up to 1.5 semesters to select a major.

Preveterinary medicine students also have an opportunity, with careful planning, to complete the requirements for a bachelor of science degree in an individual curriculum within the College of Agriculture after admission to the College of Veterinary Medicine. This may be done by completing the prescribed course of study established by an individual major. Students also may meet degree requirements of an individual major through the College of Agriculture Honors Program. Further details are available from an academic adviser or from members of the College of Agriculture Honors Committee.

Honors Program
The College of Agriculture Honors Program provides an opportunity for students of high ability to maximize their educational experience by individualizing their program of study. (See statement on Honors Program in the Colleges and Curricula section of this catalog). For more information, contact the chair of the College of Agriculture Honors Committee, or your department Honors contact person.

Off-Campus Programs
Coursework leading to bachelor of science and master of agriculture degrees in professional agriculture and a nonthesis master of science in microbiology are offered to students who choose to study off-campus; see Extended and Continuing Education for further information. 

Study Abroad and International Travel Opportunities
Agriculture is being transformed into a highly interconnected global system; decisions made in one agricultural sector have profound impacts worldwide. It is important for students to develop an understanding and appreciation for the global system and the central role that U.S. agriculture plays in providing a safe and predictable food supply for a growing world population. The College of Agriculture provides study abroad and international travel opportunities in several locations around the world. For additional information, contact the Office of International Agriculture Programs in the College of Agriculture.

Internships and Cooperative Education Programs
Practical work experience can provide a unique learning opportunity that complements academic coursework. This experience is provided through internships or cooperative education programs. For additional information, contact a departmental adviser or internship coordinator.

College of Agriculture Core Curriculum and Electives
All curricula in the College of Agriculture lead to a bachelor of science degree. Each major has specific degree requirements for graduation. These include the College of Agriculture’s core curriculum.
Students pursuing a primary major in another college and taking a second major in the College of Agriculture must fulfill the core curriculum requirements of the College of Agriculture and all the requirements of the second major. The College of Agriculture core curriculum follows.

The College of Agriculture is committed to enhancing student proficiency in four areas: 
1) ability to write, discuss and present subject matter within the major (communications), 2) ability to consider many dimensions of a problem and develop a solution (problem-solving), 3) ability to use computers for computation, document processing and communications, and 4) ability to analyze issues related to human impact on natural resources and the environment. Courses required by each major, courses within the College of Agriculture’s core curriculum or free elective courses are used to develop these proficiencies. The specific requirements are: 

Communications: Equivalent to 3 credits from one or more courses. Communication activities are incorporated into designated courses 
within each major field. The requirement is fulfilled by taking one or more of these communication-intensive courses.

Problem-solving: Equivalent to 3 credits from one or more courses. Problem-solving activities (disciplinary and multidisciplinary) are incorporated into designated courses within each major field. The problem-solving requirement is fulfilled by taking one or more of these problem-solving-intensive courses.

Computer proficiency: All College of Agriculture students must demonstrate computer proficiency according to procedures established by each department.

Environmental issues: Equivalent to 3 credits from one or more courses. Students are strongly encouraged to select course work in this area which will give them an appreciation of both ecological and human/societal dimensions of the environment.

Electives
Students use electives to broaden their education or to strengthen an area of specialization. Electives may be used to meet the requirements for a double major (see statement on double majors in this catalog). Those who wish to change their major, or who decide to graduate with a double major, must be enrolled for the last two semesters in the curriculum in which they expect to graduate. Students in ROTC may apply ROTC credits toward elective requirements.

Advising
Each student in the College of Agriculture works closely with an academic adviser who is associated with the major in which the student is enrolled. All entering students and their parents are strongly encouraged to participate in the summer orientation program in which they will have the opportunity to meet and work with academic advisers in planning their first semester schedule of classes. The advisers also assist students in making personal adjustments to university life, offer suggestions on academic and co-curricular choices, and provide information on career choices. Advisers make a special effort to adjust course schedules in accordance with students’ interests and capabilities.

A student may wish to prepare for admission to a professional program such as law, medicine, or veterinary medicine while pursuing a bachelor of science degree in the College of Agriculture. This may be accomplished through several majors; however, it is recommended that the student work closely with an academic adviser.

Each department prepares a guide to help students chart their long-term programs and to specify the exact requirements for graduation.
Visit the college web site www.ag.iastate.edu.

Graduate Study
Graduate study in agriculture is conducted through the Graduate College. Details are found in the Graduate College section of this catalog.
Various departments in the College of Agriculture also participate in the following graduate-level interdepartmental offerings:

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Genetics
Immunobiology
Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology
Neuroscience
Plant Physiology
Professional Agriculture (off-campus)
Technology and Social Change (interdepartmental minor) 
Toxicology
Water Resources