Courses and Programs 1997-1999
Courses and Programs 1997-1999AST 110. Orientation in Agricultural Systems Technology. (1-0) 8 weeks. Cr. R. F. Orientation to the university, college life and the Agricultural Systems Technology program. Curriculum, employment opportunities, career planning, internships, work experiences and cooperative education. Resume preparation, interviewing techniques, and portfolio development.
AST 120. Introduction to Renewable Resources. (Same as Agron 120, A Ecl 120, Env S 120, For 120.) (3-0) Cr. 3. F.S. Overview of soil, water, plants, and animals as renewable natural resources in an ecosystems context. History and organization of resource management. Concepts of integrated resource management.
AST 181. Microcomputer Applications in Agriculture. (2-2) Cr. 3. F.S. Microcomputer technology with applications in agriculture. Introduction to computer operation, functions, and operating systems. Operation and application of word processors, spreadsheets, graphics, databases, program integration, e-mail, internet and world wide web access. Specific agricultural applications including decision aid, accounting, and management programs.
AST 191. Principles of Agricultural Systems Technology. (2-0) Cr. 2. F. Prereq: Freshman or sophomore classification only. Introduction to problem solving related to systems in agricultural power and machinery, soil and water conservation, structures and animal environment, and electrical circuits.
AST 233. Energy in Agriculture. (2-0) Cr. 2. F. Prereq: Sophomore classification. Basic energy laws, definitions, and units; supply, use, and conservation of conventional fuels in crop and livestock operations and homes; and potential for use of alternative energy sources in agriculture.
AST 260. Using Electric Power. (1-3) Cr. 2. S. Prereq: Freshman or sophomore classification only. Basic electricity and electrical safety. Wiring basics for homes and farm buildings. Electric controls and motors. Field trip fee, materials fee.
AST 273. Livestock Buildings and Equipment. (2-0) Cr. 2. S. Effects of thermal environment on livestock. Environmental modification systems for livestock buildings. Water, feed, and waste handling systems. Planning buildings and equipment for livestock production. Materials fee. Credit may not be applied toward graduation in both 273 and 473.
AST 281. Computer-aided Graphics. (1-2) Cr. 2. F. Prereq: 181. Computer-aided graphics for agricultural systems using AutoCAD and other software. Computer-aided drawing and dimensioning of two-and three-dimensional shapes. Attributes, bill of materials, blocks, layers and interfacing with other software. Scanning, slide presentations and electronic clip-art graphics integrated with text.
AST 297. Work Experience in Agricultural Systems Technology. Cr. 1 to 2. F.S.SS. Prereq: Approval of adviser required prior to commencing work experience. Work experience must be related to career objectives. Written report and oral presentation required on the work experience. A maximum of 4 credits of 297 may be used toward the total of 128 credits required for graduation.
AST 298. Cooperative Education in Agricultural Systems Technology. Cr. R. F.S.SS. Prereq: Approval of cooperative coordinator. All cooperative education students must register for this course prior to commencing each work period, Sophomore classification
AST 324. Soil and Water Conservation Management. (2-0) Cr. 2. F.S. Prereq: 3 credits of math. Introduction to engineering principles applied to the planning of erosion control systems, water control structures, water quality management, drainage and irrigation systems, and farm water resource development.
AST 326. Conservation Surveying and Design. (0-3) Cr. 1. F. Prereq: Credit or enrollment in 324. Agricultural surveys for field area measurement and mapping. Handbook design of drainage systems and farm water control structures. Layout of conservation structures. Field trip fee.
AST 330. Farm Machinery and Power Management. (2-3) Cr. 3. S. Prereq: 3 credits of math. Selection, sizing, and operational principles of agricultural field and farmstead machine systems. Cost analysis and computer techniques applied to planning and management of agricultural machine systems. Principles, operation, and application of power sources.
AST 333. Precision Farming Systems. (1-2) Cr. 2. F. Prereq: Junior or senior classification. Geographic information systems and global positioning systems. Sampling strategies for precision farming. Building prescriptions and recommendations. Systems for precision farming, equipment, software uses, legal and social issues, and economics. Field trip fee.
AST 335. Tractor Power. (3-3) Cr. 4. F. Prereq: 3 credits in math. Theory and construction of tractor engines, mechanical power trains and hydraulic systems. Introduction to traction, chassis mechanics, and hydraulic power. Materials fee.
AST 358. Small Power Equipment. (1-2) Cr. 2. F.S. Principles of operation, adjustment, maintenance and repair of small internal-combustion engines and associated equipment. Materials fee.
AST 360. Electric Power for Agriculture. (2-3) Cr. 3. F. Prereq: 3 credits in math. Basic electricity. Electrical safety, wiring, 3-phase service, controls, and motors for agricultural applications. Programmable controller applications. Planning lighting and electrical systems. Field trip fee, materials fee.
AST 362. Systems for Preservation of Grain Quality. (2-3) Cr. 3. S. Prereq: 3 credits in math. Principles and management practices for grain preservation with emphasis on corn. Grain quality evaluation. Psychrometrics. Grain drying and dry grain storage. High moisture systems. Grain handling system layout and cost analysis. Field trip fee.
AST 397. Internship in Agricultural Systems Technology. Cr. R. F.S.SS. Prereq: Sophomore classification and approval of adviser. A supervised work experience in an approved learning setting with application to agricultural systems practices and principles.
AST 398. Cooperative Education in Agricultural Systems Technology. Cr. R. F.S.SS. Prereq: Approval of cooperative coordinator. All cooperative education students must register for this course prior to commencing each work period, Junior classification.
AST 403. Senior Seminar. (1-0) Cr. 1. F. Prereq: Senior classification. Development of professionalism and ethics. Career search; resume and cover letter preparation; interviews. Oral and written communication applications.
AST 420. Land Drainage and Irrigation. (2-0) Cr. 2. Off campus, offered as demand warrants. Prereq: 324, Agron 154. Technical, economic, and environmental aspects of the planning and management of farm field drainage and irrigation systems. Application of theory from engineering, soil science, and plant science to the solution of real-world problems. Designed for master of agriculture program. Nonmajor graduate credit.
AST 425. Impacts of Agriculture on Water Quality. (2-0) Cr. 2. F. Prereq: One of the following: 324, Agron 154. Relationship between agriculture and water quality; chemical use; erosion and conservation tillage; water quality monitoring techniques; animal waste and water quality; nonpoint source pollution.; management systems to reduce chemical leaching to groundwater. Nonmajor graduate credit.
AST 430. Farm Machinery Principles and Mechanisms. (2-3) Cr. 3. Alt. S., offered 1999. Prereq: 330, 335, Phys 111. Advanced principles of agricultural machine mechanisms and components. Forces, strength, energy and motion in machinery and its components. Materials fee. Nonmajor graduate credit.
AST 434. Farm Machine Mechanisms. (2-0) Cr. 2. Off campus, offered as demand warrants. Prereq: 3 credits in math. Principles of clutches, universal joints and belt, chain, gear, and hydraulic drives. Analysis of linkages used in agricultural machinery. Constraints and limitations for successful operation. Designed for master of agriculture program. Nonmajor graduate credit.
AST 435. Agricultural Safety. (1-3) Cr. 2. F. Prereq: 3 credits in math. Risk recognition, hazard analysis and danger evaluation in the agricultural industry. Epidemiological study of accidents. Product reliability, safe design and operation. Materials fee. Nonmajor graduate credit.
AST 460. Agricultural Electronics. (1-3) Cr. 2. Alt. S., offered 1998. Prereq: 260 or 360. Electronics applied to practical problems in modern agricultural systems to sense, monitor, and control various processes in power and machinery, grain operations, animal environment, and soil and water. Semiconductors, digital logic circuits; speed, pressure, position, temperature, and moisture sensors; electrohydraulics; programmable logic controllers. Nonmajor graduate credit.
AST 462. Post-Harvest Grain Technology. (2-0) Cr. 2. Off campus, offered as demand warrants. Prereq: 6 credits in agricultural or biological science, 3 credits in math. Grain drying and high-moisture preservation methods with emphasis on corn. Psychrometrics. Fans and airflow. Grain handling methods and system planning, corn milling, soybean processing. Designed for master of agriculture program. Nonmajor graduate credit.
AST 464. Grain Process Operations. (1-2) Cr. 2. Alt. S., offered 1999. Prereq: 362 or 462. Grain quality measurement, end-use value analysis, grain handling, corn wet milling and dry milling, oilseed processing, and seed conditioning. Field trip fee. Nonmajor graduate credit.
AST 473. Animal Production Systems. (3-0) Cr. 3. F. Prereq: 3 credits in math. Junior or senior classification only. Response of animals to the thermal environment. Environmental systems for animal production. Water, feed handling and waste management systems. Planning confinement facilities for swine, beef and dairy production systems. Materials fee. Credit may not be applied toward graduation in both 273 and 473. Nonmajor graduate credit.
AST 474. Livestock Housing Systems. (2-0) Cr. 2. Off campus, offered as demand warrants. Prereq: 6 credits in agricultural or biological science, 3 credits in math. Properties of moist air, effects of environment on animal performance, principles of environmental control, feed handling systems, manure management alternatives, and planning total systems. Designed for master of agriculture program. Materials fee. Nonmajor graduate credit.
AST 475. Waste Management Systems for Livestock Production. (2-0) Cr. 2. S. Prereq: 6 credits in agricultural or biological sciences, 3 credits in math. Livestock waste production, properties, collection, transport, storage, treatment and utilization. Regulations and environmental impacts. Systems for nutrient management and odor abatement. Practical design criteria and procedures for planning livestock waste handling systems. Materials fee. Nonmajor graduate credit.
AST 476. Planning Agricultural Structures and Farmstead Systems. (2-2) Cr. 3. S. Prereq: 273 or 473. Layout and organization of farmstead systems. Planning farm homes, farm shops, machine sheds, crop storage structures, and livestock production buildings. Analysis of building plans and calculating building costs. Building materials including timber, concrete and steel; construction methods and structural analysis. Materials fee. Nonmajor graduate credit.
AST 490. Independent Study. Cr. 1 to 5. Prereq: Junior or senior classification, permission of instructor. A maximum of 6 credits of 490 may be used toward the total of 128 credits required for graduation. Nonmajor graduate credit. A. Animal Environment/Air Quality C. Computer Operations E. Electrical/Electronics G. Grain Operations H. Honors I. Safety and Human Factors M. Machine Systems N. Energy S. Soil and Water Resources T. Structures W. Waste Management
AST 493. Workshop in Agricultural Systems Technology. Cr. 1. Offered as demand warrants. Prereq: Permission of instructor. Materials fee. Nonmajor graduate credit. A. Animal Environment and Structures B. Waste Management C. Computer Operations D. Electricity and Electronics E. Metals Fabrication F. Grain Operations G. Safety and Human Factors H. Water Quality I. Erosion Control J. Tractor Power and Machine Systems
AST 496. Agricultural Systems Analysis and Planning. (1-4) Cr. 3. S. Prereq: 12 credits in AST and senior classification in agriculture. Student teams prepare oral and written reports on term projects involving analysis and planning of systems for agriculture. Team projects include problem solving, solution evaluation, cost analysis, and use of computer decision-aid and computer graphics to prepare plans and reports. Materials fee. Nonmajor graduate credit.
AST 498. Cooperative Education in Agricultural Systems Technology. Cr. R. F.S.SS. Prereq: Approval of cooperative coordinator. All cooperative education students must register for this course prior to commencing each work period, Senior classification.