Program Overview

Agricultural Sciences Undergraduate Major (BS, HBS)

The Agricultural Sciences major provides students with the freedom to design their own degree. As part of the degree program, students can choose from various agricultural-based credits and electives, allowing them to go broad with exposure to all areas of agriculture, go deep within two or more emphasis areas, or do a combination of both.

Program Overview

The major allows students to customize their degree and take courses from different areas throughout the College of Agricultural Sciences. This enables students to create a purposeful course plan, crossing several areas of study, to meet their individual career goals. Students use this major to prepare for various careers, including returning to their family operation, teaching agriculture, developing agricultural communications materials, working in Extension, going into industry, selling equipment or insurance, starting their own businesses, or working for state or federal agricultural programs.

Major Code

The major code for the Agricultural Sciences Undergraduate Major is 259.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the program, students will meet the following learning outcomes:

• Demonstrate professional skills and competencies, and the ability to adapt to diverse audiences and work environments.
• Demonstrate an ability to apply scientific and computer literacy knowledge.
• Analyze and communicate effectively how agricultural sciences integrate with contemporary social, economic, political, and environmental issues.

Course Requirements

The course requirements for the Agricultural Sciences Undergraduate Major include:

Agricultural Core

• AEC 211: Agricultural and Food Management (4 credits)
• AG 111: Information Technology in Agriculture (3 credits)
• AG 421: Writing in Agriculture (3 credits)
• Select one of the following:
  • SOIL 205 and SOIL 206: Soil Science and Soil Science Laboratory (4 credits)
  • CSS 205: Soil Science (Ecampus) (4 credits)
  • CSS 305: Principles of Soil Science (EOU) (4 credits)

Electives

• Select 9-12 credits from the following:
  • AED 235: Introduction to Agricultural Education
  • AED 313: Early Field Experience
  • AED 325: Planning and Delivering Non-Formal Agricultural Education
  • AG 199: Special Studies (Orientation to Agricultural Sciences Major)
  • AG 200: Orientation to the Agricultural Sciences Major
  • AG 230: Introduction to Extension and Engagement
  • AG 301: Ecosystem Science of Pacific NW Indians
  • AG 311: Native American Agriculture
  • AG 351: Communicating Global Agriculture and Natural Resources Issues
  • AG 391: Farm Implements
  • AG 410: Internship
  • AG 412: Ag Safety and Health
  • AG 435: Professional Presentations in Agriculture
  • AG 445: Social Media Advocacy in Ag Sciences and Natural Resources
  • AG 455: Risk and Crisis Communications in Ag Sci and Natural Resources
  • AG 499: Special Topics
  • AGRI 399: Special Topics (Navigating Global Experiences)
• Select 60 credits of Agricultural electives (may include above, 24 of which must be upper division)

Business and Law

• Select one course from the following:
  • AEC 253: Environmental Law, Policy, and Economics
  • AEC 388: Agricultural Law
  • BA 330: Legal Environment of Business
• Select one course from the following:
  • BA 315: Accounting for Decision Making
  • ST 243Z: Elementary Statistics I

Communication

• Select one course from the following:
  • AG 351: Communicating Global Agriculture and Natural Resources Issues
  • AG 435: Professional Presentations in Agriculture
  • AG 445: Social Media Advocacy in Ag Sciences and Natural Resources
  • AG 455: Risk and Crisis Communications in Ag Sci and Natural Resources
  • Any COMM/WR course (if WR, must be above WR 115)

Introductory Applied Economics

• Select one course from the following:
  • AEC 250: Introduction to Environmental Economics and Policy
  • AEC 251: Introduction to Agricultural and Food Economics
  • ECON 201: Introduction to Microeconomics

Sciences - Physical and Biological

• Physical Science - Chemistry:
  • CH 121: General Chemistry (5 credits)
  • CH 122: General Chemistry (5 credits)
• Biological Sciences One-Year Series:
  • Select one of the following series:
    • BI 221, BI 222, and BI 223: Principles of Biology (12 credits)
    • BI 101, BI 102, and BI 103: Environmental Biology (12 credits)
    • BI 204, BI 205, and BI 206: Introductory Biology (12 credits)

Leadership and Engagement

• Select one course from the following:
  • AG 230: Introduction to Extension and Engagement
  • LEAD 242: Personal Leadership Development
  • LEAD 342: Team and Organizational Leadership
  • LEAD 442: Leadership Skills for Career Success
  • LEAD 443: Leadership through Conversations

Math

• MTH 111Z: Precalculus I: Functions (4 credits)

Electives

• 48-52 elective credits

Total Credits

The total credits required for the Agricultural Sciences Undergraduate Major is 180.

Program Locations

The Agricultural Sciences Undergraduate Major is available at the following locations:

• Corvallis
• Ecampus
• LaGrande

Sample Plan

A sample plan for completing the degree in four years is provided, but students should consult their advisor to determine the best degree plan for them.