Sustainable Agriculture (AAS)
Degree: Associate of Applied Science
Major: Sustainable Agriculture
Program Code: 1310
About This Major . . .
The Sustainable Agriculture curriculum is designed to provide the entrepreneurial and technical skills necessary to manage a profitable, environmentally sound, community based small farm or agricultural business. Students learn the fundamentals of sustainable agriculture, focusing on crop and animal production with farm business. Emphasis is placed on entrepreneurial and practical field training. Students will complete a business plan and an agricultural internship in a sector of the farming industry. Graduates are qualified for employment in a variety of positions associated with sustainable agriculture, including horticultural and livestock operations, wholesale and retail management, nursery operations, and environmental and agricultural education.
This program will provide the student with an understanding of Sustainable Agriculture and its principles of operation and control. The graduate will understand the technical aspects of the work, the responsibilities of the work and the importance of safety in this vitally important career.
For more information on what you can do with this major, visit CMU Tech's Programs of Study page.
All CMU/CMU Tech associate graduates are expected to demonstrate proficiency in specialized knowledge/applied learning, quantitative fluency, communication fluency, critical thinking, personal and social responsibility, and information literacy. In addition to these campus‐wide student learning outcomes, graduates of this major will be able to:
- Apply business communication using listening, verbal and written and electronic forms that are needed for entry level employment in agriculture. (Communication Fluency)
- Apply mathematical and applied physics concepts for agriculture science to meet employment requirements. (Quantitative Fluency)
- Research, evaluate, synthesize and apply information/data relevant to agriculture science careers. (Critical Thinking)
- Demonstrate knowledge of agriculture terminology, symbols, business practices, and principles and application of technical skills. (Specialized Knowledge)
- Perform the necessary applied skill sets to fulfill the needs of entry level employment in the agriculture insdustry. (Applied Learning)
Each section below contains details about the requirements for this program. Select a header to expand the information/requirements for that particular section of the program's requirements.
To print or save an overview of this program's information, including the program description, learning outcomes, requirements, suggested course sequencing (if applicable), and advising and graduation information, scroll to the bottom of the left-hand navigation menu and select "Print Options." This will give you the options to either "Send Page to Printer" or "Download PDF of This Page." The "Download PDF of This Page" option prepares a much more concise presentation of all program information. The PDF is also printable and may be preferable due to its brevity.
Institutional Degree Requirements
The following institutional degree requirements apply to all CMU and CMU Tech Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees. Specific programs may have different requirements that must be met in addition to institutional requirements.
- 60 semester hours minimum.
- Students must complete a minimum of 15 of the final 30 semester hours of credit at CMU/CMU Tech.
- 2.00 cumulative GPA or higher in all CMU/CMU Tech coursework.
- A course may only be used to fulfill one requirement for each degree/certificate.
- No more than six semester hours of independent study courses can be used toward the degree.
- Non-traditional credit, such as advanced placement, credit by examination, credit for prior learning, cooperative education and internships, cannot exceed 20 semester credit hours for an AAS degree.
- Pre-collegiate courses (usually numbered below 100) cannot be used for graduation.
- Capstone exit assessment/projects (e.g., Major Field Achievement Test) requirements are identified under Program-Specific Degree Requirements.
- The Catalog Year determines which program sheet and degree requirements a student must fulfill in order to graduate. Visit with your advisor or academic department to determine which catalog year and program requirements you should follow.
- See “Requirements for Undergraduate Degrees and Certificates” in the catalog for a complete list of graduation requirements.
Specific to this degree:
- A minimum of 16 hours taken at CMU in no fewer than two semesters.
Essential Learning Requirements
(15 semester hours)
See the current catalog for a list of courses that fulfill the requirements below. If a course is an Essential Learning option and a requirement for your major, you must use it to fulfill the major requirement and make a different selection for the Essential Learning requirement.
| Code | Title | Semester Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | ||
| ENGL 111 | English Composition I-GTCO1 | 3 |
| ENGL 112 | English Composition II-GTCO2 | 3 |
| Mathematics | ||
| MATH 108 | Technical Mathematics (or higher) 1 | 3 |
| Other Essential Learning Core Courses | ||
| Select one Social and Behavioral Sciences, History, Natural Sciences, Fine Arts or Humanities course | 3 | |
| Select one Social and Behavioral Sciences, History, Natural Sciences, Fine Arts or Humanities course | 3 | |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 15 | |
- 1
This is a 4 semester credit hour course. 3 credits apply to Essential Learning requirements and 1 credit applies to General Electives.
Other Lower Division Requirements
| Code | Title | Semester Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Wellness Requirement | ||
| KINE 100 | Health and Wellness | 1 |
| Select one Activity course | 1 | |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 2 | |
Program Specific Degree Requirements
(37 semester hours, must earn a grade of “C” or better in each course.)
| Code | Title | Semester Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture Courses | ||
| AGRS 100 | Practical Crop Production | 3 |
| AGRS 100L | Practical Crop Production Laboratory | 1 |
| AGRS 105 | Animal Science | 3 |
| AGRS 108 | Making Compost | 3 |
| AGRS 125 | Agricultural Machinery and Technology | 3 |
| AGRS 205 | Farm and Ranch Management | 3 |
| AGRS 240 | Introduction to Soil Science | 3 |
| AGRS 240L | Introduction to Soil Science Laboratory | 1 |
| AGRS 260 | Plant Propagation | 3 |
| AGRS 293 | Cooperative Experience/Internship | 5 |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 28 | |
| Code | Title | Semester Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Restricted Electives | ||
| Select 9 semester hours of the following. See recommended advising tracks. | 9 | |
| Principles of Financial Accounting | ||
| Integrated Pest Management | ||
| Farm Structures and Green Houses | ||
| Agricultural Finance | ||
| Agricultural Marketing | ||
| Integrated Ranch Management | ||
| Feeds and Feeding | ||
| Farm Animal Anatomy and Physiology | ||
| Live Animal and Carcass Evaluation | ||
| Live Animal and Carcass Evaluation Laboratory | ||
| Livestock Practicum | ||
| Introduction to Welding | ||
| Topics: | ||
| Business Information Technology | ||
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 9 | |
General Electives
(6 semester hours)
| Code | Title | Semester Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 108 | Technical Mathematics | 1 |
| Select Additional Electives | 5 | |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 6 | |
Animal Science Advising Sheet
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Semester Credit Hours | |
| MATH 108 | Technical Mathematics | 4 |
| AGRS 100 | Practical Crop Production | 3 |
| AGRS 100L | Practical Crop Production Laboratory | 1 |
| AGRS 125 | Agricultural Machinery and Technology | 3 |
| AGRS 108 | Making Compost | 3 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 14 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ENGL 111 | English Composition I-GTCO1 | 3 |
| AGRS 205 | Farm and Ranch Management | 3 |
| AGRS 105 | Animal Science | 3 |
| AGRS 260 | Plant Propagation | 3 |
| Essential Learning - Social Science, Natural Science, Fine Arts, or Humanities | 3 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Summer Semester | ||
| AGRS 293 | Cooperative Experience/Internship | 5 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 5 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| ENGL 112 | English Composition II-GTCO2 | 3 |
| AGRS 225 | Feeds and Feeding | 4 |
| AGRS 240 | Introduction to Soil Science | 3 |
| AGRS 240L | Introduction to Soil Science Laboratory | 1 |
| AGRS 288 | Livestock Practicum | 3 |
| Essential Learning - Social and Behavioral Sciences, Natural Sciences, Fine Arts, or Humanities | 3 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 17 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| KINA 1XX | Activity | 1 |
| KINE 100 | Health and Wellness | 1 |
| AGRS 210 | Agricultural Marketing | 3 |
| General Electives (if needed) | 2 | |
| AGRS 230 | Farm Animal Anatomy and Physiology | 3 |
| AGRS 250 | Live Animal and Carcass Evaluation | 1 |
| AGRS 250L | Live Animal and Carcass Evaluation Laboratory | 2 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 13 | |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 64 | |
Crop/Plant Advising Sheet
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Semester Credit Hours | |
| MATH 108 | Technical Mathematics | 4 |
| AGRS 100 | Practical Crop Production | 3 |
| AGRS 100L | Practical Crop Production Laboratory | 1 |
| AGRS 125 | Agricultural Machinery and Technology | 3 |
| AGRS 108 | Making Compost | 3 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 14 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ENGL 111 | English Composition I-GTCO1 | 3 |
| AGRS 205 | Farm and Ranch Management | 3 |
| AGRS 105 | Animal Science | 3 |
| Essential Learning - Social Science, Natural Science, Fine Arts, or Humanities | 3 | |
| AGRS 260 | Plant Propagation | 3 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Summer Semester | ||
| AGRS 293 | Cooperative Experience/Internship | 5 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 5 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| ENGL 112 | English Composition II-GTCO2 | 3 |
| AGRS 240 | Introduction to Soil Science | 3 |
| AGRS 240L | Introduction to Soil Science Laboratory | 1 |
| General Elective 1 | 3 | |
| AGRS 110 | Integrated Pest Management | 3 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 13 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| KINA 1XX | Activity | 1 |
| KINE 100 | Health and Wellness | 1 |
| Essential Learning - Social Science, Natural Science, Fine Arts, or Humanities | 3 | |
| AGRS 118 | Farm Structures and Green Houses | 3 |
| AGRS 210 | Agricultural Marketing | 3 |
| General Elective | 2 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 13 | |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 60 | |
- 1
AGRS 108 is suggested.
Advising Process and DegreeWorks
Documentation on the pages related to this program is intended for informational purposes to help determine what courses and associated requirements are needed to earn a degree. The suggested course sequencing outlines how students could finish degree requirements. Some courses are critical to complete in specific semesters, while others may be moved around. Meeting with an academic advisor is essential in planning courses and altering the suggested course sequencing. It is ultimately the student’s responsibility to understand and fulfill the requirements for their intended degree(s).
DegreeWorks is an online degree audit tool available in MAVzone. It is the official record used by the Registrar’s Office to evaluate progress towards a degree and determine eligibility for graduation. Students are responsible for reviewing their DegreeWorks audit on a regular basis and should discuss questions or concerns with their advisor or academic department head. Discrepancies in requirements should be reported to the Registrar’s Office.
Graduation Process
Students must complete the following in the first two months of the semester prior to completing their degree requirements:
- Review their DegreeWorks audit and create a plan that outlines how unmet requirements will be met in the final semester.
- Meet with their advisor and modify their plan as needed. The advisor must approve the final plan.
- Submit the “Intent to Graduate” form to the Registrar’s Office to officially declare the intended graduation date and commencement ceremony plans.
- Register for all needed courses and complete all requirements for each degree sought.
Submission deadlines and commencement details can be found on the Graduation web page.
If a student's petition for graduation is denied, it will be their responsibility to apply for graduation in a subsequent semester. A student's “Intent to Graduate” does not automatically move to a later graduation date.