College of Agriculture

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Dean: Noelle E. Cockett
Location: Agricultural Science 221
Phone: (435) 797-2201
FAX: (435) 797-3268
E-mail: noelle.cockett@usu.edu
WWW: http://www.ag.usu.edu

Associate Dean for Academic Programs:

Janet B. Anderson, Agricultural Science 225D, (435) 797-2104, janet.anderson@usu.edu

The College of Agriculture includes the following departments:

Agricultural Systems Technology and Education (ASTE)
Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences (ADVS)
Applied Economics (APEC)
Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning (LAEP)
Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Sciences (NDFS)
Plants, Soils, and Climate (PSC)

Today’s agriculture is a dynamic, rapidly changing industry. In addition to contributing toward a better understanding of the production, processing, and distribution of agricultural products, the College of Agriculture at Utah State University is focused on the application of information and technology that affects our everyday lives. Education, research, and community outreach are at the center of our interests and successes. The College of Agriculture’s curricula teach students how to link knowledge of soil, water, plants, animals, and design to human health and safety. Through hands-on experience, students learn how to clone animals, create new snack foods, deal in futures markets, and develop technology that ensures a safe and productive food supply. Through a variety of curriculum options, students are able to research and communicate ground-breaking ideas to the world.

Admission Requirements

Undergraduate students accepted in good standing by the University are eligible for admission to the College of Agriculture.

Facilities and Equipment

The E. G. Peterson Agricultural Science Building houses the administrative offices of the College of Agriculture; the Agricultural Experiment Station; University Extension; the Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences Department; and the Plants, Soils, and Climate Department. The Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences Department personnel are housed in the E. G. Peterson Agricultural Science Building, the Animal Sciences Building, the Biotechnology Center, the Skaggs Laboratory, the Veterinary Science Building, the South Farm, the Matthew Hillyard Animal Teaching and Research Center, and the George B. Caine Dairy. The Agricultural Systems Technology and Education Department is located in the Agricultural Systems Technology and Education Building. The Family and Consumer Sciences Education faculty and classes are located in the Family Life Building. The Applied Economics Department is housed in the George S. Eccles Business Building. The Department of Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Sciences is housed in the C. A. Ernstrom Nutrition and Food Sciences Building. The Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning (which will be part of the College of Agriculture effective July 1, 2010) is housed in the Fine Arts Visual Building. Some classes and laboratories are located on Agricultural Experiment Station facilities near the campus, where research and teaching interact. Research units located throughout the state provide research opportunities for graduate students and faculty members.

Curricula in Agriculture

Students may work toward the Bachelor of Science degree in all of the college’s departments, except for the Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning, which offers an accredited Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (BLA) degree.

Preveterinary training is offered in the Department of Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences. Teacher certification can be completed through the Agricultural Systems Technology and Education Department in either Agricultural Education or Family and Consumer Sciences Education.

There are six basic curricula offered in the college: (1) science, (2) production and sustainability, (3) business and management, (4) community resource development and technology transfer, (5) teacher certification in Agricultural Education or Family and Consumer Sciences Education, and (6) design and planning.

Departmental listings detail the requirements for earning a degree in these curricula.

Science

Students who choose the science curriculum learn the fundamentals of physical and biological sciences that are significant to agriculture and food science, including biotechnology and genomics. In the basic science courses, students prepare for graduate work and eventually research and teaching careers in the biological and natural sciences. Graduates in science curricula are also prepared to do research or technical work in agriculturally oriented businesses such as farm chemicals, livestock health, feed processing and marketing, crop breeding, water use, and food processing. Science curricula are offered in the Departments of Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences; Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Sciences; and Plants, Soils, and Climate.

Production and Sustainability

The production and sustainability curriculum is designed to educate students to meet the special demands of today’s agriculture. Successful modern agricultural production requires an understanding of the latest scientific knowledge and an ability to apply the information to facilitate change. The production curriculum will satisfy the needs of a student who plans to be involved in sustainable production practices, to be a farm manager, or to work directly with farm operators as a businessman or as a government or farm organization employee. This curriculum is offered in the Departments of Agricultural Systems Technology and Education; Plants, Soils, and Climate; and in the animal and dairy science emphasis of the Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences major in the ADVS Department.

Business and Management

The businesses and industries that buy from, sell to, and provide service for people involved in production agriculture are expanding the need for employees educated in agriculture. These enterprises include feed, fertilizer, machinery, and chemical firms that supply the producer’s needs, as well as marketing firms that assemble, process, ship, and merchandise agricultural products. Managers of largescale and small-scale farm enterprises also profit from the kind of education provided by the business curriculum. Students who want to capitalize on their agricultural background while pursuing a business, management, or industrial career should consider the business option. This curriculum is offered in the Departments of Applied Economics; Agricultural Systems Technology and Education; Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Sciences; Plants, Soils, and Climate; and in the animal and dairy science emphasis of the Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences major in the ADVS Department.

Community Resource Development and Technology Transfer

The community resource development and technology transfer curriculum allows for skill advancement in serving communities through teaching, research, entrepreneurship, leadership, and resource management. Agribusiness management and regional community development will enhance communities, especially rural, agrarian locations. A degree in Agribusiness, Resource and Regional Economics, or Agricultural Systems Technology will position a graduate to assume a leadership position in communities.

Interdepartmental and intercollege cooperation has and will continue to facilitate the development of various other curricula. Students should not hesitate to inquire about the possibilities of following a curriculum that would allow for special interests. The College of Agriculture participates in the Interdisciplinary Studies Major, Bachelor of Arts  and Bachelor of Science , which offers flexibility for qualifying students who are interested in blending two disciplines to meet their career goals. For further information about scheduling classes and planning careers, contact Lisa Allen, (435) 797-0454, lisa.allen@usu.edu

Teacher Certification in Agricultural Education or Family and Consumer Sciences Education

The Agricultural Education curriculum provides the knowledge of basic agricultural concepts and technologies needed for teaching at the secondary and postsecondary levels. Coursework covers topics in such fields as agricultural economics; agricultural mechanization; animal, dairy and veterinary sciences; plant and soil science; and natural resources.

The Family and Consumer Sciences Education curriculum is a composite major which provides professional preparation for secondary and postsecondary teaching, as well as opportunities in business, government agencies, and the media. An added benefit for Family and Consumer Sciences Education majors is the increased knowledge which supports the health and well-being of individuals and families as they manage work and home.

Students choosing these majors must also be admitted to the  Secondary Teacher Education Program (STEP) administered by the College of Education and Human Services. Graduates with a master’s degree in either Agricultural Education or Family and Consumer Sciences Education have opportunities to work with the Cooperative Extension Service as county agents directing programs for youth and adults.

Design and Planning

The design and planning curriculum is offered through the Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning (LAEP) Department. The objectives of the LAEP Department are to (1) provide an educational and technical program responsive to current societal needs related to environmental planning, landscape architecture, and urban design; (2) give students the opportunity to participate in collaborative learning experiences with other disciplines on campus; (3) prepare students for professional careers in the private or public sector; and (4) conduct original research to advance the body of knowledge in landscape architecture, environmental planning, and design.

The Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (BLA) degree program is an intensive four-year studio-based course of study, fully accredited by the American Society of Landscape Architects. Accreditation standards require the department to maintain a reasonable faculty/student ratio. Space in the program is restricted by facility availability and faculty size. Admission to the upper division is competitive, and is limited to students who are determined by the faculty to have the best potential for academic success. Matriculation into the upper division will normally be limited to 25 students, although additional students may be matriculated in special circumstances at the discretion of the LAEP faculty.

Any student admitted to USU is eligible for enrollment in lower-division LAEP courses. At the end of the sophomore year, a selection process will determine which students will matriculate into the upper division of the program.

For further information about the programs and requirements see LAEP Department .

Financial Support

The College of Agriculture and the agricultural industry in the Intermountain West annually sponsor up to 200 scholarships, internships, and assistantships. The college, state and federal agencies, and the local agribusinesses also support many students through internship programs. For further information, contact the College of Agriculture Associate Dean’s Office (Agricultural Science 225D) and/or individual department offices.

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