University of Maryland Eastern Shore 2000-02 Catalog

The School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAMS

The department offers two distinct degree programs. These programs are Agribusiness and General Agriculture. Specific descriptions of degree programs and degree program concentrations are given in the following narrative.

The General Agriculture Degree Program is designed to prepare students in the application of scientific principles, practices and techniques warranted for careers in the agri-industry job market and for continued study at the graduate level. Students enrolled in this program may select a course of study in one of the following concentrations: Agricultural Education, Plant and Soil Science, and Animal and Poultry Science.

The Agricultural Education Concentration leads to the Bachelor of Science degree in General Agriculture and concurrent teacher certification. This concentration prepares students to become qualified teachers and to successfully assume the complex role of a teacher in the classroom of the twenty-first century. Agricultural Education includes general education, professional education, and specialized education. The curriculum for each student will vary depending on needs and interest. The flexibility of the curriculum provides the student an opportunity to select courses in various areas of agriculture. The primary goal of the undergraduate teacher education program is to insure success within the teaching profession by: 1) providing a comprehensive knowledge base that insures competency in agriculture subject matter areas; and 2) providing the opportunity to develop sophisticated clinical skills. Students enrolled in this program are provided a carefully planned course of study that emphasizes excellence in both theoretical and applied learning.

The Plant and Soil Science Concentration provides students with baccalaureate degree training in appropriate concentrations qualifying them for careers in agronomic and horticultural sciences, marketing production, governmental service, research and/or graduate studies. Courses in this program are designed to incorporate laboratory, hands-on experiences, internships and coop-education of instruction. This curriculum is designed to provide students with a broad background in the basic sciences and general education. The flexibility of the program allows students to focus in basic or applied plant sciences.

The Animal and Poultry Science Concentration is designed to provide students with the basic concepts of animal and poultry science, the fundamentals of modern production systems and the applied management techniques used in today's animal and poultry industries. Two major program options leading to a Bachelor of Science degree in General Agriculture are offered.

Option 1 is a career-oriented program designed to provide students with a thorough knowledge of poultry and animal production combined with a working knowledge of economics and agri-business. Students successfully completing this program will receive a B.S. degree in General Agriculture and will be prepared for advancement in a career in poultry and animal production.

Option 2 is a pre-professional program which includes the prerequisite courses required to apply to the various veterinary colleges or to poultry and/or animal science graduate programs in the areas of nutrition, physiology, diseases, and genetics.

The Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine (VMRCVM) offers a four year program leading to a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and is jointly operated by the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VPI&SU) and the University of Maryland. Students in Option 2 will graduate with a B. S. degree in General Agriculture with a concentration in Animal and Poultry Science and will be prepared to apply to the VMRCVM.

Students may also apply to other veterinary schools in the USA and abroad. It is the responsibility of the student to determine the admission requirements of any veterinary schools of interest prior to application.

In addition to regular competitive admission to the VMRCVM, minority students from Maryland or Virginia in the Department of Agriculture who participate in the UMES Honors Program may qualify for slots reserved for UMES graduates as part of a cooperative agreement between UMES and VMRCVM (see Honors Program section of this catalog for qualifications).

The Agribusiness Degree Program combines instruction in the agricultural sciences and economics with particular emphasis on, the management of agricultural production and marketing firms, decision-making, and problem-solving in public policy. The core curriculum of the program is developed from courses offered in the Departments of Agriculture, Business, Management and Accounting, Mathematics, and Computer Science.

By combining these areas in the curriculum, the agribusiness program is designed to: (1) meet the requirements for agribusiness competency essential for today's production agriculture, and (2) provide students sufficient expertise to allow them to enter management levels of diverse agribusiness firms. In addition, the curriculum includes a broad range of elective courses which allows the student in agribusiness to structure a program consistent with his/her personal interests, and goals.

Agribusiness students are also strongly encouraged to be involved in an internship or cooperative education program with a university-approved agribusiness firm, a federal or state agency, or an international organization during their junior or senior year. This provides students with training, experience, and a first-hand look at various career opportunities.

SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS FOR MINORS IN AGRIBUSINESS AND GENERAL AGRICULTURE

A grade of C or better will be required in the courses taken to satisfy the minors in General Agriculture or Agribusiness. In accordance with the guidelines below, specific minor programs for individual students will be set up and approved by the Chair of the Department or a designate.

A Minor in Agribusiness requires a minimum of 18 hours from the courses listed below:

AGEC 213 Introduction to Agricultural Economics
AGBU 313 Quantitative Methods in Agribusiness
AGBU 323 Agribusiness Management
AGEC 333 Agricultural Price Analysis
AGEC 423 Marketing Agricultural Products
AGEC 433 International Agricultural Markets, Trade and Development
AGEC 443 Farm Management
AGEC 453 Agricultural Finance
AGEC 463 Agricultural Policy
AGBU 371 Agribusiness Seminar
AGEC 419 Agricultural Cooperatives

A Minor in General Agriculture requires a minimum of 18 hours for the Plant and Soil Sciences; or a minimum of 18 hours for Animal and Poultry Science.

Department of Agriculture Index