Program
Coordinator: Bob Pohlad
Phone Number: (540) 365-4367
e-mail: bpohlad@ferrum.edu
The Agriculture program provides students with a diversified four-year
curriculum and the opportunity for practical experience. The curriculum
stresses the theory and practice of agriculture, while also emphasizing
the importance of economic and business knowledge. Teaching includes
numerous “hands-on” experiences, developing practical skills in
students. The required internship furthers this facet by placing
students in situations of responsibility and creativity. This broad
approach to agriculture, combined with the strong liberal arts base,
prepares graduates for a wide range of career opportunities.
Agriculture graduates find employment in farm management and operation,
agricultural finance, education, government and land management,
journalism and other media, agricultural supply businesses, marketing
and distribution of farm products, agricultural research and numerous
other areas. The broad “hands-on” approach and internship experience
are invaluable preparations for this diverse industry. Students
may choose a major in Agriculture, Agribusiness, or Agroecology.
Each of the above majors allows the student to select an emphasis
in Animal Science, Plant Science, or General Agriculture.
Today agriculture faces a tremendous challenge to provide food,
fiber and industrial raw supplies for billions of people at a time
when resources are becoming more limiting. Agriculture, meanwhile,
has become more technical and complex and qualified college graduates
are needed to meet the future demands in this vital field.
Ferrum is located in a rural agricultural area of Southwestern Virginia.
The economy of Franklin County is dominated by the agricultural
industries of dairy, tobacco, tree fruit, and general farming. This
diversity strengthens the broad focus of the curriculum while providing
a range of environmental conditions in which to study and observe
American agriculture.
PRINTABLE
BROCHURE
DIVISION OF LIFE SCIENCES
Required
Liberal Arts Core and Degree Specific Requirements
BIO 101 General Biology 4
CHM 101 Fundamentals of Inorg. Chem. 4
MTH 208 Introductory Stats or
MTH 215 Env. Methods Stat. 3-4
COM 201 Public Speaking 3
Additional CHM 4
Required
Courses:
AGR 110 Agriculture Issues 3
AGR 201 Introduction to Animal Science 4
BIO 202 Introductory Plant Science 4
AGR 307 Agriculture Seminar 1
AGR 315 Soil Science & Management 4
AGR 314 Animal and Plant Breeding and Genetics 4
AGR 350 Computer Applications in Agriculture 3
AGR 399 Professional Preparation 1
AGR 499 Internship 3
Total 29
Choose
one sequence from the following
AGR 497/498 Sequence Senior Seminar 2
AGR 495/496 Independent Research 2
I. Agriculture Major without Minor: In addition
to completing the common required courses, students must complete
the requirements within one of the following emphasis areas to complete
the Agriculture major without a minor.
A. General Agriculture Emphasis
Required
Courses
AGR 417 Farm Business Management 3
ECO 202 Principles of Microeconomics 3
Choose two from the following:
AGR 301 Principles of Field/Forage Production 4
AGR 302 Principles of Animal Production 4
HOR 219 Horticulture Crop Production 4
Select at least 15 credits from the following:
AGR 232 Livestock Evaluation and Judging 3
HOR 321 Plant Propagation 3
AGR 390/490 Special Topics in Agriculture 1-3
AGR 413 Animal Diseases 3
BIO 415 Plant Diseases 4
HOR 410 Greenhouse Management 4
HOR 418 Plant Pest Management 4
Total
required for Agriculture with General Agriculture emphasis 58
B. Agribusiness Emphasis
Required
Courses
ACC 201 Principles of Accounting I 3
ACC 202 Principles of Accounting II 3
ECO 201 Principles of Macroeconomics 3
ECO 202 Principles of Microeconomics 3
AGR 417 Farm Business Management 3
Choose two from the following:
AGR 301 Principles of Field/Forage Production 4
AGR 302 Principles of Animal Production 4
HOR 219 Horticulture Crop Production 4
Select one from the following:
ESC 310 Environmental Planning and Assessment 3
BUS 315 Business Law 3
Total
required for Agriculture with Agribusiness emphasis 55
C.
Agroecology Emphasis
Required
Courses
ESC 211 Fundamentals of Ecology 3
Choose two from the following:
AGR 301 Principles of Field/Forage Production 4
AGR 302 Principles of Animal Production 4
HOR 219 Horticulture Crop Production 4
Choose one from the following:
BIO 303 Microbiology 5
AGR 413 Animal Diseases 4
BIO 415 Plant Diseases 4
HOR 418 Plant Pest Management 4
Select 10 credits from the following:
ESC 209 Phys. Geol. & Hyd.3
ESC 302 Conservation Biology 3
ESC 310 Env. Planning and Assessment 3
ESC 321 Aquatic Ecology 4
ESC 402 Fisheries and Wildlife Mgt. 4
ESC 413 Forest Sciences Mgt 5
ESC 421 Pollution Science 4
ESC 424 Environmental Toxicology 3
ESC 425 OSHA, 40-hr certification 1
GEO 220 Physical Geography 3
Total
required for Agriculture with Agroecology emphasis 54-55
II. Agriculture Major with Minor
In addition to completing the required courses for the major and
required distribution courses, students must complete an additional
7 hours in Agriculture at the 300-400 level
Additional credits in AGR 300-400 level 7
Total required for agriculture with minor 36
III.
Agriculture Minor
Required Courses:
AGR 101 Agriculture Issues 4
AGR 201 Animal Science 4
AGR 202 Plant Science 4
One of the following:
AGR 301 Principles of Field/Forage Production 4
AGR 302 Principles of Animal Production 4
Other Requirements
5 additional credits in
Agriculture Courses at the 300-400 level 5
