College of Agriculture

AGRICULTURE GRADUATES ARE READY TO ADVANCE THEIR CAREERS!

Over the past 100+ years, A-State has grown from a regional agricultural school into a comprehensive university. The College of Agriculture has also grown throughout the years. While education remains our primary mission, we also carry out extensive research and outreach activities.

We prepare graduates to enter and advance in careers in the food, fiber and natural resources industries, including production (farming), agribusiness and value-added processing, public service and rural leadership; and to enter and advance in manufacturing and industrial technology fields.

We offer both undergraduate and graduate degrees within the college, and we also participate in doctoral training through the interdisciplinary Environmental Sciences and Molecular Biosciences programs.

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN AGRICULTURE

Concentrations

Agricultural Business

Graduates of our program are trained to work in an ever-changing world economy and gain enhanced marketability for a wide range of careers. Our curriculum offers a shared body of knowledge for Agricultural Economics and Business Administration students while combining core courses from Agricultural and Applied Economics with business courses in Accounting, Marketing, Management, Finance and Business Law to build a strong foundation for a career in agribusiness management.

Agricultural Studies

Graduates who choose the Agricultural Education concentration will have the knowledge and skills to create and deliver agricultural content, design hands-on learning experiences and advise agricultural youth organizations. Career opportunities include becoming a secondary agriculture teacher, county extension agent, agricultural literacy specialist, agricultural instructor and more. In addition, for the first time, we will offer online pathways for our students: Agricultural Studies (formerly the Agricultural Science concentration). Whether you want to train the next generation of agronomists, lead the technology revolution in agriculture, or work while completing an online degree program, Agricultural Studies has an option for you.

Animal Science

Animal Science involves the scientific and business study of domestic animal production, such as beef and dairy cattle, swine, poultry, sheep and goats. An animal scientist applies principles of biological, physical and social science to issues related to livestock production, management and welfare. Animal Science is also concerned with human food products (meat, milk, eggs, etc.) produced from domesticated livestock species. In addition, Animal Science covers aspects of companion animals (horses, dogs, cats, etc.), including their nutrition, care and welfare.

GIS & Precision Agriculture

Formerly Agricultural Systems Technology, students who choose this concentration can complete the requirements either in person or online. It prepares students to use spatial data and geospatial technology to solve problems in agriculture and other human-environment interactions. The GIS components of our program give students the ability to use spatial data to make decisions, create maps and perform spatial analysis. The remote sensing curriculum gives students access to both satellite imagery from space and aerial imagery. This includes imagery captured by both aircraft and unmanned aircraft systems. Most of our students earn the FAA Part 107 sUAS Remote Pilot Certificate, which allows them to fly sUAS commercially.

The precision agriculture components of our program emphasize data-driven agronomic decision-making, with an emphasis on using tools and techniques for efficient irrigation. Furthermore, students learn to analyze agronomic sites to determine whether varying rates of nutrients, pesticides or seed are appropriate, and how to create prescriptions and read maps applicable to satellite-guided equipment.

At the culmination of the degree, students use the foundational skills and knowledge they have gained to create a solution for a related agricultural or human-environment problem.

Plant and Soil Science

The Plant and Soil Science field has a long tradition of research and education in crop production, horticulture, soil management and precision agriculture technology. We have an outstanding faculty developing management strategies for crop production, environmental protection, horticultural production, landscape management and maintenance, as well as preparing the next generation of land managers and agricultural professionals.

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN AGRICULTURE

The Master of Science in Agriculture offers five areas of study:

• Agribusiness and Economics
• Agricultural Education
• Animal Science
• Digital Agriculture
• Plant and Soil Science

College of Agriculture Scholarships

The College of Agriculture offers several privately funded scholarships for students pursuing a degree program in our college. All scholarships are available to full-time students with a declared Agriculture major who are enrolled at A-State's ASU-Jonesboro campus. The criteria for each scholarship are listed here: Scholarships (astate.edu).

Internship Program

The purpose of the Internship Program is to give students the opportunity to gain valuable experiences that are not typically available on campus. Interns benefit from the opportunity to immediately apply their classroom knowledge in a real-world \"laboratory\" of current business practices and techniques. Faculty, employers and public agencies work together with student interns to strengthen the connection between classroom theory and real-world practice.

The Internship Program allows students to work for an employer without committing to full-time employment after graduation. Students participating in the Internship Program typically work for one semester (14-16 weeks).

See details here: Internships (astate.edu)