Agricultural Education - AS
Think you can’t help to shape the future of farming in a classroom? Think again. Agriculture involves everything from the food we eat to the clothes we wear, and like so many other fields, it’s growing and changing to meet the needs of our modern world. Agriculture educators are an essential part of this evolution, providing hands-on instruction to the next wave of this global industry’s workforce. They also dive into cutting-edge topics like computerized farming equipment, biofuels, and satellite mapping that are designed to improve agricultural processes and more efficiently use natural resources.
If you have an interest in agriculture, but not a desire to own and operate a farm, there is a wealth of other opportunities. Agriculture science teachers and professors, farm business management instructors, and other professionals with this expertise are in high demand.
In an associate program in Agricultural Education, you will study animal and soil sciences, study crop production, and develop basic agricultural mechanical skills. This degree is transferable to universities offering a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture Education with a Teacher Development Concentration.
The first year of an Agricultural Education program will include math and English courses to meet general education requirements. The completion of introductory math and English courses in the first year is proven to grealy increase the likelihood of crossing the graduation stage, boosting your momentum along the academic pathway you select. Other general education courses on your pathway will cover topics in Arts and Humanities, History, Social and Behavioral Sciences, and Natural and Physical Sciences.
Program-specific courses may begin as soon as your first semester. These courses will become more advanced as you move along your degree pathway. Through this sequence of courses, your knowledge of the agricultural sector, food, and horticulture will grow and deepen. Coursework will include Agricultural Economics, World Interdependence – Population and Food, and General Crop Production. After completing a 60-credit associate degree, your degree pathway can continue with guaranteed transfer to a college that offers bachelor’s degrees.
| Required Courses that Fulfill General Education Requirements (35 Credit Hours) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Credit Hours | Course Number and Title | |
| (Written) Communication | 6 | ENG 121/1021 English Composition I and ENG 122/1022 English Composition II OR ENG 122/1022 English Composition IIand a GT Pathways approved CO3 course |
| Mathematics | 4 | MAT 121/1340 College AlgebraOR MAT 125/1400 Survey of CalculusOR higher calculus |
| Arts & Humanities | 6 | Two Arts & Humanities Elective Courses |
| History | 3 | One History Elective Course |
| Social & Behavioral Sciences | 3 | AGE 102/1102 Agriculture Economics |
| 3 | AGR 260/2106 World Interdependence: Population and Food | |
| Natural & Physical Sciences | 10 | BIO 111/1111 General College Biology I with labOR BIO 221/2121 Botany with lab AND CHE 107/1007 Fundamentals of Chemistry OR CHE 101/1011 Introduction to Chemistry I with labORCHE 101/1011 Introduction to Chemistry I with lab |
| *Additional Required Courses (13 Credit Hours) | |
|---|---|
| Credit Hours | Course Number and Title |
| 3 | ASC 100/1100 Animal Science |
| 4 | AGY 100/1100 General Crop Production |
| 4 | AGY 240/2140 Introductory Soil Science |
| 2 | AME 105/1005 Basic Agricultural Mechanical Skills |
| Directed Electives: Choose 2 of the 4 courses listed below (Minimum 6 Credit Hours) | |
|---|---|
| Credit Hours | Course Number and Title |
| 3 | ASC 250/2105 Live Animal & Carcass Evaluation |
| 3 | EDU 221/2211 Introduction to Education |
| 3 | HWE 100/1050 Human Nutrition |
| 4 | HLT 100/1000 - Introduction to HorticultureORHLT 101/1101 Horticulture Science |
| Electives: Select a minimum of 9 credits from the list below | |
|---|---|
| Credit Hours | Course Number and Title |
| 3 | AGE 205/2105 Farm & Ranch Management |
| 4 | ASC 225/2125 Feeds & Feeding |
| 3 | ASC 230/2130 Farm Animal Anatomy & Physiology |
| 2 | ASC 288/2188 Livestock Practicum |
| 2 | AME 107/1007 General Power Mechanics |
| 3 | AME 118/1018 Farm Carpentry |
| 3 | AME 125/1025 Agriculture Machinery |
| 3 | AME 151/1051 Fundamentals of Welding |
| 3 | AME 152/1052 Welding for AG Educators |
| 3 | RAM 205/2005 Range Management |
*See your advisor for alternative restricted electives. The above courses are included in the articulation agreement with Colorado State University - Fort Collins. Please see your advisor for the correct course of study and articulation agreement specific to your transfer university.
Otero College has multiple transfer articulation agreements for agriculture degrees between Otero and public 4 year universities. These agreements allow you to graduate from a community college with a 60-credit Associate of Arts (A.A.) or Associate of Science (A.S.) degree with designation; enroll with junior status at a university; and complete your bachelor’s degree. If you attend full-time and follow the structured schedule, you can complete your bachelor’s degree in 4 years.
The following public four-year institutions will accept your completed Agriculture Education AS degree from Otero College.
Colorado State University-Ft. Collins
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