Agriculture Business - AS
The process of how food gets from the field to our tables begins on the farm, however, there’s an entire financial ecosystem that exists in between those two points. There are also numerous career opportunities for individuals with an interest in business and agriculture-related fields, beyond the traditional roles of farmer and rancher. Supply chain analysts, agricultural statisticians, farm machinery sales representatives, and commodity brokers are just a few of the professionals who work at the intersection of agriculture and commerce. They support an industry that helps feed and clothe people all over the world.
In an associate program in Agricultural Business, you will study agriculture finance, learn about the many factors that affect the buying and selling of food, and examine business management aspects of food production. This degree is transferable to universities offering a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Business.
Otero College, in cooperation with Colorado State University - Fort Collins, has developed a two-year Associate of Science degree track with an emphasis in Agriculture in four different areas: Agricultural Education, Agriculture Business, Animal Science, and Soil and Crop Science. Upon successful completion, the degree, and all classes associated with the degree, will transfer seamlessly into the CSU-Fort Collins College of Agricultural Science where a student can earn a bachelor’s degree with an additional 60 hours of credit.
Student should work closely with their advisor and contact their transfer institution choices for more specific transfer information.
The first year of an Agricultural Business program will include math and English courses to meet general education requirements. The completion of introductory math and English courses in your first year is proven to greatly 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, as well as economics and business management will grow and deepen. Coursework will include Agriculture Finance, Introductory Soil Science, and Animal Science. After completing a 60-credit associate degree, your degree pathway can continue 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 IandENG 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 GT Pathways Arts & Humanities courses (GT-AH1, GT- AH2, GT-AH3, GT-AH4) |
| History | 3 | One GT Pathways History course (GT-HI1) |
| 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 laband CHE 101/1011 Introduction to Chemistry I with labOR CHE 107/1007 Fundamentals of Chemistry OR CHE 101/1011 Introduction to Chemistry I with lab |
| *Additional Required Courses (25 Credit Hours) | |
|---|---|
| Credit Hours | Course Number and Title |
| 3 | COM 115/1150 Public Speaking |
| 3 | CIS 118/1018 Introduction to PC Applications |
| 3 | ECO 201/2001 Principles of Macroeconomics |
| 3 | MAT 135/1260 Introduction to Statistics |
| Select 13 credits from the list below. A minimum of 6 credits must be from an AGE prefix. | |
| 3 | AGE 205/2105 Farm & Ranch Management |
| 3 | AGE 208/2108 Agricultural Finance |
| 3 | AGE 210/2110 Agricultural Marketing |
| 4 | MAT 125/1400 Survey of Calculus |
| 3 | ASC 100/1100 Animal Science |
| 4 | ASC 225/2125 Feeds & Feeding |
| 3 | ASC 250/2105 Live Animal & Carcass Evaluation |
| 3 | ASC 230/2130 Farm Animal Anatomy & Physiology |
| 2 | ASC 288/2188 Livestock Practicum |
| 4 | AGY 100/1100 General Crop Production |
| 4 | AGY 240/2140 Introductory Soil Science |
| 4 | ACC 121/1021 Accounting Principles I |
| 3 | RAM 205/2005 Principles of Range Management |
*Please note: if these credits are not required for the major at a receiving 4-year institution, they will be applied to the bachelor’s degree as elective credit toward graduation. Please check with the receiving institution to determine in which way these courses will be applied.
*See your advisor for alternative restricted electives. The above courses are included in the articulation agreement with Colorado State University - Fort Collins. Ag Science articulation agreements also exist for New Mexico State University, and West Texas A&M. 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 Business AS degree from Otero College.
Colorado State University-Ft. Collins
[Advising Sheet]
West Texas A&M University
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New Mexico State University
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