Agriculture Science and Technology

The Agricultural Science and Technology BS degree prepares students to integrate modern agricultural technologies with traditional agronomic sciences to address the evolving challenges in agriculture and environmental resource management. Building on foundational skills in agricultural science, the program emphasizes advanced applications in agricultural robotics, automation, precision irrigation, spatial data analytics, and technology-enabled crop and resource management.

Students develop expertise in integrating sensors, IoT platforms, UAVs, artificial intelligence, and decision-support systems with agronomic practices to improve productivity, sustainability, and regulatory compliance. The curriculum is designed for California’s Central Valley agricultural industry while also preparing graduates to address global food production challenges.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the Agricultural Technology BS program will be prepared for diverse professional roles, including:

• Precision Agriculture Technicians specializing in sensors, GIS, UAVs, IoT platforms, and variable-rate technologies

• Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians with expertise in automation, robotics, and advanced control systems

• Agricultural Systems Managers responsible for designing and implementing technology adoption and integration projects

• Soil, Plant, and Environmental Scientists applying remote sensing, predictive modeling, and regenerative practices

• Conservation and Resource Managers supporting SGMA compliance, climate-smart irrigation, and sustainability goals

• Agricultural Technology Entrepreneurs innovating in robotics, AI, and automation for specialty crop production and food systems

• Supervisory and Leadership Roles in farming, ranching, and agribusiness managing technology-driven operations

Graduates will also be well positioned to pursue industry certifications such as Pest Control Advisor (PCA), Certified Crop Advisor (CCA), FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot, and

precision agriculture specialist credentials, as well as graduate-level study in agricultural engineering, agroecology, or environmental technology.

Degree Requirements

Admission to the BS degree program requires completion of the Agricultural Science and Technology AS degree, nine units of upper division general education courses, and a comprehensive sequence of upper-division coursework in agricultural sciences and technology. Students are expected to complete a capstone project or internship that demonstrates applied knowledge in a real-world agricultural technology setting.

30 students are projected to earn the degree annually.

Program Goals – Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Science and Technology

1. Integrate Technology with Agricultural Science Students learn to apply robotics, automation, sensing technologies, and data analytics in real agricultural settings. The focus is on integrating technology to improve productivity, manage resources more effectively, and meet regulatory requirements.

2. Resource Management to Optimize Production and Sustainability Graduates develop skills to implement and evaluate technologies to optimize agricultural management (e.g., with respect to return on investments, regenerative practices, climate-smart irrigation). The program emphasizes hands-on learning, innovation, entrepreneurship, and building agricultural systems that can adapt and thrive over time.

3. Develop Workforce-Ready Leaders Students gain the professional, technical, and leadership capabilities needed for supervisory roles in agriculture, agribusiness, and environmental technology. This includes hands-on industry experience and relevant certifications that employers recognize and value.

The Coalinga College BS degree is part of our Agricultural Science and Technology pipeline. This education path begins with the F3/AgTec 12 unit certificate that was developed as a regional project between Central Valley community colleges. Students completing this certificate would then begin the Coalinga College Agricultural Science and Technology degree (college-ready students would not require the AgTec certificate). Upon completion of the Agricultural Science and Technology AS degree, students would qualify to enter the Coalinga College Agricultural and Technology BS degree.

The Program Student Learning Outcomes (PSLOs) for the BS degree are given below.

Graduates of this program will be able to:

PSLO 1 (Technology-Integrated Agricultural Systems): Implement and troubleshoot agricultural technology systems that integrate sensors, PLCs, SCADA platforms, and CAN Bus/ISOBUS protocols with agronomic science principles to optimize operational efficiency, resource management, and regulatory compliance.

PSLO 2 (Smart Agricultural Sensing and Data Collection): demonstrate the ability to use remote sensing, UAVs, sensor networks, IoT devices, and/or automated monitoring systems to collect and validate real-time environmental data for agronomic decision support.

PSLO 3 (Autonomous Systems Integration for Precision Agriculture): Safely operate, configure, and integrate UAVs, autonomous tractors, and/or robotic platforms with agricultural management applications such as precision planting, variable-rate spraying, targeted pest control, automated harvesting, and crop scouting.

PSLO 4 (Spatial Data Analysis and Predictive Agricultural Modeling): Process and analyze spatial and temporal datasets using GIS and geostatistics to develop predictive management models (e.g., yield forecasting, disease detection, spatial nutrient response functions).

PSLO 5 (Agricultural Science-Technology Integration for Sustainable Production): Identify and implement appropriate precision technologies to optimize management with respect to agronomic practices (e.g., fertilization, soil amendments, plant pathology, entomology, and weed science) while enhancing soil health and minimizing environmental impact.

PSLO 6 (Economic Analysis and Technology Adoption Planning): Conduct economic evaluations of agricultural technology investments (e.g., cost-benefit analysis, ROI assessment, risk evaluations) and adoption barriers, market forces, policy frameworks, and sustainability incentives to develop economically justified implementation plans for agricultural enterprises.

PSLO 7 (Agricultural Research and Evidence-Based Decision Making): Design, implement, and analyze on-farm research trials using appropriate experimental design, statistical analysis, and monitoring technologies to evaluate the agronomic, economic, and environmental effectiveness of alternative management practices.

PSLO 8 (Professional Agricultural Technology Leadership): Demonstrate professional readiness through achievement of one or more industry certifications, optimal and regulatory compliant use of agricultural technology, ethical decision-making, and the ability to communicate technical recommendations to stakeholders.

Upper-Division Course Outline (60 units)

Agricultural Technology Core (24 units)

Agricultural Science and Technology (27 units)

Upper-Division General Education (9 units)

Course Summary:

• Agricultural Technology Core: 24 units (8 courses)
• Technology Integration with Agricultural Science: 27 units (9 courses)
• Upper-Division General Education: 9 units (3 courses)
• Total Upper-Division Units: 60 units