Agriculture Education (AS)

The agriculture education program is designed to prepare and equip students with academic education and skills for success in careers in Education, Communication, Public Relations, Sales and Government.   In addition to a required selection of core courses, students will choose a specialization in one of the following focus areas:  Agriculture Business, Animal Science, Plant Science/Environmental Horticulture or Mechanized Agriculture.  

The Associate of Science Degree in Agriculture Education is available upon satisfactory completion of the graduation requirements and complete the following required courses with a minimum grade of a “C” (or P) in each course in the degree and maintains a 2.0 GPA.

Based on feedback from students enrolled in agriculture business, animal science and plant science degrees who are interested in becoming teachers,  the enrollment in the agriculture education program would be 20-25 the first year but because the program is articulated with the CSU Ag Ed professors so that our students are more prepared for entering the degree program we foresee our enrollment to increase due to the interest from the surrounding service area high schools. Retention should be more than 80% based on other the success of community colleges with an Ag Ed. programs and the fact that we have written curriculum collaboratively with the CSU faculty.   

The increase in teacher demand in secondary high schools continues to be an issue.In secondary education there is a high demand for teachers and this is evident in Agriculture Education as it continues to be consistently high with the addition of new chapters and an increase in teachers per chapter. Furthermore,the popularity of this sector of employment with our students increases but we do not sufficiently meet their needs in teacher preparation nor offer the needed articulated courses with the CSU system in any of our current degree programs.  Additionally, these courses develop a sound understanding of production in all facets of agriculture combined with the fact that we live in the number one agriculture counties in the state we offer students employment in public relations, government and communication where agriculture education is fundamental to many businesses in the area.  Ultimately, the program is designed increase student preparation for entering the Agricultural Education degree program at a CSU or UC.  First,this program give students the ability to prepare to teach a multitude of courses within agriculture that include plant science, animal science,agriculture mechanics, landscape horticulture/floral, agriculture business and agriculture science. Secondly this program provides the opportunity to specialize in a state recognized secondary CTE career pathway by choosing courses within the listed areas that will enhance their educational goals in University concentration.  

The Associate of Science Degree in Agriculture Education is available upon satisfactory completion of the graduation requirements and complete the following required courses with a minimum grade of a “C” (or P) in each course in the degree and maintains a 2.0 GPA.

Program Core

Minimum of 3 units in each Area below

Minimum of 4 units

Minimum of 2 units

Specialization Area – Minimum of 6units in one area below