Agriculture Production & Management (AAS.AGPRO)

This core curriculum is designed for those students who are planning a career in agricultural production, farming, ag production sales, and management or ownership in these areas. While this curriculum is designated for agricultural production, it also allows transferability to Illinois State, Southern Illinois and Western Illinois universities.

Program requirements may change over time. Specific degree/graduation requirements are determined by a degree audit.
Catalog Term Year: 2025 Fall
FIRST YEAR
First Semester
Hours
AGR-046
Introduction to Agricultural Occupations 
AGR-046
Introduction to Agricultural Occupations
An introduction to the vast, complex business of agriculture, ways of doing business, guides for success of a person in the agricultural business of farm machinery technology and familiarizes the student with the preparation for agricultural production, business and mechanics jobs.

Course Outline
1.0
AGR-205
Intro/Soil Science 
AGR-205
Intro/Soil Science
Application of the basics in the physical, chemical and biological aspects in soils. Soils of Illinois and Indiana are emphasized along with concepts of fertility, conservation and field descriptions.

Course Outline
OR
AGR-050
Soils 
AGR-050
Soils
Planned learning activities and experiences designed to cover soil development, functions of soil minerals, soil types and their class. A major study of soil types in Illinois and Indiana and their conservation practices are included.

Course Outline
3.5
AGR-206
Intro/Animal Science 
AGR-206
Intro/Animal Science
Focuses on a study of beef, swine, sheep, poultry and horses and the scientific factors affecting nutrition, selection and genetics, products, environment and physiology.

Course Outline
OR
AGR-060
Animal Husbandry 
AGR-060
Animal Husbandry
Prepares students with a basic understanding of livestock care, production and management from selection through breeding and marketing of beef and dairy cattle, swine and sheep. Emphasis is placed on confinement plans and new trends.

Course Outline
3.0
AGR-040
Agricultural Mathematics 
AGR-040
Agricultural Mathematics
Applications of mathematics as it applies to the operation of grain and livestock farms, agriculture business and agriculture mechanization.

Course Outline
OR
MAT-115
General Education Pathway 
MAT-115
General Education Pathway
Survey of mathematical topics including set theory, consumer/financial math, measurement and statistics. Problem-solving projects involving detailed written solutions required. Calculators and computers will be used. Intended for students that don't assess directly into MAT-116. Includes supplemental instruction lab.

Course Outline
OR
MAT-116
General Education Math 
MAT-116
General Education Math
Survey of mathematical topics with emphasis on solutions to real-life problems. Topics will include set theory, consumer/financial math, measurement, and statistics. Problem-solving projects involving detailed written solutions will be required. Calculators and computers will be used.

Course Outline
3.0
ENG-098
Communications I 
ENG-098
Communications I
Students will learn the principles of communication by listening, speaking and writing. Emphasis is placed on communication skills related to the demands of the student's career area.

Course Outline
OR
ENG-119
Composition I Pathway 
ENG-119
Composition I Pathway
Students will study the writing process by reading essays illustrating a variety of rhetorical strategies, analyzing texts and writing, revising and editing short essays. Course is for students who have assessed into developmental English, receiving supplemental instruction for course completion.

Course Outline
OR
ENG-120
Composition I 
ENG-120
Composition I
Students develop a writing process by reading and analyzing texts that illustrate various rhetorical strategies as well as writing, revising and editing short essays. Minimally, students must compose four formal, revised writing assignments, having one reach at least 1,250 words.

Course Outline
3.0
SOS-052
Workplace Communication/Safety 
SOS-052
Workplace Communication/Safety
Provides an understanding of the human mechanism when associated with interpersonal relationship on the job. Emphasis placed on vocational motivation, communication and perception, along with Red Cross CPR/AED/First Aid training to enhance safety and response skills in a workplace emergency.

Course Outline
OR
PSY-271
Intr/Psychology 
PSY-271
Intr/Psychology
Focuses on psychology as a science, presenting concepts, research methods and research in a variety of subfields, including neuroscience, sensation and perception, consciousness, learning and memory, cognition, motivation and emotion, development, personality, disorders and therapy and social psychology.

Course Outline
OR
POS-160
American National Government 
POS-160
American National Government
The fundamental principles of the American Government are summarized. Such topics as federalism, civil liberties, citizenship, parties and elections, the Presidency, Congress, Judiciary and national policies and politics are discussed within the framework of the American Constitutional system.

Course Outline
3.0

Semester Totals

16.5
Second Semester
AGR-041
Supervised Occupational Exp I 
AGR-041
Supervised Occupational Exp I
On-the-job experience as a full-time employee in selected agriculture occupation. Must be in curriculum the degree is awarded. (Repeatable 3 Times)

Course Outline
3.5
AGR-049
OSHA/Ag Mach Safety 
AGR-049
OSHA/Ag Mach Safety
Provides an intensified study into agricultural machinery safety. Focuses on why agricultural machinery accidents happen, how they can be prevented and how to create a safe working environment. Visual aids are utilized to display effect.

Course Outline
1.0
AGR-063
Animal Nutrition 
AGR-063
Animal Nutrition
Covers fundamental principles of livestock nutrition with an understanding of the monogastric and ruminant digestive system, essential nutrients, feed ingredients, additives and balancing of rations. Private and commercial feed sales implications are included.

Course Outline
2.5
AGR-112
Computer Applic/Agriculture 
AGR-112
Computer Applic/Agriculture
Covers the effective use of keyboard, manipulating agriculture files, using word processors, spreadsheets, database and presentation software and discovering available agriculture software for accounting, budgeting, record keeping and market analysis.

Course Outline
OR
AGR-111
Intro to Agriculture Software 
AGR-111
Intro to Agriculture Software
Use of computers in farm and agri-business management with emphasis on commercially available software for accounting, budgeting, record keeping and market analysis.

Course Outline
2.0
AGR-121
Farm Business Records 
AGR-121
Farm Business Records
An introduction into basic farm record keeping. Prepares students to compile records associated with specific farm enterprises. Record analysis is emphasized for farm efficiency measures.

Course Outline
2.5
CHM-120
General, Organic and Biochemistry I 
CHM-120
General, Organic and Biochemistry I
Fundamentals of inorganic chemistry including history, atomic theory, bonding, stoichiometry, gases, solids, solutions, chemical equilibria, acids, bases, salts, pH and electrochemistry.

Course Outline
OR
CHM-101
Physical Science II 
CHM-101
Physical Science II
An introductory discussion of chemical principles. Presents a balance between basic knowledge needed to understand the uses of chemicals and applications of chemicals in everyday life.

Course Outline
3.0

Semester Totals

14.5
Summer Term
AGR-042
Supervised Occupational Exp II 
AGR-042
Supervised Occupational Exp II
On-the-job experience as a full-time employee in selected agriculture occupation. Must be in curriculum the degree is awarded. (Repeatable 3 Times)

Course Outline
2.5
AGR-053
Integrated Pest Management 
AGR-053
Integrated Pest Management
Students will develop a working knowledge of agricultural chemicals as they relate to herbicides and insecticides. Students should have a working knowledge of calibration and maintenance of agricultural chemical equipment. Identification of major weed species and their control is emphasized.

Course Outline
3.0
AGR-207
Intro/Ag Economics 
AGR-207
Intro/Ag Economics
Principles of economics applied to problems in agriculture, marketing of agricultural products, agricultural policy and the role of agriculture in the U.S. and world economies.

Course Outline
OR
AGR-120
Agriculture Economics 
AGR-120
Agriculture Economics
An introduction to basic economic concepts of the agricultural sector with emphasis on costs, revenue, price determination, supply and demand and farm policy.

Course Outline
3.0

Semester Totals

8.5
SECOND YEAR
First Semester
Hours
AGR-204
Prin/Field Crop Science 
AGR-204
Prin/Field Crop Science
Designed to develop a working and scientific knowledge of modern crop production as a germination, growth, reproduction, tillage and weed control of agricultural field crops. Emphasis is also placed on fertility, diseases and insects.

Course Outline
OR
AGR-052
Principles of Crop Production 
AGR-052
Principles of Crop Production
Designed to develop needed skills involved in production of the major field crops in central Illinois and Indiana. Plant growth, crop choice, tillage, planting and sowing for maximum yields are emphasized.

Course Outline
3.0
AGR-090
Principles of Agri Mechanics 
AGR-090
Principles of Agri Mechanics
Covers the fundamentals of basic preventive maintenance for tractors and familiarizes the student with setting and adjusting sprayers, tillage equipment, planters and combines.

Course Outline
2.5
AGR-043
Supervised Occupational Experience III 
AGR-043
Supervised Occupational Experience III
On-the-job experience as a full-time employee in selected agriculture occupation. Must be in curriculum the degree is awarded. (Repeatable 3 Times)

Course Outline
3.0
AGR-122
Farm Management 
AGR-122
Farm Management
Economics principles applied directly to the organization and operation of Midwest farms are discussed. Management effectiveness in cropping and livestock systems and resource utilization for maximum profit are stressed.

Course Outline
2.5
--- ---
Career Elective 
--- ---
Career Elective


1.5

Semester Totals

12.5
Second Semester
AGR-051
Soil Fertility 
AGR-051
Soil Fertility
Enables those involved with soils and crops to make intelligent and efficient use of fertilizer materials available.

Course Outline
2.5
AGR-123
Marketing of Ag Products 
AGR-123
Marketing of Ag Products
An introductory course covering farm marketing strategies, futures markets, cash markets for livestock and grain and general problems in pricing major agricultural commodities.

Course Outline
2.5
AGR-124
Farm Credit and Finance 
AGR-124
Farm Credit and Finance
An introduction to financing statements, capital and credit needs of farmers, sources of credit and problems of borrowers and lenders.

Course Outline
2.0
AGR-044
Supervised Occupational Experience IV 
AGR-044
Supervised Occupational Experience IV
On-the-job experience as a full-time employee in selected agriculture occupation. Must be in curriculum the degree is awarded. (Repeatable 3 Times)

Course Outline
3.5
COM-111
Intro to Speech Communication 
COM-111
Intro to Speech Communication
Focuses on the fundamental principles and methods of selecting, analyzing, organizing, developing and communicating information, evidence and points of view to audiences.

Course Outline
OR
ENG-121
Composition II 
ENG-121
Composition II
Students will learn how to find, use, assess and document research sources, producing an extended writing project based primarily on library research.

Course Outline
3.0

Semester Totals

13.5

Total Program Hours

65.5
Suggested Electives
AGR-054
Crop Harvesting/Drying/Storage 
AGR-054
Crop Harvesting/Drying/Storage
Fundamentals of harvesting, drying and storage. Opportunities of various systems are explored through visits to different sites and systems.

Course Outline
2.5
AGR-151
GPS/Applications in Ag 
AGR-151
GPS/Applications in Ag
This class is designed to provide students the opportunity to become familiar with global positioning systems as they relate to agriculture and develop a working knowledge of variable rate systems.

Course Outline
3.0
AGR-152
Intensive Crop Scouting 
AGR-152
Intensive Crop Scouting
Scouting skills are taught with emphasis on insects and plant diseases. Life cycles, prevention and control measures are discussed.

Course Outline
3.0
CDL-043
Dual Credit CDL Theory 
CDL-043
Dual Credit CDL Theory


3.5
CDL-090
Careers in CDL 
CDL-090
Careers in CDL
Designed for students interested in a career requiring a Commercial Driver's License. This course covers topics in job searching, career readiness, practical living, personal values and the impact of behaviors.

Course Outline
3.0