Alternative Agriculture Production (AAS.ALAG)

This core curriculum is designed for those students who are planning a career in alternative agriculture production including farming, ag production sales, and management or ownerships in these areas. The fundamentals of Agroecology, the incorporation of biological pest management, as well as sustainable crop and livestock production will be emphasized. While this curriculum is designed for immediate placement in alternative agriculture 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: 2020 Spring
FIRST YEAR
First Semester
Hours
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
* OR
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
+
3.0
AGR-141
Introduction to Agroecology 
AGR-141
Introduction to Agroecology
This course introduces ecological principles as they relate to agriculture, and includes sustainable food production systems and concepts of agroecology. Also emphasized is discussion of population ecology and plant demographics, as well as the conversion from conventional to alternative production.

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-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
*
2.5
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
+ OR
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
3.5
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

Semester Totals

15.0
Second Semester
SPE-111
Intro to Speech Communication 
SPE-111
Intro to Speech Communication
Focuses on the fundamental principles and methods of selection, 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
* OR
ENG-099
Communications II 
ENG-099
Communications II
Students will continue to enrich the listening, speaking, and writing skills introduced in Communications I. Emphasis is placed on research, report writing, and communication skills for the upwardly mobile career student.

Course Outline
*+++
2.0
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
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-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-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-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

Semester Totals

15.5
Summer Term
AGR-042
Supervised Ocupational Exp II 
AGR-042
Supervised Ocupational 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-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
++++ OR
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
3.0
AGR-145
Biological Pest Management 
AGR-145
Biological Pest Management
Biology of pest management will discuss the pest concerns of an organic production system. The discussion will include identification, prevention, and approved control measures within an organic system.

Course Outline
++++
3.0

Semester Totals

8.5
SECOND YEAR
First Semester
Hours
AGR-143
Organic Crop Production 
AGR-143
Organic Crop Production
Organic crop production will explore the history, production, harvesting, storage, and marketing of products. State and federal laws as they relate to organic crop production will also be discussed.

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
Supv Occup Exp III 
AGR-043
Supv Occup Exp 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
HRT-201
Introduction to Horticulture 
HRT-201
Introduction to Horticulture
A study and introduction to the principles and practices involved in the development, production and use of horticultural crops (fruits, vegetables, greenhouse, turf, nursery, floral and landscape). Course will include a broad overview of the green industry, including propagation, production and design.

Course Outline
+
3.0
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
SOS-050
Human Relations 
SOS-050
Human Relations
Provides an understanding of the human mechanism when associated with interpersonal relationships on the job. Emphasis is placed on vocational problems connected with motivation, communication, perception and how to work with others.

Course Outline
2.0

Semester Totals

13.5
Second Semester
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
HED-178
Responding to Emergencies 
HED-178
Responding to Emergencies
The purpose of the American Red Cross Responding to Emergency course is to provide the citizen responder with the knowledge and skills necessary in an emergency to help sustain life.

Course Outline
2.0
AGR-044
Supv Occup Exp IV 
AGR-044
Supv Occup Exp 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
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-163
Forages and Pasture Management 
AGR-163
Forages and Pasture Management
Various forage crops will be discussed including their role in today's agriculture and grassland ecology, plant physiology, nitrogen fixation, establishing and maintaining forages, and harvesting. Pasture management including identification, establishing pastures, and intensive and rotational grazing systems will be discussed.

Course Outline
+++
2.5

Semester Totals

15.5

Total Program Hours

68.0