/Institutions/Northwest-Missouri-State-University/json/2024-2025/Undergraduate-Catalog-local.json

/Institutions/Northwest-Missouri-State-University/json/2024-2025/Undergraduate-Catalog.json

2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog > School of Agricultural Sciences/ 03

School of Agricultural Sciences/ 03

Director: Rod Barr

Assistant Director: Jacqueline Lacy

Faculty: Mahesh Bashyal, Matthew Bax, Billy Brooks, Ronda Driskill, Kaitlin Epperson, Daniel Ess, John Greathouse, Jason Holderieath, Michael Miller, Paul Okello, Oscar Perez-Hernandez, Alexander Taylor, Jacob Tuell

Statement of Mission

The mission of the School of Agricultural Sciences is to serve the students and the agricultural industry by:

• Providing high-quality degree programs utilizing an interdisciplinary approach
• Enhancing the critical thinking and problem solving skills of students
• Utilizing current and sustainable technologies to prepare students for the 21st century
• Integrating theory and application to provide high-quality services to the regional agricultural industry

Bachelor of Science Degrees

The courses in the School of Agricultural Sciences are chosen with the aim of preparing students to take their place in the many and varied occupations directly or indirectly related to agriculture. It is possible for students to select an area of emphasis in preparation for a particular career field, to prepare for advanced study, to prepare for farming, or to enter the teaching field as a teacher of agricultural education.

Majors are currently offered in Agricultural Business, Agricultural Education, Agricultural Media-Advertising, Agricultural Media-Broadcasting, Agricultural Media-Journalism, Agricultural Science,  Agronomy-Crop Production, Agronomy-Horticulture, Agronomy-Soil Science, Animal Science, and Animal Science (Pre-Veterinary Option). Students at Northwest can select agricultural minors in Adapted Recreational Gardening,  Agricultural Business, Agricultural Communications, Agricultural Data and Information Systems, Agricultural Dealer Management, Agricultural Finance, Agricultural Science, Agronomy,  Animal Science, Horticulture, Precision Agriculture, and Systems Management for Agriculture and Manufacturing. Master’s programs are offered leading to the following degrees: Master of Business Administration (Agricultural Economics Emphasis) and Master of Science in Education (Teaching Secondary Agricultural Education).

The School of Agricultural Sciences places special emphasis on creating a climate that is conducive to learning. The faculty possess a genuine concern for the students as well as a high commitment to the educational achievement of their students. The school's goal is to educate students to successfully meet the challenges of a career in agriculture, while instilling a desire and curiosity for lifelong learning.

The School of Agricultural Sciences offers an excellent course curriculum for each major, undergraduate research opportunities, internship programs, a wide range of professional and social student organizations, and Profession-Based learning experiences to expand students’ horizons beyond the classroom

Bachelor of Applied Science Degrees

For Bachelor of Applied Science degree students completing a one- or two-year program at a junior/community college and who transfer to Northwest for a B.A.S. degree, most credits will transfer, either as substitutes for equivalent courses or as electives.  The Bachelor of Applied Science degree requires a minimum of 24 semester hours in agriculture courses numbered above 300.  A minimum of 30 semesters hours must be completed in residence; with the last 10 hours of academic work completed at Northwest.  A minimum of 120 earned academic hours and a minimum overall and Northwest grade point average of 2.0 are required to qualify for the degree.  (See Bachelor of Applied Science degree requirements.)

Non-Degree Program

The School of Agricultural Sciences offers a 2-year Farm Operations Program.  On the successful completion of a program the student is awarded a certificate by the School of Agricultural Sciences.  Unless otherwise noted, all courses in this program may be applied to a degree program should a student decide to complete a college degree.

Requirements within the School of Agricultural Sciences

All agriculture students are required to take chemistry as part of their degree requirements. Students selecting a major in the School of Agricultural Sciences must complete a minimum of 24 credit hours in Agriculture from Northwest Missouri State University.  

Requirements for Independent Study and Problems Courses

The independent study and problems courses for each area of specialization permit the student to explore a specific topic in depth. The 400-level course may: (1) use either primary or secondary research data or (2) cover course material the student was unable to schedule prior to the senior year. The 500-level course may use only primary research data or special problems assigned by the instructor.

A student may take no more than three hours of 400-level and three hours of 500-level of these courses during the undergraduate program. The student may not take both a 400- and 500-level of these courses during the same semester.

A student may take no more than 9 hours of Independent Study, Problems, or Internship courses during the undergraduate program. 

Majors and Minors for Agriculture Students

• Each major and minor shall consist of at least 12 hours of unique course work not applied to any other major or minor. 
• Students majoring in agriculture are not permitted to minor in agricultural science or pursue a 2-year Farm Operations Certificate.

• Students pursing a Bachelor of Applied Science- Agriculture are not permitted to pursue a minor. 

• Students Seeking multiple majors in agriculture are not permitted to use agricultural science as one of the majors.
• Students pursing a major in Agriculture Science may pursue a minor in Adapted Recreational Gardening, Agricultural Communication, Agricultural Data and Information Systems, Agricultural Dealership Management, Precision Agriculture, and Agricultural Finance 
• GPA Requirement

Transfer Credit

For Bachelor of Science degree students, only those junior/community college agriculture courses that are covered by a current articulation agreement may be counted towards programs in the School of Agricultural Sciences. Up to six credits of employment experience, on-the-job training, or internships can be substituted for Northwest’s AGRI 03498 Agriculture Occupations Internship.

Students selecting a major/emphasis in agriculture from Northwest Missouri State University must complete a minimum of 24 credit hours in agriculture from Northwest’s School of Agricultural Sciences.