skip navigation 1-800-4-ALFRED (425-3733)

Agricultural Technology

Print PDF

AAS Degree - Code #0510

Dr. Philip Schroeder, Department Chair and Program Coordinator
Email: schroepd@alfredstate.edu

Careers related to agriculture are diverse and constantly changing. Today’s students need the flexibility to tailor a degree to suit their needs. That’s why our agricultural technology curriculum has been designed to let you select the elective courses that fit your career goals. You can choose concentrations of courses in animal science, enhancing your knowledge of animal agriculture and/or dairy science, or enhance your knowledge of crops and plant sciences, including fruit and vegetable production.

Advantages

  • Opportunities for hands-on experience with organic farming.
  • Animal science concentration is a progressive practical program emphasizing dairy cattle management and provides both a science and a business background.
  • Plant science concentration focuses on the management of soil to increase production of both human and animal food crops and the science and business behind it. It includes an emphasis on sustainability.

Program Student Learning Outcomes

  • Demonstrate essential technical knowledge of animal husbandry methods.
  • Demonstrate essential technical knowledge of crops, soils, and growing conditions.
  • Demonstrate the ability to analyze information, and compare and contrast agricultural management systems.
  • Demonstrate the ability to find and use information related to agricultural production systems.
  • Demonstrate written and oral communication skills appropriate for agricultural production systems.
  • Apply critical thinking and reasoning to agricultural business management.

Direct Entry Into Baccalaureate Degree Programs

Alfred State agricultural technology graduates may enter directly into either the agribusiness management BTech, interdisciplinary studies BTech, or the technology management BBA degree program.

Animal/Dairy Science Concentration

The animal science concentration is a progressive practical program emphasizing dairy cattle management. The program offers both managerial and hands-on experiences. This concentration's courses provide a science and business background. A strong emphasis is placed on application of these principles with a free-stall housed organic herd milked by a robot and our herds of Angus and Herford cattle, sheep, and meat goats. The farm also houses horses, pigs, and poultry that are used to extend learning opportunities for our students.

Plant/Crops/Fruit/Vegetable Concentration

This curriculum emphasizes management of the soil to increase production of food crops for both human and livestock consumption. Students are usually interested in crop farming or market gardening careers. Students are taught conventional, natural, and organic food production systems. This concentration's courses provide a science and business background. A strong emphasis is placed on application of sustainability principles on our farm, research plots, gardens, hydroponic systems, greenhouses, and high tunnels.

Showmanship Day

All students enrolled in agriculture classes truly enjoy participating in the annual showmanship activities each spring. Students can select a species of animal (cattle, horses, swine, alpacas, or sheep) to train, groom, and show in this annual competition. Family, friends, and alumni are invited to enjoy the competition and the awards barbecue following the showmanship contest.

Related Clubs And Activities

Students have the opportunity to participate in the Collegiate Agricultural Leaders (CAL) Club, Collegiate FFA, Equestrian Club, Dairy Judging Team, Agricultural Skills Day, Spring Fling Consignment Sale, Community Supported Agriculture projects, local foods projects, showmanship contests, and Sustainability Club.

Continuing Education Opportunities

Many schools, including Cornell University, grant full credit to students wishing to transfer to four-year programs. A formal articulation agreement exists between Alfred State and Cornell University for transfer options.

 Occupational Opportunities

  • Owners, operators, managers, and herdsmen for dairy cattle and meat animal farms
  • Fruit, vegetable, and field crop production
  • Food industry
  • Salespeople and consultants for feed, fertilizer, agricultural, and veterinary supply companies
  • Agricultural banking and lending
  • Inspectors of agricultural products
  • Laboratory and field technicians for artificial insemination and veterinary supply companies
  • Dairy farm inspectors

Employment Statistics

Employment and continuing education rate of 100 percent – 89 percent are employed; 11% continued their education.

Entrance Requirements/Recommendations

Required: Algebra

Recommended: Geometry, Algebra 2, Biology, Chemistry

Office of Accessibility Services

Students who believe they need a reasonable accommodation to properly participate in this program may contact Melanie Ryan in the Office of Accessibility Services. This office may be contacted by email at oas@alfredstate.edu  or by phone at 607-587-4506. Please keep in mind that some accommodations may take time to implement, so students seeking accommodations are encouraged to contact OAS as early as possible.

Agricultural Technology - AAS Degree

ANIMAL SCIENCE CONCENTRATION TYPICAL FOUR-SEMESTER PROGRAM

First

ANSC 1204 Introduction to Animal Science 4
AGRI 1001 Farm Practicum I 1
BIOL 1304 Botany 4
AGRI 3351 Live Animal Evaluation 1
COMP 1503 Writing Studies 3
GLST 2113 Global & Diverse Perspectives 3
      16

Second

ANSC 3203 Dairy Cattle Production I 3
    OR   
ANSC 3103 Livestock Mgmt & Production 3
AGPS 1104 Soils 4
ANSC 2114 Dom Animal Anat & Phys 4
AGRI 2001 Farm Practicum II 1
SPCH 1083 Public Speaking 3
XXXX xxx3 Agricultural Elective 3
      18

Third

AGPS 2113 Field & Forage Crops 3
ANSC 3013 Animal Disease Control 3
AGEC 3213 Farm & Rural Business Mgmt I 3
AGRI 3001 Farm Practicum III 1
XXXX xxx3 Agriculture Elective 3
MATH xxx3 MATH 1033, or 1104, or 1113, or 1123 3
      16

Fourth

AGEC 4303 Farm & Rural Business Mgmt II 3
AGRI 2101 Sophomore Seminar 1
AGRI 2013 Organic & Sustainable Ag Tech 3
    OR   
BIOL 4254 General Microbiology 4
AGRI 4001 Farm Practicum IV 1
XXXX xxx3 Ag or Transfer Elective 3
XXXX xxx3 General Education Elective 3
      14-15

If full-time student, may cross register at AU for equestrian classes.

Suggested Agriculture or Transfer-Related Electives:

AGPS 3004 Soil Fertility 4
ANSC 3003 Feeds and Nutrition 3
ANSC 3223 Dairy Calf Management 3
ANSC 3103 Livestock Mgmt & Production 3
ANSC 3204 Dairy Cattle Production III 4
AGPS 5003 Integrated Pest Management 3
AGPS 5103 Sustainable Vegetb Prodtn Tech 3
AGPS 5113 Sustainable Fruit Production 3
AGRI 2013 Organic & Sustainable Ag Tech 3
AGRI 6103 Precision Agriculture 3
BIOL 2803 Environmental Science 3
BIOL 2801 Environmental Sciences Lab 1
BIOL 4254 General Microbiology 4
BIOL 6534 Genetics 4
CHEM 1114 General Chemistry I 4
MATH xxxx      

 

PLANT SCIENCE CONCENTRATION TYPICAL FOUR-SEMESTER PROGRAM

First

ANSC 1204 Introduction to Animal Science 4
AGRI 1001 Farm Practicum I 1
BIOL 1304 Botany 4
COMP 1503 Writing Studies 3
GLST 2113 Global & Diverse Perspectives 3
      15

Second

AGPS 1104 Soils 4
AGRI 2013 Organic & Sustainable Ag Tech 3
AGRI 2001 Farm Practicum II 1
XXXX xxx3 Ag. Electives 6
SPCH 1083 Public Speaking 3
      17

Third

AGPS 2113 Field & Forage Crops 3
AGEC 3213 Farm & Rural Business Mgmt I 3
AGPS 5103 Sustainable Vegetb Prodtn Tech 3
AGRI 3001 Farm Practicum III 1
XXXX xxx3 Ag. Elective 3
MATH xxx3 MATH 1033, or 1104, or 1113, or 1123 3
      16

Fourth

AGEC 4303 Farm & Rural Business Mgmt II 3
AGRI 2101 Sophomore Seminar 1
AGPS 5003 Integrated Pest Management 3
AGRI 4001 Farm Practicum IV 1
XXXX xxx3 Ag. Elective 3
XXXX xxx3 Gen. Ed. Elective 3
      14

If full-time student, may cross register at AU for equestrian classes.

Suggested Agriculture or Transfer-Related Electives:

AGPS 5003 Integrated Pest Management 3
AGPS 5113 Sustainable Fruit Production 3
AGRI 6103 Precision Agriculture 3
ANSC 2102 Dairy Cattle Reprod & A.I Tech 2
ANSC 2114 Dom Animal Anat & Phys 4
ANSC 3003 Feeds and Nutrition 3
ANSC 3243 Dairy Management Analysis 3
ANSC 3204 Dairy Cattle Production III 4
ANSC 3223 Dairy Calf Management 3
BIOL 2803 Environmental Science 3
BIOL 2801 Environmental Sciences Lab 1
BIOL 4254 General Microbiology 4
BIOL 6534 Genetics 4
CHEM 1114 General Chemistry I 4
MATH xxxx        

 

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

Students must:

  • successfully complete the prescribed sequence of courses
  • achieve a minimum index of 2.0 in core courses
  • achieve a minimum index of 2.0 overall
  • be recommended by the department faculty