Agricultural Business Management AGRONOMY

DEGREE: ASSOCIATE IN APPLIED SCIENCE TOTAL CREDIT HOURS: 62

Is this program for you? Required General Education Courses

The agricultural field is wide open – you can do just about □ ENGL 110 Composition I 3 sem hrs anything from traditional farming to sales and marketing to □ Communication* 3 sem hrs agricultural mechanization. You can tailor your agricultural □ Social Science* 3 sem hrs business management program to specialize in agronomy. □ Mathematics* 3 sem hrs

Agronomy involves the selection, planting, maintaining, □ AGRI 112 Basic Soils 4 sem hrs harvesting and selling of a variety of crops – from soybeans □ Humanities* 3 sem hrs to corn to wheat. Specialty crop farmers may plant pumpkins, tomatoes, sunflowers, or fruits like apples and peaches. Required Program Courses Agronomy requires a good understanding of the natural nutrients found in soil, as well as how fertilizers, pesticides, □ AGBUS 111 Economics of Agriculture 3 sem hrs and irrigation systems can enhance plant growth. As a crop □ AGBUS 115 Computer Technology in Agriculture 3 sem hrs producer you’ll also need to understand plant genetics and □ AGBUS 200 Occupational Internship & Seminar I 4 sem hrs how new and better crops are developed. You need to be aware of how crops affect soil, conservation of soil and □ AGBUS 211 Ag Business & Financial Management 3 sem hrs water, and defending against crop threats. As an operator of □ AGBUS 212 Marketing Agricultural Products 3 sem hrs field equipment, you’ll also need to develop an □ AGBUS 214 Occupational Internship & Seminar II 4 sem hrs understanding of agricultural equipment mechanics. □ AGMEC 117 Principles of Agricultural Mechanics 3 sem hrs

□ AGRI 113 Principles of Soil Fertility 3 sem hrs If you enjoy seeing things grow and harvesting them, this career may be for you. Agronomy specialists need to be □ AGRI 121 Introduction to Precision Agriculture 3 sem hrs comfortable with dealing with unpredictable weather, □ AGRI 201 Crop Production 4 sem hrs changes in markets, and emerging consumer needs. You □ AGRI 203 Integrated Pest Management 4 sem hrs need to be well-organized, be good at record-keeping and □ AGRI 221 Application of GIS Technology for Ag 3 sem hrs changes in the commodity markets. Agronomists have to be life-long learners to keep up with the constantly advancing agricultural technologies. Elective Courses

Program Information/Mission □ Electives** 3 sem hrs

The mission of the Agricultural Business Management * See specific requirements for Associate in Applied Science Degree. Agronomy Associate's Degree program is to prepare ** Select electives in consultation with academic advisor. Select 3 hours from, but not limited to: students for employment in the crop systems industry by AGBUS 112, 255; AGRI 111, 114, 118, 133, 134, 233, 234. educating them in the fundamental concepts, knowledge, and hands-on techniques and skills of the crop systems Recommended Course Sequence: industry.

1st Semester: ENGL 110; AGBUS 111; AGRI 112; Mathematics; Social Science Career Opportunities 2nd Semester: AGRI 113; AGMEC 117; Humanities; Communication; Elective Summer Semester: AGRI 201; AGRI 203 3rd Semester: AGBUS 115; AGBUS 200; AGRI 121; Elective With this degree, you may find employment as: 4th Semester: AGBUS 211; AGBUS 212; AGBUS 214; AGRI 221 ■ Agronomist ■ Grain farmer ■ Certified seed grower ■ Seed sales representative ■ Fertilizer sales representative ■ Specialty crop grower ■ Crop specialist ■ Crop scout ■ Lab technician ■ GPS operator

For more information, please contact ICC’s Agricultural and Industrial Technologies Department, Roger Herriman, Illinois I L L I N O I S C E N T R A L C O L L E G E Central College, One College Drive, Room AIT 118, East Peoria, IL 61635, 309-694-5171, www.icc.edu/ait. December 2014