Associate of Applied Technical Studies in Agroecology
Agroecology uses the study of ecology to evaluate the productivity of agricultural systems. This includes the dynamics between technological advances, biophysical interactions, socioeconomic relationships, and the geology/geomorphology of a region. Use of local resources, conservation and preservation of the environment and efficiency (saving both money and resources) are the goal for success in farming via Agroecology. This is ideal for a small farm in areas that may suffer economically or have limited natural resources (due to over-use, difficult terrain, or small parcels of land available).
Traditional production agriculture is changing as people begin to question where the food that they eat originates, what chemicals were used, if crops have been genetically modified or if growth hormones were used. Smaller farms must be more efficient and learn to grow crops that have higher value (monetarily or in high demand) in order to compete with larger “mega” farms. Technology and interdisciplinary education can help small farmers succeed and that is the goal of this program, to provide that interdisciplinary education through technological advances to be economically and environmentally responsible and succeed. Choosing unique crops or animals, such as varieties of hops, heirloom seed varieties, organic crops, antibiotic-free livestock (goats, sheep, emu, cattle), wool (sheep, llama, alpaca), winter-hardy grapes (that can be sold to local wineries) are all examples of the interesting and profitable choices for small farming.
The following outcomes are skills, behaviors, and attitudes cultivated in students seeking the Associate of Applied Technical Studies in Agroecology:
- Employ agroecology principles to support environmental preservation. Preventing the degradation of water, air, soil, or other natural resources.
- Apply scientific concepts and practices within the disciplines of biology, chemistry, and geology to methods of sustainable farming and farm management.
- Use technology and new research to solve complex or changing agricultural problems.
- Develop plans to survey, protect and sustain existing wildlife as well as domestic animals that may be part of the farm.
- Collect, analyze, and evaluate environmental and economical methods of farming to design successful and viable farm management plans.
HOCKING COLLEGE
Associate of Technical Study in Natural Resources-Major in Agroecology
Course of Study
For students entering May 2017
| COURSE NO. | FIRST SEMESTER | Class Hours | Lab Hours | Credit Hours | Course Fee | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MATH-1103 | Applied Mathematics | 3.00 | 0.00 | 3.00 | $150.00 | ||
| AG-1100 | Introduction to Agroecology | 0.00 | 1.00 | 0.50 | $200.00 | ||
| GS-1000 | Cornerstone | 1.00 | 0.00 | 1.00 | $50.00 | ||
| GEOL-1105 | Introduction to Soils | 2.00 | 2.00 | 3.00 | $116.00 | ||
| WLM-2204 | Wetland Ecology & Management | 0.00 | 4.00 | 2.00 | $250.00 | ||
| BIOS-1101 | Environmental Science | 3.00 | 0.00 | 3.00 | $150.00 | ||
| Totals | 9.00 | 7.00 | 12.50 | $916.00 | |||
| Complete 1 of the following 2 groups | |||||||
| COURSE NO. | SECOND SEMESTER | Class Hours | Lab Hours | Credit Hours | Course Fee | ||
| 1 | COMM-1130 | Speech | 3.00 | 0.00 | 3.00 | $50.00 | |
| CHEM-1131 | Environmental Chemistry | 2.00 | 2.00 | 3.00 | $200.00 | ||
| GENV-2210 | Hydroscience | 2.00 | 2.00 | 3.00 | $100.00 | ||
| BIOS-1120 | Botany | 2.00 | 0.00 | 2.00 | $400.00 | ||
| BIOS-1120L | Botany Lab | 0.00 | 2.00 | 1.00 | $50.00 | ||
| WLM-2203 | Environmental Ethics | 3.00 | 0.00 | 3.00 | $100.00 | ||
| EQSI-1130 | Farm Equipment & Maintenance | 0.00 | 2.00 | 1.00 | $315.00 | ||
| 2 | COMM-1130 | Speech | 3.00 | 0.00 | 3.00 | $50.00 | |
| CHEM-1131 | Environmental Chemistry | 2.00 | 2.00 | 3.00 | $200.00 | ||
| GENV-2210 | Hydroscience | 2.00 | 2.00 | 3.00 | $100.00 | ||
| BIOS-120 | Botany | 2.00 | 3.00 | 3.00 | $60.00 | ||
| WLM-2203 | Environmental Ethics | 3.00 | 0.00 | 3.00 | $100.00 | ||
| EQSI-1130 | Farm Equipment & Maintenance | 0.00 | 2.00 | 1.00 | $315.00 | ||
| Totals | 12.00 | 8.00-9.00 | 16.00 | $825.00-$1,215.00 | |||
| COURSE NO. | THIRD SEMESTER | Class Hours | Lab Hours | Credit Hours | Course Fee | ||
| FOR-1131 | Forest Entomology & Pathology | 1.00 | 2.00 | 2.00 | $200.00 | ||
| AG-1230 | Indoor Crop Production I | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.50 | $175.00 | ||
| AG-1240 | Outdoor Crop Production I | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.50 | $175.00 | ||
| AG-1310 | Irrigation & Water Treatment | 1.00 | 2.00 | 2.00 | $130.00 | ||
| AG-1350 | Agroecology Entrepreneurship | 3.00 | 0.00 | 3.00 | $30.00 | ||
| ECO-2185 | Sustainable Resource Area Management | 2.00 | 2.00 | 3.00 | $100.00 | ||
| *** | Sustainable Agriculture Elective | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2.00 | |||
| Totals | 9.00 | 8.00 | 15.00 | $810.00 | |||
| COURSE NO. | FOURTH SEMESTER | Class Hours | Lab Hours | Credit Hours | Course Fee | ||
| AG-2101 | Agroforestry & Perennial Agriculture | 1.00 | 4.00 | 3.00 | $150.00 | ||
| AG-2230 | Indoor Crop Production II | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.50 | $200.00 | ||
| AG-2240 | Outdoor Crop Production II | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.50 | $150.00 | ||
| AG-2270 | Pest Management & Control | 0.50 | 1.00 | 1.00 | $180.00 | ||
| AG-2430 | Agroecology Capstone & Practicum | 1.00 | 6.00 | 4.00 | $60.00 | ||
| AG-2220 | Farm to Table (SL) | 2.00 | 0.00 | 2.00 | $260.00 | ||
| AG-2160 | Animal Husbandry | 1.50 | 3.00 | 3.00 | $328.00 | ||
| Totals | 8.00 | 16.00 | 16.00 | $1,328.00 | |||
| Complete 1 of the following 11 groups | |||||||
| COURSE NO. | FIRST SEM ENGLISH | Class Hours | Lab Hours | Credit Hours | Course Fee | ||
| 1 | ENGL-1510 | English Composition I | 4.00 | 0.00 | 4.00 | $50.00 | |
| 2 | COMM-122 | Communications II | 3.00 | 0.00 | 3.00 | $15.00 | |
| COMM-123 | Communications III | 3.00 | 0.00 | 3.00 | $15.00 | ||
| 3 | COMM-122 | Communications II | 3.00 | 0.00 | 3.00 | $15.00 | |
| COMM-124 | Communications IV | 3.00 | 0.00 | 3.00 | $15.00 | ||
| 4 | COMM-122 | Communications II | 3.00 | 0.00 | 3.00 | $15.00 | |
| ENGL-1152 | Research Skills | 1.00 | 0.00 | 1.00 | $15.00 | ||
| 5 | COMM-122 | Communications II | 3.00 | 0.00 | 3.00 | $15.00 | |
| ENGL-2123 | English Composition II-Contemp Issues | 3.00 | 0.00 | 3.00 | $50.00 | ||
| 6 | COMM-122 | Communications II | 3.00 | 0.00 | 3.00 | $15.00 | |
| ENGL-2124 | English Composition II-Creative Writing | 3.00 | 0.00 | 3.00 | $50.00 | ||
| 7 | COMM-122 | Communications II | 3.00 | 0.00 | 3.00 | $15.00 | |
| ENGL-2125 | English Composition Ii: Music & Culture | 3.00 | 0.00 | 3.00 | $50.00 | ||
| 8 | COMM-122 | Communications II | 3.00 | 0.00 | 3.00 | $15.00 | |
| ENGL-2126 | English Composition II-Nature Readings | 3.00 | 0.00 | 3.00 | $50.00 | ||
| 9 | COMM-122 | Communications II | 3.00 | 0.00 | 3.00 | $15.00 | |
| ENGL-2223 | Business Writing | 3.00 | 0.00 | 3.00 | $50.00 | ||
| 10 | COMM-122 | Communications II | 3.00 | 0.00 | 3.00 | $15.00 | |
| ENGL-2225 | Technical Writing | 3.00 | 0.00 | 3.00 | $50.00 | ||
| 11 | ENGL-1122 | English Composition I | 3.00 | 0.00 | 3.00 | $50.00 | |
| ENGL-1152 | Research Skills | 1.00 | 0.00 | 1.00 | $15.00 | ||
| Totals | 4.00-6.00 | 0.00 | 4.00-6.00 | $30.00-$65.00 | |||
| TOTAL CREDIT HOURS: | ESTIMATED TOTAL COURSE FEES: |
|---|---|
| 63.50-65.50 | $3,909.00-4,334.00 |
Hocking College reserves the right to modify curricular requirements, to change course content, and change course fees at any time.
Take action with knowledge
Are you concerned about the the global food crisis, diminishing soil health, polluted waterways, etc? Take action. Grow and market food for local communities. Discover how to model nature on the path to creating sustainable agriculture
and the next food revolution.
Salary
Small scale CSA operators avg $30,000 while other roles average $30-$40,000.
Job Availability
The Ag industry will add 26,000 new jobs each year with half in the field of sustainable Ag, government, and education.
Job Titles
Community Supported Ag Mgr
Urban Ag Director
Community Ag Director
Agricultural Technician
Agriculture Inspector
Organic Farm Certification Specialist
Small and Mid-Size farm mgmt.
Food Systems Development
Real World, applied whole farms design
Internships on small farms and businesses
Study abroad opportunities
Maximize your marketability- the best and most environmentally applicable training to Agriculture, Business, and Sustainable Ag Education.
Dig into a "hands-on" program where you will accumulate technical hob skills plus the professional judgment to work independently.
Maximize food production, end food deserts worldwide, and mitigate climate change!
