MCCCD Program Description

Major: 3014 Catalog Year: 2023-2024 Effective Term: 2023 Fall Last Admit Term: 9999 Award: AAS Total Credits: 60-70 CIP Code: 01.0308	Primary College: Initiating College: Mesa Community College Program Availability: Not Found Program Availability: College-Specific Program Availability: College Specific: MC Field of Interest: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Instructional Council: Agriculture/Equine Science GPA: 2.00
SOC Code: Upon completion of this degree, students may pursue a career as: 11-9013.01 Nursery and Greenhouse Managers 11-9013.00 Farmers, Ranchers and Other Agricultural Managers

Description: The Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Sustainable Agriculture program focuses on sustainable agriculture, agribusiness, and urban farming. This program is designed to prepare individuals for employment in Agribusiness.

Learning Outcomes
1. Utilize computer applications relevant to the field for communication, production decisions, business management and cost analysis. (AGB130, AGB139) 2. Synthesize multiple sources of information to assist in decision making relative to agricultural business planning and operations. (AGB130, AGS186, MAT112, (CRE), (FYE101, FYE103), [FYC], [HU]) 3. Demonstrate professional behaviors and abide by norms and conventions appropriate to the field. (AGB130, AGB139, AGB231, AGS164, AGS166, AGS182AA, AGS260, AGS262, AGS265, CHM130, CHM130LL, SSH111, (FYE101, FYE103), [FYC]) 4. Employ effective oral, written, and visual communication skills in a culturally sensitive and responsive manner. (AGB130, AGB139, AGS164, AGS217, AGS260, AGS186, AGS262, SSH111, (CRE), (FYE101, FYE103) (COM), [FYC] [HU]) 5. Evaluate sustainable food production systems in rural and urban settings. (AGB144, AGS182AA, AGS186, AGS217, [FYC]) 6. Operate equipment adhering to proper safety, ethical, and environmental protocols. (AGS166, AGS182AA, AGS186, AGS217, AGS260, AGS265, AGS262, AGS268, [FYC]) 7. Effectively plant, maintain and harvest crops by synthesizing principles of plant growth and responses to particular soils, climate, sun exposure, water availability, nutrients, and pests. (AGS182AA, AGS164, AGS217, AGS260, AGS262, AGS265, AGS268, MAT112) 8. Apply environmentally and socially responsible agricultural practices. (AGS164, AGS166, AGS217, AGS265, SSH111, [FYC]) 9. Establish, select and maintain facilities for alternative crop production systems, including raising fish and vegetables in a closed-looped system. (AGS166, AGS217, [FYC]) 10. Use various media to market agricultural crops, including brand development, social networking, direct marketing, community supported agriculture. (AGB231, [FYC]) 11. Explain the physical and chemical properties of soil as they relate to pH, water, nutrients, and organic matter. (AGS260, AGS265, CHM130, CHM130LL, MAT112, [FYC]) 12. Apply relevant knowledge, skills, and habits of mind to seek career opportunities in the field. (FYE101, FYE103)

Program Notes
Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses within the program.

Required Courses

AGB130 Establishing and Running an Agribusiness 3
AGB139 Agribusiness Computer Operations 3
AGB231 Marketing of Agricultural Products 3
AGS182AA Gardening Practices and Techniques 3
AGS186 Greenhouse Management and Construction 3
AGS164 Plant Growth and Development 4
+ AGS217 Introduction to Hydroponics and Controlled Environment Agriculture 4
AGS166 Aquaponics 3
+ AGS260 Soils 4
AGS262 Irrigation Design, Installation, Operation, and Trouble Shooting 3
+ AGS265 Crop Science and Production 3
AGS268 Integrated Pest Management in the Cultivated Environment 4

+ CHM130 Fundamental Chemistry (3) OR
Permission of Program Director 0-3

FYE101 Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success (1) OR
FYE103 Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success (3) 1-3

SSH111 Sustainable Cities 3

Credits: 44-49

Restricted Electives
	Credits: 0

General Electives
Select additional courses 100-level or higher to complete a minimum of 60 semester credits but no more than a total of 64 semester credits. Consult with a faculty advisor, program director, and/or academic advisor to identify coursework that best aligns with academic and professional goals.	Credits: 0-1

General Education Requirements

General Education Requirement	Credits: 15-21

General Education Core	Credits: 12-18

First-Year Composition	Credits: 6
+ ENG101 First-Year Composition (3) OR + ENG107 First-Year Composition for ESL (3) AND + ENG102 First-Year Composition (3) OR + ENG108 First-Year Composition for ESL (3) 6

Oral Communication	Credits: 3
Any approved general education course in the Oral Communication area

Critical Reading	Credits: 0-3
+ CRE101 College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking (3) OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment 0-3

Mathematics	Credits: 3-6
+ MAT112 Mathematical Concepts and Applications (3) OR Higher level mathematics course 3-6

General Education Distribution	Credits: 3

Humanities, Arts and Design	Credits: 3
Any approved general education course in the Humanities, Arts and Design area. 3

Social-Behavioral Sciences	Credits: 0
Met by SSH111 in the Required Courses area.

Natural Sciences	Credits: 0
Met by AGS260 in the Required Courses area.

+ indicates course has prerequisites and/or corequisites.
++ indicates that any suffixed course may be selected.

MCCCD Governing Board Approval Date: March 28, 2023

All information published is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented, but based on the dynamic nature of the curricular process, course and program information is subject to change in order to reflect the most current information available.