John Hillison, Director
Professors: J.H. Hillison; W.G. Camp; J.R. Crunkilton; M. Lambur
Associate Professors: S.R. Burke; J.D. Gibson
Assistant Professors: F.A. "Lex" Bruce, Jr.; C. Sutphin
Extension Specialists: B.A. Board; T.R. McAnge, Jr.
Instructors: Teresa Hamilton
Career Advisor: W.G. Camp
This curriculum provides a diversified coverage of technical and professional agricultural subjects necessary to prepare teachers of agricultural education for service in the public middle, secondary, and post-secondary schools; extension agents in agriculture for service in local extension units; and training specialists for agricultural industry.
Specialty areas available for students in the teaching option include agriscience, agricultural production, agricultural machinery service, horticulture, agricultural business, natural resources management, middle school, and teaching the disadvantaged. Students in the extension option may specialize in an area of technical agriculture or receive broad preparation in the basic and applied sciences in technical agriculture. Students in either option will find that the experiences and education gained will well qualify them for training positions in agricultural industry and governmental agencies.
The minor in agricultural education permits students to develop the human relations skills essential for success in people-oriented professions and to meet teaching certification requirements. Those desiring to obtain a minor in agricultural education should consult the career advisor for agricultural education prior to the junior year.
This program prepares students to teach Agricultural Education in the public schools of Virginia and throughout the United States. The program includes extensive preparation in organization, management, curriculum development, and instructional planning and delivery. The skills developed are aimed specifically at preparing Agricultural Education teachers, but are usable in any profession that requires extensive contact with the public. With over 10,000 teachers of Agricultural Education in the United States and an annual requirement for about 700 replacement teachers nationwide, the demand for our graduates far exceeds the supply. Agricultural Education graduates are highly sought by agricultural business and industry for their "people skills" and because they have broad backgrounds in many of the technical disciplines in the agricultural sciences rather than specialties.
Students in this option are aiming at careers in Cooperative Extension. Most states require master's degrees for beginning extension agents. We would anticipate that most Extension option graduates would continue their formal education at the graduate level in order to qualify to work in Cooperative Extension. Graduates from this program are ideally suited for generalist positions in Extension, such as 4-H agent, because this is a degree program that provides a broad background in many of the technical disciplines in the agricultural sciences, rather than a concentration in a single discipline. This is a very "people-skills" oriented program.
The Agricultural Education minor is available to students in any of the majors in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the College of Natural Resources. Upon graduation with a degree in any of those areas, and the minor in Agricultural Education, a student will be licensed to teach agriculture. This program provides the same basic professional development courses and experiences required of Agricultural Education Teaching option students. With a minor in Agricultural Education, students expand both their array of "people skills" and their career options by adding licensure to teach. In addition, graduates in scientific disciplines which are particularly biology-intensive, often find that they are also eligible for licenses to teach biology.
Core Curriculum
| Core Area 1, Writing and Discourse -- Freshman English | |
| Core Area 2, Ideas, Cultural Traditions, and Values | |
| Core Area 3, Society and Human Behavior | |
| Economics of Food & Fiber
Introductory Psychology |
|
| Core Area 4, Scientific Reasoning and Discovery | |
| Introduction to Chemistry
Introduction to Chemistry Laboratory Principles of Biology and Laboratory Introduction to Chemistry and Laboratory |
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| Core Area 5, Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning | |
| Elementary Calculus with Trigonometry | |
| Core Area 6, Creativity and Aesthetic Experience | |
| Core Area 7, Critical Issues in a Global Context | |
Technical Courses (Teaching Option)
Agricultural and Applied Economics elective
Agricultural Mechanics Lb. Mgt.
Agricultural Metal Fabrication
Agriscience, two from:
ALS 2304, ALS 3104, ALS 3204, BIOL 2004, BION 2024, CSES 3114, CSES
3604, ENT 3014/3024, ENT 4254, FST 2014, FIW 4514, HORT 2144, BSE 2484
APSC or DASC elective
CSES elective
FOR or FIW elective
HORT elective
Materials & Procedures of Ag. Construction
Microcomputer Applications in Agriculture
Soils Laboratory
Special Study - Advanced Topics in Agricultural Sciences
(May include up to 6 hrs of PHYS and/or GEOL)
Professional Studies (Teaching Option)
Field Study Practicum (Pass-Fail only)
Internship in Education
Methods of Planning Educ. Programs in Agriculture
Methods of Teaching in Career & Occ. Ed. (Writing Intensive)
Psychological Foundations of Ed. for Preservice Teachers
Social Foundations of Education
Teaching Cont Area Reading in Middle & Secondary School
Youth Program Management
Technical Courses (Extension Option)
Ag & Life Sciences and/or Forestry electives
Agricultural and Applied Economics elective
Agriscience, any two from:
ALS 2304, ALS 3104, ALS 3204, BIOL 2004, BION 2024, CSES 3114, CSES
3604, ENT 3014/3024, ENT 4254, FST 2014, FIW 4514, HORT 2144
APSC, DASC, or FIW elective
CSES elective
FOR elective
HORT elective
Microcomputer Applications in Agriculture
Select from BSE 3074 or 3084
Soils Laboratory
Special Study - Advanced Topics in Agricultural Sciences
(May include up to 6 hrs of PHYS and/or GEOL)
Professional Studies (Extension Option)
Field Study Practicum
Internship in Education
Introduction to Cooperative Extension
Methods of Planning Educ Programs in Agriculture
Methods of Teaching in Career & Occ. Ed. (Writing Intensive)
Psychological Foundations of Ed. for Preservice Teachers
Youth Program Management
By the end of the academic year in which the student attempts 72 hours (at least 36 from Virginia Tech) "satisfactory progress" will include:
1004: AGRICULTURE, THE ARTS & SOCIETY
Introduction to the relationships among agriculture, society, and the arts, all of which are integral components of civilization. Pass/Fail only. (1H,1C) I, II.
1504: INTRODUCTION TO AGRICULTURE & LIFE SCIENCES
Concepts and issues important for early orientation of all students considering a career in agriculture and life sciences, and a review of state, national, and international agricultural issues will be covered in relation to majors in the College. (1H,1C) I.
1514: MICROCOMPUTERS IN AGRICULTURE
Microcomputer course designed primarily for agriculture students. Emphasis is put on learning the basic skills needed to solve agricultural problems with a microcomputer. Topics include: hardware, electronic spreadsheets, word processors, data base management systems, computer graphics, and communications. (1H,3L,2C) I,II.
2304: ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY & ANATOMY
Anatomy and physiology of domestic animals including cell, neural, musculoskeletal, respiratory, cardiovascular, urinary, and endocrine systems. Pre: BIOL 1106. (3H,3L,4C) I,II.
2404 (BIOL 2404): BIOTECHNOLOGY IN A GLOBAL SOCIETY
Introduction to the world-wide impact of biotechnology and molecular biology, including applications to plants, animals, and microorganisms. Explores basic concepts of genetic engineering, scientific and ethical issues, and public concerns related to biotechnology. Topics include: environmental release of genetically engineering organisms, bioremediation, safety of genetically engineered food products, transgenic plants and animals, gene therapy, and genetic screening. Pre: BIOL 1005, BIOL 1006 or BIOL 1105, BIOL 1106, CHEM 1015, CHEM 1016. (3H,3C) II.
2504: ANIMALS IN SOCIETY
Overview of animal well-being and behavior, human-animal interactions, responsibilities to animals, animal care, behavior, disease and pain recognition and current topics concerning companion animals, domestic animals and wildlife. (2H,3L,3C) II.
2964: FIELD STUDY
Variable credit course.
2974: INDEPENDENT STUDY
Variable credit course.
2984: SPECIAL STUDY
Variable credit course.
3004: EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS IN AGRICULTURE
Introduction to educational programs in vocational agriculture and extension. (1H,1C) I,II.
3014: LEADERSHIP EFFECTIVENESS FOR PROFESSIONALS IN AGRICULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS
Designed to assist students in developing a knowledge and understanding of leadership theory and basic skills required to perform effectively in leadership positions within agricultural community situations. (3H,3C) I,II.
3104: ANIMAL BREEDING & GENETICS
Principles of genetics related to improvement of domestic farm animals. Molecular, cellular and physiological genetics, estimation of breeding values, selection, heritabilities, genetic correlations, relationships, in-breeding, heterosis, genetic abnormalities. Pre: BIOL 1106, MATH 1015. (4H,4C) I.
3204: ANIMAL NUTRITION & FEEDING
Characteristics, sources, digestion, absorption, and metabolism of water, carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, vitamins, and minerals. Feedstuffs, diet formulation, and feeding systems for livestock and poultry. Pre: 2304, CHEM 1016 or CHEM 1036. (4H,4C) I,II.
3954: STUDY ABROAD
Variable credit course.
4004: TEACHING ADULTS IN AGRICULTURE
Organizing classes, developing programs of instruction, and teaching techniques applicable to out of school groups in Agriculture. (2H,2C) II.
4014: INTRODUCTION TO COOPERATIVE EXTENSION
An overview of the Cooperative Extension Service as it applies to agriculture. Major areas discussed include history, organization, functional areas, responsibilities of local agents, and employment in extension. (3H,3C) I,II.
4024: MANAGING AGRICULTURAL SUPERVISED OCCUPATIONAL EXPERIENCE PROGRAMS
Major emphasis will be given to the agricultural teacher's responsibility for supervision of the supervised occupational experience program (SOEP). The course will emphasize the ownership project, the cooperative placement project, maintaining record books, and supervising the SOEP. (2H,2C) I,II.
4034: METHODS OF PLANNING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR AGRICULTURE
Course examines the procedures involved in the development of courses, curriculum, and instructional materials for educational programs in agriculture. Pre: 3004. (2H,3L,3C) I,II.
4054: INTERNSHIP IN COOPERATIVE EXTENSION
Off-campus participation experience for those preparing to become extension agents in the Cooperative Extension Service. (6-16 credits) Variable credit course. I,II,III.
4234 (EDVT 4234): CURRICULUM FOR CAREER & OCCUPATIONAL EDUCATION
Provides current and prospective career and occupational education teachers with research bases, resources, and available curricula for teaching content in the respective disciplines. Develops the ability to plan, manage, develop, and evaluate curricula. The prerequisite EDVT 2604 will be waived for agriculture education students. Pre: EDVT 2604. (3H,3C) I,II.
4244 (EDVT 4244): METHODS OF TEACHING IN CAREER & OCCUPATIONAL EDUCATION
Developing instructional plans, delivering and evaluating instruction, and evaluating learner performance for career and occupational education. The prerequisite EDVT 4234 will be waived for agriculture education students. Pre: 4234. (3H,3C) I,II.
4254 (EDVT 4254): ADULT VOCATIONAL & TECHNICAL EDUCATION
Theory, practices, and procedures involved in planning, developing, implementing, managing, and evaluating adult education programs in Vocational and Technical Education. Completion of or concurrent enrollment in courses in teaching methods and curriculum required. (3H,3C) I.
4304: PHYSIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTION
Physiological mechanisms that control and affect reproductive processes in domestic animals, birds, humans, and selected other species. Pre: 2304. (3H,3L,4C) I,II.
4504: NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION
Designed primarily to train elementary and secondary teachers, supervisors, and administrators in natural resource conservation. A three-week course. Emphasis is placed on soils, water, geology, forestry, wildlife, and marine life. Available for graduate credit except to agronomy, forestry, and wildlife majors. (3H,3L,4C) III.
4514: INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT INTERNSHIP
Planned and supervised program involving the application of integrated pest management principles in a field situation. Variable credit course.
4524: FARMING SYSTEMS RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
Characteristics of extensive and intensive farming systems in developing countries. Comparison with U.S. small farming systems. Methods of multi-disciplinary team organization, informal team surveys, grouping farm households, and design and analysis of on-farm trials. Introduction of these methods into developing country and domestic research and extension systems. (3H,3C) I.
4554 (BIOL 4554): NEUROCHEMICAL REGULATION
Neurochemical transmission within the vertebrate brain will be examined. Emphasis will be placed on the chemical coding underlying the control of various behaviors and how these systems can be modified by various drugs or diet. Pre: 2304 or BIOL 3404, CHEM 2535. (3H,3C) II.
4574 (BIOL 4574): SOCIAL BEHAVIOR OF BIRDS & MAMMALS
Animal behavior from the viewpoint of group organization during the life cycle of the organism. Emphasis is on adaptive mechanisms as they relate to the behavior-physiology-genetic interaction. Pre: BIOL 1106. (2H,2C) I.
4744 (EDVT 4744): METHODS, MATERIALS, & PRACTICES IN INSTRUCTION
Planning, using, evaluating classroom procedures; selection and organization of subject content and materials in vocational and technical education. (Max 6C). Consent required. Variable credit course. X-grade allowed. Co: EDVT 4754.
4754 (EDVT 4754): INTERNSHIP IN EDUC
Planned program of clinical practice in education under the direction and supervision of a university supervisor and a selected practitioner. Recommendation of program area and successful completion of Professional Studies required. Variable credit course. X-grade allowed.
4884: YOUTH PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
Organizational design of educational youth programs such as 4-H and FFA, including administrative planning, human resource development, recruitment, marketing, and budgeting. Pre: 4304. (3H,3C) II,III.
4964: FIELD STUDY/PRACTICUM
Variable credit course.
4974: INDEPENDENT STUDY
Variable credit course.
4984: SPECIAL STUDY
Variable credit course.
4994: UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH
Variable credit course.
Please see the Graduate Catalog for graduate course listings.
Virginia Tech -- Undergraduate Catalog, 2002-2004
Last update: August 2002
URL: http://www.vt.edu/academics/ugcat/ucdAgEd.html