Agriculture Technology

This is an intensive writing course. Narrative and descriptive modes are stressed. Basic research strategies are introduced. An end-of-the-semester portfolio is required.

Survey contemporary world affairs and examine the nation-state system, the struggle for power, and factors creating harmony and hostility among states.

Quantitative Reasoning develops student skills in analyzing, synthesizing and communicating quantitative information. Cultivates algebraic reasoning and modeling skills through a quantitative literacy lens. Emphasizes critical thinking and the use of multiple strategies in applied contexts. Topics include proportional and statistical reasoning, probability, and evaluation of bias and validity.

This course teaches principles of crop production and soil resource management. It relates soils, crop growth, physiology, and genetics to cultural demands and environmental factors. Lab investigates the identification of plant structures, crop seeds, and important pests. Also explores crop variety selection and traits, deficiency symptoms, crop scouting, basic nutrient calculations, and applications within sustainable and international agriculture.

This course is designed for students in the agricultural science degree program. It provides an overview of important concepts in biology and chemistry. Chemistry topics include atomic structure, energy, and acid and base chemistry.  Biology concepts include cellular structure and energy production, biotechnology, evolution, and ecology.  These concepts will be expanded and applied in later courses in the program.  Course includes a lab component.

This course covers macroeconomics and explains the operation of free markets, the role of government in the economy, measurement of the national product, inflation and unemployment, monetary and fiscal policy, and economic growth.

Introduces and develops the four skills of language learning: listening, speaking, reading and writing, with special emphasis on listening and speaking.

This course is designed for the business professional who must have an understanding of financial and managerial accounting as it is used in decision making. This course is not for transfer students seeking a bachelor’s degree or for accounting majors. Learn about annual reports, financial statements, balance sheet accounts and accounting transactions. Focus on how accounting information is used in decision making and not the mechanics behind that accounting information. This is an introductory accounting course required in some program areas. Students should consider their academic program and select either ACC 131 or ACC 231 for their first accounting course.

This management course exposes students to the dynamics of the changing world. Topics such as management functions/processes, quality, leadership styles, power, global issues, and the challenges and opportunities of diversity are included. Emphasis is placed on ethics, decision making, effective communication, evaluating employees, motivational tools, organizational design, environmental scanning, supervising groups, controlling quality, productivity improvement, managing change and conflict, labor relations and time management.

Students will learn the basic principles of speech communication including speech development and delivery, interpersonal message, non-verbal messages, and small group dynamics. The course is designed to prepare students to be effective communicators in a diverse global society. Student speeches will be evaluated for effectiveness.

(Students cannot receive credit for both COM 250 and COM 350) This course will explore how diverse cultural orientations influence the way we perceive and interact with an increasingly culturally diverse world. We will discuss the causes of intercultural conflicts in different communication settings (interpersonal, small group, school, workplace and global) and how to manage them effectively.

Seminar in Life Pathways is a gateway course to Jackson College. This course is designed to help all students develop the skills, inner qualities and external behaviors needed to take charge of their academic and career success. Students will be guided through an extensive process in making career choices and selecting an academic program of study at Jackson College and beyond. With the exception of second-admit programs, SEM 140 is required of all students.

There will be only one constant throughout your career, and that constant is change. The preferences of consumers are constantly changing, entire industries are rising and falling, and hard-working people often are finding themselves looking for a job. This course provides you with the foundation to design your own job, whether in the context of an existing organization (i.e., as an “intrapreneur”) or as someone who starts a new enterprise (i.e., as an “entrepreneur”). In this course you will learn more about your own strengths and weaknesses, as well as the key characteristics shared by successful entrepreneurs. You’ll also gain skills for matching your strengths with a business idea that fits you well, so that both you and your customers will benefit. Finally, you will begin developing analytical tools to help make sound decisions in a rapidly-changing world.

This course offers meaningful industry experience within the agricultural and/or agri-business arena. Specific internship site, industry supervisor and learning outcomes must be jointly agreed upon between the student, the faculty member and the site supervisor. A portfolio of the internship will be created and submitted to the faculty member upon completion of the course.

This course prepares students from a variety of backgrounds to study and work safely in agricultural and agribusiness settings. Students will learn best practices for biological security and workplace safety standard in these industries. Farm safety will include proper use of power equipment and implements as well as livestock handling. This course contains lecture and field experience components.

This course provides students with an overview of the diverse food systems industry. Through research, guest lectures, and field experiences students will engage a cross-section of agricultural, agribuisiness, governmental and food processing sectors. Emphasis will be made in identifying the unique but deeply inter-connected pieces that make up regional, national and international food systems.

This course will provide students with a working knowledge of precision management systems intended for food production. Course content will cover mechanical and electronic advancements toward automation, how computers are used in food production, variable rate technology, product application, sensors, global positioning systems, yield monitors & other data collection systems. This course includes both classroom and field experience components.

This course introduces students to applicable state and federal agricultural policy as well as Generally Accepted Agricultural Managment Practices (GAAMP) for both livestock and crop production. Students will become familiar where to locate and how to interpret and apply agricultural policies and best practices.

This course covers identification, biology, and management of agricultural pests including weeds, insects, and diseases. Course content will emphasize prevention, avoidance, monitoring, and control strategies of specific pests, while examining the ecological and economic considerations of IPM within crop production systems. Course will include applied coursework in commercial and private application of pesticides. Additional topics include pesticide laws, product labels, equipment and calibration, safe storage and handling, formulations, and necessary calculations. Applicator certification expected upon course completion through standardized exam.

The classification of different species of livestock based on breeding, feeding, and management techniques and how they apply to overall animal health and behavior are studied. Historical and current trends of the livestock industry both domestically and internationally are examined. The usage of animal science tools in the agriculture field and how they can be used in future career options are highlighted. Course includes 15 hours of field experience.

This course will introduce students to the concepts and organization of the agri-food financing systems, including: financial structures, lenders and borrowers, ownership and legal terminology. Topics will include an overview of financial analysis, cost of production, risk, leverage and feasibility, financial statements and capital costs.

This course offers meaningful industry experience within the agricultural and/or agri-business arena. Specific internship site, industry supervisor and learning outcomes must be jointly agreed upon between the student, the faculty member and the site supervisor. A portfolio of the internship will be created and submitted to the faculty member upon completion of the course.

Students will familiarize themselves with the environmental issues facing our community, state, country and planet. This course will provide meaning to the term “sustainability” in order to build skills that will help the leaders of tomorrow protect the earth’s resources and meet the needs of humanity indefinitely. It is an introduction to both the scientific and social sides of the environmental problems the world faces, with a specific aim at establishing a foundation in environmental comprehension and for further learning within the topic of sustainability.