Program Requirements

Major: 3014
First Term: 2016 Spring Final Term: Current		 Award: AAS
Total Credits: 64-67
CIPS Code: 01.0308
Initiating College: Mesa Community College
Program Availability:
College-Specific		 Occupational Area: Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
Instructional Council: Agriculture/Equine Science (02)
GPA: 2.00

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.

Program Notes:
+ indicates course has prerequisites and/or corequisites.
++ indicates any module/suffixed courses.
Students must earn a grade of "C" or better for all courses required within the program.

+ indicates course has prerequisites and/or corequisites.
++ indicates any module/suffixed courses.

Students must earn a grade of "C" or better for all courses required within the program.

Program Prerequisites
+CHM130 Fundamental Chemistry 3
+CHM130LL Fundamental Chemistry Laboratory 1
Credits: 4
Required Courses

SSH111 Sustainable Cities 3
AGS164 Plant Growth and Development 4
FON161 Sustainable Food Production Systems 3
AGS260 Origin and Composition of Soils 4
AGS268 Integrated Pest Management in the Cultivated Environment 4
AGB139 Agribusiness Computer Operations 3
AGB231 Marketing of Agricultural Products 3
AGS264 Irrigation and Water Management 3
AGS165AA Sustainable Crop Production 3
AGS166 Aquaponics 3
AGB290 Internship 3
Credits: 36
Restricted Electives
Students must select three (3) of the following courses:

AGB130 Establishing and Running an Agribusiness 3
AGB132 Agribusiness and Management 3
AGB144 Agriculture Processing 3
AGS186 Greenhouse Management and Construction 3
ANS212AA Sustainable Animal Agriculture 3
Credits: 9

General Education Requirements

General Education Requirement - Credits: 15-18

General Education Core - Credits: 12-15

First-Year Composition

+ 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
Credits: 6
Oral Communication

COM100 Introduction to Human Communication
Credits: 3
Critical Reading
CRE101 Critical and Evaluative Reading I (3) OR
Equivalent as indicated by assessment 0-3
Credits: 0-3
Mathematics
+MAT112 Mathematical Concepts and Applications (3) OR
Higher level mathematics course
Credits: 3

General Education Distribution

Humanities and Fine Arts
Any approved general education course in the Humanities, Arts and Design area.
Credits: 3
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Met by SSH111 in the Required Courses area.
Credits: 0
Natural Sciences
Met by CHM130 and CHM130LL in the Program Prerequisites area.
Credits: 0

Program Competencies

  1. Identify current and future issues in sustainability including water, waste pollution, food and health. (SSH111)
  2. Classify agricultural plant according to use, growth habits and economic importance in determining the factors influencing plant behavior and accepted cultural practices. (AGS164)
  3. Explain the role of soil as a living ecosystem and describe its interaction with plants and fertilizers. (AGS260)
  4. Assess current food production models, and the effects food systems have on the environment, health, and communities and the movement towards sustainable food systems. (FON161)
  5. Identify common plant pests and recommend least toxic pest management plans. (AGS268)
  6. Utilize technology for practical agriculture use. (AGB139)
  7. Identify principles of agricultural marketing. (AGB231)
  8. Design, operation, and troubleshooting of agricultural irrigation systems as they pertain to the southwestern United States with an emphasis on precision irrigation and water conservation.(AGS264)
  9. Explain the importance of crops for food, feed, and fiber.(AGS165AA)
  10. Interpret the establishment, care, and selection of facilities for commercial production of animals and plants in a water-based closed aquaponics system. (AGS166)
  11. Integrate human relations, communication, and technical skills for supervised field training for Agribusiness students with local industry. (AGB290)

Last Updated: December 8, 2015