Agricultural Systems and Education Courses | 2024-2025 Academic Catalog | SIU

[IAI Course: AG 911] An entry level course introducing the philosophies of education and career and technical education, including: the history of and current issues in agricultural education; the nature of the educational process; the characteristics, duties and responsibilities of successful teachers; the components of an agricultural education program; the role of professional organizations in agricultural education; and state teacher certification requirements.

Credit Hours: 3

[IAI Course: AG 906] An analytical introduction to physical and mechanical principles related to agricultural land measurement, power and machinery, electricity and electronics, structures, environment and handling of agricultural materials. Lab fee: $20.

Credit Hours: 4

Introduction to the uses of mass communications media and theories in agricultural communications, and to professional opportunities in applied communications in agricultural organizations.

Credit Hours: 3

The student will learn the basic principles needed to successfully use pesticides in agricultural production systems. The use and function of application equipment to deliver pesticides in a safe and effective manner will be taught. Basic understanding of scouting, action threshold and decision making, active ingredient rotation, product formulation, and the generation, delivery and function of droplets will be covered. Course fee of $178 is required. Students will be required to pass Illinois pesticide application basic standards exam and at least two other specialty certifications for successful completion of the class.

Credit Hours: 1

Credit for on-campus work experience through a cooperative program developed between the program and the Financial Aid Office. Special approval needed from the chair. Mandatory Pass/Fail.

Credit Hours: 1-10

Credit for career related employment based on the evaluation of the documentation of this experience by the program. No grade for past work experience. Special approval needed from the program.

Credit Hours: 1-10

Designed to improve the techniques related to award programs and application processes of agricultural education specialists through discussion, application, organization, and assignment to problems in the field of agricultural education Career Development Event programs in the Illinois and National FFA programs. Emphasis will be placed on conceptual understanding, planning, instruction, and application of FFA and Agriculture Education Career Development Events. Prerequisite: AGSE 110 Introduction to Agricultural Education with a grade of C or consent of instructor.

Credit Hours: 3

Nature and scope of the different teaching methodologies involved in classroom and laboratory instruction in the high school agricultural education classroom. Emphasis focuses on the development, implementation, application, and reflective practices for lesson development and improvement related to classroom and laboratory teaching methods. Prerequisite: AGSE 110 Introduction to Agricultural Education with a grade of C or consent of instructor.

Credit Hours: 3

Preparation for an agricultural information internship; an in-depth study into the nature, scope, integral parts, and methods of a total agricultural information program.

Credit Hours: 3

[IAI Course: AG 913] about the use and role of computers in agriculture. The major thrust includes an understanding and application of micro-computers in agriculture with special emphasis on how to save time, money, and increase efficiency in agriculture. This course includes advanced problem-solving and data management content.

Credit Hours: 3

Supervised work experience in either an agricultural agency of the government or agribusiness. Restricted to junior standing or consent of instructor. Mandatory Pass/Fail.

Credit Hours: 1-6

Entry-level course in the logic and procedures of computer programming for control and monitoring of electronically controlled equipment and systems in agriculture. Topics include problem solving strategies, software design concepts, control logic, and algorithm development and troubleshooting. The laboratory setting provides hands-on experience in programming electronic devices with immediate visual feedback. Laboratory fee: $10.

Credit Hours: 3

Credit is given for one year of service as a sectional or state FFA officer. Special approval is needed from the program and is dependent on successful completion and evaluation provided by the Illinois State FFA Office.

Credit Hours: 1-3

The primary focus of this course is to achieve an understanding of small engines. ATV's and power equipment (including chain saws, generators, mowers and turf equipment) and focus on their features, benefits, maintenance and repair.

Credit Hours: 2

An introduction to physical principles as they apply to agriculture. These principle topical areas include mechanics, measurement, electricity, thermodynamics, hydraulics, material properties, and fluids. Prerequisite: MATH 108 or MATH 125, or concurrent enrollment.

Credit Hours: 4

A machinery management course focusing on the principles and measurement of engine power and the selection, operation, maintenance and analysis of power and machinery systems for optimum performance and efficiency. The problem solving process is emphasized. Prerequisite: AGSE 371. Fee: $20.

Credit Hours: 3

A thorough review and operation of precision agricultural equipment as it relates to planters, harvesting and tillage operations, as it is found on current production machines found at University Farms.

Credit Hours: 2

Operational functions and processes that are integrated to accomplish a designated, well-defined purpose in production and processing. Topics include planning and evaluating reliability, manpower, scheduling, economy, packaging, human and animal factors. Prerequisites: AGSE 318, 371. Lab fee: $10.

Credit Hours: 3

Readings, discussions, and activities related to (a) current problems, issues, and practices in agricultural communication, (b) career opportunities, professional development, and ethical standards in agricultural communication. Restricted to junior standing.

Credit Hours: 1-2

Professional ethics, protocols, and certifications within agricultural systems. Resume development, employment searches, and technical interviewing. Opportunities within ASABE (American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers). Restricted to junior standing or consent of instructor.

Credit Hours: 1

Students will apply computer and hands-on techniques to different agricultural construction processes. The computer techniques will address construction challenges such as budget, deadlines, and limited resources. Safety, tool and equipment principles will be applied while completing specific agricultural construction projects. Lab fee: $25.

Credit Hours: 3

Course work undertaken as part of an approved University residential study program abroad. May be taken for a maximum of eight semester hours per semester and may be repeated for a maximum of 16 semester hours. Special approval needed from the program.

Credit Hours: 1-8

Assignments involving research and individual problems. Field trips. Special approval needed from the program.

Credit Hours: 1-4

Completion of honors paper and comparable project within one of the specializations, under the supervision of one or more faculty members. Subject matter depends upon the needs and interests of the student. Special approval needed from the program.

Credit Hours: 1-4

(Same as PSAS 402A) Designed to improve the techniques related to award programs and application processes of agricultural education specialists through discussion, application, organization, and assignment to problems in the field of agricultural education. Emphasis will be placed on conceptual understanding of FFA and Agriculture Education award programs, applications, Supervised Agricultural Experience Program, and National Chapter Award Program, affiliated professional partnerships, and external sources for developing the entire Agricultural Education program. Prerequisite: AGSE 110 Introduction to Agricultural Education with a grade of B or better.

Credit Hours: 3

(Same as PSAS 402B) Designed to improve the techniques of agricultural mechanization workers through discussion, assignment, and special workshops on problems related to their field. Emphasis will be placed on new innovative and currently developed techniques for the field. Not for graduate credit. Special approval needed from the program.

Credit Hours: 1-6

Travel abroad will allow students to study climatological, ecological, physiological, sociological, and economical factors influencing world agricultural production practices. This course intends to provide students the opportunity to observe world crop production practices. This course intends to provide students the opportunity to observe world crop production systems on a first-hand basis. Crop specific production, harvesting, processing, and marketing methods will be discussed. Special approval needed from the program.

Credit Hours: 3

Coordinated approach to the planning, writing, layout and publishing of a journal on agriculture and education in the SIUC College of Agricultural, Life, and Physical Sciences. Special approval needed from the college.

Credit Hours: 3

Theory and use of educational materials and devices adaptable to the needs and interests of educators involved in agricultural mechanization laboratories. There is a $15 laboratory fee for this course.

Credit Hours: 3

Designed to prepare prospective agriculture instructors for employment after graduation while using agriculture education methodology and instruction techniques related to curriculum preparation, managing supervised agriculture experiences, and advising FFA programs. Emphasis will be placed on summary of experiences, conceptual understanding of FFA award programs, applications, Supervised Agricultural Experience Program, National Chapter Award, and develop teaching philosophy and goals. Prerequisite: AGSE 110 with a grade of C or better.

Credit Hours: 2

The application in the professional field setting, of principles and philosophies of the education system. Includes application of principles of curricula construction, programming student and community needs. Special approval needed from the program.

Credit Hours: 3

Designed to improve prospective agriculture instructors' use of technology and online instruction techniques related to curriculum preparation, managing supervised agriculture experiences, and the National Chapter Award Program application process. Emphasis will be placed on conceptual understanding of FFA award programs, applications, Supervised Agricultural Experience Program, National Chapter Award, and online resources to aid instruction. Prerequisite: AGSE 110 with a grade of C or better.

Credit Hours: 3

Introduction to world agriculture, farming systems, world crops, agricultural trade, and food production and processing. Influence of population and climate. Ethical issues surrounding rain forest, global agriculture, finance, world trade, crops and livestock, and the environment. Appropriate technologies and their social and economic impact on developing countries. Not for graduate credit. Restricted to junior standing or instructor consent.

Credit Hours: 3

(Same as ANS 433, CSEM 433, HORT 433, PLB 433) This course will cover the basic principles of plant and animal biotechnology using current examples; gene mapping in breeding, transgenic approaches to improve crop plants and transgenic approaches to improve animals will be considered. Technology transfer from laboratory to marketplace will be considered. An understanding of gene mapping, cloning, transfer, and expression will be derived.

Credit Hours: 3-7

(Same as PLB 438, CSEM 438, ZOOL 438) Arabidopsis and Drosophila model organisms, lab-based training in laboratory safety, reagent preparation, phenotype analysis, genetics, DNA and RNA analysis, PCR, cDNA construction, cloning and sequencing of genes. Includes plant and bacterial transformation, and a population level analysis of genetic variation using RAPD markers in grasses and Alu insertion in humans. Two 2-hr labs and one 1-hr lecture per week. Prerequisite: BIOL 305 or equivalent or consent of instructor. Lab fee: $30.

Credit Hours: 3

(Same as PSAS 463) Electrical knowledge and basics skills are developed and implemented with practical exercises and projects. Electrical circuits will be planned and constructed, with emphasis on convenience, codes and safety. Laboratory fee: $40.

Credit Hours: 3

A study of the core components of Precision Agriculture including the Global Positioning System (GPS), multispectral and hyperspectral remote sensing technology, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), soil sampling, yield monitoring, and analysis & decision making systems applied for site specific management of production agriculture resources. Lab fee: $5.

Credit Hours: 3

This course introduces students to topics such as power distribution, programmable controllers, sensors and components, ladder control circuits and diagrams, and motor controls. The lab will address automation issues for different industrial processes such as pasteurization. Prerequisite: AGSE 371. Lab fee: $20.

Credit Hours: 3

Analysis of safety and health issues important to managers and supervisors in agricultural operations. Topics include agricultural accident data, causes and effects of accidents, hazard identification, strategies for accident prevention, response to accidents, and health risks and safeguards. Developments and documentation of accident and illness prevention activities in the workplace.

Credit Hours: 3

This course provides students with an understanding of the design principles, equipment, procedures and processes utilized in handling, processing and storing agricultural products. Prerequisite: AGSE 371.

Credit Hours: 3

This course introduces the basic principles of facilities planning for larger operations and complexes of the food processing industry, and gain management/technology insight in food engineering technology.

Credit Hours: 3

Applied packaging and food engineering principles used in packaging, storing, preserving, and transporting food and drug products. Topics include packaging functions, graphic design, printing, sterilization, and food safety. Utilization of paper, glass, plastics, laminates, and metals. Applications of machinery and equipment. Not for graduate credit. Prerequisite: AGSE 371.

Credit Hours: 3

A capstone course in product support, interpretation of financial reports, preparing and monitoring budgets, time and process management, critical thinking, advanced problem solving. Prerequisites: AGSE 318, 371, 375. Restricted to senior standing.

Credit Hours: 3

A general inquiry into the agriculture literacy appropriate for K-12th grade students. A framework for evaluating content appropriate for K-12th grade students in the pursuit of agriculture literacy will be developed. Special approval needed from the program.

Credit Hours: 3