Agroecology One Year Certificate
Students can earn a Certificate of Completion in Agroecology in one year. Students will learn the principles and practices to work on a farm, a nursery, or for a landscaping company.
Agroecology is the application of ecological concepts and principles to the design and management of sustainable agroecosystems. This certificate offers comprehensive courses that will help students develop the skills and acquire knowledge in plant production and agricultural systems through hands-on practices, classroom instructions, and an internship experience. It will provide students who are interested in agricultural production with fundamental skills and experiences for working in the wide field of agriculture. Students who want to continue will have an opportunity to pursue an Agroecology AAS degree, which builds upon this program.
Graduation Requirements
Students must complete a minimum of 51 credit hours with a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.0 or better. All courses must be completed with a grade of 'C' or better. Tweleve (12) credits must be completed at Southwestern before the Certificate of Completion is awarded.
Complete the graduation application process one term prior to the term of completion (e.g., spring term graduates must apply during winter term).
Program Student Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this program, the student will be able to:
- Apply scientific concepts and practices within the disciplines of ecology, soil science, and plant biology to methods of sustainable farming and ecological land management.
- Employ agroecology principles to support ecosystems and communities.
- Describe principles and examples of successful and viable farms or businesses.
- Review history, ethics, and trends in agricultural systems.
- Apply hands-on ecological food production and land management skills through field-based instruction and internship.
- Communicate effectively with others, both verbally and in writing.
Certificate Plan:
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| AG101 | Introduction To Agroecology | 5 |
| AG120 | Gardening The South Coast | 1 |
| ENV235 | Introduction to Soil Science | 4 |
| MTH102 | Business Mathematics 2 | 4 |
| Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Winter | ||
| BA285 | Human Relations in Organizations 4 | 3 |
| PE231 | Wellness for Life 5 | 3 |
| WR115 | Fundamentals of Report Writing 3 | 4 |
| Elective 1 | 2 | |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Spring | ||
| AG102 | Agroecology II | 5 |
| AG150 | Applied Plant Biology | 3 |
| AG180 | Agroecology Internship 6 | 3 |
| BI140 or BI103 |
Practical Ecology or General Biology |
3 |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Summer | ||
| AG103 | Agroecology III | 5 |
| Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Credits | 8 | |
| Total Credits | 51 | |
- 1
Recommended Electives: Any AG, ENV, NR, GS, G or F course or (FS131 CRT115, GEOG265, WLD100, SPAN101Z, or FN225). See an advisor for specific elective recommendations.
- 2
- 3
May substitute for WR121Z.
- 4
BA120, BA285, PSY100 or higher will satisfy this requirement
- 5
PE231, HE250, or three (3) credits of PE185 sport/activity courses will satisfy this requirement.
- 6
Internship: Call 541-888-7405 to schedule with the Internship Coordinator one month prior to term.