Agriculture
Associate in Science Agriculture · Allan Hancock College · 2026-2027 Catalog
Award Type: Associate in Science
Allan Hancock College's Agriculture Program is designed for students preparing for, or advancing in careers in agriculture. The agriculture program will prepare students for a wide variety of entry-level positions related to agribusiness and agricultural science with an emphasis on local career opportunities such as pest management and control, agronomy, environmental horticulture, soil science, orchard/vineyard management, sales and marketing, agriculture technology, farm management, greenhouse and nursery operations, agricultural inspection, plant and animal nutrition, and crop advising. Students will gain practical skills in effective communication, problem solving, critical thinking, collaboration, and leadership through hands-on learning and field trips to local agricultural operations. This program will also prepare students for transfer into certain university Agricultural Science programs. See a counselor for specific university requirements.
The graduate of the Associate in Science in Agriculture will:
- apply current agricultural industry standards, laws and regulations in the agricultural sciences or related fields.
- demonstrate knowledge of soils, fertilizers, plant nutrition, and current industry growing techniques and apply this understanding to successfully produce agricultural crops.
- identify common insect and disease pests and use knowledge of pest life cycles to recommend pest prevention and management plans.
- employ effective business skills using industry analysis, market trends, business plans and other standard agribusiness techniques, when presented with a farm or ranch management situation.
- assess and differentiate effects of agricultural activities in plant and cropping systems, while describing alternative practices in order to make sound agricultural decisions that ensure the quality and success of a crop.
- demonstrate an understanding of crop plant biological functions and their application to successful commodity production.
- demonstrate basic worker safety practices.
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| A major of 24 units is required for the degree. | ||
| Required core courses (15 units): | 15 | |
| AG 125 | Introduction to Soil Science | 4 |
| AG 130 | Integrated Pest Management | 4 |
| AG 150 | Introduction to Agribusiness | 3 |
| AG 161 | Introduction to Plant Science | 4 |
| Plus a minimum of 9 units selected from the following: | 9 | |
| AG 126 | Fertilizers & Plant Nutrition | 4 |
| AG 149 | Work Experience Education | 1 |
| AG 152 | Introduction to Animal Science | 3 |
| AG 153 | Introduction to Sustainable Agriculture | 3 |
| AG 154 | Introduction to Fruit Science | 3 |
| AG 155 | Introduction to Mechanized Agriculture | 3 |
| AG 156 | Intro to Environmental Horticulture | 3 |
| AG 157 | Agricultural Sales, Communication & Leadership | 3 |
| AG 160 | Plant Propagation and Production | 3 |
| AG 165 | Qualified Applicator Training | 2 |
| AG 166 | Crop Protection | 4 |
| AG 190 | Agriculture Production Enterprise, Fall-Winter | 2 |
| AG 191 | Agriculture Production Enterprise, Spring | 2 |
| AG 192 | Agriculture Production Enterprise, Summer | 2 |
| VT 102 | Introduction to Animal Feeding and Nutrition | 3 |
| General Education | ||
| In addition to completing the program requirements, students are also required to complete general education courses. Students may follow the AHC GE or the Cal-GETC pathways to meet these requirements. Students intending to transfer to a four-year university should use the Cal-GETC GE pathway. To see what major courses and general education requirements you need to fulfill, visit your myHancock account and select the DegreeWorks button in the Academic Profile widget. For more information and guidance, and to receive a detailed education plan, make an appointment with an academic counselor. | ||
| Total | 24 | |