Agriculture

Award Type: Certificate of Achievement

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.

The graduate of the Certificate of Achievement in Agriculture will:

1. apply current agricultural industry standards, laws and regulations in the agricultural sciences or related fields.
2. demonstrate knowledge of soils, fertilizers, plant nutrition, and current industry growing techniques and apply this understanding to successfully produce agricultural crops.
3. Identify common insect and disease pests and use knowledge of pest life cycles to recommend pest prevention and management plans.
4. 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.
5. assess and differentiate effects of agricultural activities in plant systems while describing alternative practices in order to make sound agricultural decisions that ensure the quality and success of a crop.
6. Demonstrate an understanding of crop plant biological functions and their application to successful commodity production.
7. demonstrate basic worker safety practices.