# Agriculture Systems (Noncredit Certificate)

Merced College · 2026-2027 Catalog · Department: School of Agriculture and Industrial Technology

Source: https://catalog.mccd.edu/schools/programs/school-as-it/programs/agriculture-systems-nc

## **School of Agriculture and Industrial Technology**

The lack of standardization and a universally recognized training structure in the agriculture industry makes designing a certificate challenging. We had to consider both the foundational skills required in agriculture - especially in electrical and mechanical competencies - as well as our target student workers on the field known as pickers. Our faculty design team, representing various disciplines across the eight colleges, worked diligently to determine the core skills needed. Core Skills 1. Digital Literacy 2. Basic Equipment Operation 3. Basic Equipment Configuration 4. Basic Equipment Troubleshooting5. General Agriculture Systems Fundamentals 6. Crop Production Systems 7. Tool Operation 8. Applied Technical Reading 9. Employability Skills 10. Animal Production Systems 11. Food Safety 12. Basic Safety 13. Industry Communication 14. Applied Technical Writing. To assess mastery of these core skills, we also defined 59 performance indicators to outline what students need to demonstrate for each skill. While these core skills might initially appear advanced, it’s crucial to note that their evaluation will occur at a foundational level. These carefully chosen skills, aligned with industry demands, are designed to equip students with an understanding of the entire agricultural value chain. This proficiency allows them to seamlessly navigate various scenarios and adapt to the evolving industry landscape.

## Program Student Learning Outcomes:

A. Justify foundational agricultural concepts.

B. Select, effectively utilize, and identify faults with technologies for agricultural processes.

C. Connect employability skills, quantitative reasoning, and effective communication within an agricultural context.

## Program Requirements:

| Course | Title | Units |
| --- | --- | --- |
| AGT-701 | Agricultural Technical Literacy |  |
| **Total: (50.4-72 hours)** | | **** |
| AGT-702 | Agricultural Systems |  |
| **Total: (75.6-108 hours)** | | **** |

| Course | Title | Units |
| --- | --- | --- |
| AGT-703 | Agricultural Safety |  |
| **Total: (50.4-72 hours)** | | **** |

| Course | Title | Units |
| --- | --- | --- |
| AGT-704 | Equipment Operation, Configuration and Troubleshooting |  |
| **Total: (75.6-108 hours)** | | **** |

| Course | Title | Units |
| --- | --- | --- |
| AGT-705 | Workplace Effectiveness |  |
| **Total: (50.4-72 hours)** | | **** |