Agricultural Systems Technology (AST) Major

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Van Kelley, Head
Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
Agricultural Engineering 107
605-688-5141
e-mail: van.kelley@sdstate.edu
http://abe.sdstate.edu/

Faculty

Associate Professor Kelley, Head; Professors Anderson, Hellickson, Humburg, Julson, Muthukumarappan, Pohl, Trooien; Professors Emeriti Chu, DeBoer, Werner; Associate Professor Nicolai, Todey; Assistant Professors Cortus, Gu, Hay; Assistant Professors Emeriti Pahl, Schipull.

Programs

Agricultural Systems Technology graduates serve an increasingly complex agricultural industry in a wide variety of ways. These individuals have a sound fundamental knowledge of agricultural and biological sciences related to the technical, mechanical and energy aspects. This background combined with a solid understanding of the interactions between agriculture and society provides AST graduates many career opportunities.

Agricultural Systems Technology graduates from South Dakota State University are using their technological knowledge, coupled with managerial and leadership skills, to increase America’s food and energy supply. Recent past graduates are pursuing careers in renewable energy such as ethanol and bio-diesel, farm machinery and equipment, natural resources, livestock facilities and systems, and production agriculture.

Requirements for Agricultural Systems Technology Major - Bachelor of Science in Agriculture

System General Education Requirements*: 34-35

Goal #1 Written Communication:
ENGL 101
, and
ENGL 201
Credits: 6
Goal #2 Oral Communication:
SPCM 101*
Credits: 3
Goal #3 Social Sciences/Diversity:
ECON 202
Credits: 6
Goal #4 Arts and Humanities/Diversity Credits: 6
Goal #5 Mathematics:
MATH 102
, and
MATH 120
or
MATH 115
Credits: 5 or 6
Goal #6 Natural Sciences:
PHYS 111-111L
, and
CHEM 106-106L
or
CHEM 112-112L
Credits: 8

Institutional Graduation Requirements**: 8-9

Goal #1 Land and Natural Resource Stewardship:
AST 333-333L
Credits: 3
Goal #2 Personal Wellness
Credits: 2-3
Goal #3 Social Responsibility/Cultural and Aesthetic Awareness
Credits: 3

College Requirements: 10

Group I Elective (See Note Three) Credits: 3

PS 213-213L - Soils and Lab * ** Credits: 3
AST 202-202L - Construction Technology and Materials and Lab Credits: 2
AST 342-342L - Applied Electricity and Lab Credits: 3

Major Requirements: 49-50

Science Elective, selected from CHEM, PHYS, BIOL, MICR, or BOT Credits: 10
Biological Science Elective: Courses must be chosen from BOT, BIOL, MICR, ZOOL Credits: 3

AST 353-353L - Physical Climatology and Meteorology ** and Lab Credits: 3
ABE 490 - Seminar (AW) Credits: 1
ACCT 210 - Principles of Accounting I (COM) Credits: 3
AST 423-423L - Rural Structures and Lab Credits: 3
AST 443-443L - Food Processing and Engineering Fundamentals and Lab Credits: 3
AST 463/563 - Agricultural Waste Management ** (AW) Credits: 3
BADM 310 - Business Finance (COM) Credits: 3
BADM 350 - Legal Environment of Business (COM) Credits: 3
MNET 231-231L - Manufacturing Processes I and Lab Credits: 3

Electives: 24-27

Technical Electives:

Any 300 or higher level course in Animal and Range Sciences, Plant Science, Agricultural Business, Agricultural and Resource Economics, and Economics Credits: 3

ABE 464-464L - Monitoring and Controlling Agriculture and Biological Systems and Lab Credits: 2
AST 213-213L - Ag, Industrial and Outdoor Power and Lab Credits: 3
AST 313-313L - Farm Machinery Systems Management and Lab Credits: 3
AST 492 - Topics Credits: (1-4)
BADM 260 - Principles of Production and Operations Management Credits: 3
BADM 280 - Personal Finance (COM) Credits: 3
MNET 131-131L - Machining Technology and Lab Credits: 3
MNET 251-251L - Electricity and Electronics I and Lab Credits: 3
MNET 252-252L - Electricity and Electronics II and Lab Credits: 3
MNET 260 - Principles of Production and Operations Management Credits: 3
MNET 350-350L - Fluid Power Technology and Lab Credits: 3

Choose one from the following:

AST 494 - Internship Credits: (1-12)
AST 496 - Field Experience Credits: (1-12)
AST 497 - Cooperative Education Credits: (1-12)

Total Required Credits: 128

Notes:

Note One: “C” grade required in ENGL 201.

Note Two: Courses must be selected from the following areas: Botany, Biology, Entomology, Zoology, Microbiology.

Note Three: AST majors are required to take 11 credits of Group I classes (see College of Agriculture and Biological Sciences ). Students may use a maximum of 6 credits of AST classes to satisfy the Group I requirement.

Note Four: Technical electives must be selected from the approved list provided.

Curriculum Notes:

* The 30 credit Board of Regents System General Education Requirements (SGRs) must be completed as part of a student’s first 64 credits.

** South Dakota State University has an 8-9 credit Institutional Graduation Requirement (IGRs).

(G) Globalization Requirement.

(AW) Advanced Writing Requirement.

Students must take the proficiency examination after completing 48 credits. English 101, and a course in each of the General Education areas of social science, mathematics, natural science, and humanities and arts must be taken prior to taking this exam.

Agricultural Systems Technology (AST) Major

Faculty

Programs

Requirements for Agricultural Systems Technology Major - Bachelor of Science in Agriculture

System General Education Requirements*: 34-35

Institutional Graduation Requirements**: 8-9

College Requirements: 10

Major Requirements: 49-50

Choose one from the following:

Choose one from the following:

Choose one from the following:

Choose from the following:

Electives: 24-27

Choose one from the following:

Total Required Credits: 128

Notes:

Curriculum Notes: