Agricultural Systems Technology Major

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Program Coordinator/Contact
Van Kelley, Department Head
Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
Agricultural Engineering 107
605-688-5141
E-mail: van.kelley@sdstate.edu
www.sdstate.edu/abe
Click here for additional information .

Program Information
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. Graduates use their technological knowledge, coupled with managerial and leadership skills, to increase America’s food and energy supply, and may pursue careers in renewable energy such as ethanol and bio-diesel, farm machinery and equipment, natural resources, livestock facilities and systems, and production agriculture.

Course Delivery Format
The program engages students in lecture, laboratory, and in hands-on, field-based learning experiences.

Requirements for Agricultural Systems Technology Major: 120 Credits

Bachelor of Science in Agriculture

System General Education Requirements*: 34-35

Goal #1 Written Communication:
ENGL 101
* and
ENGL 201
¹*Credits: 6
Goal #2 Oral Communication:
SPCM 101
* Credits: 3
Goal #3 Social Sciences/Diversity:
ECON 202
* Credits: 6
Goal #4 Humanities and Arts/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**: 5

Goal #1 First Year Seminar:
AST 109**
Credits: 2
Goal #2 Cultural Awareness and Social and Environmental Responsibility
:
PS 213-213L - Soils and Lab * **
Credits: 3

College Requirements: 9

PS 103-103L - Crop Production and Lab
Credits: 3
AST 342-342L - Applied Electricity and Lab
Credits: 3
AST 333-333L - Soil and Water Mechanics and Lab
Credits: 3

Major Requirements: 72

Major Core: 36

AST 203-203L - Introduction to Precision Agriculture and Lab
Credits: 2, 0
ABE 490 - Seminar
Credits: 1
ACCT 210 - Principles of Accounting I (COM)
Credits: 3
AST 463-563 - Agricultural Waste Management (AW)
Credits: 3
BADM 350 - Legal Environment of Business (COM)
Credits: 3
AST 213-213L - Ag, Industrial and Outdoor Power and Lab
Credits: 3
or
AST 313-313L - Farm Machinery Systems Management and Lab
Credits: 3
AST 273-273L - Microcomputer Applications in Agriculture and Lab
Credits: 3
Choose one from the following:
- AST 303-303L - Design Management Experience and Lab
  Credits: 3
- AST 494 - Internship
  Credits: 1-2
- AST 496 - Field Experience
  Credits: 1-2
- AST 497 - Cooperative Education
  Credits: 1-2
Select one of the following:
- GE 121 - Engineering Design Graphics I
  Credits:1
  and
  GE 123 - Computer Aided Drawing
  Credits: 1
- PS 326 - Precision Ag Data Mapping Credits: 2
BIOL 101-101L - Biology Survey I and Lab * (COM)
Credits: 3
AST 353 - Physical Climatology and Meteorology
Credits: 3
AST 412-412L - Fluid Power Technology and Lab
Credits: 3
AST 423-423L - Rural Structures and Lab
Credits: 3
AST 426-426L - Emerging Technologies in Agriculture and Lab
Credits: 3

Technical Electives: 36

It is strongly recommended that students choose one of the following emphasis areas

Business Emphasis
- ECON 201 - Principles of Microeconomics * ** (COM)
  Credits: 3
- ACCT 211 - Principles of Accounting II (COM)
  Credits: 3
- AGEC 271-271L - Farm and Ranch Management and Lab
  Credits: 4
- AGEC 354 - Agricultural Marketing and Prices
  Credits: 3
- AGEC 454 - Economics of Grain and Livestock Marketing
  Credits: 3
- AGEC 479 - Agricultural Policy
  Credits 3
- AST 443-443L - Food Processing and Engineering Fundamentals and Lab
  Credits: 3
- Any 200 level or above selected from AGEC, AST, BADM, ACCT, AS, ECON, PS, ENTR Credits: 11
- Science Electives selected from CHEM, PHYS, BIOL, MICR Credits: 3
Precision Ag Emphasis
- AST 304-304L - Electrical Diagnostics for Farm Machinery and Lab Credits: 3
- ET 210-210L - Introduction to Electronic Systems
  Credits:4
- AST 213-213L - Ag, Industrial and Outdoor Power and Lab
  Credits: 3
  OR
  AST 313-313L - Farm Machinery Systems Management and Lab
  Credits:3
- CSC 130 - Visual Basic Programming (COM)
  Credits:3
- ET 232-232L - Digital Electronics and Microprocessors and Lab
  Credits:3
- ET 240 - Techniques of Servicing
  Credits:2
- PS 323 - Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrient Management
  Credits: 3
- PS 440-440L - Crop Management with Precision Farming and Lab
  Credits: 3
- GEOG 472 - Introduction to GIS
  Credits:3
- GEOG 484-484L - Remote Sensing and Lab
  Credits:3
- Any course 300 level or above selected from ET, CSC, AST, PHYS, GEOG, PS Credits: 6
Processing Emphasis
- AS 101-101L - Introduction to Animal Science and Lab
  Credits: 3
  OR
  DS 130-130L - Introduction to Dairy Science and Lab
  Credits: 3
- AS 241-241L - Introduction to Meat Science and Lab
  Credits: 3
- AS 350 - Meat Product Safety and HACCP
  Credits: 3
- MICR 231-231L - General Microbiology and Lab * (COM)
  Credits: 4
- MICR 311-311L - Food Microbiology and Lab
  Credits: 4
- DS 321-321L - Dairy Product Processing I and Lab
  Credits: 5
- DS 421 - Dairy Plant Management
  Credits: 3
- AST 443-443L - Food Processing and Engineering Fundamentals and Lab
  Credits: 3
- PS 308-308L - Grain Grading and Lab
  Credits: 3
- Elective courses selected from AS, DS, PS, AST, ABS, MICR Credits: 5
Production Emphasis
- AGEC 271-271L - Farm and Ranch Management and Lab
  Credits: 4
- AGEC 354 - Agricultural Marketing and Prices
  Credits: 3
- PS 223-223L - Principles of Plant Pathology and Lab
  Credits: 3
- PS 305-305L - Insect Biology and Lab (COM)
  Credits: 3
  OR
  PS 307-307L - Insect Pest Management and Lab
  Credits: 3
- PS 323 - Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrient Management
  Credits: 3
- PS 440-440L - Crop Management with Precision Farming and Lab
  Credits: 4
- AS 101-101L - Introduction to Animal Science and Lab
  Credits: 3
  OR
  DS 130-130L - Introduction to Dairy Science and Lab
  Credits: 3
- Any 200 level or above courses select from AGEC, AST, BADM, ACCT, AS, ECON, PS, ENTR Credits: 10
- Science Electives selected from CHEM, PHYS, BIOL, MICR Credits: 3

Total Required Credits: 120

Curriculum Notes

¹ minimum grade of “C” required in ENGL 201.

* 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 a 5 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.