General Agriculture is a comprehensive study of several disciplines in agriculture. This major includes studies in agricultural business, agronomy, agricultural mechanization, animal science, horticulture and communication/English/journalism. A General Agriculture degree will qualify students for career opportunities in numerous fields of agriculture. Graduates are employed in sales and management of agriculture products, such as feed, seed, fertilizer, veterinary supplies, equipment and pesticides; banking and finance; management in state and federal agencies; agricultural communications; and farm and ranch production and management.

A Bachelor of Science degree with a comprehensive General Agriculture major at Missouri State requires 125 credit hours. This includes 44 to 49 hours of general education requirements, 18 to 20 hours of science and math. This program has three areas of concentration. Option I, Agriculture, requires an additional 48 hours of agriculture. Option II, Agricultural Communications, includes an additional 28 hours of agriculture and 17 hours of communication. Option III is in Food Plant Management and requires 28 hours of agriculture and 27-29 hours of business and management courses. Students should consult with their academic advisors in the Department of Agriculture to plan and select appropriate courses.

Students majoring in General Agriculture will select courses from the following areas. Please consult the Missouri State Catalog online at www.missouristate.edu/catalog for specific course descriptions.

Agricultural Business

• Agricultural Economics
• Marketing
• Agricultural Policy
• Agricultural Finance/Prices
• Agricultural Law
• Agricultural Industry Study

Agronomy

• Crop Science
• Soil Science
• Water Management
• Soil Survey/Evaluation
• Plant Diseases
• Weed Control

Animal Science

• Animal Physiology
• Animal Nutrition
• Animal Breeding
• Livestock Production/Management
• Veterinary Science

Horticulture

• Landscape Design
• Greenhouse Management
• Suburban Horticulture
• Fruit Production
• Nursery Management
• Vegetable Production

Agricultural Mechanization

Agriculture Mechanics

• Surveying
• Agricultural Structures

Agriculture

• Entomology
• Forestry
• Game Bird Production
• Agricultural Chemistry
• Agricultural Industry/Technology

The Department of Agriculture includes 15 full-time faculty with specific areas of expertise who are available for advisement and consultation. Several of these faculty members advise general agriculture majors.

The program makes extensive use of the William H. Darr Agricultural Center and surrounding farms for field trips in conjunction with course laboratory sessions.

Many student organizations are available for comprehensive general agriculture majors, including the Block and Bridle Club, Agronomy Club, Horticulture Club, Sigma Alpha, Alpha Gamma Rho, Delta Tau Alpha (honorary agricultural society) and Alpha Gamma Sigma (agriculture fraternity). Numerous scholarships are available to general agriculture students, including the Agriculture Alumni Scholarships; sponsored scholarships; and the Presidential, Governors and other university scholarships. Federal- or state-sponsored assistance is also available through loans, educational grants and the work-study program.