Bachelor of Science in Agriculture - B.Sc.(Agr.)

The B.Sc.(Agr.) degree program is a 4 year honours science program designed to provide a fundamental education in the science of agriculture. The curriculum includes courses in the agricultural sciences, the physical, biological and social sciences, and in the arts.

Program Information

Agricultural scientists must be effective communicators and problem solvers, self-directed in their learning, and have a global perspective on the agrifood systems. A series of 14 agricultural science (AGR*XXXX) courses throughout the program enables students to further develop their abilities in communications, analysis and problem solving, computer applications and to increase their interpersonal skills. Students will be involved in cooperative group learning activities and will experience courses that are multidisciplinary and integrate the teaching activities of many faculty and departments.

Students will have the option of completing an unspecialized program or identifying one of five areas of specialization, or majors, in which they take a series of 4.00 credits.

The curriculum provides opportunities for students to select courses that will help them prepare for professional careers as entrepreneurs, scientists, marketing specialists, financial managers, technical advisors, or communications specialists. Students will have a comprehensive understanding of the food system when they graduate. They will be able to integrate their knowledge of production agriculture, environmental management, resource allocation and business management as it applies to the food system nationally and globally.

Students will be encouraged to integrate their academic program with a well-planned series of employment activities in the summer months and to develop their leadership and interpersonal skills in on-campus and community activities. There is a strong commitment in the curriculum to the philosophy of "whole person development" and students are encouraged to identify personal goals that they wish to accomplish in each of these areas of their development.

Graduates meet the educational requirements for membership in the Ontario Institute of Agrologists. The Ontario Institute of Agrologists is the professional organization in agriculture in the Province of Ontario. Professional institutes in the various provinces in Canada and the scientific societies in agriculture collectively comprise the Agricultural Institute of Canada. The program received full accreditation from the Agricultural Institute of Canada in April 1999.

Students may graduate with a degree in honours agricultural science. Courses are selected in consultation with a faculty advisor and must include 4 courses in the agricultural sciences at the 3000 level or higher. Students who wish to specialize in 1 of the major areas of study may do so by completing the 8 courses identified for each major and taken in semesters 5 through 8, plus the 2 designated restrictive electives in semesters 3 and 4.

Majors are available in:

Agricultural Economics

Agroecosystem Management

Agronomy

Animal Science

Horticultural Science

Students may, with appropriate approvals, elect to complete Minors associated with other degree programs as listed in the undergraduate calendar.

Study Abroad

Students are encouraged to participate in national and international study opportunities at other faculties of agricultural science in Canada and in selected countries around the world.

The B.Sc.(Agr.) degree program is similar in many respects to programs offered at faculties of agricultural science in other provinces in Canada. On occasion students may wish to consider taking a year of study at one of these other faculties or colleges. Students interested in a transfer program should consult the Dean's Office, O.A.C. to discuss their interest, and refer to the scholarship section for financial support. Students are also encouraged to consider studying for 1 or 2 semesters in a faculty or college of agriculture in another country.

For more specific information on these opportunities refer to Section V - Special Study Opportunities in this calendar, or contact the OAC Dean's Office.

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

Students in the B.Sc.(Agr.) program normally apply for admission to the D.V.M. program after semester 4 or later. Applications must be submitted to the Admissions Services, Office of Registrarial Services. Students should consult the D.V.M. Section of the calendar. Students who do not gain admission to the D.V.M. program are eligible to continue in the B.Sc.(Agr.) program through to graduation.

Students planning to enter the D.V.M. program are advised to include biology, chemistry, and physics in addition to calculus in their OAC program in secondary school.

Continuation of Study

Students are advised to consult the regulations for continuation of study within the program which are outlined in detail in Section VIII, Undergraduate Degree Regulations & Procedures.

Core Program Requirements

Semester 1

AGR*1150 [0.00] Experience Agriculture *

BIOL*1030 [0.50] Biology I

CHEM*1040 [0.50] General Chemistry I

ECON*1200 [0.50] Introductory Microeconomics

MATH*1080 [0.50] Elements of Calculus I

UNIV*1500 [0.50] Introduction to Higher Learning *

Semester 2

AGR*1250 [0.50] Agrifood System Trends and Issues *

BIOL*1040 [0.50] Biology II

CHEM*1050 [0.50] General Chemistry II

ENGL*1200 [0.50] Reading the Contemporary World

0.50 elective

*associated program requirements

Semester 3

AGR*2350 [0.50] Animal Production Systems and Industry

AGR*2401 [0.50] Economics of the Canadian Food System

STAT*2040 [0.50] Statistics I

0.50 restricted elective**

One of:

AGR*2301 [0.50] Resources and Agroecosystems

AGR*2451 [0.50] Plant Agriculture

Semester 4

AGR*2402 [0.50] Economics of the Canadian Food System

1of AGR*2360, ANSC*2340, ANSC*3150

0.50 elective

0.50 restricted elective**

One of:

AGR*2302 [0.50] Resources and Agroecosystems

AGR*2452 [0.50] Plant Agriculture

Semester 5

AGR*3330 [0.50] Introduction to Food Processing

1.50 electives

One of:

AGR*2301 [0.50] Resources and Agroecosystems

AGR*2451 [0.50] Plant Agriculture

Semester 6

AGR*3400 [0.50] Issues in Agri-food Based Communities

1.50 electives

One of:

AGR*2302 [0.50] Resources and Agroecosystems

AGR*2452 [0.50] Plant Agriculture

Semester 7

AGR*4400 [0.50] Independent Research

2.00 electives

Semester 8

AGR*4500 [0.50] Agrifood Industry Problem-Solving

2.00 electives

**Restricted Electives

BOT*2100 [0.50] Life Strategies of Plants

CHEM*2580 [0.50] Introductory Biochemistry

ECON*1100 [0.50] Introductory Macroeconomics

ECON*2310 [0.50] Intermediate Microeconomics

MBG*2000 [0.50] Introductory Genetics

GEOL*1000 [0.50] Principles of Geology

PHYS*1070 [0.50] Introductory Physics for the Life Sciences I

Notes

In addition to the required courses students must select a minimum of 4.00 credits at the 3000 level or higher, 2.00 credits of which must be in agricultural science and 2.00 credits of which must be at the 4000 level.

A humanities or social science course selected from List A - Preferred Electives, is also required 0.50

Students may select 1 or more groups of elective courses in a number of subject areas as listed by department in List B - Electives in Agricultural Science and Related Disciplines.

Specialization

Students may graduate in honours agricultural science and use their elective opportunities in semesters 5 to 8 to take courses in many different areas. Groups of elective courses in the agricultural sciences and related disciplines are outlined in List B. 2.00 credits in agricultural science at the 3000 level or higher are required for graduation.

All students are considered to be registered in honours agricultural science in the first 4 semesters of the program. Those who wish to select a major may do so when they are selecting their courses for semester 5 or later. The course requirements are listed for each major in the following section.

Agricultural Economics

Department of Agricultural Economics and Business

Faculty Advisor: Dr. K. Parton, Rm. 204, MacLachlan Building, Ext. 3532.

Major

AGEC*3030 [0.50] The Firm and Markets (7)

ECON*1100 [0.50] Introductory Macroeconomics * (3)

ECON*2310 [0.50] Intermediate Microeconomics * (4)

ECON*2410 [0.50] Intermediate Macroeconomics (5)

ECON*2770 [0.50] Introductory Mathematical Economics (5)

ECON*3740 [0.50] Introduction to Econometrics (6)

4 of:

AGEC*2220 [0.50] Financial Accounting (5 or 6)

AGEC*4000 [0.50] Agricultural and Food Policy (8)

AGEC*4210 [0.50] World Agriculture and Economic Development (7)

AGEC*4220 [0.50] Advanced Farm Management (8)

AGEC*4240 [0.50] Futures and Options Markets (8)

AGEC*4290 [0.50] Land Economics (7)

AGEC*4310 [0.50] Resource Economics (8)

AGEC*4500 [0.50] Decision Science (7)

*restricted elective

Agroecosystem Management

Department of Land Resource Science

Faculty Advisor: Dr. B. Kay, Rm. 205, Richards Building, Ext. 2484.

Major

GEOL*1000 [0.50] Principles of Geology * (4)

GEOL*2150 [0.75] Glacial Geology (6)

PHYS*1070 [0.50] Introductory Physics for the Life Sciences I *(3)

SOIL*3080 [0.50] Soil and Water Conservation (5)

SOIL*4170 [0.50] Soil Processes in the Landscape (7)

4 courses from 1 or more groupings in Land Resource Science as listed in List B - Elective Courses in the Agricultural Sciences and Related Disciplines

*restricted elective

Agronomy

Departments of Plant Agriculture, Crop Science Division, and Land Resource Science.

Faculty Advisors:

Dr. P. Voroney, Rm. 212, Richards Building, Ext. 3057.

Dr. P. Pauls, Rm. 321, Department of Plant Agriculture, Crop Science Division, Ext. 2460.

Major

BOT*2100 [0.50] Life Strategies of Plants*

CHEM*2580 [0.50] Introductory Biochemistry*

CROP*4220 [0.50] Cropping Systems

CROP*4240 [0.50] Weed Science

MBG*3100 [0.50] Plant Genetics

PBIO*3110 [0.50] Crop Physiology

SOIL*3080 [0.50] Soil and Water Conservation

SOIL*4090 [0.50] Soil Management

2 of:

CROP*3300 [0.50] Grain Crops

CROP*3310 [0.50] Protein and Oilseed Crops

CROP*3320 [0.50] Pasture and Grazing Management

CROP*3330 [0.50] Forage Crops: Science and Technology

Highly Recommended courses:

CROP*2110 [0.50] Crop Ecology

ENVB*3210 [0.50] Plant Pathology

ENVB*4100 [0.50] Applied Entomology

MBG*4160 [0.50] Plant Breeding

PBIO*3750 [0.50] Plant Tissue Culture

PBIO*4750 [0.50] Genetic Engineering of Plants

* (B.SC. (AGR.) restricted elective)

Animal Science

Department of Animal and Poultry Science.

Faculty Advisor: Dr. J. Buchanan Smith, Rm. 236, Animal Science and Nutrition, Ext. 3691.

Major

ANSC*3150 [0.50] Principles of Farm Animal Care and Welfare (6)

CHEM*2580 [0.50] Introductory Biochemistry * (3)

MBG*2000 [0.50] Introductory Genetics *(4)

MBG*3090 [0.50] Applied Animal Breeding (5)

NUTR*3190 [0.50] Fundamentals of Nutrition (5)

ANSC*3080 [0.50] Agricultural Animal Physiology (5)

2.00 additional credit from the following elective groups in List B: Animal Breeding, Animal Nutrition, Animal Physiology and Behaviour

Note: AGR*2360 is highly recommended as an elective course in Semester 5 or 7.

*restricted elective

Horticultural Science

Department of Plant Agriculture, Horticultural Science Division.

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Al Sullivan, Rm. 4222, Bovey Building, Ext. 2792.

Major

BOT*2100 [0.50] Life Strategies of Plants

CHEM*2580 [0.50] Introductory Biochemistry

HORT*3230 [0.50] Plant Propagation

HORT*3280 [0.50] Greenhouse Production

HORT*3510 [0.50] Vegetable Production

HORT*4300 [0.50] Postharvest Physiology

HORT*4420 [0.50] Fruit Crops

PBIO*3110 [0.50] Crop Physiology

SOIL*4090 [0.50] Soil Management

Note: Students are also required to select the plant science and resources courses in semesters 3 and 4 (AGR*2301/2, AGR*2451/2) and replace AGR*2350 Animal Production Systems and Industry in their schedule of studies with 2 electives from CROP*4240, ENVB*3210, ENVB*4100, PBIO*3750, and PBIO*4750.

List A - Preferred Electives in Humanities and Social Science

0.50 credit at the 2000 level or above from the College of Arts or the College of Social and Applied Human Sciences.

List B - Electives in Agricultural Science and Related Disciplines

A list of faculty advisors for the following elective course groups is available from the Dean's Office, O.A.C.

Agricultural Economics and Business

Department of Agricultural Economics and Business

Agronomy

Department of Plant Agriculture, Crop Science Divison, and Department of Land Resource Science

Animal and Poultry Science

Department of Animal and Poultry Science

Environmental Biology

Department of Environmental Biology

Food Science

Department of Food Science

Horticultural Science

Department of Plant Agriculture, Horticultural Science Division

Interdepartmental/Interdisciplinary

Land Resource Science

Rural Extension Studies