May 25, 2006
Washington State University has received approval from the
state Higher Education Coordinating Board to offer a Bachelor's
of Science degree in Agriculture and Food Systems starting this
fall.
Five majors will be offered, including the nation's first major
in organic agriculture systems.
The new interdisciplinary degree will integrate coursework from
all agricultural disciplines in the College of Agricultural,
Human, and Natural Resource Sciences. It will replace eliminated
undergraduate degrees in General Agriculture, Agricultural
Technology and Management, Entomology and Biological Systems
Engineering as well as an Integrated Cropping Systems degree at
WSU Tri-Cities.
"We have changed our agricultural program to meet the demands of
employers for well-rounded graduates who have critical thinking,
communications and leadership skills as well as strong technical
skills," said Ray Folwell, associate dean and director of
academic programs in the college.
Folwell said non-agricultural degrees in the college will not be
affected. Students in affected programs will be able to complete
the degree they started.
Students will be able to select from five majors, including a
first-in- the nation organic agriculture major. The others are
Agricultural Business and Technology Systems, Agricultural
Education, Pest Management Systems and Plants and Soil Systems.
"In each major, emphasis is placed on gaining a solid background
in the agricultural sciences, including how to work with and in
the complexity of agriculture and food systems," said Cathy
Perillo, coordinator of the new degree program. "All students
will take a core set of classes to develop a broad
interdisciplinary background, while also studying specific
subjects that will prepare them for their chosen fields."
An internship related to the student's major will be required,
as well as a seminar class in delivering technical presentations
to a diverse audience.
The new Organic Agriculture Systems major is expected to appeal
not only to aspiring organic farmers but also to people
interested in related industries, such as global marketing,
direct marketing or organic food, according to Perillo.
"There's quite a bit of industry interest in the new degree,
too," Perillo said. "Large corporations increasingly are
interested in meeting the nation's growing appetite for organic
foods are seeking employees who understand organic agriculture
systems, which are significantly different than conventional
agriculture."
The major includes a summer practicum at WSU's three-acre
organic farm on the east edge of campus. There, students will
get hands-on experience in planting, nurturing, harvesting and
marketing organic produce.
Organic food is one of the fastest growing segments of
agriculture with retail sales escalating 20 percent annually
since 1990, according to a 2002 U.S. Department of Agriculture
report. |