Careers in Agriculture
Occupational Information from the U.S. Government about Agricultural Workers
(Nature of the Work; Working Conditions; Employment; Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement; Job Outlook; Earnings; Related Occupations; Sources of Additional Information)
What Can I Do With a Degree in Agriculture?
Associate Degree or Diploma in Agriculture |
Baccalaureate Degree in Agriculture |
Advanced Degree in Agriculture |
| Depending on areas of concentration, career areas would include entry level jobs in horticulture, farm worker, ranch hand, farm mechanic, veterinary technician, etc. |
Students graduating with a B.S. in General Agriculture have the flexibility to prepare for a variety of agricultural career fields, including production agriculture, agri-business, or community leadership in agriculture. Graduates go on to pursue jobs as diverse as farm or ranch managers, teachers, lobbyists, commodity liaison persons, and extension staff. |
A master's degree is required to maintain a teaching certificate for students seeking a career in agricultural education. Other career areas see many more opportunities with an advanced degree. |
Earning an Agricultural Degree in Oregon
- Is there a particular Associate Degree that is best suited/recommended for moving on to the baccalaureate in General Agriculture?
Yes. Associate of Science in Agriculture/Horticulture.
- What specific courses are required or recommended at the lower division level for admission to a baccalaureate program in General Agriculture?
Recommended courses are Ag 111: Computer Applications in Agriculture and AREC 211: Management in Agriculture.
- Which Oregon community colleges offer an Associate degree that includes all the courses that will be needed for admission to the baccalaureate degree in General Agriculture in any mode (on campus and/or distance education)?
Blue Mt. Community College,
Clackamas Community College,
Klamath Community College,
Linn-Benton Community College,
Mt. Hood Community College,
Portland Community College,
Rogue Community College,
Treasure Valley Community College
- Which Oregon community colleges offer an Associate degree that includes 50% or more of the courses that are needed for admission to the baccalaureate degree in General Agriculture in a distance education mode?
Blue Mt. Community College,
Clackamas Community College,
Klamath Community College,
Linn-Benton Community College,
Mt. Hood Community College,
Portland Community College,
Rogue Community College,
Treasure Valley Community College
- Which Oregon four-year colleges or universities offer a baccalaureate degree with a major in Agriculture in any mode (on campus and/or distance education)?
Oregon State University is the only Oregon institution offering a baccalaureate degree in General Agriculture or Agricultural Science. The total number of credit hours required for the baccalaureate degree is 180.
- Which four-year colleges or universities offer a baccalaureate degree with a major in General Agriculture that includes at least 50% or more of the courses in agriculture in a distance education mode?
Oregon State University
- Are there credit by examination or credit by articulation provisions?
Transfer articulation agreements exist between Oregon State University and each of the community colleges offering an agriculture degree program: Blue Mt. Community College,
Clackamas Community College,
Klamath Community College,
Linn-Benton Community College,
Mt. Hood Community College,
Portland Community College,
Rogue Community College, and
Treasure Valley Community College.
- Which institutions offer dual admission or provisional admission, from associate to baccalaureate programs?
Linn-Benton Community College,
Portland Community College, and
Southwest Oregon Community College have dual admission agreements with Oregon State University.
- What are the admission requirements to the baccalaureate program?
Standard admission requirements to Oregon State University.
- To complete the baccalaureate degree in General Agriculture, which courses must be successfully completed? (Courses available in distance education modes at OregonONE are indicated in bold print.)
A total of 180 credit hours (60 of these in agriculture) are needed for the baccalaureate degree in General Agriculture. In order to make the degree as flexible as possible and allow students to concentrate in specific areas of agriculture, only five specific courses are required of all students.
| AG 111 |
Computer Applications in Agriculture |
| AREC 211 |
Management in Agriculture |
| AG 199 |
Orientation |
| AG 286x |
Accessing Information |
| AG 421 |
Leadership Development |
- Which courses are required or recommended outside the major for a baccalaureate degree in General Agriculture? (Courses available in distance education modes at OregonONE are indicated in bold print.)
Required Courses:
| WR 121 |
English Composition |
| MTH 105 |
Introduction to Contemporary Math |
| PE 231 |
Lifetime Fitness |
| BA 215 |
Fundamentals of Accounting (or other accounting course) |
| BI 101, 102, 103 |
Biology |
| CHEM 121, 122 |
Chemistry (or other 2-term chemistry sequence) |
| BA 230 |
Business Law (or other law course) |
| COMM |
Communications elective |
Recommended Courses:
| ECON 201 |
Principles of Economics |
| WR 214 |
Business Writing |
| WR 327 |
Technical Report Writing |
- Does Oregon have a licensing requirement for entry into this profession?
Agricultural Science and Technology teachers must be licensed through the Oregon Teachers Standards and Practices Commission (TSPC).
Important Links
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Direct your questions and comments to the Oregon Network for Education