COURSES:

Agriculture Education I                                                                     
Credits: 1 per year
Grades: 9-12
Description:  This course develops agricultural skills necessary for employment, entrepreneurship, or further education in agriculture and agricultural occupations. Units may include crop and livestock production, farm business management, agribusiness, horticulture, natural resources, agricultural mechanics, aquaculture, and water management. Leadership development and supervised agricultural experiences will also be emphasized.

Agriculture Education II                                                                                                
Credits: 1 per year
Grades: 10-12
Pre-Requisite: Ag Ed I
Description:  This applied course introduces students to agricultural sciences emphasizing technical skills, entrepreneurship, and occupational opportunities. Units may include agricultural construction, food, fiber science, supervised agricultural experiences, and leadership development.

Agriculture Education III                                                                                            
Credits: 1 per year
Grades: 11-12
Prerequisites: Ag Ed II
Description:  This course develops agricultural skills necessary for employment, entrepreneurship, or further education in agriculture and agricultural occupations. Units may include crop and livestock production, farm business management, agribusiness, horticulture, natural resources, agricultural mechanics, aquaculture, and water management. Leadership development and supervised agricultural experiences will also be emphasized

Agriculture Education IV                                                                                            
Credits: 1 per year
Grades: 12
Prerequisite: Ag Ed III
Description:  This course develops agricultural skills necessary for employment, entrepreneurship, or further education in agriculture and agricultural occupations. Units may include crop and livestock production, farm business management, agribusiness, horticulture, natural resources, agricultural mechanics, aquaculture, and water management. Leadership development and supervised agricultural experiences will also be emphasized.

Horticulture I                                                                                         
1 credit
Grades: 9-12
Prerequisite: None
Description:  This course prepares students to produce greenhouse/nursery plants and to maintain plant growth and propagation structures. Topics include soils, plants, plant identification, and plant entomology. The course examines the importance of plant cell structures, functions of cells, plant processes, nonvascular plants, vascular plants, roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and reproduction of plants. Students may be introduced to the biological, environmental, conservation, and ecological concepts encountered in our environment. Landscape design units will prepare students to design, construct, and maintain planted areas and devices for beautifying home grounds and other human habitation and recreation areas.

Horticulture II                                                                                               
Credits: 1 per year
Grades: 10-12
Pre-Requisite: Horticulture I
Description:  This course prepares students to produce greenhouse/nursery plants and to maintain plant growth and propagation structures. Topics include soils, plants, plant identification, and plant entomology. The course examines the importance of plant cell structures, functions of cells, plant processes, nonvascular plants, vascular plants, roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and reproduction of plants. Students may be introduced to the biological, environmental, conservation, and ecological concepts encountered in our environment. Landscape design units will prepare students to design, construct, and maintain planted areas and devices for beautifying home grounds and other human habitation and recreation areas.

Veterinary Science                                                                                           
Credits: 1 per year
Grades: 9-12
Prerequisite: None
Description: This course is designed to prepare students for careers in the field of animal science by introducing them to veterinary practices as they relate to both large and small animal species. The student will participate in laboratory and field investigations and demonstrate safety by using critical thinking, scientific reasoning, and problem solving to make informed decisions. They will research and describe the history of veterinary medicine, current topics, the importance of animals in society, and the professional ethics and laws that relate to veterinary medicine. The student will learn to explain the human-animal bond and describe the legal aspects of animal welfare. The student will identify anatomical structures and systems of animals and correct terminology while exploring animal management as it relates to animal identification, animal characteristics, and behavioral temperament (i.e. normal behavior compared to sick.) The student will evaluate animal diseases and identify internal and external parasites and can evaluate an animal's health during a clinical examination while safely operating and maintaining equipment used in veterinary science. The student will also learn to determine nutritional requirements and the importance of nutrition in maintaining a healthy animal. The student will thereby be conscious of procedures, skills, and objectives that are included in the job description of an animal care assistant.

Livestock Production                                                                                    
Credits: 1 per year
Grades: 9-12
Prerequisite: None
Description:  This course is designed to prepare students for careers in animal science and production in species, including, but not limited to, beef cattle, dairy cattle, swine, sheep, goats, and poultry. The student will demonstrate technical skills relating to the interrelated human, botanical, scientific, and technological dimensions of animal systems and be able to assess the importance of the United States’ impact on world commodity markets while applying the principles of livestock breeding and nutrition in predicting the impact of current advances in genetics. The student is expected to describe common veterinary procedures and skills, practice proper animal restraint techniques, demonstrate identification techniques, and demonstrate effective management strategies.

Small Animal Care                                                                                   
Credits: 1 per year
Grades: 9-12
Prerequisite: None
Description:  This course is designed to teach students about the management of small animals, which may include, but are not limited to, small mammals, amphibians, reptiles, avian, dogs, and cats. The student will understand the importance of responsible small animal ownership by explaining the domestication and use of small animals, the influence of small animals and the small animal industry on society, and the hazards associated with working in the small animal industry (including transmittance of disease and handling of dangerous chemicals). The student will evaluate current topics in animal rights and animal welfare, thus understanding the care and management requirements for a variety of small animals and be able to discuss the physical characteristics for each species studied; list the breeds or types of each species; discuss the habitat, housing, and equipment needs for each; compare and contrast nutritional requirements; describe and practice common methods of handling; and use available laboratory equipment to perform procedures.