BS in Agricultural Systems Technology
Degree Program Description
Agricultural Systems Technology combines interests in technology, machines, and business to be at the forefront of technological innovation in agriculture, environmental protection and related industries. Students will study digital agricultural systems pertaining to structures, hydraulics, precision agriculture, machinery, electricity, sensors and the Internet of Things to manage agricultural systems. Agricultural Systems Technology graduates apply science, technology and engineering principles to manage complex agricultural and other production systems.
Agricultural Systems Technology will prepare graduates for a variety of careers, including: agricultural and power equipment manufacturing, equipment sales and service, food production and processing, precision agriculture technology, and government.
Major Program Requirements
Students who earn a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Systems Technology, the management of technical agricultural systems, are required to complete all University general education, University graduation and degree requirements, including selected foundational courses, which may fulfill some University general education requirements.
| Foundational Courses | 29-30 | |
| MATH 1100 | College Algebra | 3 |
| ABM 2225 | Statistical Analysis | 3 |
| or MATH 1140 | Trigonometry | |
| or MATH 1400 | Calculus for Social and Life Sciences I | |
| or MATH 1500 | Analytic Geometry and Calculus I | |
| or STAT 1200 | Introductory Statistical Reasoning | |
| BIO_SC 1010 & BIO_SC 1020 | General Principles and Concepts of Biology and General Biology Laboratory | 5 |
| or BIO_SC 1030 | General Principles and Concepts of Biology with Laboratory | |
| or BIO_SC 1200 | General Botany with Laboratory | |
| or BIO_SC 1500 | Introduction to Biological Systems with Laboratory | |
| PLNT_SCI 2110 | Who Runs the World? Plants. | 3 |
| or SOIL 2100 | Introduction to Soils | |
| ABM 1041 | Applied Microeconomics | 3 |
| ABM 1042 | Applied Macroeconomics | 3 |
| CHEM 1400 & CHEM 1401 | College Chemistry I and College Chemistry I Laboratory | 4 |
| or CHEM 1100 | Atoms and Molecules with Lab | |
| ACCTCY 2036 | Accounting I | 3 |
| or ACCTCY 2010 | Introduction to Accounting | |
| or ACCTCY 2026 | Accounting I | |
| AGSC_COM 2220 | Verbal Communication in Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources | 3 |
| or COMMUN 1200 | Public Speaking | |
| Core Requirements | 29 | |
| AG_S_TCH 1020 | Introduction to Agricultural Systems Technology | 3 |
| AG_S_TCH 1040 | Physical Principles for Agricultural Applications | 3 |
| AG_S_TCH 2199 | Seminar in Professional Development | 1-3 |
| AG_S_TCH 2340 | Pesticide Application Equipment | 3 |
| AG_S_TCH 3225 | Sensors and Control for Agricultural Systems | 3 |
| AG_S_TCH 4140 | Electricity: Wiring and Equipment | 3 |
| AG_S_TCH 4160 | Internet of Things for Agricultural Technology | 3 |
| AG_S_TCH 4320 | Agricultural Equipment and Machinery | 4 |
| AG_S_TCH 4360 | Precision Agriculture Science and Technology | 3 |
| AG_S_TCH 4390 | Optimization and Management of Food and Agricultural Systems | 3 |
| Supporting AST Electives | 12 | |
| AG_S_TCH 2220 | Agricultural/Industrial Facility Systems | 3 |
| AG_S_TCH 2360 | Fluid Power | 3 |
| AG_S_TCH 4220 | Material Handling and Conditioning | 3 |
| AG_S_TCH 4420 | Surface Water Management | 3 |
| AG_S_TCH 4365 | Machinery Management Using Precision Agriculture Technology | 3 |
| AG_S_TCH 4366 | Data Management and Analysis Using Precision Agriculture Technology | 3 |
| AG_S_TCH 4368 | Profit Strategies Using Precision Agriculture Technology | 3 |
| AG_S_TCH 4460 | Irrigation and Drainage | 3 |
| AG_S_TCH 4940 | Agricultural Systems Technology Internship | 2-5 |
In consultation with their advisor, students may select elective courses to bring their total credit hours to the 120 hour minimum.
| Suggested Electives | ||
| PLNT_SCI 2125 | Plant Structure and Function | 4 |
| PLNT_SCI 3210W | Principles of Weed Science - Writing Intensive | 4 |
| PLNT_SCI 3275 | Grain Crops | 3 |
| PLNT_SCI 4313 | Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition | 3 |
| ABM 3241W | Ethical Issues in Agriculture - Writing Intensive | 3 |
| ABM 3260 | General Farm Management | 3 |
| ABM 3256 | Agribusiness and Biotechnology Law | 3 |
Example AST Semester Plan
Below is a sample plan of study, semester by semester. A student's actual plan may vary based on course choices where options are available. This plan shows how students have the opportunity to develop their area of study to achieve a Certificate in Precision Agriculture Technology.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| AG_S_TCH 1020 | 3 | AG_S_TCH 1040 | 3 |
| AG_S_TCH 2199 | 1-3 | ABM 1042 | 3 |
| ABM 1041 | 3 | ENGLSH 1000 | 3 |
| MATH 1100 | 3 | State Requirement | 3 |
| BIO_SC 1010 | 3 | BIO_SC 1020 | 2 |
| Humanities | 3 | ||
| 16-18 | 14 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| AG_S_TCH 4140 | 3 | AG_S_TCH 2340 | 3 |
| AG_S_TCH 4320 | 4 | AG_S_TCH 3225 | 3 |
| COMMUN 1200 or AGSC_COM 2220 | 3 | SOIL 2100 | 3 |
| CHEM 1100 | 4 | STAT 1200 | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Humanities | 3 |
| 17 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| AG_S_TCH 4360 | 3 | AG_S_TCH 4220 | 3 |
| AG_S_TCH 4160 | 3 | AG_S_TCH 4365 (Precision AG Certificate) | 3 |
| Supporting AG_S_TCH Course | 3 | Supporting AG_S_TCH Course | 3 |
| Accounting | 3 | Writing Intensive | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| AG_S_TCH 4390 | 3 | AG_S_TCH 4368 (Precision AG Certificate) | 3 |
| Supporting AG_S_TCH Course | 3 | 3000 Level Writing Intensive | 3 |
| AG_S_TCH 4366 (Precision AG Certificate) | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Supporting AG_S_TCH Course | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | ||
| 18 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits: 125-127 | |||
Degree Audit
The degree audit is an automated report reflecting a student’s academic progress toward the completion of a degree.
MU students can request a degree audit by logging in to myDegreePlanner. Students may also access myDegreePlanner via myZou, in the Student Center, click on the Academic Progress Tile, then select Request Degree Audit. The audit automatically pulls in the student’s MU course work, transfer courses and courses in progress. This is available to current students, admitted students, and those who last attended less than three terms ago.
Past MU students can request a degree audit by contacting the Academic Advising Unit of the division in which they were last enrolled at MU. For contact information, go to https://advising.missouri.edu/contact/.
Prospective students, can access a preliminary MU degree audit via https://www.transferology.com. Information on the college credits already earned will have to be manually entered before it can be evaluated against current degree requirements.
For additional details on degree audits, go to https://registrar.missouri.edu/degrees-audits/degree-audits/.
Major and Career Exploration
The University of Missouri has many resources to assist you in exploring majors and career possibilities. For guidance, visit the Majors and Careers website or view specific resources below.
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If you are considering a change of major or are exploring multiple majors, schedule an appointment with an advisor in the Discovery Center by calling (573)884-9700 or through MU Connect Discovery Center service in you success network.
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If you have decided on a major, visit an academic advisor in the School or College that you are interested in to discuss the process of declaring the major.
- If you would like to learn more about your career interests, abilities, values and talents, visit the MU Career Center. No Appointment is necessary to explore career options with one of our staff members.
- If you would like information about MU majors and degree programs, visit:
- the Degrees, Majors (Degree Programs), Emphasis Areas, Minors and Certificates page in the catalog,
- the MU Majors website.
For additional major and career exploration resources, visit Major & Career Exploration in the catalog.