Agriculture (AGR) courses
AGR 100 Food Security
Honors eligible course. An examination of policies and technology that affect food security for the United States in a global setting. This course meets a general education requirement with a focus in Social and Behavioral Sciences.
AGR 101 Animal Science
Introduction to farm animal industries, breeds, numbers, distribution, nutrition, heredity, reproduction, health and products.
AGR 103 Plant Science
An introduction to the world of plant science and plant physiology including the areas of food and ornamental crops and sustainable agriculture.
AGR 104 Plant Science Laboratory
Prerequisite(s): AGR 103 or concurrent enrollment.Provides opportunities for 'hands-on' application of concepts of plant science through the use of basic plant science research and production practices. Course fee.
AGR 112 Introduction to Agricultural Business
This course introduces students to the requirements for starting and operating a successful agricultural-based business. Students will learn how to assess the business environment and identify potentially viable business opportunities. Business start-up, planning, organization, management, marketing, accounting, and financing are also covered in this practical course. Special emphasis will be placed on agricultural ventures in the Ozarks. Students may not receive credit for both EPR 110 and AGR 112.
AGR 115 Sustainable Agriculture and the Environment
This course examines the practice of agro-ecology: the interface of management, biology, and the environment in our effort to produce food, feed, and fiber for a rapidly growing human population. Consequences of historical and current practices, as well as strengths and weaknesses of alternative practices that attempt to employ more knowledge of biology and ecology, will also be evaluated.
AGR 118 Leadership
A course for entering freshmen students to examine leadership through the observation and analysis of leaders in various career paths. Demonstrates leadership through class projects.Course may be repeated for up to 3 credit hours.
AGR 120 Agricultural Recordkeeping
Basic record keeping including financial, production, compliance with government agencies and labor records. Financial records are needed to file taxes, comply with governmental requirements, apply for loans, and provide information needed to make strategic management decisions.
AGR 143 Introductory Forestry
Introduction to field of forestry. In addition to traditional topics of species identification, biology and timber management, this course examines the sociological, environmental, political and industrial influences on domestic and international management of forest resources.
AGR 144 Agricultural Economics
Prerequisite(s): ACT Reading score of 18 or greater or an Accuplacer reading score of 85 or higher or SAT verbal score of 440 or greater or C or higher in ENG 100 or IDS 150.Characteristics of our economic system and basic economic concepts with applications to agriculture. Effects on agriculture by money and banking systems, monetary and fiscal policies, government policies, and international trade.
AGR 150 Agriculture Career Center Variable Content Course
Prerequisite(s): 'C' grade or better in an approved 700 clock hour career center program and completion of 12 credit hours of course work at Missouri State University-West Plains.A variable content course resulting from an articulation agreement with the Ozark Mountain Technical Center or other approved career center.The topic will be identified by the career center program title. Approved 700 clock hour programs from the Ozark Mountain Career Center include Agriculture Business and Management, Agriculture Mechanics and Technology, Animal Science Systems, and Plant Science/Horticulture Systems. Other accredited programs will be evaluated on an individual basis. Students must attain a C grade or better in the applicable core competencies. Similar courses at other institutions will be evaluated on an individual basis. Credit for this course will be transcripted upon completion of 12 credit hours of course work at Missouri State University-West Plains. The transferability of this course to other institutions must be confirmed with the institution.
AGR 157 Principles of Agricultural Mechanization
Engineering and mechanical principles; their application to agriculture equipment, systems and concepts. Course fee.
AGR 161 Introduction to Horses
Scope and role of the horse industry. Responsibilities of ownership; selection, breeds- development and uses; basic care-nutrition, health care, conditioning; and facilities.
AGR 162 Introduction to Riding
This is an introductory course with a focus on safe and effective techniques for both English and Western riding. The course may be repeated for a total of 3 hours. Course fee.
AGR 163 Introduction to Hunt Seat Equestrian Competition
Prerequisite(s): AGR 162 or permission of instructor.This course is for students who have limited or no experience in equestrian competition in the hunt seat discipline. This course may not be taken concurrently with AGR 263. May be repeated for a total of 2 hours. Course fee.
AGR 164 Introduction to Stock Seat Equestrian Competition
Prerequisite(s): AGR 162 or permission of instructor.This course is for students who have limited or no experience in equestrian competition in the stock seat discipline. This course may not be taken concurrently with AGR 264. May be repeated for a total of 2 hours. Course fee.
AGR 170 Introduction to Horticulture
This course provides an introduction to horticultural science. Topics will include an overview of the horticultural industry and its history, plant structure and metabolism, environmental influences on horticultural plants such as temperature, light, water and soil, and plant management practices. Course fee.
AGR 171 Controlled Environment Agriculture
Controlled Environmental Agriculture (CEA) optimizes the use of resources such as water, energy, space, capital and labor. This course investigates the use of high tunnels, low tunnels and row covers and greenhouses to produce food. Hands on experiments in a greenhouse and high tunnel. Course fee.
AGR 172 Greenhouse Management
Introduction to Greenhouse Management. The course will cover greenhouse construction, heating and cooling, environmental control systems, growing media management, watering, fertilization light and temperature regulation, and insect, pest and disease management. Hands on experience in a greenhouse and high tunnel system. Course fee.
AGR 173 Aquaponics and Hydroponics
Introductory course in hydroponics and aquaculture. Covers system location and evironment, system design, growbeds and fish tanks, plumbing, grow media and water quality, growing and harvesting fish, growing plants in aquaponics, and sustainability. Hands on experience with an aquaponics system. Course fee.
AGR 174 Integrated Pest Management
Covers an ecosystem-based strategy that focuses on long-term prevention of pests or their damage through a combination of techniques such as biological control, habitat manipulation, modification of cultural practices, and use of resistant varieties. Students will obtain a Certified Private Applicator License through the Missouri Department of Agriculture. Course fee.
AGR 175 Vegetable and Fruit Production
Course topics include breeding and improving vegetables, transplanting and direct seeding, soil management and fertilization, weed management, irrigation, controlling insects and diseases, perennial crops, cold crops, root crops, tomatoes, leafy vegetables, corn and controlled environment vegetable production. Course fee.
AGR 176 Good Agricultural Practices
Course designed to guide assessment of risks and implementation of practices to reduce risks on fresh farms. Course fee.
AGR 177 Turf Grass Management
Course covers turf grass species, cultural practices, pest management, propagation and cultural systems. Course fee.
AGR 178 Landscape Design and Management
Course includes: Inventorying the site, functional principles, the concept plan, design principles, plants and hardscapes, maintaining the landscape. Course fee.
AGR 185 Introduction to Companion Animal Science
An introduction to companion animal biology through consideration of the anatomy, nutrition, behavior, husbandry, and reproduction of companion animals. Course content is largely focused on cats and dogs, although other mammals, birds, and reptiles commonly kept as pets will be discussed. Legal, economic, and ethical issues associated with companion animals will be addressed.
AGR 191 Evaluation and Performance Appraisal of Horse
Detailed evaluation of athletic performance of horses; influence of training and other environmental effects, heredity, and conformation; use of racing and performance records, visual appraisal, and industry trends; oral and written defense of judgments. Course fee.
AGR 196 Dairy and Meat Animal Evaluation
Comparative judging including selection, grading, and classification of dairy cattle, or beef cattle, swine and sheep. A Variable Content Course; may be repeated with permission for up to 4 credit hours. Course fee.
AGR 197 Special Topics in Agriculture
A variable content course with topics that can change from semester to semester. Topics will be identified by title in the schedule of classes. The course may be repeated if the topics differ; however, no more than six credits may count toward any degree.
AGR 199 Agriculture in the Ozarks
This course will explore agriculture in the Ozarks, from a historical and modern day perspective.
AGR 200 Mini Agriculture
A course designed to treat specific areas of agriculture to meet specialized student needs. Treatment of the subject will include consideration of historical, theoretical, scientific, and application aspects. May be repeated up to a total of 3 hours provided the same topics is not repeated. Variable Content Course.
AGR 201 Physiology of Farm Animals
Prerequisite(s): Basic physiology of farm animals with special emphasis on systems related to the economic importance of domestic animals such as the mammary, reproductive, endocrine, and other systems.3(3-0)
AGR 202 Applied Animal Reproduction
Prerequisite(s): Physiological principles of reproductive processes in domestic animals (production and companion) including sperm and ova production, estrus, fertilization, gestation, and partition.Artificial insemination history and techniques of semen collection and evaluation and insemination techniques. Management for Improved Reproduction. Course Fee.
AGR 206 Veterinary Science
Prerequisite(s): AGR 101.Functional anatomy and physiology, diseases and parasites of farm animals; sanitation; disease prevention and control. Course Fee.
AGR 210 Animal Nutrition
Prerequisite(s): Key topics include the basic fundamentals of nutrition and comparative nutrition of farm animals.Anatomy and physiology of the digestive system and basic metabolism will also be covered along with the characteristics, digestion and functions of the basic nutrients.Course fee.
AGR 215 Soils
Physical, chemical, and biological activities within the soil as related to moisture, temperature, drainage, and tillage.Course fee.
AGR 216 Soils Lab
Laboratory and computer methods for evaluation of the physical, chemical and biological properties of soil. Course fee.
AGR 240 Wildlife Techniques
Wildlife management programs must be based on quality scientific investigations that produce objective, relevant information. This quality science is dependent on carefully designed experiments, estimates, comparisons and accurate census techniques. Wildlife Techniques will provide an overview of the fundamental concepts of wildlife research, study design and population determining methods.
AGR 242 Wildlife Damage Management
This course presents the challenges of managing human-wildlife conflicts while protecting wildlife populations and their habitat and introduces a variety of wildlife damage management practices and techniques.
AGR 243 Indoor Plants
Identification, cultural requirements, and growth habits of ornamental foliage and flowering plants for indoor use.
AGR 250 Agricultural Communications
Prerequisite(s): ENG 110 and COM 115.Introduces the scope and applications of communications and journalism as they relate to agriculture.
AGR 252 Beef Cattle Production
Prerequisite(s): AGR 101.Production and management of purebred and commercial beef cattle. Course covers the biological, ecological, financial and marketing issues impacting the beef industry today. Explores the demographics, structure, challenges and segments of the beef industry.Course Fee.
AGR 262 Riding for Horse Training
Prerequisite(s): AGR 162.This is an intermediate-level riding course with a focus on developing skills necessary for training horses. Students may ride hunt seat, stock seat, or both seats during the semester. Course fee.
AGR 263 Intermediate Hunt Seat Equestrian Competition
Prerequisite(s): Permission of Instructor.This course if for students who have a moderate amount of experience in equestrian competition in the hunt seat discipline. This course may not be taken concurrently with AGR 163. Completion of AGR 163 is recommended prior to enrolling in this course. May be repeated for a total of 2 hours. Course fee
AGR 264 Intermediate Stock Seat Equestrian Competition
Prerequisite(s): Permission of Instructor.This course if for students who have a moderate amount of experience in equestrian competition in the stock seat discipline. Events to be covered will include horsemanship and ranch horse events. This course may not be taken concurrently with AGR 164. Completion of AGR 163 or AGR 164 is recommended prior to enrolling in this course. May be repeated for a total of 2 hours. Course fee.
AGR 275 Forage Crop Production
Prerequisite(s): AGR 103 or AGR 115.Adaptation, production and utilization of the major forage crops for grazing, hay, and silage production, as well as their effects on environmental quality and wildlife. Course fee.
AGR 295 Service Learning in Agriculture
Prerequisite(s): 12 credit hours.This one-hour service learning component course incorporates community service with classroom instruction in agriculture. It provides a service learning experience, addressing the practice of citizenship and promoting awareness of and participation in public affairs. It includes 40 hours of service benefitting an external community organization, agency or public service provider. Approved service placements and assignments will vary depending on the specific course topic and learning objectives; a list of approved placements and assignments is available from the instructor and the Citizenship and Service Learning Office. The course may be repeated for up to three credit hours.
AGR 297 Global Agriculture and Food Production
Prerequisite(s): ENG 110, COM 115 and completion of 40 credit hours.This course presents an overview of various agriculture and food production systems around the world, including North America, South America, Asia, the European Union, the #Former Soviet Union, Oceania and Africa. Students will study these systems based on the cultural, political, economic and scientific factors that influence the countries' production abilities and consumer demands. Students must submit a portfolio in this course. International/Intercultural component. Meets the capstone requirement for the AAS degrees in Enology, General Agriculture, General Technology and Viticulture.
AGR 299 Internship in Agriculture
Prerequisite(s): Instructor permission.The Internship in agriculture is a form of experiential learning that integrates knowledge and theory learned in the classroom with practical application and skills development in a professional setting. This Internship course gives students the opportunity to gain valuable applied experience and make connections in professional fields they are considering for career paths; and give employers the opportunity to guide and evaluate talent. This course may be repeated for a total of six credit hours.