Agriculture Degree? We Have the Know-How to Get You In
Agriculture Degree? We Have the Know-How to Get You In
Pursuing a degree in agriculture can open up a world of opportunities. With the global population expected to reach 10 billion by 2050, the demand for agricultural scientists, managers, and technicians will only continue to grow.
An agriculture degree provides the skills and knowledge needed to help sustainably feed our rapidly expanding population.
However, deciding to pursue this field is just the first step. Navigating the admissions process and choosing the right agriculture program can be daunting.
This article will walk you through the essential steps to get your agriculture degree, from researching schools to submitting applications. We have the insider know-how to help you get into the agriculture program of your dreams.
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Choosing an Agriculture Degree
The first big decision is choosing what type of agriculture degree to pursue. There are undergraduate and graduate-level degree options within various agricultural specializations:
Animal Science: Studying the production and management of livestock and animals. Careers include veterinarians, animal breeders/geneticists, livestock managers, etc.
Agronomy/Plant Science: Studying the science and technology behind field crop production. Careers include crop consultants, soil scientists, agricultural educators, etc.
Horticulture: Studying the cultivation of garden plants and orchard fruits/nuts. Careers include horticultural therapists, greenhouse growers, landscape architects, etc.
Agricultural Economics: Studying the business side of agriculture, including finance, marketing, policy, etc. Careers include agricultural commodity traders, loan officers, policy analysts, etc.
Agricultural Engineering: Combining agriculture, technology, and engineering principles. Careers include developing agricultural machinery or managing facilities like grain elevators.
Within each area, there are generalized degrees and specialized options like viticulture, precision agriculture, agricultural education, entomology, and more. Review program descriptions closely along with career prospects to choose the right degree for your interests and goals.
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Undergraduate vs Graduate School
Along with what to study, deciding on undergraduate vs graduate school is critical. Undergraduate agriculture programs provide introductory knowledge and training to prepare students for entry-level roles or further specialization in graduate school.
Graduate programs enable more profound expertise in a particular concentration to advance into high-level careers.
Undergraduate degrees are four-year Bachelor’s degree programs with titles like Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Agricultural Science or Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Sustainable Agriculture. Graduate degree options include:
Master’s Degrees: Take 1-3 years focusing on scholarly research or professional training for specialty careers
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine: 4-year postgraduate program to become a licensed veterinarian
PhD Programs: Take 4+ years, heavily research-focused to train academic professionals and scientists
Weigh your career goals and interests, time commitments and financial constraints when deciding which degree level best fits. An undergraduate program may provide the knowledge you need for an agriculture technician role.
At the same time, a graduate degree may be required to manage an industrial-scale farming operation or lead agricultural research teams.
Finding the Right Agriculture Program
Once you’ve decided on undergraduate or graduate school along with a degree concentration, the next step is finding the right programs. With agriculture education available at technical schools, colleges, universities and online, many options exist.
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Here are key factors to help you find quality agriculture degree programs tailored to your needs:
Location: Attending a school close to the type of agriculture you want to pursue, like animal science degrees near dairy farms or viticulture programs in well-known wine regions, can provide valuable hands-on experiences. If location is not a priority, online agriculture degrees also offer flexibility.
Specializations: Look for specialized concentrations and electives within degree programs that align with your career goals, like food science, urban agriculture, livestock genetics, crop ecology, weed management, etc.
Faculty & Research: Programs with renowned faculty actively publishing research and advancing the agricultural field strongly indicate quality.
Facilities & Technology: Modern greenhouses, labs, livestock facilities, gardens and advanced technologies indicate substantial investments into agriculture education at a particular college.
Internships & Career Support: Strong industry connections for internships along with agriculture career planning services are helpful support services.
Once you have found some promising agriculture degree options, learn as much as possible about each program by reviewing websites, information guides and current student perspectives. Schedule campus visits whenever possible to meet faculty and get a feel for the agriculture training facilities.
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Applying for Agriculture Programs
With target agriculture programs identified, the application process comes next. Typical application requirements include:
Transcripts: Official high school and college transcripts to showcase strong cumulative GPAs, typically 3.0+, are competitive. High grades in relevant AP/IB courses like biology, chemistry, environmental science and calculus can also help.
Test Scores: Standardized test scores (SAT, ACT, GRE) vary in importance depending on the college’s admissions policies. Scores in the top distribution percentiles help applications stand out.
Applications: Institutions have unique application platforms, and essay prompts to assess student backgrounds, interests and goals aligned with their agriculture programs.
Letters of Recommendation: Ask 2-3 mentors, like agriculture teachers or professionals familiar with your skills and motivation for agriculture-related studies, to write personalized letters advocating for your admission.
Experience: Document relevant experiences on your application, such as working on a farm, doing food industry jobs, and participating in 4-H or Future Farmers of America (FFA) programs. These demonstrate genuine interest and exposure to agriculture versus applying solely based on academic performance.
For graduate programs, submitting written research essays or thesis proposals related to agriculture faculty’s specializations can also demonstrate capabilities for advanced study.
Aim to submit well-rounded applications aligned with what each agriculture program seeks in prospective students. Be mindful of early admission deadlines for agriculture colleges, which often start accepting applications up to a year in advance.
Funding Your Agriculture Degree
Pursuing higher education in agriculture is a significant investment, but fortunately, many funding options exist:
Grants & Scholarships: Research agriculture-specific financial aid like the National FFA Scholarships or USDA grants, which offer millions in aid exclusively to agricultural students annually.
Assistantships: Graduate research or teaching assistant roles offer tuition remission and stipends. These are competitive but allow you to gain faculty-supervised agriculture work experience.
College Work Study: Part-time federal work-study jobs like greenhouse assistants or lab technicians are available within agriculture departments.
Loans: Federal direct loans generally offer the lowest interest rates. Some states and colleges also provide low-interest agriculture student loans as well.
Employer Sponsorship: Companies related to agriculture, like feed suppliers or equipment manufacturers, may offer tuition benefits for promising students who commit to work for them post-graduation.
From specialized agriculture scholarships to signing bonus agreements, many ways exist to help finance this investment in the future. Agriculture college counselors can also guide funding options, loan repayment programs, and educational budget development.
Embarking on your agriculture degree will equip you with the knowledge and credentials to play an impactful role in the agricultural industry.
We have the expertise and resources to help you identify and get accepted into programs matching your academic interests and future career goals in agriculture.
Let us guide you in taking the following steps towards getting your agriculture degree and joining this meaningful field, contributing to a sustainable future.
We hope you like our article on Agriculture Degree? We Have the Know-How to Get You In.
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