College offers new agroecology undergraduate minor
The College's Department of Crop Science now offers a new multi-disciplinary undergraduate minor program - agroecology - that blends ecology, agronomy, soil science, entomology and natural resource management concepts.
The 17-credit minor gives sustainable agriculture enthusiasts a fundamental understanding of agricultural systems from ecological, economic and sociological perspectives, says Dr. Michelle Schroeder, the minor's adviser and course instructor.
"An important part of the design of the minor and the new courses was that students learn by doing and have an active role in their education," says Schroeder, who developed two new courses - Introduction to Agroecology and Advanced Agroecology - for the new program.
Students not only lead discussions on current agricultural topics and interact with local producers on farm tours, but in the advanced course, their lab work includes designing and planting their own small sustainable agricultural system at the Crop Science Crops Garden at Lake Wheeler Road Research Station.
"The students are usually very excited to get their hands dirty and figure out how to put sustainable agriculture concepts into practices," Schroeder says.
She recently developed a distance education section of the introductory course that includes lecture modules, discussion boards, chat, e-mail, guest lecture videos and even a virtual tour of local farm.
The agroecology courses and minor are attracting a wide array of students, many new to agriculture, she says.
Enrollees so far boast backgrounds in agriculture business, agriculture education and extension, agronomy, animal science, botany, environmental science, environmental engineering, forestry, and horticultural, political and soil sciences. Students from Duke University's Nicholas School of the Environment also have participated.
"The diversity of students' backgrounds and experiences is a great strength in the agroecology classes," Schroeder says. "Often they learn a lot from each other as they interact throughout the course."
Which is a good thing, she notes, because they'll probably soon be using those communication skills in the workplace.
"Training in agroecology and sustainable agriculture," says Schroeder, "will help prepare students for diverse new employment opportunities."
- Art Latham
The 17-credit minor gives sustainable agriculture enthusiasts a fundamental understanding of agricultural systems from ecological, economic and sociological perspectives, says Dr. Michelle Schroeder, the minor's adviser and course instructor.
"An important part of the design of the minor and the new courses was that students learn by doing and have an active role in their education," says Schroeder, who developed two new courses - Introduction to Agroecology and Advanced Agroecology - for the new program.
Students not only lead discussions on current agricultural topics and interact with local producers on farm tours, but in the advanced course, their lab work includes designing and planting their own small sustainable agricultural system at the Crop Science Crops Garden at Lake Wheeler Road Research Station.
"The students are usually very excited to get their hands dirty and figure out how to put sustainable agriculture concepts into practices," Schroeder says.
She recently developed a distance education section of the introductory course that includes lecture modules, discussion boards, chat, e-mail, guest lecture videos and even a virtual tour of local farm.
The agroecology courses and minor are attracting a wide array of students, many new to agriculture, she says.
Enrollees so far boast backgrounds in agriculture business, agriculture education and extension, agronomy, animal science, botany, environmental science, environmental engineering, forestry, and horticultural, political and soil sciences. Students from Duke University's Nicholas School of the Environment also have participated.
"The diversity of students' backgrounds and experiences is a great strength in the agroecology classes," Schroeder says. "Often they learn a lot from each other as they interact throughout the course."
Which is a good thing, she notes, because they'll probably soon be using those communication skills in the workplace.
"Training in agroecology and sustainable agriculture," says Schroeder, "will help prepare students for diverse new employment opportunities."
- Art Latham