PELLISSIPPI STATE TECHNICAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE 
MASTER SYLLABUS
INTRODUCTORY AGRICULTURE
AGR 1010
 
Class Hours: 3.0   Credit Hours: 3.0  
Laboratory Hours: 0.0   Date Revised: Spring 01  
       
Catalog Course Description:    
  The history of agriculture, environmental issues and conservation techniques, socioeconomic aspects of agriculture, agricultural products, the application of biotechnology in agriculture, and an exploration of careers in agriculture.
Entry Level Standards:    
  Completion of any DSP requirements
Prerequisites:    
  None
Textbook(s) and Other Reference Materials Basic to the Course:  
  None.  During the course, various handouts and reserve articles will be used.  Certain videos will also be used.
I. Week/Unit/Topic Basis:    
  Week  Topic
  1 Unit 1 (100 pts) History of Agriculture
Introduction, Career Opportunities, Agriculture i
  2 History of Agriculture
  3 History of Agriculture, Exam 1 
  4 Unit 2 (100 pts) Production Agriculture
Agricultural Products
  5 Production Statistics
  6 Where’s Tennessee , Exam 2
  7 Unit 3 (100 pts) Techniques and Technology
Cultural Practices
  8 Biotechnology in Agriculture
  9 Biotechnology in Agriculture, Exam 3
  10 Unit 4 (100 pts)  Conservation & Environment 
Pollution
  11 Conservation & Environment
  12 Extinction, Exam 4
  13 Unit 5 (100 pts) Socioeconomic Aspects of Agriculture
 Where’s Tennessee
  14 Industrialization of Agriculture
  15 Consumer and Food Industry Trends,  Exam 5
  16 Final Exam
II. Course Objectives*:    
  A. Exhibit an appreciation and understanding of the history of agriculture.  IV.3
  B. Demonstrate an understanding of current agricultural conditions and why agricultural practices have changed over time.  V, VII.1, VII.4
  C. Demonstrate an awareness of the various careers related to agriculture and the qualifications needed to pursue a variety of agricultural careers.  II
*Roman numerals after course objectives reference goals of the university parallel program.
III. Instructional Processes*:     
Students will:      
  1. Locate and evaluate related scientific information in the ERC and on the World Wide Web.  Information Literacy Outcome, Technological Literacy Outcome
  2. Collect data, generate graphs and tables of the collected data, summarize the data and draw conclusions from the data.   Numerical Literacy Outcome, Active Learning Strategy
  3. Read and critique scientific writings.  Communication Outcome
  4. Select a learning experience that promotes independent thinking and required sustained effort and time such as a research project, job shadowing, community service project, interviews or field trip.  Personal Development Outcome, Transitional Strategy
  5. Participate in lecture activities that develop teamwork, problem solving, and data analysis. Problem Solving and Decision Making Outcome, Active Learning Strategy
*Strategies and outcomes listed after instructional processes reference Pellissippi State’s goals for strengthening general education knowledge and skills, connecting coursework to experiences beyond the classroom, and encouraging students to take active and responsible roles in the educational process.
IV. Expectations for Student Performance*: 
Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to:
1. Narrate a history of agriculture. A, B
2. Describe animal rights issues related to agriculture. B
3. Select a major in agriculture based in part on participation in a job shadowing or career exploration activity to investigate potential careers in Agriculture. C
4. Discuss the impact of agriculture on biodiversity, extinction, water pollution, eutrophication, the greenhouse effect and global warming. A, B
5. Explain current conservation practices used in the different areas of Agriculture. B
6. Describe the relationship between economics and agriculture. B
7. Compare the standings of Tennessee agriculture to world agriculture standings. B
8. Explain governmental policy related to agriculture. A, B
9. List various agriculture products and consumer trends. B
10. Describe food safety concerns and explain the food labeling system. B
11. Describe how current biotechnical advances relate to modern agriculture. B
*Letters after performance expectations reference the course objectives listed above.
V. Evaluation:
A. Testing Procedures:
Each lecture unit will be evaluated using one or more tests totaling 100 points.  Exams will be a mix of discussion questions and objective questions.  There will be no makeup lecture tests.  There will be a comprehensive final for the course worth 100 points.  The comprehensive final may be used to take the place of one missed exam if there is evidence of a valid and reasonable excuse.  The comprehensive final score may also be used to replace the lowest unit exam score if all exams were attempted. A careers exploration project and report will be worth 100 points and there will be a special topics problem on a current ag related topic that will be worth 50 points.
B. Laboratory Expectations:
N/A
C. Field Work:
Since there is no required textbook for the course, students will be required to read supplemental articles or papers either on reserve or handouts.  Students will also be responsible for information on videos shown in class and on reserve. 
D. Other Evaluation Methods:
Other evaluation methods may be arranged at the discretion of the lead instructor and the lecture instructor.
E. Grading Scale:
Point Distribution:
  Unit 1                             100 pts.
  Unit 2                             100 pts.
  Unit 3                             100 pts.
  Unit 4                             100 pts.
  Unit 5                             100 pts.
  Comprehensive Exam  100 pts.
  Career Exploration       100 pts.
  Special Topic                 50 pts.
                TOTAL           750 pts.

Letter grades will be distributed as follows:
  A     90% and above     675 or more points
  B+   87-89%                   652-674 points
  B     80-86%                   600-651 points
  C+   77-79%                  577-599 points
  C     70-76%                  525-576 points
  D     60-69%                  450-524 points
  F     59% and below    449 or fewer

VI. Policies:
A. Attendance Policy:
Consistent tardiness and excessive absences may lower the final grade.  Pellissippi State Technical Community College expects students to    attend all scheduled instructional activities. As a minimum, students in all courses must be present for at least 75 percent of their scheduled class and laboratory meetings in order to receive credit for the course. Individual departments/programs/disciplines, with the approval of the vice president of Academic and Student Affairs, may have requirements that are more stringent.
B. Academic Dishonesty:
With any form or valid proof of dishonesty with regard to student work or testing, the instructor may elect from a range of actions.  Academic dishonesty could lead to failure for the entire course on consultation with the lead instructor, department head, and dean.  Additionally, dismissal from the institution is an option and may be sought.
C. Other Policies:
Classroom disruptions during the lecture, any form of communication during testing, or any other behavior that may prove distracting to others will not be tolerated and may lower the final grade.
Students are expected to work on Agricultural related materials and participate in meaningful discussions.
Visitors are not allowed in the classroom.