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Department of Agriculture
Agriculture today is a diverse field requiring people of various backgrounds and expertise to ensure the continuous production of — and access to — quality foods and natural resources. Get the modern training you need at the University of Central Missouri for the agriculture or agribusiness career you desire. You’ll gain a strong understanding of production concepts and the latest techniques in agriculture.
UCM offers five paths to an agricultural career:
- Agribusiness: Combine an interest in agriculture with a desire to work in business. At UCM, you’ll get the training you need to lead any conversation or initiative, whether related to production, marketing, finance and beyond.
- Agronomy: Learn to produce abundant, quality food and fiber crops while making a difference. Study plant and soil sciences in our labs and on our farms and learn how to protect the environment while maintaining an ample supply of the earth’s bounty.
- Agriculture education: Do you want to teach high school students the importance of agriculture as it relates to their lives? Learn to become an effective educator while getting a hands-on agricultural education at UCM, where we’re known for producing quality teachers. We even offer a dual-credit option for current teachers to add agriculture to their expertise with classes that support a teacher’s schedule.
- Animal Science: Gain an understanding of the science behind the production and lives of farm animals to meet your life goals. You may improve the quantity and quality of livestock on the family farm, find exciting work in the public and private sectors or go on to become a veterinarian.
- Horticulture: Learn to bolster fruit and plant production or design beautiful landscapes or purposeful environments. Your UCM education will cover everything from the breeding of plants to their management, positioning you for a variety of horticultural careers.
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ChairDr. Michelle Santiago |
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12:1 average student-to-faculty ratio
Use of labs, farms and other facilities
Academic undergraduate research
Many Agriculture-specific scholarships
Some online courses offered
Participate in UCM’s Agriculture Club
Find your Agriculture future at UCM
Thrive in your career path with the opportunities and resources UCM’s Department of Agriculture provides:
- Real-world experiences: At UCM, we know the true value of your Agricultural education is in practical, hands-on learning that gives you the ability to interact with various stakeholders and make decisions. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to put our modern equipment and technology to use to demonstrate the techniques you’ve learned. When completing a degree, you’ll even participate in an internship — our central location in Warrensburg makes it easy to get to industry partners in Kansas City, rural areas and everywhere in between.
- Diverse facilities: Outside of our newly renovated classrooms, you’ll have access to UCM’s nearby facilities, where you can conduct research or projects to satisfy any interest. These include two UCM farms and a greenhouse — all within 5 miles of campus — as well as research labs and a dedicated computer lab for our majors.
- Networking opportunities: Build an extensive network for connections you can leverage and nurture after graduation. You may take part in one of five department-specific student organizations or other student organizations related to business or education. Meet UCM Ag alumni at our Homecoming Tailgate event, hear from industry and government professionals and join us for our career fair focused on agriculture — all on-campus events. You may also participate in off-campus trips to agriculture-related agencies and businesses.
- Expert faculty support: In small classes, you’ll get to know not only fellow students but also our expert faculty. Grow through their innovative teaching methods and learn from their real-world experience in agriculture production. They’re dedicated to your success and available to assist with your academic and professional needs and goals.
What can you do with a degree in one of UCM’s Agriculture programs?
Agriculture impacts everyone, everywhere, making your training desirable to many organizations. The strong foundation you get in all aspects of agriculture at the University of Central Missouri positions you for careers in various industries, government agencies at all levels or secondary education. Depending on your major, your opportunities may include:
- Sales representative for products such as feed, seed, chemicals, fertilizer, equipment, veterinary pharmaceuticals and more
- Agricultural loan officer or originator
- Middle or high school agriculture or science teacher
- Golf course maintenance director
- Nursery manager
- Crop consultant
- Animal science researcher
- Extension agent
- Commodity broker, merchandiser or analyst
- Government policy maker
- Animal nutritionist
- USDA soil scientist
Many UCM graduates also earn an Agriculture degree to help expand or maintain their family business or farm. Others go on to graduate school or veterinary medicine programs.
Undergraduate Majors and Minors
Experience UCM’s Department of Agriculture
If you’re a high school student or potential transfer student, experience UCM’s Department of Agriculture in these events and others:
- FFA District Ag Contests: Join hundreds of fellow agriculture enthusiasts on UCM’s Warrensburg campus and farms every year for contests related to livestock management and judging, farm management, ag mechanics, soils, agronomy and more.
- Agriculture Field Day: See the research trials our students have been conducting to inspire your own ideas or spark a new passion.
- Discover Agriculture Day: Visit our campus and tour our farms to discover what we can offer your college education and future.
- Discover UCM Day: Meet with Agriculture faculty members and get your questions answered while experiencing the UCM campus and community.
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