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> International Agricultural Studies
International Agricultural Studies
Contact: Associate Dean James Marcum
Office: 113 Stockbridge
Phone: 545-4204
The Field
The human population of
the world is increasing at a rate of approximately 225,000 people per
day. Estimates suggest that the world food production must almost double
in the next thirty years if we are to maintain our current (inadequate)
nutritional levels, and it must triple if we are to achieve an adequate
diet for everyone. A specialization in the International Agricultural
Studies Program prepares agricultural scientists for careers involving
increased production and improved distribution of world food and other
biological resource products. The challenge and potential satisfaction
of involvement with the worldwide effort to increase food consumption
and improve food distribution should appeal to students whose goal is
to serve humanity.
The Program
Requirements:
Students choose a major
from among the agricultural majors offered in the College of Food and
Natural Resources and carry a specialty of International Studies to supplement
the chosen major.
In addition to courses
required for the student's major, the following courses have been selected
to help prepare students to work effectively in other cultures and areas
of the world.
Students must complete
the following two courses:
RES EC 121 World Food Opportunities
and
Constraints
PLSOIL 370 Tropical Agriculture
Students must complete
five of the following courses:
ANTH 104 Culture, Society,
and People
ANTH a regionally focused course (such as 470 or 473)
ECON 366 Economic Development
EDUC 229 International Education
POLSCI an internationally focused course (such as 354,
356, 357) or one of the Political Science Departments's courses on a Third
World region
SOCIOL a social change course (such
as 327 or 332)
Many other courses in the same departments, especially
those which focus on a specific part of the developing world, are appropriate
for this specialization in International Agricultural Studies. Students
who take at least seven of the listed courses or approved substitutes
have their completion of the Special Program in International Agriculture
noted on their transcripts and receive a letter to that effect.
An overseas professional
experience in an agricultural development program (at the village level,
if possible) is considered essential preparation for a career in International
Agriculture. Students with this career goal are urged to volunteer for
two years' service in the Peace Corps or a similar organization upon completion
of the B.S. degree.
Career Opportunities
B.S. degree holders find
few overseas job opportunities except with the Peace Corps and similar
volunteer organizations. Most students who wish to pursue careers in the
field of International Agriculture should plan to continue their education
beyond the B.S. degree.
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