Meeting Times, Location, & Course Delivery Details
This course meets in person three times per week: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:10–10:10 AM. Class sessions will include a mix of lectures, discussions, group activities, videos, and presentations.
Students are expected to actively participate, come prepared having completed assigned readings, and engage with both instructor-led and peer-led components of the course. While most course content will be delivered during scheduled sessions, supplemental materials and assignments will be posted to Blackboard, where students should check regularly for updates.
Contact Information
Upon successful completion of this course...
- Understand the role of soils in the cultivation and production of grain, forage and fiber crops.
- Understand the "timeline" of an animal species lifecycle from birth to maturity.
- Understand livestock anatomy and physiology.
- Understand marketing skills essential to agricultural business.
- Develop finance and management plans in production agricultures.
- Develop production management skills essential to agricultural business.
There is no required textbook for this course. All readings, peer-reviewed articles, and supplemental materials will be provided by the instructor and posted on Blackboard. Students are expected to check Blackboard regularly for updates, reading assignments, and class resources.
- Explain core principles of agroecology and compare them to industrial and conventional agricultural systems, including their ecological, economic, and social dimensions.
- Evaluate the historical development of agriculture and identify key transitions that shaped modern food systems, including the Green Revolution and industrial intensification.
- Analyze sustainability in agriculture through the lens of the "Three Pillars" (environmental, economic, and social) and apply these principles to real-world farming scenarios.
- Interpret the role of biodiversity, soil health, pest management, and climate change in shaping agroecosystem resilience and productivity.
- Critically assess regenerative agriculture, integrated crop–livestock systems, and other emerging models in terms of ecological function, productivity, and equity.
- Examine how agricultural policy, power structures, and global inequalities influence food access, environmental outcomes, and farmer livelihoods.
Tentative Schedule
| Week | Date | Topic | Material | Assignment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8/24/2026 | Syllabus | Intro to Agroecology | |
| 8/26/2026 | What is Agroecology? | 10 Elements of Agroecology | ||
| 8/28/2026 | What is Agroecology? | 10 Elements of Agroecology Group Activity | Assignment 1: Intro to Agroecology | |
| 2 | 8/31/2026 | History of Agriculture | Why Study History of Ag? | |
| 9/2/2026 | History of Agriculture | History of Ag | ||
| 9/4/2026 | History of Agriculture | History of Ag Group Activity | Assignment 2: History of Ag | |
| 3 | 9/7/2026 | Labor Day- No Class | ||
| 9/9/2026 | Industrial vs. Agroecological Ag | The Pristine Myth | ||
| 9/11/2026 | Industrial vs. Agroecological Ag | Industrial vs. Agroecology | Assignment 3: SYSK- What Will Farming 4.0 Look Like? | |
| 4 | 9/14/2026 | Sustainability & Agriculture | Sustainability & Agriculture | |
| 9/16/2026 | Sustainability & Agriculture | Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) | ||
| 9/18/2026 | Sustainability & Agriculture | Agriculture's Moral Dilemmas and the Need | Assignment 4: Podcast from Journal Article | |
| 5 | 9/21/2026 | Farming Practices & Soil Health | Soil as a Living System | |
| 9/23/2026 | Farming Practices & Soil Health | Soil Food Web | ||
| 9/25/2026 | Farming Practices & Soil Health | "Dirt" A Documentary About Saving Our Soil | Assignment 5: Soil as a Living System | |
| 6 | 9/28/2026 | Biodiversity in Cropping Systems | Biodiversity in Cropping Systems | |
| 9/30/2026 | Biodiversity in Cropping Systems | Svalbard Seed Vault | ||
| 10/2/2026 | Biodiversity in Cropping Systems | Create a Rasied Bed Comanion System | Assignment 6: SYSK: Permaculture | |
| 7 | 10/5/2026 | Native & Invasive Plants | Kayla Wise; OSU: Mushroom Cultivation | |
| 10/7/2026 | Native & Invasive Plants | Native & Invasive Plants | ||
| 10/9/2026 | Native & Invasive Plants | Secret Life of Bees | Assignment 7: Current Events & Invasive Species | |
| 8 | 10/12/2026 | Crop of Interest Presentations | ||
| 10/14/2026 | Crop of Interest Presentations/ Midterm Review | |||
| 10/16/2026 | Midterm Exam | |||
| 9 | 10/19/2026 | Fall Break- No Class | ||
| 10/21/2026 | Integrated Pest Management (IPM) | Integrated Pest Management | ||
| 10/23/2026 | Integrated Pest Management (IPM) | FRAC Mode of Action Groups | ||
| 10 | 10/26/2026 | Integrated Pest Management (IPM) | Biological Controls | |
| 10/28/2026 | Integrated Pest Management (IPM) | Assignment 8: Create an IPM | ||
| 10/30/2026 | Integrated Pest Management (IPM) | |||
| 11 | 11/2/2026 | Climate Change & Agriculture | Climate Change & Agriculture | |
| 11/4/2026 | Climate Change & Agriculture | IPCC Report | ||
| 11/6/2026 | Climate Change & Agriculture | Carbon Footprint Calculator | Assingment 9: Carbon Footprint Calculator | |
| 12 | 11/9/2026 | Agricultural Policy & Power | Agricultural Policy & Power | |
| 11/11/2026 | Agricultural Policy & Power | Farm Bill | ||
| 11/13/2026 | Agricultural Policy & Power | Assignment 10: Farm Bill | ||
| 13 | 11/16/2026 | Food Security & Equity in Agriculture | Food Security and Equity | |
| 11/18/2026 | Food Security & Equity in Agriculture | The Shocking Truth About Food Security | ||
| 11/20/2026 | Food Security & Equity in Agriculture | UN: The 17 Goals | Assignment 11: Food Security | |
| 14 | 11/23/2026 | Food Security & Equity in Agriculture | ||
| 11/25/2026 | Thanksgiving Break- No Class | |||
| 11/27/2026 | Thanksgiving Break- No Class | |||
| 15 | 11/30/2026 | Global Ag | Global Agriculture | |
| 12/2/2026 | Global Ag | Exotic Foods | ||
| 12/4/2026 | Global Ag | Assignment 12: Technology Advancment | ||
| 16 | 12/7/2026 | Final Exam Review | ||
| 12/9/2026 | Final Exam Review | |||
| Final Exam | 12/11/26 8:00-10:00AM |
Subject to change during the semester. Adequate notice of changes will be given.
Plant-Based Crop Research Project
Students will research a global or local agricultural crop and present their findings in a short (~10 minute) in-class presentation supported by visuals. The assignment includes:
Part 1: Crop Basics
- Crop name (common and scientific)
- Environmental requirements (soil, temperature, water, etc.)
- Typical regions of cultivation
- Scale of production (small, large, or both)
Part 2: Sustainability & Agroecology
- Ecological and sustainability challenges associated with production
- Agroecological or sustainable practices used to address these challenges
- Role in cropping systems (e.g., intercropping, crop rotations, cover cropping)
- Contributions to biodiversity and ecosystem services
Part 3: Economic & Social Dimensions
- Who grows the crop (smallholders, large farms, or both)
- Market scale and distribution
- Advantages and challenges for producers
- Labor, equity, or land access considerations
Students must cite a minimum of five credible sources. Presentations should clearly explain the crop’s relevance to agroecology and sustainable food systems.
Agroecology Friday Presentation
Throughout the semester, students will sign up for one Agroecology Friday presentation. Students will select a recent news article, research study, agricultural innovation, policy issue, or real-world example related to agroecology and deliver a brief presentation to the class.
Presentations should:
- Summarize the topic and its significance
- Explain how it relates to agroecological principles discussed in class
- Highlight ecological, economic, and/or social implications
- Facilitate brief class discussion by posing at least one discussion question
Presentations should be approximately 5–10 minutes in length and include appropriate visual aids. Students are expected to use credible sources and demonstrate thoughtful connections between course concepts and current issues in agriculture.
Blackboard Discussion Assignments
Throughout the semester, students will complete online discussion assignments designed to encourage reflection and application of course concepts.
- Twelve discussion assignments will be completed during the semester
- Students are expected to submit thoughtful, complete, and relevant responses to the discussion prompts
- Responses should demonstrate engagement with course materials and critical thinking
Midterm Exam
- Completed during class
- Covers material from approximately Weeks 1–7
- May include multiple-choice, short-answer, and applied problem-solving questions
Final Exam
- Administered during the scheduled final exam period
- Comprehensive and may include material from the entire semester
- May include multiple-choice, short-answer, and applied problem-solving questions
In-Class Group Activities
Throughout the semester, students will participate in collaborative, hands-on activities designed to apply lecture concepts to real-world agroecological systems.
- Eight in-class activities will be completed during the semester
- Activities may include case studies, simulations, debates, system design exercises, field observations, and problem-solving challenges
- Active participation, preparation, and engagement are expected
- Activities must generally be completed during class and cannot always be made up if missed
Attendance & Participation
Regular attendance and active participation are essential components of this course. Students are expected to come to class prepared, contribute to discussions, engage respectfully with classmates, and participate in course activities.
Participation may include:
- Contributing to class discussions
- Engaging in small-group activities
- Asking questions and sharing insights
- Demonstrating preparation for class
- Professional and respectful classroom conduct
Attendance alone does not guarantee full participation credit. Students who are present but consistently disengaged may receive reduced participation points.
The grading scale will be as follows:
| Assignment Type | Points |
|---|---|
| Plant-Based Crop Research Project | 50 |
| Agroecology Friday Presentation | 50 |
| Blackboard Discussion Assignments (12 × 10 pts) | 120 |
| Midterm Exam | 100 |
| Final Exam | 100 |
| In-Class Group Activities (8 × 10 pts) | 80 |
| Attendance & Participation | 20 |
| Total | 520 |
| Letter Grade | Percentage Range |
|---|---|
| A | ≥ 95.99% |
| A− | 95.98% – 91.00% |
| B+ | 90.99% – 88.00% |
| B | 87.99% – 85.00% |
| B− | 84.99% – 82.00% |
| C+ | 81.99% – 79.00% |
| C | 78.99% – 76.00% |
| C− | 75.99% – 72.00% |
| D+ | 71.99% – 69.00% |
| D | 68.99% – 65.00% |
| F | < 65.00% |
Instructor Course Policies
Regular attendance and active participation are expected in this course and contribute to the overall course grade. Because much of our learning occurs through discussions, collaborative activities, case studies, and applied exercises, students are expected to attend class regularly and engage meaningfully with course content and classmates.
Participation may include contributing to class discussions, engaging in group activities, asking thoughtful questions, demonstrating preparation for class, and maintaining professional and respectful classroom conduct. Attendance alone does not guarantee full participation credit.
In-class activities are designed to provide hands-on learning experiences and often cannot be fully replicated outside of class. As a result, missed participation and activity points may not always be eligible for make-up work. If you must miss class due to illness, a family emergency, or another extenuating circumstance, please notify me as soon as possible. Alternative arrangements may be considered at the instructor’s discretion.
Frequent absences, whether excused or unexcused, may negatively affect both participation grades and overall success in the course.
See the current Student Handbook for the college's Attendance Policy, especially as it pertains to excused absences.
All students are expected to uphold the highest standards of academic integrity. This means submitting your own work, properly citing sources, and collaborating only when explicitly permitted. Acts of academic dishonesty, including plagiarism, cheating on exams, falsifying data, or unauthorized collaboration, will not be tolerated.
Any violation of this policy will result in disciplinary action, which may include a zero on the assignment, failure in the course, or referral to the college’s academic conduct board. If you are ever unsure about what constitutes appropriate collaboration or citation, please ask before submitting your work.
See the current Student Handbook for the college's Academic Integrity policies as they pertain to examinations, plagiarism, classroom behavior, and the process for handling academic misconduct charges.
Institutional and Program-Level Policies
All exams will follow the Final Exam Schedule. Students scheduled to take three or more final examinations on one day may request to arrange their examination schedule, so no more than two exams occur on one day.
Requests for early or late exams are considered only under extreme circumstances. Prior to the exam period, the student must file a written request on the Early/Late Exam Form available in the Student One Stop Center, Academic Records, and on the WC portal. The form must be signed by the Instructor and the Academic Dean, approving the alternate exam time. This process must be completed prior to the scheduled exam period.
Undergraduate: FA26 Final Exam Schedule
Out-of-class Work Expectation A minimum of 2 hours of out-of-class student work is expected for each hour of in-class time for traditional face-to-face courses. For online and hybrid courses, the combination of face-to-face time and out-of-class work should be equal to 3 hours per credit hour per week. |
Instructional Course Delivery Definition of Courses |
Academic Integrity Policy The use of generative AI is prohibited except where expressly allowed in assignment instructions. Academic Integrity Policy |
Class Attendance Policy Institutional Class Attendance Policy |