In accordance with Public Law Number 1 approved January 20, 1966, better known as the University Law, and Certification No. 13 of the Council of Higher Education, dated September 11, 1968, the College of Agricultural Sciences is the unit within the Mayagüez Campus where formal teaching, research, and extension in agriculture are integrated. The three functions are mutually complementary and are included under a central scheme of three-dimensional organization that includes the Faculty of Agriculture, the Agricultural Experiment Station, and the Agricultural Extension Service.
A management team, including the Dean and
Director of the
Formal
university teaching in the field of agriculture started in
At the undergraduate level, the Faculty
of Agriculture offers programs of studies leading to the Bachelor of
Agricultural Sciences in various options.
Students are trained in all areas related to the science and art of
modern agriculture, as well as in the knowledge and abilities to express
themselves. In addition, the student is
provided with opportunities for the development of an analytical, critical, and
reflective mind.
In order to accomplish these aims, the
Faculty of Agriculture offers eleven programs or options leading to the
Bachelor's degree:
(1) Agribusiness,
(2) Agricultural Economics,
(3) Agronomy-Crops,
(4) Agronomy-Soils,
(5) Animal Industry,
(6) Crop Protection,
(7) Education in Agricultural Extension,
(8) General Agriculture,
(9) Horticulture,
(10) Mechanical-Agricultural Technology, and
(11) Vocational Agriculture Education,
In addition, the Faculty offers a non-degree
program of study in Pre-Veterinary for those students who will be pursuing
studies in Veterinary Medicine.
The Faculty follows an interdisciplinary approach in its programs of study, which in addition to the various specialties in the agricultural sciences, encompass teaching in the natural sciences, social sciences, the humanities, and languages. The goal of formal teaching is to prepare the scientists and professionals needed in Puerto Rico for the development and progress of its agriculture and of its rural areas, and to provide them with the knowledge and competence essential to their field of specialization as well as with the indispensable background in sociohumanistics and the positive attitudes necessary to serve the country well. The first year of study is the same for all the options in the Faculty of Agriculture, with the exception of the Pre-Veterinary Program. From the second year on, the student takes the required courses and the professional electives of his or her fields of specialization. All the programs require the student to enroll at the end of the third year of study in a summer practicum under the supervision of a professor of the department.
The Faculty of Agriculture also offers graduate courses leading to the Master of Science Degree. The student is able to specialize in one of the following disciplines: (1) Agronomy-Crops, (2) Agronomy-Soils, (3) Horticulture, (4) Crop Protection, (5) Animal Industry, (6) Agricultural
Economics, and (7) Food Science and Technology. For information regarding these programs, the Graduate Studies Catalog of the Mayagüez Campus should be consulted.
The Agricultural Experiment Station was
originally established in 1910 as a private entity of the Sugar Producer's
Association of Puerto Rico. In 1914 it
was transferred to the Government of Puerto Rico. With the Jones Act of 1917 the Agency became
part of the Department of Agriculture and Labor, and it was given the name of
"Insular Experiment Station".
In 1933, and in
accordance with Joint Resolution No. 3 of the Legislature of Puerto Rico, the
Experiment Station was transferred to the
The role of the Agricultural Experiment
Station is to provide the scientific and technological base necessary for the
total development of the agricultural and rural sectors of
The Station has central offices and research
activities at the two main research centers, Mayagüez and Río Piedras. In addition to the main Research Centers, the
Agricultural Experiment Station has six substations with a total area of more
than 2,000 acres of land distributed in different geographical and ecological
zones of
The Agricultural
Extension Service was established in
The informal education role of
the Extension Service is developed through four main programs:
(1) Educational Programs in
Agriculture, Marketing and Natural Resources,
(2) Home Economics and Nutrition,
(3) Youth and 4-H Clubs, and the
(4) Community Resources
Development.
This
administrative unit of the
INTERNATIONAL
PROGRAMS IN AGRICULTURE
The Office of International Programs in
Agriculture adds a fourth dimension to the role of the
The programmatic and administrative
integration of formal agricultural teaching, research, and extension allows the
It
provides for the full participation of its professors, scientists, and
specialists in more than one role, in accordance with the needs, interests, and
values of the diverse clientele in agriculture and the rural sector served by the
The primary
mission of the
The formal
higher education program of
Instructional programs provide a strong foundation into the natural sciences, social sciences and humanities, and economics, which support curricula in agricultural sciences and food sciences and technology. The faculty trained in the basic and applied sciences pertaining to agriculture and related areas consists of scholars whose contributions to instruction, research and cooperative extension are recognized well beyond the reaches of this university.
In order to accomplish these aims, the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences offers programs of options leading to the Bachelor’s Degree: 1) General Agriculture, 2) Agronomy-Crops, 3) Agronomy-Soils, 4) Horticulture, 5) Animal Industry, 6)Crop Protection, 7)Agribusiness, 8) Agricultural Education Teacher preparation, 9) Agricultural Extension Education, 10) Agricultural Economics, and 11) Mechanical Agricultural Technology. In addition the Faculty offers a non-degree program of study in Pre-Veterinary Sciences for those students who will be pursing studies in veterinary medicine.
The Faculty of Agricultural Sciences also offers graduate courses and programs leading to the Master of Science Degree. Through that program and courses the students are able to specialize in the following discipline: 1) Agronomy-Crops, 2) Agronomy-Soils, 3) Animal Industry, 4) Agricultural Economics, 5) Agricultural Education, 6) Agricultural Extension Education, 7) Crop Protection, 8) Food Sciences and technology, 9) Horticulture. For more information regarding these programs, refer to the Graduate Studies Bulletin of Information.
The Co-op Program offers all qualified students majoring in Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness, Agronomy, Soil Sciences, Animal Industry, Crop Protection, Horticulture, Mechanical Technology in Agriculture and General Program in Agricultural Sciences, an opportunity to enhance their academic preparation, acquire valuable work experience, and explore career options. Through this program, students alternate terms of full-time study with term of full-time paid employment. The work experiences are supervised jointly by a
mentor in the cooperating institution (private business or government agency) and a Faculty member. A fundamental purpose of cooperative education is to give students the opportunity to learn under real-world conditions.
Student
eligibility
To be eligible for the Coop-program, students most meet the following minimum requirements.
-2.5 GPA
-completed 2 years of study
-certain courses are pre-requisites by some employers
Employment
participation
The coop organization commits, through a written agreement, to ensure student workplace learning and to evaluate the student’s work experience. While in coop work experience periods, students are considered as actual employees of the hiring organization. These include:
-student is considered an employee of the hiring organization and subject to policies and laws that relate to other employees.
-student receives compensation in the form of
wages for work performed.
-student is under the supervision of the employer and performs work assigned by it.
-Employers make hiring decisions.
The
Plan
-The work periods are integrated with the curriculum, do not occur previous to the initial school term or after the final school term has been completed.
-The student must be registered in the cooperative education course assigned and will receive six (6) credit hours in free electives for a minimum of two (2) work experiences, one of which must take place during a regular semester.
(Interdepartmental Program)
The great diversity of crop and animal
enterprises that characterize the island's agriculture requires professionals
well prepared for identification and solve the multiple and varied problem
which commonly affect agricultural enterprises, rural life, and economics and
social development.
The curriculum for the Agricultural Sciences General Program is primarily designed to prepare students for employment as agronomists or professional agriculturists. Students that graduate from this program may work in positions that require a broad general knowledge and skills in agricultural sciences.
In contrast with programs in Vocational Agricultural Education and Agricultural Extension, that has a general focus, the General Program in Agricultural Sciences offer greater opportunities for studying the technical aspects of agriculture. The student of the General Program, if interested, may also take electives in Agricultural Education or Extension Programs. A three-credit summer practice is required as part of the curriculum.
Students that graduate from this program may work in positions that require a broad general knowledge of agricultural sciences.
PROGRAMS OF STUDY
(Interdepartmental
Program)
First Semester
Number Course Credits
*ENGL 3--- First year course in
English
3
*SPAN 3101 Basic Course in Spanish 3
*MATH 3171 Pre-Calculus I 3
CHEM 3001 General Chemistry 4
PLSC 3005 Fundamentals
of Crop
Production
Or
ANIN 3005 Fundamentals
of Animal
Science 4
PHED ----
Basic Course in Physical
Education 1
18
Second Semester
*ENGL 3--- First year course in English 3
*SPAN 3102 Basic Course in Spanish 3
*MATH 3172 Pre-Calculus II 3
CHEM 3002 General
Chemistry 4
ANIN 3005 Fundamentals
of Animal
Science
Or
PLSC 3005 Fundamentals
of Crop
Production 4
PHED ---- Basic Course in Physical
Education 1
18
First Semester
ENGL 3--- Second
year course in
English 3
BIOL 3435 Elementary
Botany 4
CHEM 3061 Fundamentals
of Organic
Chemistry and
Biochemistry I 4
ECON 3021 Principles
of Economics I 3
ELECTIVES **Electives 3
17
Second Semester
ENGL 3--- Second
year course in English 3
PHCS 3091 Elements
of Physics 3
PHCS 3092 Elements
of Physics Laboratory 1
CHEM 3062 Fundamentals
of Organic
Chemistry and
Biochemistry II 4
AGED 3005 Agricultural
Orientation 1
BIOL 4015
General Zoology 3
ELECTIVES **Electives 3
18
First Semester
BIOL 3300 Genetics 3
SOSC ---- ***Elective
Course in Social
Sciences 3
CROP 4006 Tropical
Plant Pathology 3
AGRO 3005 General
Soils
3
ANIN 4005 Veterinary
Physiology 3
CROP 4008 Agricultural
Entomology 3
18
Second Semester
AGMT 4015 Agricultural
Machinery I 3
BIOL 3770 General
Microbiology 3