COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES

 

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

 

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 College of Agricultural Sciences, the Associate Dean and Assistant Director of the Agricultural Experiment Station, the Associate Dean and Assistant Director of the Agricultural Extension Service, and the Associate Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture imparts direction to the plans and programs of the College of Agricultural Sciences.  The Coordinator of International Programs in Agriculture adds a new dimension to the College of Agricultural Sciences.

AREAS OF STUDY

 

Formal university teaching in the field of agriculture started in Puerto Rico in 1911 with the establishment at Mayagüez of the College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts.  The Faculty of Agriculture is responsible for higher learning in the agricultural sciences and its basic function is performed at three different levels.  The emphasis is on the Bachelor's program, but it includes a non-degree program in Pre-Veterinary and graduate studies at the Master's level.

 

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.

 

AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION

 

 

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 University of Puerto Rico.  This transfer was made in accordance with the spirit of the Hatch Act approved in 1887, and by virtue of the laws supplementing it, which were extended to Puerto Rico in 1931.

 

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 Puerto Rico, in accordance with public policies and agricultural priorities of the local Department of Agriculture.  As part of its functions, the Experiment Station also conducts agro-industrial research dealing with the processing of agricultural products, the preservation of fresh and processed food products, the development of high quality rums, and the solution of problems related to the conservation of environmental quality.  In each field, activities are developed in both basic and applied research.

 

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 Puerto Rico.  The centers at Adjuntas and Corozal are in the central, humid and mountainous region.  These at Lajas and Fortuna are in the dry, flat and coastal southern region.  The center at Isabela is in the semi arid region of the northwest and at Gurabo is in the humid northern region of the island of Puerto Rico.  This wide distribution allows the evaluation of different crops and animal systems in the ecological zones where they are better adapted.

 

AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICE

 

The Agricultural Extension Service was established in Puerto Rico in 1934 through an understanding between the United States Department of Agriculture and the University of Puerto Rico.  Its basic aims are to aid in maintaining a prosperous agriculture, improve the quality of family life, and provide an adequate orientation and guidance for youth and for community resources development.

 

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 College of Agricultural Sciences has two main offices located at Mayagüez and Río Piedras, and five regional offices located in municipalities within the five agricultural regions of Puerto Rico (San Juan, Arecibo, Mayagüez, Ponce and Caguas).  In addition, its 69 local offices fulfill its educational functions by serving the 78 municipalities of Puerto Rico.  In each of the areas served by the Agricultural Extension Service, a citizen's committee cooperates with the professional personnel in the preparation and development of annual work plans for the agency, which correspond to the needs of the Puerto Rican people.

 

INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS IN AGRICULTURE

 

The Office of International Programs in Agriculture adds a fourth dimension to the role of the College of Agricultural Sciences.  The office administers a number of training and research programs in tropical agriculture, mainly through the use of external funds provided to the University by international agencies, particularly by the Agency for International Development (AID).  The Mayagüez Campus is one of the two land grant universities in the tropics, and the only one where Spanish is the native language (although the English language is also used intensively).  For this and other reasons, the Campus provides a unique setting, and to some extent is in a privileged position, to serve as an international center for studies, training and research in the field of agriculture.

 

INTEGRATION OF ROLES

 

The programmatic and administrative integration of formal agricultural teaching, research, and extension allows the College of Agricultural Sciences to use its human and physical resources to a maximum capacity.

 

 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 College of Agricultural Sciences.

 

MISSION AND RESPONSIBILITY OF THE COLLEGE

 

The primary mission of the College of Agricultural Sciences is to help Puerto Rico realize its maximum potential for agricultural development and to contribute to the solution of many social, economic, environmental and cultural problems of concern to the people of Puerto Rico, the Caribbean Region and the USA.  The vital development mission is carried out thorough the three closely related functions of formal higher education, research and extension.

 

The formal higher education program of College of Agricultural Sciences conducted through the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences are concerned with the education of young men and women to serve in the Puerto Rico growing and increasingly complex agricultural industry. The curricula for the different fields of study are structured to provide the business, technological and basic science education necessary for graduates to meet the ever changing needs of the diverse and highly specialized agriculture and related business and industries.

 

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.

 

COOPERATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM

 

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.

 

GENERAL PROGRAM IN AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES

(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

 

CURRICULUM: 

GENERAL PROGRAM IN AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES

(Interdepartmental Program)

FIRST YEAR

 

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

 SECOND YEAR

 

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

THIRD YEAR

 

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