Program Requirements

First Semester

Course #Course TitleCreditsPrerequisites/Comments

093-110Introduction to Agronomy2This class provides a fundamental introduction to the agronomy careers and opportunities. Through hands on, in-person tours and site visits students will have a basic understanding of the opportunities agronomy careers have to offer.

093-112Precision Farming2This class provides students with an in depth look at all areas of precision farming specifically related to the field equipment. Basic GPS, auto guidance, row clutches, implement steering, drone technology and variations and combinations of both are main topics in this class. Students will learn to calibrate, set up, and operate various precision farming equipment.

093-114Plant Protection Products2This course focuses on the study and application of crop protection products used on agronomic crops in the upper Midwest. Specific areas of study include chemical classification, of action in plants, injury symptoms, resistance in plants and pests, mixing and loading concerns, application methods and concerns, record keeping and posting requirements and the chemical's application to precision agriculture. Students will be required to take the Commercial Pesticide Applicator Certification exam as part of the course.

093-116Introductory Soils3Provides fundamental knowledge of soils and growth media. Course topics include soil formation and development, soil components, soil profile, soil classification, and soil conservation. Participants will experience soils concepts through the completion of hands-on activities.

093-118Agriculture Equipment2This course provides fundamentals of calibration and maintenance of planting, seeding, and harvesting, equipment, including emphasis on precision agricultural concepts. By the end of the course, participants will have the skills and knowledge to operate, maintain, and calibrate agriculture equipment components.

801-136English Composition 13This course is designed for learners to develop knowledge and skills in all aspects of the writing process. Planning, organizing, writing, editing, and revising are applied through a variety of activities. Students will analyze audience and purpose, use elements of research and format documents using standard guidelines. Individuals will develop critical reading skills through analysis of various written documents.

804-134Mathematical Reasoning3All college students, regardless of their college major, need to be able to make reasonable decisions about fiscal, environmental, and health issues that require quantitative reasoning skills. An activity based approach is used to explore numerical relationships, graphs, proportional relationships, algebraic reasoning, and problem solving using linear, exponential and other mathematical models. Students will develop conceptual and procedural tools that support the use of key mathematical concepts in a variety of contexts. This course may be used as the first of a two part sequence that ends with Quantitative Reasoning as the capstone general education math requirement.

TOTAL CREDITS:17 

Second Semester

Course #Course TitleCreditsPrerequisites/Comments

091-188Feed Analysis21st 8 weeksProvides an understanding of the needs of livestock from a feed perspective. Specific details for forage crops and grain quality and how they relate to livestock feed and nutrition will be taught using hands on technology and tools.

093-122Nutrient Management2Winter TermThis course will review soil chemistry, plant required nutrients, soil testing, soil test interpretation, liming soils, soil fertilizers, fertilizer analysis, methods of fertilizer application, manure applications, environmental concerns about fertilizer applications, and economics of fertilizer use. Emphasis will be on the profitable use of fertilizers in crop production.

093-124Pest Management11st 8 weeksThis course will help students with identifying common field pests for corn, soybeans, and alfalfa crops. Weeds, insects, and fungi are just a few of the topics for identification and management. Management practices that include biological, mechanical, and chemical are all included as part of Pest Management class.

093-126Precision Field Applications 112nd 8 weeks | Program studentThis course is 40-hours of hands on time in the field using various farm equipment. Students in the Precision Field Applications 1 course will be responsible for planting the Crop Education Plot, CVTC farmland, and other farms as time allows. Students will be responsible for setting up equipment, proper operation of equipment and the chemical and seed recommendations for the farms.

093-128Plant Science21st 8 weeksProvides fundamental knowledge of plant components and their functions. Topics include pollinating and propagating plants, germinating seeds, plant nutrients, and factors affecting photosynthesis, respiration, and transpiration.

093-129Plant Science Lab11st 8 weeksThis course enhances the lecture portion of the Plant Science class and provides learners with hands-on labs relating to general plant science and crop production techniques. This course will prepare learners to properly identify crop growth stages, find nutrient deficiencies, and determine factors that impact plant growth.

458-307CDL License Training-Online21st 8 weeks | Program studentProvides current rules and regulations training regarding driving a tractor-trailer through online delivery.

458-308CDL License Training-Pre-Trip1Winter Term | 458-307 and (458-309 or 458-310 or concurrent)Provides skills related to earning a CDL for students whose primary career is not driving. Pre-trip inspection procedures and backing exercises.

458-309CDL License Training - Lab12nd 8 weeks | 458-307 and 458-308 or concurrentProvides skills related to earning a CDL for students whose primary career is not driving. Pre-trip inspection, backing, shifting and driving techniques with a tractor trailer are covered.

801-196Oral/Interpersonal Comm31st 8 weeksFocuses on developing effective listening techniques and verbal and nonverbal communication skills through oral presentation, group activity, and other projects. The study of self, conflict, and cultural contexts will be explored, as well as their impact on communication.

TOTAL CREDITS:16 

Summer Term

Course #Course TitleCreditsPrerequisites/Comments

093-130Agronomy Internship1Summer Term | Program studentThe Agronomy Internship is 190 hours of On-the-Job Training: This course is required for all students in the Precision Agronomy Management Associate Degree Program. Provides students work experience in an area of their choice and complements on-campus instructional program. Potential for full-time employment for program graduates is available.

093-132Crop Scouting2Summer TermThe course will focus on scouting practices for the common pests of corn, alfalfa, and soybeans. Students will learn the traditional crop scouting methods as well as using the new drone (UAS) technology. Diagnosing problem areas in the field and giving recommendations will be the key topic of this course.

TOTAL CREDITS:3 

Third Semester

Course #Course TitleCreditsPrerequisites/Comments

006-140Agriculture Sales2Provides basic knowledge of agribusiness sales and marketing. Topics include recognizing potential customers and building a positive customer relationship, designing marketing plans, and using marketing and sales databases. The concepts will be presented using hands-on activities.

093-107Precision Management2This course will focus on the use of commercial computer software programs specifically designed to facilitate crop production and management. This course ties in the Precision Farming equipment from in the field to the computer to manipulate and manage the date using various software packages that agronomists and producers use on a day-to-day basis.

093-134Precision Field Applications 21Students will have a continuation of the Precision Field Applications 1 course, this one happening during harvest season. Students will be responsible for setting up harvesting equipment and harvesting the crops. They will also be responsible for any fall tillage work that may be done on the CVTC farmland.

093-136Row Crop Management2This course will focus on the cultural practices important in the profitable production of row crops common to Wisconsin (corn and soybeans). Specific attention will be given to seed bed preparation, planting, variety selection, fertilization, weed control, insect control, disease control, harvesting, drying and storing corn and soybeans. Budgeting the row crop enterprise will be covered in instruction.

806-342Science for Technical Trades2804-360 or 804-360D or 804-360E or 804-361 or 804-363 or 804-134Provides an introduction to basic physical principles involved in precision measurement, mechanics, hydraulics, thermodynamics, and electronics to students. Practical utilization of these principles in various technologies is analyzed with reinforcement from problem solving and laboratory exercises.

809-198Intro to Psychology3This introductory course in psychology is a survey of the multiple aspects of human behavior. It involves a survey of the theoretical foundations of human functioning in such areas as learning, motivation, emotions, personality, deviance and pathology, physiological factors, and social influences. Additional topics include research methods, biological and environmental impacts, development, sensation and perception, consciousness, intelligence and stress. This course directs the student to an insightful understanding of the complexities of human relationships in personal, social, and vocational settings.

TOTAL CREDITS:12 

Fourth Semester

Course #Course TitleCreditsPrerequisites/Comments

006-130Agribusiness Financial Mgmt2Winter TermThis course focuses on the principles of financial and business management for agricultural businesses with a major focus on farms. Emphasis is given to business types, enterprise budgets, cash flow analysis, tools for analyzing financial decisions, interpreting balance sheets and other financial statements, obtaining credit and comparing methods of reducing price variations.

006-138Agriculture Marketing21st 12 weeksThis course will apply supply and demand economic principles to the marketing of agricultural commodities with a large focus on grains. This course will focus on the development of marketing strategies for agricultural commodities using cash sales, forward contracts, hedging, and options.

093-140Fertilizer Systems & Tech21st 12 weeksThis class will focus specifically on the use of pull-type and self-propelled spray equipment. Upon completion of the course students will be able to calibrate and operate spray equipment. This class also will give students the perspective of different cooperative fertilizer operations and equipment. Students will be able to calibrate fertilizer spreaders upon class completion.

093-142Agronomy Capstone Project11st 12 weeksThe purpose of the capstone course is for the students to apply knowledge acquired during the Precision Agronomy Management program to design a project required for Technical Skills Attainment for the WTCS system. During the project, students engage in the entire process of solving some real-world agronomy scenarios. This is a last semester course only.

093-144Crop Planning21st 12 weeksThis course explores crop rotations and farm financial diversification. The learner will apply topics in tillage and soil management practices, alternative farm income, cover crops, spray residues and residuals, crop insurance, government programs, and total farm planning. The learner will achieve the course competencies through a variety of projects, scenarios, and skills demonstration.

809-195Economics31st 12 weeksDesigned to give an overview of how a market-oriented economic system operates, and it surveys the factors which influence national economic policy. Basic concepts and analyses are illustrated by reference to a variety of contemporary problems and public policy issues. Concepts include scarcity, resources, alternative economic systems, growth, supply and demand, monetary and fiscal policy, inflation, unemployment and global economic issues.

TOTAL CREDITS:12