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COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES (AGNR)0108 Symons Hall, 301-405-2078agnr.umd.edu abrohawn@umd.edu Dean: Cheng-i Wei Associate Dean(s): Leon H. Slaughter, Dan Kugler, Adel Shirmohammadi Assistant Dean(s): Evelyn Cooper
The College of Agriculture and Natural Resources offers a variety of academic programs that apply science, management, design, and engineering to improve the world in which we live and work. Feeding the world's population, developing scientifically-based land use practices and policies, understanding animal and plant biology, improving nutrition and its effects on human health, conserving and restoring ecosystems, and profitably managing farms and agribusinesses in harmony with the environment are all vital concerns of the College. Integrating the use and protection of natural resources in the production of food and nursery crops is a challenge facing students.
Special Advantages and Facilities
Educational opportunities in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources are enhanced by the proximity of several research units of the federal government. Teaching and research activities in the College are conducted with the cooperation of scientists and professional people in government positions. Of particular interest are the National Agricultural Research Center at Beltsville, the National Agricultural Library, the National Arboretum, and the Food and Drug Administration. Admission Requirements It is recommended that students entering the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources have completed a high school preparatory course that includes: English, 4 units; mathematics, 3 units; biological and physical sciences, 3 units; and history or social sciences, 2 units. The Landscape Architecture major is a limited enrollment program (LEP). See chapter 1 for general limited-enrollment program admission policies.Undergraduate Degree Requirements/Degree Options Departments in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources offer the following programs of study: Agricultural and Resource Economics: Business Management; Agricultural Science; Environmental and Resource Policy; Food Production; International Agriculture; and Political Process.Animal Sciences: Animal Care and Management; Equine Studies; Laboratory Animal Care; Science/Preprofessional; and Animal BiotechnologyCombined Agriculture/Veterinary MedicineEnvironmental Science and Policy: Environment & Agriculture, Environmental Economics, Environmental Restoration, Soil, Water, & Land Resources, and Wildlife Resources & Conservation.Environmental Science and Technology: Concentrations in Ecological Technology Design, Environmental Health, Soil and Watershed Science, or Natural Resources Management. Advising Each student in the College is assigned a faculty advisor to assist in selecting courses, accessing academic enrichment opportunities, and making strategic career decisions. Advisors normally work with a limited number of students and are able to give individual guidance. Both freshmen entering with a definite choice of curriculum and transfer students are assigned to departmental advisors for counsel and planning of all academic programs as soon as possible. Students have access to additional advising through their home department's undergraduate program office and through the college's student services office. AGNR Peer Mentors, academically talented and university-engaged upperclassmen, provide an additional advising resource for students in the college. Specifics of advisor assignment are available in the undergraduate office of each department. Departments and Centers Undergraduate credit instruction is offered by the Departments of Animal and Avian Sciences (ANSC), Agricultural and Resource Economics (AREC), Environmental Science and Technology (ENST), Nutrition and Food Science (NFSC), and Plant Science and Landscape Architecture (PSLA). Additionally, the Environmental Science and Policy (ENSP) major is based and administered within the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources; it offers specializations advised within this college as well the colleges of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Chemical, Mathematical and Natural Sciences. Also, the Agricultural Science and Technology major within PSLA offers students the opportunity to double major in Agriculture Education. Additional courses are provided through the 2-year certificate program in the Institute of Applied Agriculture. Minors Academic Minors provide students an opportunity to expand or complement their major by taking additional courses (15-24 credits) in a coherent field of study. Students interested in a minor should contact the undergraduate program office of the department offering the minor. Currently the following are approved minors (with the offering department in parentheses) in the college: Agribusiness Economics (Agricultural and Resource Economics) Environmental Economics and Policy (Agricultural and Resource Economics) Resource and Agricultural Policy in Economic Development (Agricultural and Resource Economics) Global Poverty (Agricultural and Resource Economics) Landscape Management (Plant Science and Landscape Architecture) Soil Science (Environmental Science and Technology) Sustainability Studies (Environmental Science and Policy)
Living-Learning Programs The college sponsors, through its Environmental Science and Policy Program, the Environment, Technology and Economy curriculum in College Park Scholars. Admission to College Park Scholars is selective and by invitation only. For further information, see Undergraduate Studies, College Park Scholars Program in the Colleges and Schools section of this site. Specialized Academic Programs
The Institute of Applied Agriculture offers 60-credit certificate programs designed primarily for professional development. Options offered include Agribusiness Management, Equine Business Management, Golf Course Management, Golf Course Construction Management, Landscape Management, Ornamental Horticulture, Sports Turf Management, Sustainable Agriculture and Turfgrass Management. Some two-year program students continue on in regular four-year programs in the college and several of the college's majors allow limited use of Institute courses in their programs. The College of Agriculture and Natural Resources is the most popular choice for students who wish to pursue veterinary medicine. Two excellent majors not to be missed are housed in the Department of Animal and Avian Sciences. The Agricultural and Veterinary Medicine major offers a student an accelerated academic path with all recommended courses for veterinary school and the opportunity to apply at the end of the junior year. The Sciences/Pre-Professional major offers a student a four year academic path with all recommended courses for veterinary school and the opportunity to apply upon receipt of the bachelor of science (B.S.) degree. College Honors Program Students may apply for admission to the College Honors program after completing 60 credits with a minimum 3.2 GPA in a program within the College. Honors students work with a faculty mentor and must take at least 12 credits of honors courses including a senior thesis. Interested students should contact their faculty advisor. Approved Student Societies and Professional Organizations Student participation in professional societies, clubs, and interest groups is extensive in the college, and students find opportunity for varied expression and growth in the following organizations: AGNR Peer Mentors; AGNR Student Ambassadors; AGNR Student Council; Alpha Zeta; Alpha Gamma Rho; Animal and Avian Sciences Graduate Student Association; Block and Bridle; Collegiate 4-H; Food and Nutrition Club; Landscape Architecture Student Association; Natural Resources Management Society; Sigma Alpha; UM Equestrian Club; UM Food Science Club; UM Student Chapter of Golf Course Superintendents Association of America; and Veterinary Science Club. Financial Assistance A number of scholarships are available for students enrolled in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. These include:
AGNR Alumni Association Scholarship; AGNR General Scholarship; Arthur M. Ahalt Memorial Scholarship; Attorney General's Agricultural and Natural Resources Scholarship; Professor John Axley Memorial Scholarship; Eileen Barnett Scholarship; Beltsville Garden Club Scholarship; Bruce and Donna Berlage Scholarship; Chester F. Bletch Endowment; The College is privileged to offer additional support in the form of interest-free loans through the Catherine Brinkley Loan Fund which are available to students who are residents of Maryland and progressing in programs within the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Awards The Agriculture and Natural Resources Alumni Chapter provides recognition each year for the Outstanding Senior in the two-year and four-year programs. Research Units Maryland Agricultural Experiment Station The Maryland Agricultural Experiment Station (MAES) supports research conducted primarily by 120 faculty scientists located within the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Faculty use state-of-the-art facilities such as a new Research Greenhouse Complex and Environmental Simulator, as well as 10 off-campus research locations, for research in the science, business, policy, and practice of agriculture. MAES supports research that benefits consumers and producers alike; for example, our significant focus on the environment protects valuable natural resources such as the Chesapeake Bay. Undergraduate students also benefit from mentoring by MAES-supported faculty and instructional use of MAES facilities statewide. University of Maryland Extension The University of Maryland Extension educates citizens in the application of practical, research-based knowledge to critical issues in agricultural and agribusiness including aquaculture; natural resources and the environment; human development, nutrition, diet, and health; youth development and 4-H; and family and community leadership. The statewide program includes more than 180 faculty and support staff located in 23 counties, the City of Baltimore, four regional centers, and the University of Maryland's College Park and Eastern Shore campuses. In addition, more than 15,000 volunteers and citizens in Maryland give generously of their time and energy. Center for Food Safety and Security Systems (CFS3) The Center for Food Safety and Security Systems (CFS3) provides world-class research, education and outreach on issues related to food and water defense, safety and protection. Housed in the Department of Nutrition and Food Science, this new center will provide additional opportunity for students to become involved in issues of significance for homeland security. For information on CFS3, please see agresearch.umd.edu/CFS3/index.cfm or call 301-405-0773.
Harry R. Hughes Center for Agro-Ecology, Inc.
The Harry R. Hughes Center for Agro-Ecology, Inc. is a private, non-profit 501 (c) 3 organization affiliated with the
Joint Institute For Food Safety and Nutrition The Joint Institute For Food Safety and Nutrition (JIFSAN), established between the US FDA and the University of Maryland in 1996, is a jointly administered research and education program. For information on JIFSAN, see www.jifsan.umd.edu/ or call 301-405-8382. Northeastern Regional Aquaculture Center
The Northeastern Regional Aquaculture Center (NRAC) is one of five Regional Aquaculture Centers established by the U. S. Congress for the
Student Engagement and Service Units Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Maryland Campus College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Valerie Ragan, Director, Center for Public and Corporate Veterinary Medicine Email: vragan@umd.edu The Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine is operated by the University of Maryland and the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Each year, 30 Maryland and 50 Virginia residents comprise the entering class of a four-year program leading to a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM). The first three years are given at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Virginia. The final year of instruction is given at several locations, including the University of Maryland, College Park. A student desiring admission to the college must complete the pre-veterinary requirements and apply for admission to the professional curriculum. Admission to this program is competitive, and open to all Maryland residents. All Maryland residents' applications are processed at the College of Veterinary Medicine, Maryland Campus, University of Maryland, College Park.
Institute of Applied Agriculture (Two-Year Certificate Program) The Institute of Applied Agriculture (IAA) awards academic certificates in Agricultural Business Management, Golf Course Management, Golf Course Construction Management, Landscape Management, Ornamental Horticulture, Sports Turf Management, Sustainable Agriculture and Turfgrass Management. As a two-year program, the IAA has a separate admission policy. Upon completion of the program, students are welcome to transfer to the University of Maryland, College Park; University of Maryland University College; and other schools. For more information about the IAA, its admissions procedures, and requirements, contact the Institute of Applied Agriculture, 2123 Jull Hall, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742-2525.
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