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Agribusiness Technology

Agribusiness Logo

From developing sustainable supply-chain solutions to modernizing farming practices and techniques, agribusiness technology offers many opportunities in a rapidly growing and vitally important field. In our Agribusiness Technology program, you'll develop the entrepreneurial and technical skills to manage a profitable, environmentally sound, community-based small farm or agricultural business in classes that focus on science and technology.

After you've finished, you'll be prepared to pursue jobs in equipment, feed, and agricultural supply sales; store management; farm operations; wholesale and retail produce management; nursery operations; and environmental and agricultural education. And if working at a zoo is something that interests you, our special Zoological Horticulture Certificate program partners with the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro to give you hands-on experience designing and caring for the plant environments at zoos and within animal habitats.

[A15100]

Courses for this A.A.S. degree program are offered day, evening, online and/or hybrid. Courses for this program are offered in 8-week and/or 16-week terms.

First Year: Fall Semester (16 Semester Hours Credit)

  • ACA 111 - College Student Success 
  • ACC 120 - Prin of Financial Accounting
  • AGR 139 - Intro to Sustainable Ag
  • BUS 110 - Introduction to Business
  • ENG 111 - Expository Writing
  • HOR 150 - Intro to Horticulture

First Year: Spring Semester (18 Semester Hours Credit)

Second Year: Fall Semester (16 Semester Hours Credit)

Second Year: Spring Semester (17 Semester Hours Credit)

Total Semester Hours Credit: 67

Humanities/Fine Arts Electives (choose one)

ART 111 - Art Appreciation
HUM 115 - Critical Thinking
MUS 110 - Music Appreciation
PHI 215 - Philosophical Issues
PHI 240 - Introduction to Ethics

Social/Behavioral Science Electives (choose one)

ECO 251 - Prin of Microeconomics
ECO 252 - Prin of Macroeconomics
GEO 111 - World Regional Geography
HIS 111 - World Civilizations I
HIS 112 - World Civilizations II
HIS 131 - American History I
HIS 132 - American History II
POL 120 - American Government
PSY 150 - General Psychology
SOC 210 - Introduction to Sociology

[C15100]

Courses for this certificate program are offered day, evening, online and/or hybrid. Courses for this program are offered in 8-week and/or 16-week terms.

First Year: Fall Semester (6 Semester Hours Credit)

  • BUS 139 - Intro to Sustainable Ag
  • BUS 110 - Introduction to Business

First Year: Spring Semester (6 Semester Hours Credit)

  • AGR 110 - Agriculture Economics
  • CIS 110 - Introduction to Computers

Total Semester Hours Credit: 12

[C15100H]

Courses for this certificate program are offered day, evening, online and/or hybrid.

First Year: Fall Semester (7 Semester Hours Credit)

First Year: Spring Semester (5 Semester Hours Credit)

First Year: Summer Semester (3 Semester Hours Credit)

Total Semester Hours Credit: 15

*Click here to learn more about the specific requirements and expectations for work-based learning at the N.C. Zoo.

Interested in transferring to a four-year university to complete a bachelor’s degree? We have partnerships with North Carolina A&T State University and the University of Mount Olive that allow students who have completed their Associate Degree in Agribusiness Technology to transfer their credits to earn a bachelor’s degree!

North Carolina A&T University

University of Mount Olive

Upon successful completion of the Agribusiness Technology program, the student should be able to:

  • Describe the role of Agribusiness in the US and how it impacts the local community.
  • Describe sustainable land care practices and how they impact soil and water quality.
  • Discuss various agriculture economic principles and articulate the impact that those principles have on domestic and global economics.
  • Explain the basic laws affecting the agriculture industry.
  • Explain the role of marketing in Agribusiness Technology and apply core marketing principles to the development of Agribusiness strategy and decision-making process.
  • Identify and treat soil and crop pest issues in the field of agriculture.
  • Create and maintain agribusiness records.

These curriculum are designed to provide the entrepreneurial and technical skills necessary to manage a profitable, environmentally sound, community based small farm or agricultural business. The objective is the development of a workforce knowledgeable in sustainable agriculture practices. To effectively train Agribusiness professionals, the performance of certain functions is incorporated throughout the program. Faculty and students are required to demonstrate proficiency of these functions in the Agribusiness Technology program. The essential functions include:

  1. Critical Thinking: critical thinking ability sufficient to gather relevant information, interpret data, recognize problems, and use a process to make informed, independent decisions that show good judgment. For example, profiling and writing a plan to control agricultural pests.
  2. Interpersonal Skills: interpersonal abilities sufficient to interact with co-workers and clients, function and contribute as part of a team, to be accountable for self and others, and maintain appropriate hygiene for an office environment. For example, the ability to interact effectively with other members on a team project.
  3. Communication Skills: speak English, write English, listen and comprehend written and spoken words, and communicate information and ideas so others will understand. Computer skills sufficient to complete course assignments. For example, the ability to communicate problems in completing a project with an instructor and submitting assignments through the learning management system.
  4. Mobility: mobility sufficient for classroom and office settings. Mobility sufficient for outdoor settings in varied terrain. For example, being able to move through a pasture.
  5. Motor Skills: motor skills sufficient to be able to sit for extended periods of time. Motor skills sufficient to use various hand tools as well as office equipment including computers. For example, being able to use a shovel or a keyboard.
  6. Hearing: hearing ability to hear sounds at a close range (within a few feet of the observer). For example, being able to hear and respond to an instructor or other students in a classroom.
  7. Visual: visual ability to see with normal or corrected vision, tolerate working indoors in artificial light and the glare of computer screens, and to perform a variety of agricultural practices. For example, being able to visually identify a weed or view a computer screen.
  8. Tactile: ability to perform physical activities that require use of hands and arms. For example, possessing finger and manual dexterity necessary to manipulate computer and other office equipment.
  9. Cognitive: Critical thinking ability sufficient to acquire, evaluate, organize, manage, and interpret information as well as to make independent decisions or calculations based on that information. For example, identifying, profiling and writing a plan to control agricultural pests.

EXAMPLES ARE NOT ALL INCLUSIVE.
Randolph Community College is an ADA compliant institution. The College does not discriminate on the basis of disability in the admissions process or in access to its programs, services and/or activities for qualified individuals who meet essential eligibility requirements. The College will provide reasonable accommodations for documented disabilities of individuals who are eligible to receive or participate in college programs, services and/or activities. Student Services provides a disability counselor to assist students in requesting disability related accommodations. If a student believes that he/she cannot meet one or more of the essential functions without accommodations, the student is encouraged to disclose the disability to the disability counselor as soon as possible. Students must certify the ability to meet essential functions of the curriculum by a signed statement when they begin the program.

Contact Us!

Have more questions about the Agribusiness Technology Program? We're here to help.

Derrick Cockman
Department Head, Agribusiness Technology
drcockman@randolph.edu
336-328-1777