Agricultural Systems Technology
Program of Study
You earn a bachelor of science degree in Agricultural Systems Technology from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, specializing in one of these areas:
Machine Systems
You are challenged to understand, manage, and solve problems for the next generation road vehicles and agricultural equipment. You'll get a solid grounding in machinery systems, safety, and manufacturing processes, setting you up for success in a number of machine and equipment related industries.
Agricultural and Biosystems Management
You acquire the skills to manage and solve problems for a wide variety of agricultural systems. You'll get a broad foundation in the technology of machine systems, soil and water conservation, electricity and electronics, grain, precision agriculture, biorenewables, and animal production systems. Throw in some business, management, and a focus area of your choosing, and you'll be set for a rewarding career.
Internships
Mandatory internships or co-op experiences help students translate their classroom and laboratory experiences into the reality of agricultural and business settings.
The Agricultural System Technology Profession
Be it off-road equipment, agricultural machinery, food and grain processing, water quality, biofuels production, precision agriculture, or livestock production systems, an ag system technologist works to see how the individual pieces fit into the "big picture" of sustainability, conservation, and profitability.
Agricultural Systems Technology (AST) graduates can find rewarding careers in a variety of agricultural and environmental businesses. They focus on managing, using, and troubleshooting technology (instead of engineering design) by applying their knowledge of technology, agriculture, and processing systems.
This hands-on curriculum in the College of Agriculture teaches students to manage machines and equipment, biological processes, computers and other technologies to create new and improved agricultural systems for the future.
Agricultural Systems Technology Courses and Degree Planning
- Agricultural systems technology courses (labeled TSM - Technology Systems Management)
- Curricula (required coursework) and four-year plans
- AST to TSM course conversion table (pdf)
- Approved list of humanities courses
- Approved list of ethics courses
- Approved list of international perspectives courses
- Approved list of U.S. diversity courses
- TSM Independent study approval form (word)
For More Information
Contact Melody Carroll, academic advisor, 515-294-6239, melody
iastate.edu, with questions about this program.
Iowa State University Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, 100 Davidson Hall , Ames, Iowa 50011, 515-294-1434, abeiastate.edu
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