AES 101 INTRODUCTION TO AES (1Cr): AES 101 will introduce you to the principles and practices of food, fiber, feed, and fuel production systems (i.e. agriculture) and how this system of living organisms functions together with the physical environment (i.e. as an ecosystem) to produce products that sustain and enhance human life.  AES 101 will serve as an introduction to the AES major in which students will learn about the structure of the AES curriculum and how the various areas of specialization can be used to meet their interests and desired career goals. Invited Speakers representing a variety of potential future career paths will be brought in to discuss what skills are needed to be successful in their chosen path.  The course will also equip students with a set of skills fundamental to their success in the program and beyond (e.g. use of MS Excel, literature searches, etc.).   

AES 320 AGRICULTURAL FIELD EXPERIENCE (2Cr): Students will be required to attend an agricultural field experience.  The agricultural field experience (AFE) is a 2-week summer camp offering an opportunity for students to visit several of the CAFE farms as well as partner farm operations where researchers, extension specialists and farmers will demonstrate the fundamental principles of agronomic production and management of agroecosystem for a sustainable food, fiber, feed, and fuel production future.  Examples include demonstrations of precision agriculture, UAV's, farm equipment operation, animal production (e.g. CAFO’s and grazing operations) and manure management, plant breeding trials and breeding programs, soil and plant testing and analysis (i.e. crop consulting, soil testing lab), fiber and fuel production systems, etc. 

AES/PLS 301 Microbes in Agronomy (3Cr): Microbes are all around us.   This course will be taught by Dr. Mark Coyne.  Dr. Coyne will take the students on a journey through the natural world stopping at the various niches microbes occupy (e.g. soil, water, rhizosphere, phyllosphere, compost pile, rumen, insect gut, etc.) to examine their structure, function and management.   

AES 490 Capstone (3Cr): Capstone is required of all students in the AES major and will be taken in the final year of the program. Capstone is intended to help the students synthesize their in-class and field experiences during their time in the major and bring this knowledge to bare by addressing a local or regional agricultural issue of significance.   

AES 399/395 Internship or field/lab experience (0-9 Cr): Students who choose the option to work with a researcher to develop an independent lab or field-based project or to intern at a local, regional, national or international agricultural or agriculture-related business can enroll in AES 399 or 395, respectively.    Students are encouraged to take advantage of study abroad opportunities to satisfy this requirement.  Students wishing to receive academic credit for their internship or lab research experience should enroll for 3 credits in either AES 395, or AES 399 respectively.  Students not wishing to earn academic credit for their internship, but who would like a record of the experience on their academic transcript can enroll for zero credits.