Catalog Course Search Details

 Department:    ENVAG

 Course #:    297

 Credits:    15

 Variable:     Yes

 IUs:    7.5

 CIP:    010308

 EPC:    127

 REV:    2018

 Course Description  

Independent study and research on a topic related to sustainable agriculture, with guidance provided by a research mentor. An introduction to the scientific method, critical thinking, and technical communication for self motivated learners. Should be taken within the last two quarters of the program. Registration permitted in the first seven weeks as space is available.

 Prerequisite  

None

Contact Hours (based on 11 week quarter)

Lecture: 0

Lab: 0

Other: 0

Systems: 0

Clinical: 165

Intent: Distribution Requirement(s) Status:  

Vocational Preparatory Required for ATA degree, Required for certificate  

Equivalencies At Other Institutions

Learning Outcomes

After completing this course, the student will be able to:

1. Use online databases to identify, evaluate, and synthesize scientific literature related to a sustainable agriculture research topic, resulting in a properly cited literature review and bibliography.
2. Formulate a sustainable agriculture hypothesis, as well as design and conduct an experiment to test the hypothesis.
3. Interpret and illustrate the results of a sustainable agriculture research project, using technical writing and graphical representations, and effectively report the results in the form of a scientific poster, verbal presentation, or research paper.

General Education Learning Values & Outcomes

Revised August 2008 and affects outlines for 2008 year 1 and later.

0. Application and Integration

Definition: Applying information from one or more disciplines and/or field experiences in new contexts (Outcome 0.1); developing integrated approaches or responses to personal, academic, professional, and social issues (Outcomes 0.2-0.5).

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
0.3 Identify and evaluate the relationships among different perspectives within a field of study and among different fields of study.

1. Information Literacy

Definition: Recognizing when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information.

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
1.3 Evaluate information and its sources critically.

2. Critical Thinking

Definition: The ability to think critically about the nature of knowledge within a discipline and about the ways in which that knowledge is constructed and validated and to be sensitive to the ways these processes often vary among disciplines.

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
2.9 Apply and/or create problem-solving strategies to successfully adapt to unpredictable and/or changing environments.

6. Individual Awareness & Responsibility

Definition: Understanding, managing, and taking responsibility for one’s learning and behavior in varied and changing environments.

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
6.3 Apply successful organizational strategies of planning, goal setting, prioritizing, resolving conflict, and managing time to specific goals and/or projects.

8. Mathematical Reasoning

Definition: Understanding and applying concepts of mathematics and logical reasoning in a variety of contexts, both academic and non-academic.

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
8.2 Correctly apply logical reasoning and mathematical principles to solve problems.

9. Scientific Literacy

Definition: Understanding scientific principles, and analyzing and applying scientific information in a variety of contexts.

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
9.2 Demonstrate their understanding of the principles of scientific methods, analysis, and reasoning.

Course Contents

1. Scientific literature related to a sustainable agriculture research topic, resulting in a properly cited literature review and bibliography.
2. Sustainable agriculture hypothesis and test the hypothesis.
3. Sustainable agriculture research project, using technical writing and graphical representations, and effectively report the results in the form of a scientific poster, verbal presentation, or research paper.