Program Title
Sustainable Agriculture Technology
TOPs Code
Agriculture Technology and Sciences, General (010100)
Projected Start Date
2019-01-01
Program Description
The Sustainable Agriculture Technology degree is designed to prepare students for a career in the emerging agriculture technology industry. The course of study will cover all aspects of technology and horticultural study including hydroponics, aquaponics, organic substrate production, GIS/GPS, water and energy conservation, and computing and connecting technology tools and data streams on farm. Students will finish this degree program prepared for careers as precision agriculture technicians, greenhouse managers, hydroponic growers, farmers, ranch or operations managers, first line supervisors for agriculture and horticulture industries, biological technicians, among others. This program is designed for those wishing to go directly into employment in the agriculture and horticulture industries; therefore, students wishing to transfer courses should consult a counselor or consider the AS-T degree in Agriculture Plant Science.
Program Learning Outcomes:
1. Strong understanding of the plant science fundamentals of soil, plant, and water relationships to produce plants in a variety of high tech production systems. (Global Awareness, Communication)
2. Understanding of how to use technology tools to increase sustainability and production. (Personal Responsibility and Professional Development, Communication)
3. Ability to use, manage, and manipulate data and data streams from technology tools to inform management decisions. (Critical Thinking and Information Competency, Communication)
Enrollment Completer Projections
Table of Enrollment attached.
As a new program, the college estimates degree enrollment will grow to 30 students in its
program courses within the first two years. The college anticipates the new degree will
achieve 5 completers by its 2nd year and grow this completion rate through its fifth year of
operation to 15 completers per year (if an additional instructor can be added to the
program). As the course of study is interdisciplinary, all required classes are required by at least one other degree and the above numbers are not predictive as to estimate enrollment within the Sustainable Agriculture Technology degree. Cross-enrollment was analyzed by Cabrillo’s Planning and Research Office and it was shown that 22 students in the last two years had enrollment in any Horticulture class and in any Computer Information Systems or Computer Science class. This interdisciplinary enrollment data may be the best indicator of potential enrollment in this interdisciplinary Sustainable Agriculture Technology program.
The net annual labor demand projection is estimated at a minimum of 208 and a maximum of 1,363 opening annually, with 15 completers being supplied by Hartnell College. With 15 projected completers per year, we will be able to easily place students into high demand jobs while contributing to local demands for trained labor.