Brian Borden

Does the thought of a four credit course overwhelm you? What about a six credit course? SDSU has just such a course and it has good potential for the students involved.

Integrated Management of Agricultural Resources is a six credit course being offered this spring. The class was first taught in the Spring of 1999.

To be in the class, students must have completed 96 credit hours and have a 3.0 grade point average.

This class is for Ag-Bio students interested in production agriculture. Chuck McMullen, Interim Associate Director of Academic Programs for the College of Ag-Bio, said students have put together a project for the class.

“They are asked to do a business plan or report on a real operating agricultural enterprise,” McMullen said. “They do a rather extensive set of work for that particular enterprise.”

Animal and Range Science Professor Dick Pruitt, who co-taught the class last fall, said teaching the class is a team effort.

“It is a joint effort between plant science, animal science and economics. It is a learning experience to learn how each instructor handles their part. The class is also a team effort,” said Pruitt.

“Students are divided up into teams. Each is diverse with from each of the majors.”said Pruitt.

Pruitt said a lot of the course focuses on there presentation.

“All the way through the semester, they are building the plan. They give four oral presentations during the semester.The focal point of the course is that last presentation,” said Pruitt.

The class also features many guest speakers throughout the semester. Students who have completed the course have gone into a variety of different occupations.

According to Pruitt, some have gone on to veterinary school and to graduate school.

Some former students ranch and one student is working for Principle Financial Group is estate planning.

Pruitt said the unique nature of the class gives students more responsibility.

“It puts the students in the driver’s seat as for as managing their own time,” said Pruitt.

The professors also learn a great deal during the course.

“The instructors learn just as much as the students do,” Pruitt said. “It has been one of the most educational things I have done in a long time.”