Agricultural Sciences
Bachelor of Agriculture Technology Courses
Location
Vermilion
Credential
Bachelor Degree
Program Length
2 years
Your second year includes two practicum placements and one elective. Choose one elective in humanities, sociology, arts or psychology.
Year I required courses
| AE 330 Economics of Precision Agriculture - 3 credits |
| This course investigates how technology can be used to improve efficiencies, manage risk and increase profitability in farming. Costs and returns of agriculture technologies, including equipment, software, information generation and associated labor, is exptect to establish expected returns on investment. Students gain knowledge in agriculture business, economics and management of technology systems applied to livestock and crop farming. Prerequisites: AE 100 or equivalent. Co-requisites: None |
| AE 420 Advanced Farm and Ag Business Management - 3 credits |
| This course prepares students for strategic and managerial decision making by investigating economic models and exploring how the Canadian agriculture economy functions. Working with frameworks that integrate previous core work in finance, marketing, human resources and operations management, students analyze complex business problems and provide recommendations for improvement. Prerequisite: AE 230. Co-requisites: None |
| AN 401 Advanced Livestock Production & Management - 3 credits |
| This course covers livestock systems and management. Topics include advanced livestock nutrition, reproduction, health, welfare, genetic improvement, herd management, sustainability of livestock production, diverse production systems, and the quantifiable relationships among them. Labs are to provide learners exposure and training to various applications of technology in livestock production systems. Pre/co-requisites: None |
| AT 300 Introduction to Emerging Technologies in Agriculture - 3 credits |
| Emerging applications and trends in agriculture technology are explored and discussed, including but not limited to robotics, sensing technologies, genomics tools, management software, and artificial intelligence. Students evaluate and compare new and emerging technologies in current agricultural production and management systems and investigate innovative agriculture practices and technological advances changing the world’s farming and food production systems. Pre/co-requisites: None |
| AT 301 Sustainable Farm Business - 3 credits |
| In this course, students study and evaluate the environmental, economic and social pillars in an agriculture business and how emerging technologies, such as smart agriculture and precision farming practices, affect farm business sustainability currently and in the future. Course content includes crops, livestock and agri-food value chains. Prerequisite: AT 300. Co-requisite: None |
| AT 302 Innovation Leadership in Agriculture - 3 credits |
| In this course, leadership principles, practices and skills are taught and developed. Focus is on students utilizing advanced communication, interpersonal, team building and critical thinking skills core to leadership development. Students apply individual leadership styles and competencies in an agriculture workplace setting with industry collaboration and mentorship. Pre/co-requisites: None |
| CR 400 Advanced Agronomy - 3 credits |
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The course focuses on advanced agronomics in weed, insect, disease, fertility, and precision agriculture. An understanding of quantifiable relationships between soil properties, climate, water, fertility levels, varieties, yield potential, and crop quality is developed. Advanced topics include genetic phenotyping, and predictive pest modelling. Labs allow learners to assess the growth and yield effects of various measured variables. Prerequisites: CR 260, SO 102, SO 242 or equivalent courses. Co-requisites: None Prerequisites not listed must be approved by the Academic Advisor and Program Head of the Bachelor of Agriculture Technology Program. |
| PA 300 Precision Farming Global Positioning Essentials - 3 credits |
| This course introduces the philosophy, tools and concepts that drive the precision farming cycle. The tools introduced include the Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites, sensors, use of position and map-based control systems and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) mapping techniques, which are foundational to crops and livestock enterprises, food productions and value-added technologies. Pre/co-requisites: None |
| PA 321 Machine Control & Inter-Component Communication Systems - 3 credits |
| The course reviews modern farm equipment, tools, and machinery before studying electronic hardware monitoring and controlling equipment functions. The installation, trouble shooting and diagnostics of control systems such as automatic feeding, auto-steer, controlled traffic, robots, section control, environmental sensors, microchips, and variable rate control equipment are topics that are explored. Prerequisite: PA 300. Co-requisites: None |
| PA 411 GIS for Agricultural Decision Making - 3 credits |
| This course introduces the students to geographical information systems (GIS) and agriculture industry software as decision-making tools. GIS, spatial data, mapping and prescriptions are equally important to livestock and crops industries. Examples and industry developments and practices are covered in lectures and labs. Prerequisites: PA 300. Co-requisites: None |
| PA 412 Remote Sensing for Decision Making - 3 credits |
| This course introduces the science and tools used in array of sensing technologies applied to agriculture. Remotely sensed data is analyzed to evaluate crop variability and health, and livestock numbers, locations and health. Exposure to the use of sensors and the data they produce is delivered in the labs. Prerequisite: PA 300. Co-requisites: None |
Year II required courses
| ATPR 400 Bachelor of Agricultural Technology Practicum I - 15 credits |
| Students utilize knowledge and skills in an industry position under the supervision of a practicum host. Practicum work should relate to business applications of technologies. Practicums also provide opportunities for students to network and forge strong connections with colleagues and gain a greater understanding of their strengths in the field. Prerequisites: Completion of all first year courses except for elective. Co-requisite: Course elective |
| ATPR 411 Bachelor of Agriculture Technology Practicum II - 15 credits |
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During this second practicum for the Bachelor of Agriculture Technology program, students utilize knowledge and skills in an industry position under the supervision of a practicum host. Practicum work should relate to business applications of technologies. Practicums also provide opportunities for student to network and forge strong connections with colleagues and gain a greater understanding of their strengths in the field. This practicum is a continuation of ATPR 400 Practicum 1, and is normally, but not always, with the same industry partner. Prerequisite: ATPR 400. Co-requisites: none |
| XX XXX - Elective - 3 credits |
| Students are required to complete one elective in Humanities, Sociology, Arts or Psychology |
Electives
To broaden perspective and critical thinking skills, you're required to complete a 3-credit course unrelated to agriculture, agriculture technology or the biological, physical or chemical sciences.
This elective should be in one of these subject areas:
- the Humanities – English & History
- Education
- the Arts
- Social Sciences.
The elective could be a distance-education class offered by Lakeland College or by another institution.
A list of suggested courses currently offered by Lakeland or approved for Lakeland students by another institution will be available from the academic advisor.
As well, you can ask for approval for an option not on the list. The program head and the agriculture academic advisor provide that approval.
You are encouraged:
- to check course prerequisites
- to work with your academic advisor and program head on timetabling and other course requirements.
About Practicums
- Student placements will include work settings at agriculture data companies, technology and equipment manufacturers, agriculture equipment dealerships, crop input service providers, private agronomist service companies, crop and livestock service centers, farms, breeding and genomic companies, and other related agriculture industries.
- All placements will have a focus on smart agriculture and/or related agriculture technologies
- Practicums provide opportunities for students to network and forge strong connections with colleagues and gain a greater understanding of their strengths in the field.
- Practicums are project and/or skills based. Students are matched with a workplace mentor/supervisor and are supported by a program faculty member.
- Practicum placements may lead to full time employment with an organization after graduation.
Your practicum can start as early as May (the end of your 2nd semester of 1st year).
Most practicums will be with the same industry partner. However, depending on the nature of the work and project, you may chose to complete your practicum in more than one workplace setting.
After your second practicum, you'll return to campus to complete your capstone report and presentation. Being on campus is required. Faculty advisors will mentor and guide you.
Capstone presentations will be open to:
- industry
- the college community
- the public