Life Sciences & Natural Resources, Agriculture (Pre) Emphasis Area, AS

Location(s): Alliance, Scottsbluff, Sidney

AS.0100 (60 Credits)

The pre-agricultural emphasis area is designed to provide the student with a course of study that allows them the opportunity to 1) complete an Associate of Science (AS) degree at WNCC and 2) the first two years of coursework for articulation with the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln toward a Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS).

The bachelor’s-level courses through UNL are offered both on the main WNCC campus and online. This allows students in the Panhandle an opportunity to complete a bachelor’s degree program at home.

Program Outcomes:

The emphasis areas in the life sciences and natural resources provide students with comprehensive coverage of the natural world. These courses of study are designed to meet the needs of those wishing to gain technical knowledge for entry into the many related areas within the field of biology as well as those seeking a more specific focus of forestry or wildlife management.

At the conclusion of the program, students will be able to:

Demonstrate the mastery of course work considered fundamental to the training of a scientist.
Demonstrate the ability to find, read, and critically evaluate appropriate scientific literature and resources.
Function successfully within laboratory settings, including use of basic equipment and developing and utilizing appropriate safety protocols.
Develop critical thinking and problem-solving strategies to approach and solve complex problems.

Notes

Students who plan to transfer to a four-year college or university should consult their faculty and transfer advisor early in their WNCC career to determine a curriculum best suited to their transfer goals.
Dependent upon the choice of electives, it is possible that the total credits earned for the AS degree will exceed 60 credits.
Students should be aware that the courses included in the core requirements and recommended electives will be required by receiving institutions at some point in their journey to the bachelor’s degree.

Program Requirements

In addition to the general education requirements for the AS degree, 26 credits of core courses are required for the pre-agriculture emphasis area. A total of 60 credits are required for the Associate of Science degree in this emphasis area.

Notes:

UNL equivalent course numbers appear in parentheses below.
Students who plan to transfer to UNL should consult their faculty advisor and transfer advisor early in their WNCC career to determine their curriculum. Careful consideration should be given the course requirements of the Applied Science program at UNL to which the student is seeking admission. The following will serve as a guide to for those students:
- UNL requires additional ACE electives. These can be taken through UNL as soon as students apply and are accepted for admission to UNL. These can also be taken while at WNCC. Courses offered at WNCC that satisfy the UNL ACE 9 requirement are HIST - 2100 (HIST-120), HIST - 2110 (HIST-121), and POLS - 1600 (POLS-160).
- Students who intend to transfer to UNL are encouraged to apply for admission early in their program. ACE elective classes can be taken through UNL during their time at WNCC to lessen the credit load in the fourth semester and additionally guarantee maximum credit transfer.