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Farm Management • Feed & Fertilizer • Horticulture • Equine • Home
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Many prospective students have similar questions about our Farm Management Program and here you'll find some of the answers you may be looking for. If you don't find the information you need here or you have any questions at all, please contact us. Click on the questions below to learn more about that subject:
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When can I start? Students in the Agribusiness & Technology Programs traditionally begin classes in the month of August. However, many students begin the programs in the spring semester that begins in January. The only difference between starting in the fall versus starting in the spring is when the student graduates. Students may also choose to begin taking classes after the fall employment experience. In other words, they can start in mid-November. Individuals choosing this option will not be allowed to enroll in certain classes that begin in August. All other courses for the five-week class session (beginning in mid-November) will be available for enrollment. Student prospects still in high school are also encouraged to explore the possibility of beginning a program in June. Please see the individual program's courses page for a list of classes available in the summer session. (Links to the different program areas can be found at the top & bottom of this page.) Regardless of when any individual student wishes to begin his/her educational endeavor in any of our Agribusiness and Technology programs, please consult with an ag advisor.
What courses should I take in High School? Recommended courses include English, Algebra or Applied Math, Speech, any of the Sciences, Computers and Keyboarding plus any other courses that allow you to demonstrate critical thinking and decision-making skills.
What degree will I earn? Students earn an Associate of Applied Science degree which is basically one step below a Bachelor of Science degree. However, you will have four sessions of work experience that most BS degree students do not. After earning an AAS degree, you can enter the workforce or transfer to a university to earn a BS degree in many agricultural disciplines.
What are the graduation requirements? In addition to the standard requirements for graduation, each Agribusiness program has required classes that have to be successfully completed. In all cases a 2.0 grade point average, based on a 4.0 point scale, is required. Also, a total of 64 credit hours of classes must be completed. The Associate in Applied Science Degree requires a minimum of 12 semester hours of general education, including one course in Communications, one course in Humanities or Social Science and one course in Math or Science. Specific classes required are listed below:
Where can I transer to? Upon completion of the program you can transfer to many different universities for additional training. Some universities accept the total degree; others accept our students on a class-by-class basis. MCC currently works with several colleges and universities all across the United States. Prospective students are encouraged to inquire about transfer options during a campus visit. Frequently attended universities upon graduation include:
Please note that this is only a partial list of potential transfer opportunities.
What is a typical day like? Because we allow students the advantages of employment experience during each semester they are enrolled, our class schedule and even our day schedule is unique. Typically our students begin their day at 8:10 a.m. and are finished at 3 p.m., or they begin their day at 9:20 a.m. and finish at 4:10 p.m. It depends on which semester, and it depends on whether the student is a first or second-year student. At MCC the class periods are one hour in length. Students earn college credit based upon that. There are ten-minute breaks between classes to allow students the ability to stretch, talk to instructors about issues, socialize, grab a snack or beverage, or do whatever. Essentially there are three class periods in the morning and three to four class periods in the afternoon.
What is expected of me at MCC? Many students are concerned about their own classroom performance when they move from the high school environment into the college classroom environment. The Agribusiness and Technology Programs at MCC are challenging, and challenging they must be. While student fears of making the transition from high school to MCC are understandable, our courses cannot be considered difficult nor can they be considered easy. They are challenging. A student receiving an average academic record in high school should expect to receive average academic performance at MCC or even a higher performance. The reason why we say higher performance is because all students are studying subject matter that is interesting from an agricultural perspective. That is why our students are here. The Agribusiness and Technology faculty work extremely hard toward satisfying the expectations of the students, but we also work extremely hard toward satisfying the needs of sponsoring employers who hire our students. For this reason employers seek students that are identified as good students academically and show characteristics of excellent behavior and attitude. That is why student attendance and attitude is important. Students must arrive at MCC on time and attend class regularly. Good habits should translate into good job performance. Employers constantly seek this type of information about students for hiring purposes. We challenge our students to ask themselves what an employer should expect from an employee. Based on what is expected, we then add these specific standards and performances into our curriculum. Having a positive attitude, thinking for yourself, accepting responsibilities, behaving appropriately, participating well in teamwork, communicating effectively, and displaying general management decision-making skills are performance and behavioral skills that are required to enter a career in agribusiness. It is the job of the ag faculty to prepare each student for the challenges of the real agribusiness world. Our students leave MCC with the skills and confidence to succeed in their chosen career paths.
What about transportation? Students must be able to supply their own reliable transportation to from the college as well as to and from their employment sites. Students participating in leadership conferences as part of their co-curricular activities can expect the college to supply transportation.
Where will I live?
Note: Once you've been accepted for admission to MCC, contact the admissions department for a housing contract. We expect the student apartments to be very popular, so contact the college early. Because many of our students come from beyond commuting distance, housing has always been a top priority for us. In addition to on-campus housing, area community members open their homes and families to the people in our programs. This housing may be on a farm or it may be in one of the communities that surrounds Muscatine. We are proud of the fact that many people request students year after year. That says a lot about the quality of the people we recruit. There are a lot of variables to be considered when choosing housing. Students may want to live on the campus or prefer rural accomodations. Some community living situations are set up so the student becomes a member of the family while others would prefer the student live on his/her own. Have these options in mind when you call or visit the campus. These considerations become even more crucial if the student has special needs. It is important to remember that all housing is on a first come, first serve basis.
Do I need any special licenses? Students will need certification and licensing to work in certain industries. The fertilizer and ag chemical industry will require a commercial pesticide applicator and mixing license. In nearly all agricultural businesses, a commercial driver's license (CDL) is required. Classes in these areas are offered as part of the Feed & Fertilizer curriculum.
Who teaches the classes? Visit the Ag Department Faculty page to learn more about the background, education and experience of the instructors.
How do I apply for admission? Application Procedure:
Registering for classes:
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Muscatine Community College will have its first on-campus housing beginning with the fall semester, 2001. The furnished, four-person units (pictured on the right) include a kitchen and laundry. These apartments will offer our students the best in accomodations at a reasonable price. Best of all, you're right on campus, just a short walk from your classes and other student activities. You can read more about the new student housing on the