AG 100 - Introduction to Agribusiness

3 Credits
Outline Effective Date: 2022 Fall Version 1
Created: May 11, 2021
Approved: Oct 14, 2022

Lecture Hours: 28 Lab Hours: 28

Course Description:
ntroduction to Agribusiness provides students a look into the world of Agribusiness and what role it plays within the Agricultural Value Chain. Students develop skills to apply for a job / position, evaluate resources and sources of information, communicate in a professional setting and explore personal finance practices and credit sources.

Rationale:
This course is required for students in the Agribusiness program. This course is important to introduce students to some of the opportunities in Agribusiness and practices in the work world.

Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None

Course Learning Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to

develop the skills to apply for a job.
- compose a cover letter using proper business letter format.
- prepare a resume.
- explain how to participate in a job interview, both in person and virtually.
- identify actions that will promote effective professional networking.
illustrate proper mechanics and composition in written communication.
- demonstrate writing references in APA style.
- create written documents that follow specific conventions.
- explain the proper use of common communication tools in a professional setting.
- illustrate the principles of Plain Language.
explore the streams in AgBus and potential careers that may result from each stream.
- distinguish between the streams available in AgBus.
- select one of the AgBus streams to continue with.
evaluate information sources.
- decide if an information source is credible using CRAAP.
- explain the biases of common news sources.
- discuss peer review in relation to information sources.
prepare a personal financial plan.
- identify and compare the services offered by financial institutions.
- use the basic tools for financial planning such as net worth statements, family income statements and budgets.
summarize credit sources and explore the pros and cons of each.
- identify credit sources for personal, agricultural and commercial credit.
- develop a personal budget
apply MS Office programs to create and enhance professional communication.
- complete a micro credential in MS Word.
- explain the tools available for communication and time management in MS Outlook.
explain Value Chains and their application in agriculture.
- explore and describe a specific value chain.

Required Resource Materials:
None

Optional Resource Materials:
None

Conduct of Course:
This course involves approximately 28 hours of lecture and 28 lab.

The scheduled time may include lectures, guest speakers, group activities, field trip(s), individual assignments and/or time for discussions.

Classroom and laboratory attendance is considered vital to the learning process and as significant to the students’ evaluation as examinations and reports.

Students having a combination of excused and/or unexcused absence of 20 percent or higher for the scheduled course hours are required to withdraw and automatically receive a “RW” (required withdrawal) for the course, regardless of any other evaluation results. (RW is a failing grade.)
An excused absence is one that is verified with your instructor. Verification should be prior to the absence or the next class day following the absence. Verification of the absence may take the form of a note from your doctor/College nurse regarding illness, or a note from another instructor regarding a field trip or other activity, or authorization by your instructor. An unexcused absence is anything NOT verified by the instructor prior to the absence or the next class day following the absence.

NOTE: Any exceptions to the above attendance policy (e.g. timetable conflicts, work-related issues) must be approved in writing by the Department Chair prior to the beginning of the course.

It is the students’ responsibility to know their own absentee record.

Normal hours are 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., with potential for evening courses, exams or extended field trips. Students are expected to be available for classes during these times.

Content of Course:

Resumes and cover letters
Careers in Agribusiness
Professional communication
Writing news and opinion articles
Personal finance
MS Word
Networking
Evaluating information sources
Agricultural value chains

Course Assessments:

Lecture Assignments	35%
In Class Assignments (Both Lab and Lecture)	10%
Lab Assignments	45%
Field Trips	10%
TOTAL	100%

Official final grades will be available on My Lakeland. Grades posted in D2L should be considered interim grades.
“Lakeland College is committed to the highest academic standards. Students are expected to be familiar with Lakeland College policies and to abide by these policies. Violations of these policies are considered to be serious and may result in suspension or expulsion from the College.”

Course Pass Requirements:
A minimum grade of D (50%) (1.00) is required to pass this course.

Letter	F	D	D+	C-	C	C+	B-	B	B+	A-	A	A+
Percent Range	0-49	50-52	53-56	57-59	60-64	65-69	70-74	75-79	80-84	85-89	90-94	95-100
Points	0.00	1.00	1.30	1.70	2.00	2.30	2.70	3.00	3.30	3.70	4.00	4.00

Students must maintain a cumulative grade of C (GPA - Grade Point Average of 2.00) in order to qualify to graduate.

Every effort has been made to ensure that information in this course outline is accurate at the time of publication. Lakeland College reserves the right to change courses if it becomes necessary so that course content remains relevant.

In such cases, the instructor will give students clear and timely notice of changes.

No part of this course outline may be reproduced in any form or resold without written permission from Lakeland College.

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