Traditionally, students who have been undecided about their future plans have selected this major to explore the various career options available to them in agriculture before selecting a major. Some students desiring to tailor a degree to meet their career objectives in production agriculture have majored in general agriculture. In addition, some transfer students from two-year institutions find the greater flexibility of the general agriculture major useful in obtaining a bachelor’s degree.

General Agriculture Program

In addition to a broad set of general education courses, students complete course work in four agricultural disciplines. This is somewhat similar to completing partial minors in four of the academic programs in the College of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Natural Resources. Students must complete 15 credits in two of the disciplines and nine credits in two other disciplines. A capstone course must be completed in one of the disciplines. In addition, students take several electives in agriculture. Some students choose this option at the beginning of their university career while waiting to decide to have a major in one of the disciplinary areas.

Agricultural Education

NDSU offers the opportunity for a student to prepare for a career as an Agriculture teacher in the public school system, in addition to a broad range of careers in the agricultural industry. The degree in Agricultural Education may be completed in the College of Human Development and Education. Students who wish to pursue Agricultural Education also have the option to have a major in General Agriculture and choose Agricultural Education as a second major. The General Agriculture degree program is sufficiently flexible that both majors may be completed without an increase in the total number of credits required for completion. In addition, students pursuing this approach will be eligible for scholarships and all activities in the College of Agriculture, Food Systems and Natural Resources.