Department of Agriculture

Whichever area of agriculture interests you, our department has you covered. We believe the best way to learn is first-hand experience, and that is what you will get at our 6,000-acre Management, Instruction and Research Center, more commonly called the ASU Ranch.

Here, you will gain the practical skills and real-world knowledge you need to succeed in your agriculture career

Programs

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Animal Science
This degree will prepare you for a career in livestock production, ranch and feedlot management, as a county extension agent, in the meat and food industry, and in other areas of agriculture. This is also the recommended degree if you want to go on to veterinary school.

B.S. in Food Animal Science and Marketing
This degree will prepare you for a career in meat/food production, food safety and inspections, and/or marketing. You will gain hands-on experience in our USDA-inspected Food Safety and Product Development Lab.

B.S. in Natural Resource Management
This degree will prepare you for a career in range or wildlife management, natural resource conservation, wildlife biology, ecology and similar fields. Our 6,000-acre ranch is your outdoor classroom.

B.S. in Agricultural Science and Leadership
This degree will give you a broad understanding of agriculture and will open doors for you in a variety of career fields. It can also prepare you for certification as a high school ag science teacher. You will spend a lot of your time in our state-of-the-art Mayer-Rousselot Agriculture Education Training Center.

B.S. in Agribusiness
This degree features courses in agricultural economics, animal science, business and business law to prepare you for a career in the business side of the agriculture industry. You can practice by helping with ASU Ranch business operations.

Master of Agriculture (M.Ag.)
This degree will prepare you to start or advance your career in agriculture industry, business or governmental services, or to teach at the junior college level. Advanced internships and shadowing opportunities are a valuable component of this graduate program.

Master of Science (M.S.) in Animal Science
This degree will prepare you to start or advance your career in many different areas of the animal production industry – from the pasture to the plate. Research is a large component of this degree plan, and graduate assistantships are available on a competitive basis.

Ranch Management and Beef Industry Leadership Certificate
Complete advanced studies in the application of range and livestock management practices to improve the sustainability and profitability of ranching.

In the News

Agriculture is one of the largest and most varied career fields in the world. Your ASU degree is your ticket to join this exciting industry that produces our food supply, protects our natural resources, cares for our animals, and teaches future agriculture leaders.

Oct 20

$4.77 Million U.S. Department of Education Grant for STEM Enhancement Project

Aug 24

Natural Resource Management Degree Earns Top 15 National Ranking

Apr 13

Honors Students Selected for Fulbright Research Internships

<div class="wide-block quote-block "> <div class="quote-block__image"> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/315/width/580/height/430/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3277,3276/43058_IMG_8400.rev.1602794764.webp 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/315/width/580/height/430/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3277,3276/43058_IMG_8400.rev.1602794764.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/315/width/580/height/430/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3277,3276/43058_IMG_8400.rev.1602794764.webp 3x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/gid/315/width/580/height/430/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3277,3276/43058_IMG_8400.rev.1602794764.jpg 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/315/width/580/height/430/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3277,3276/43058_IMG_8400.rev.1602794764.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/315/width/580/height/430/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3277,3276/43058_IMG_8400.rev.1602794764.jpg 3x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/315/width/580/height/430/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3277,3276/43058_IMG_8400.rev.1602794764.jpg" alt="Student smiling into the camera" width="580" height="430" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/315/width/580/height/430/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3277,3276/43058_IMG_8400.rev.1602794764.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/315/width/580/height/430/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3277,3276/43058_IMG_8400.rev.1602794764.jpg 3x" data-max-w="3277" data-max-h="3276" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div> <div class="quote-block__content"> <div class="quote-block__quote"> <blockquote> <p> “Almost all of my professors have current hands on projects in their field that help you understand the real world side of the agriculture industry.”</p> </blockquote> </div> <div class="quote-block__caption"> <p><strong>Jaelynn Page</strong>, Class of 2021, is majoring in agriculture science and leadership</p> </div> </div> </div>
<div class="wide-block quote-block "> <div class="quote-block__image"> <picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/302/width/580/height/430/crop/1/src_region/0,0,4096,2731/46318_COM_2506.rev.1616777009.webp 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/302/width/580/height/430/crop/1/src_region/0,0,4096,2731/46318_COM_2506.rev.1616777009.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/302/width/580/height/430/crop/1/src_region/0,0,4096,2731/46318_COM_2506.rev.1616777009.webp 3x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/gid/302/width/580/height/430/crop/1/src_region/0,0,4096,2731/46318_COM_2506.rev.1616777009.jpg 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/302/width/580/height/430/crop/1/src_region/0,0,4096,2731/46318_COM_2506.rev.1616777009.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/302/width/580/height/430/crop/1/src_region/0,0,4096,2731/46318_COM_2506.rev.1616777009.jpg 3x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/302/width/580/height/430/crop/1/src_region/0,0,4096,2731/46318_COM_2506.rev.1616777009.jpg" alt="Student giving a cow a shot" width="580" height="430" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/302/width/580/height/430/crop/1/src_region/0,0,4096,2731/46318_COM_2506.rev.1616777009.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/302/width/580/height/430/crop/1/src_region/0,0,4096,2731/46318_COM_2506.rev.1616777009.jpg 3x" data-max-w="4096" data-max-h="2731" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div> <div class="quote-block__content"> <div class="quote-block__quote"> <blockquote> <p> “In the Ag Department, there’s a lot more hands-on learning than most universities because of the smaller class sizes. You’re actually getting to interact and do things with the animals, do things on the ranch.”</p> </blockquote> </div> <div class="quote-block__caption"> <p><a href="/iamangelo/trevor.php" class="font-weight-bold">Trevor Schwartz</a>, Agribusiness</p> </div> </div> </div>

Around the Department

Take a look at some other aspects of our department that make ASU an outstanding place to study agriculture.

Teams and Competitions

You can join our wool, meat and show teams to travel and compete against other universities. We also have intercollegiate quiz bowl teams for meat science and agricultural economics. Our Wool Judging Team, Meat Judging Team and Meat Science Quiz Bowl Team have all won national championships.

Student Organizations

Our Block and Bridle Club is one of the largest student groups on campus. Among their many activities, its members are in charge of Dominic, ASU’s live Rambouillet Ram mascot. Our Meat and Food Science Association caters various events to raise money for scholarships and research. Members of our RAMS organization travel the state recruiting future ag majors.

Department of Agriculture Tours

Take a guided tour of the Angelo State campus and then visit the Management, Instruction and Research Center (our 6,000-acre ASU Ranch) to meet with our faculty and learn more about majors and academic opportunities within the Department of Agriculture.

Living Learning Community

A section of our Plaza Verde residence hall is reserved for incoming freshman ag majors who will live on campus. Living with fellow ag majors will help you adjust to college life, make new friends and get involved.