AGST 3000AGST 3000

Agriculture, Society and Agriculture, Society and the Natural Worldthe Natural World

……FAll 2006FAll 2006

INSTRUCTORINSTRUCTOR: Mark E. Bender PhD.: Mark E. Bender PhD.

Class meets:Class meets: Tuesday/Thursday 9:40-11:07…Tuesday/Thursday 9:40-11:07…– Bizzini Classroom Building C-113Bizzini Classroom Building C-113

Office Hours: Tuesday/Thursday 8:00 – 9:30 AM, Tuesday 3:00 to 4:00 Office Hours: Tuesday/Thursday 8:00 – 9:30 AM, Tuesday 3:00 to 4:00 and by appointmentand by appointment

Office: Classroom Building 108 AOffice: Classroom Building 108 A

Telephone: Office: 667-3961, Department: 664-6648Telephone: Office: 667-3961, Department: 664-6648

Email:Email: MBender@csustan.eduMBender@csustan.edu

Website: Website: www.csustan.edu/AgStudieswww.csustan.edu/AgStudies

TEXTTEXT: : None None Assigned readings on current Agricultural Assigned readings on current Agricultural

Issues from a variety of sources…Issues from a variety of sources…

– Newspaper ArticlesNewspaper Articles– Web SitesWeb Sites– MagazinesMagazines– HandoutsHandouts– Other sources yet to be determinedOther sources yet to be determined

GRADING POLICYGRADING POLICY: Based on points…: Based on points…Attendance* (10 pts/class )Attendance* (10 pts/class ) 260 pts 260 pts 22%22%Journal (weekly analyses…11 @ 10 pts)Journal (weekly analyses…11 @ 10 pts) 110 pts 110 pts 9% 9%Current Ag Issue Articles (4 @ 20 pts)Current Ag Issue Articles (4 @ 20 pts) 80 pts 80 pts 7% 7%Other Assignments (approximate)Other Assignments (approximate) 100 pts 100 pts 8% 8%Agricultural Commodity Paper/SB (MT)Agricultural Commodity Paper/SB (MT) 150 pts 12.5% 150 pts 12.5%

Qualitative InterviewQualitative Interview 100 pts 100 pts 8% 8%Agricultural Issue Paper and Story BoardAgricultural Issue Paper and Story Board 150 pts 12.5% 150 pts 12.5%

Agricultural Issue Debate (Final and participation)* 100 ptsAgricultural Issue Debate (Final and participation)* 100 pts 8% 8%Final Exam Final Exam 150 pts 12.5% 150 pts 12.5%

(may be optional based on class participation) (may be optional based on class participation) TOTAL = TOTAL = 1200 + or -1200 + or - 100%100%

The above point and percentage distribution is an approximation and is The above point and percentage distribution is an approximation and is subject to change.subject to change.

*Students failing to attend the Final Debates or take the Final Exam will *Students failing to attend the Final Debates or take the Final Exam will receive failing grades for the semester.receive failing grades for the semester.

There will be 1 or 2 outside lectures required (Ag Studies Speaker Series, There will be 1 or 2 outside lectures required (Ag Studies Speaker Series, Future of Food (Sept. 21, 7:00 PM, MJC Forum 110)Future of Food (Sept. 21, 7:00 PM, MJC Forum 110) , etc. , etc.

GradingGrading

The thresholds will be: The thresholds will be: A = 90-100; A = 90-100; B+ = 88-89; B = 80-87; B+ = 88-89; B = 80-87; C+ = 78-79; C = 70-77; C+ = 78-79; C = 70-77; D+ = 68-69; D = 60-67;D- = 55-59; D+ = 68-69; D = 60-67;D- = 55-59; F = <55.F = <55. To take this course CR/NC, you must submit the required form To take this course CR/NC, you must submit the required form

which coincides with last day to withdraw from a classwhich coincides with last day to withdraw from a class

What a grade means…What a grade means…

For your information, the overall grade in the course will For your information, the overall grade in the course will be based on assignments which are assigned numerical be based on assignments which are assigned numerical points based on the following general criteria:points based on the following general criteria:

A=Performance of participant shows sustained excellence A=Performance of participant shows sustained excellence in meeting all course requirements and exhibiting in meeting all course requirements and exhibiting intellectual initiativeintellectual initiative

B=Performance of participant shows consistent and B=Performance of participant shows consistent and effective achievement in meeting course requirementseffective achievement in meeting course requirements

C=Performance of participant has been barely adequate, C=Performance of participant has been barely adequate, meeting only the minimum course requirementsmeeting only the minimum course requirements

INSTRUCTOR’S COMMENTS:INSTRUCTOR’S COMMENTS: Attendance will be taken at each class session. Good Attendance will be taken at each class session. Good

attendance usually results in an improved grade. attendance usually results in an improved grade.

Extra credit will be awarded for participation in designated Extra credit will be awarded for participation in designated extra-curricular activities and for in class participationextra-curricular activities and for in class participation

Homework is due at the beginning of class. Late Homework is due at the beginning of class. Late assignments will be subject to a penalty and assignments assignments will be subject to a penalty and assignments will not be accepted if more than one week late. will not be accepted if more than one week late.

Special circumstances may adjust this policy upon Special circumstances may adjust this policy upon professor discretion.professor discretion.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:COURSE DESCRIPTION:

The sociology of agriculture presented The sociology of agriculture presented through an examination of through an examination of relationshipsrelationships between between societies and their environmentssocieties and their environments, , economies and agricultureeconomies and agriculture. Emphasis on the . Emphasis on the analysis of agriculture’s use of technology analysis of agriculture’s use of technology and the corresponding impact on the and the corresponding impact on the environment, on the economy and on environment, on the economy and on society.society.

OBJECTIVESOBJECTIVES::

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

Describe the historical and geographical relationship between Describe the historical and geographical relationship between agriculture, the environment and a given society.agriculture, the environment and a given society.

Discuss the development of production, processing and Discuss the development of production, processing and distribution methods of various agricultural products.distribution methods of various agricultural products.

List and describe the major types, operational and functional List and describe the major types, operational and functional aspects of producing food.aspects of producing food.

Identify the historical relationship between immigration, labor, Identify the historical relationship between immigration, labor, agriculture, and politics in the United States with special emphasis agriculture, and politics in the United States with special emphasis in California.in California.

Outline the development of agriculture and its effect on the Outline the development of agriculture and its effect on the environment.environment.

Describe the changing nature of rural society.Describe the changing nature of rural society.

Discuss the roles and contributions that California’s ethnic and Discuss the roles and contributions that California’s ethnic and cultural populations have made to agriculture.cultural populations have made to agriculture.

Identify the nature of current ethical issues in agriculture.Identify the nature of current ethical issues in agriculture.

Interpret the future trends in agriculture.Interpret the future trends in agriculture.

Define, collect, analyze and evaluate data pertaining to a current Define, collect, analyze and evaluate data pertaining to a current agricultural-environmental-social issue.agricultural-environmental-social issue.

OBJECTIVESOBJECTIVES continued… continued…

MAJOR ASSIGNMENT DUE DATES:MAJOR ASSIGNMENT DUE DATES: Agricultural Commodity Story Boards – Agricultural Commodity Story Boards – Week 4, September 28 Week 4, September 28 Agricultural Commodity Paper - Agricultural Commodity Paper - Week 6, October 12 (Triterm)Week 6, October 12 (Triterm) Topical Journal Check – Topical Journal Check – Week 7, October 17Week 7, October 17 Qualitative Interview Ag Issue Qualitative Interview Ag Issue Week 8, October 23-27 Week 8, October 23-27 (no class)(no class) Qualitative Interview Ag Issue Report Qualitative Interview Ag Issue Report Week10, November 9 Week10, November 9

(Triterm)(Triterm) Ag Studies Speaker Series… Ag Studies Speaker Series… TBA, November 2 or 9 or 16TBA, November 2 or 9 or 16 Agricultural Issue Paper – Agricultural Issue Paper – Week 13, November 30Week 13, November 30 Agricultural Issue Storyboard – Agricultural Issue Storyboard – Week 14, December 5Week 14, December 5 Agricultural Issue Debates - Agricultural Issue Debates - Week 14, December 5, 7, 19 (Final)Week 14, December 5, 7, 19 (Final) Topical Journal Due – Topical Journal Due – Week 14, December 5Week 14, December 5 Final Exam – Tuesday, December 19, 8:30 – 10:30Final Exam – Tuesday, December 19, 8:30 – 10:30

TENTATIVE LECTURE/DISCUSSION TENTATIVE LECTURE/DISCUSSION SCHEDULESCHEDULE

This is an approximation as to how the course This is an approximation as to how the course will progress. It is subject to change will progress. It is subject to change according to current events and other according to current events and other opportunities for enrichment.opportunities for enrichment.

WkWk TopicsTopics11 IntroductionIntroduction**1Qualitative Interview1Qualitative Interview22 History of Agricultural DevelopmentHistory of Agricultural Development33 The Role of California AgricultureThe Role of California Agriculture

Agriculture Statistical Agriculture Statistical Review for CaliforniaReview for California44 U.S. Agriculture, World Population and FoodU.S. Agriculture, World Population and Food55 Ethical Issues in Animal AgricultureEthical Issues in Animal Agriculture66 Biotechnology and Genetic EngineeringBiotechnology and Genetic Engineering77 Air Pollution Air Pollution 88 Conduct Ag Issue Interview and TeamworkConduct Ag Issue Interview and Teamwork99 Water Issues in California, Irrigation Water Issues in California, Irrigation 1010 Urbanization of Rural Areas, Agricultural Land Urbanization of Rural Areas, Agricultural Land

PreservationPreservation  1111 Pesticides / Integrated Pest ManagementPesticides / Integrated Pest Management1212 Sustainable AgricultureSustainable Agriculture1313 Endangered Species Act & E.P.A. Endangered Species Act & E.P.A. If timeIf time Agricultural LaborAgricultural Labor & Immigration Issues & Immigration Issues   If time Family Farm and Rural Societies and Rural Poverty If time Family Farm and Rural Societies and Rural Poverty   1414 Agricultural Issue DebatesAgricultural Issue Debates  1515 Agricultural Issue Debates Final ExamAgricultural Issue Debates Final Exam

Extra CreditExtra Credit

There will be opportunity for extra credit for There will be opportunity for extra credit for attending seminars, lectures, conferences, attending seminars, lectures, conferences, other work on current agricultural topics.other work on current agricultural topics.

Opportunities will be announced as they are Opportunities will be announced as they are scheduled.scheduled.

Agricultural Studies Speaker Series is Agricultural Studies Speaker Series is required (one per semester).required (one per semester).

My Goals…My Goals…

Is that each of you acquires an appreciation Is that each of you acquires an appreciation for Agriculturefor Agriculture

Develop additional skills in critical thinking, Develop additional skills in critical thinking, taking nothing at face valuetaking nothing at face value

Develop additional written and oral Develop additional written and oral communication skillscommunication skills

Develop an ability to work with others in a Develop an ability to work with others in a team environmentteam environment