Sustainable Agriculture and Resource Systems

Within the Sustainable Agriculture and Resource Systems program Wenatchee Valley College offers a transfer degree in General Agriculture, a non-transfer associate of technical science degree (ATS) in several pathways, and associate in applied science-transfer degrees in sustainable and organic agriculture, and horticulture and tree fruit production. Interested students should work closely with agriculture advisers in order to plan their studies to reach their individual goals in an expeditious manner.

The Sustainable Agriculture and Resource System (SARS) program builds educational pathways for students using core courses and electives to custom design a program to fit each student's emphasis area and intended educational outcome. Faculty advisers work closely with students to determine courses that will best meet their unique educational needs.

• Associate of Technical Science Degree (ATS)
  
  • The ATS degree prepares students for employment in agriculture and related fields. The pathways are General Agriculture, Horticulture/Tree Fruit Production, Sustainable and Organic Agriculture, and Agriculture Technology.
    
    
• General Agriculture transfer degree
  
  • The transfer degree option in General Agriculture prepares students to continue their education at Washington State University through an articulation agreement between the two institutions.
    
    
• Associate in Applied Science-Transfer (AAS-T)  NEW!
  
  • WVC has articulations with the Washington State University College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resources Sciences (CAHNRS) that allows WVC students to transfer to WSU with an AAS-T in Sustainable and Organic Agriculture or Horticulture and Tree Fruit Production.
    
    
• Hispanic Orchard Employee Education Program
  • The bilingual agricultural employee education offers several certificate programs to increase the professional abilities of agricultural employees and their contributions to the operations of their respective employment settings. The programs are taught in Spanish, but all students should have basic English conversational skills and some ability to read and write in Spanish when entering these programs. Each program includes applied English, mathematics and computer applications instruction and a civics component which covers everyday life situations. Beginning and Advanced HOEEP (Hispanic Orchard Employee Education Program) focus on basic horticulture. HOEEP III Integrated Pest Management Technician: prepares students as pest management scouts and assistants for apple, pear and cherry IPM projects. HOEEP IV Farm Management: introduces the principles and practices of farm management; HOEEP V Introduction to Viticulture: introduces students to the production and management of juice and wine grapes and vineyard financial management; HOEEP VI Advanced Viticulture: builds on the introductory class focusing on a production system approach. HOEEP VII Integrated Pest Management Technician and Vineyard Management: prepares Latino vineyard employees as pest management scouts and introduces them to basic vineyard economics and management.

See Also:
WSU College of Agriculture, Human and Natural Resource Sciences
Washington Apple Education Foundation
Agriculture Center of Excellence

Career Opportunities

For more information about careers related to this field, go to My Next Move or the Employment Security Department Web page (scroll through the alphabetical list by occupation, or type the name of the occupation into the search filter).

Sustainable Agriculture and Resource Systems (ATS)
Students who complete the ATS in Sustainable Agriculture and Resource Systems will be able to:

• Demonstrate skills and knowledge in the fundamentals of:

• general agriculture production practices
• tree fruit production practices in North Central Washington
• general horticulture practices
• sustainable and organic agriculture production
• agri-business management
• natural resources
• viticulture principles and practices in Washington

• Demonstrate the ability to:

• think critically (analyze, synthesize, evaluate and apply, problem solve, reason quantitatively and qualitatively) in workplace environments.
• act responsibly as an individual and as a member of a team or group in a workplace environment.

• Acquire the training and education to seek employment or advance in current employment in agriculture related fields.

• Develop a foundation to continue their studies in agriculture or related fields.

Contact Information
 
Agriculture faculty/adviser contact information

Professional Technical Programs Office
509.682.6600