Degree Offered
- Associate of Applied Science
Nature of the Program
Graduates of the AAS Sustainable Agriculture Entrepreneurship (SAGE) degree will be able to develop enterprises to address the expanding micro-scale production of wine/beer, craft food industries, food desert concerns within our region, the farm to school, and farm to table movements. The level of regional production for all agricultural and forestry crops will need to increase to meet these changing markets. The SAGE degree is aimed at those who are driven to learn the production and business skills to successfully meet this demand with safe and healthy products
Potomac State College was the first college in West Virginia to offer a two-year associate of applied science degree in sustainable agriculture entrepreneurship. There are a limited number of similar programs within the neighboring states of Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. The AAS in SAGE will provide the basic education and training workers need to enter various production-related industries in positions ranging from support personnel to private producers.
Graduates of this program may apply for admission to the Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) in SAGE or in Business Management. The program requirements of the AAS in SAGE align with the first two years of the bachelor's degree.
Faculty
Chair
- Jeff Jones - M.S. Forestry
Year @ PSC (2003)
Professor
- Dr. Donna Ballard - Ph.D. Horticulture, Plant Science, Soil Science & Crop Production
Year @ PSC (2007)
Associate professor
- Robert Cheves - M.S. Agriculture Education
Year @ PSC (2007)
General Education Foundations
Please use this link to view a list of courses that meet each GEF requirement.
NOTE: Some major requirements will fulfill specific GEF requirements. Please see the curriculum requirements listed below for details on which GEFs you will need to select.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Foundations | ||
| F1 - Composition & Rhetoric | 3-6 | |
| Introduction to Composition and Rhetoric and Composition, Rhetoric, and Research | ||
or ENGL 103 | Accelerated Academic Writing | |
| F2A/F2B - Science & Technology | 4-6 | |
| F3 - Math & Quantitative Reasoning | 3-4 | |
| F4 - Society & Connections | 3 | |
| F5 - Human Inquiry & the Past | 3 | |
| F6 - The Arts & Creativity | 3 | |
| F7 - Global Studies & Diversity | 3 | |
| F8 - Focus (may be satisfied by completion of a minor, double major, or dual degree) | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 31-37 | |
Please note that not all of the GEF courses are offered at all campuses. Students should consult with their advisor or academic department regarding the GEF course offerings available at their campus.
Curriculum Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ENGL 101 | Introduction to Composition and Rhetoric (GEF 1) | 3 |
| MATH 121 | Intro Concepts Of Mathematics (or higher: GEF 3) | 3 |
| BCOR 299 | Business Communication | 3 |
| BTEC 109 | Business Mathematics | 3 |
| AGRL 191 | First-Year Seminar | 1 |
| A&VS 251 & 251L | Principles of Animal Science and Principles of Animal Science Laboratory | 4 |
| AGEE 101 | Global Food and Agricultural Industry (GEF 7) | 3 |
| AGEE 110 | Microcomputer Applications in Agricultural Education | 3 |
| AGEE 203 | Agriculture Mechanics Practica | 3 |
| ARE 150 | Introductory Agricultural and Agribusiness Economics (GEF 4) | 3 |
| PLSC 206 & 206L | Principles of Plant Science and Principles of Plant Science Laboratory (GEF 2) | 4 |
| SAGE 141 | Introduction to Horticulture and Agronomy | 3 |
| SAGE 215 | Agricultural Marketing | 3 |
| SAGE 231 | Innovation Exploration Seminar | 1 |
| SAGE 280 | Principles of Ag Entrepreneurship | 3 |
| Major Electives (Select four of the following): | 12 | |
| Customer Service Relations | ||
| Introduction to Event Logistics | ||
| Intro to Networking and Security | ||
| Equine Safety and Behavior | ||
| Introduction to Horsemanship and Training | ||
| Advanced Horsemanship and Training | ||
| Equine Facilities and Stable Management | ||
| Food Production 1 | ||
| Sanitation | ||
| Applied Horticulture and Agronomy | ||
| Applied Animal Husbandry | ||
| Woodlot Management | ||
| Open Electives (Additional courses from the Major Electives list may be used as Open Electives) | 5 | |
| Total Hours | 60 | |
Suggested Plan of Study
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| ENGL 101 (GEF 1) | 3 | BCOR 299 | 3 |
| BTEC 109 | 3 | MATH 121 (or higher: GEF 3) | 3 |
| AGEE 101 (GEF 7) | 3 | A&VS 251 & 251L | 4 |
| ARE 150 (GEF 4) | 3 | AGEE 110 | 3 |
| AGRL 191 | 1 | SAGE 141 | 3 |
| 13 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| AGEE 203 | 3 | SAGE 215 | 3 |
| PLSC 206 & 206L (GEF 2) | 4 | SAGE 231 | 1 |
| SAGE 280 | 3 | Major Elective | 3 |
| Major Elective | 3 | Major Elective | 3 |
| Major Elective | 3 | Open Elective | 3 |
| Open Elective | 2 | ||
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Total credit hours: 60 | |||
Major Learning Outcomes
Sustainable Agriculture Entrepreneurship, A.A.S.
Graduates will be able to:
- Effectively use technical and learned knowledge to collaborate and develop team-based problem solving proficiency to be a productive worker.
- Demonstrate appropriate soil, water, and crop management plans that follow sustainable agricultural practices.
- Demonstrate marketing skills for sustainable agricultural commodities.
- Apply the foundational skills for developing a small-scale sustainable farm or agricultural business.
- Use appropriate state of the art technology and software applications for record keeping and accounting to support a successful farming enterprise.
- Communicate effectively to a variety of audiences.
- Work effectively on teams and competently apply teamwork skills in management groups.