School of Professional Studies

Agriculture Department

Greetings from Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva, Oklahoma, home of the Rangers! We are pleased about your interest in our Agriculture Department and are confident that you will find Northwestern to be a great place to continue your education.

Northwestern in general, and the Agriculture Department in particular, offer courses that are directed to and for students. We are proud to say that you are never just another face in the crowd at Northwestern. The number of students in each class is generally small, which ensures excellent student-to-faculty interaction, and helps foster the close-knit atmosphere that so many agriculture students desire. Additionally, the agricultural student body is made up of individuals from many different states, countries, and backgrounds, providing students with opportunities to develop lifelong friendships with people from literally around the world.

We are proud of the resources available to our students at Northwestern. The Agriculture Department offers Bachelor of Science degrees in Agriculture and Agriculture Education, both of which prepare students for bright careers. Students majoring in Agriculture have the opportunity to choose a minor from areas that include Business, Entrepreneurship, Biology and many others. In addition, students studying Agriculture Education will be fully prepared to obtain certification and licensure and begin teaching agriculture in our Oklahoma high schools.

Another major strength of the Agriculture Department at Northwestern is the opportunity for students to combine academic efforts with practical experiences at our University Farm. Ultimately, our goal at Northwestern is to prepare our graduates for dynamic careers in agricultural business and production agriculture in order to feed, clothe, and fuel our nation and our world.

If you have questions about Northwestern and our agriculture programs, I encourage you to contact me or our Office of Recruitment today to set up a campus tour. We look forward to helping you reach your educational goals.

s/Dr. Dean Scarbrough, Chair

Faculty

Information Request Form

University Farm

Contact:

Dr. Dean Scarbrough, Chair
Professor of Agriculture
Jesse Dunn 106
Northwestern-Alva
(580) 327-8487
dascarbrough@nwosu.edu

Clubs:

Aggie Club

Student Spotlight

Riley Tune
Seiling, OK
Senior
Major: Agriculture
Minor: Animal Science

"The Agriculture Department here at Northwestern has not only provided me direction for a career but also direction for who I want to be. The professors are always willing to lend a helping hand and are invested in anything we do. All the classes I’ve had the privilege to take have provided hands-on experiences to help us better understand the content. I am where I am today, and have the opportunities I have, due to the Agriculture Department."

Degrees Offered

Agriculture
Agriculture Education

For a detailed look at the course requirements and descriptions for these degrees, please see the Undergraduate Catalog.

Careers for Degree

Careers in Agriculture

Students graduating with a degree in Agriculture from Northwestern gain employment in many different areas of the agriculture industry. Many choose to pursue careers in agricultural lending, grain production & management, crop consulting, or animal production. Others choose to return home to the family farm / ranch, or opt to start their own agriculture-related businesses.

The demand for college graduates in the field of Agriculture is great, and this trend will continue as long as people rely on agricultural products for food, fiber, and fuel.

Search for ideas on what you can do with this major: http://whatcanidowiththismajor.com/info.html

Course Rotation

Course Rotation

Agriculture

Plans of Study

Plans of Study

Departmental Program Highlights

100% job placement for Ag. Ed. graduates
NW Ag. interns are offered full-time, industry positions upon graduation
Ag. degrees are very versatile, leading to careers ranging from banking to real estate
Starting salaries average over $40,000 for Ag. graduates
All faculty have working experience in production agriculture
Blake Kennedy (2019) American Star in Agribusiness
Bridger Anderson (2019) College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) Steer Wrestling Champion
Taylor Munsell (2019) CNFR Breakaway Roping Champion
Dr. Mindi Clark (2017) Significant Woman in OK Agriculture by the OK Dept. of Ag, Food & Forestry and OSU

Scholarships

Agriculture students can earn scholarships here as a freshman, or by transferring to Northwestern to continue their education.

A $500 scholarship has been established for students who qualify for the Agriculture Education program.

Use the Agriculture Department Scholarship Application Form to apply for foundation/departmental scholarships by February 15.

Departmental scholarships available in this area and more can be found at https://ournorthwestern.org/make-an-investment/scholarships, including numerous miscellaneous unspecified scholarships.

Current students have until March 15 for academic scholarships using the Continuing Student Scholarship Application.

All incoming freshmen or transfers are encouraged to fill out their respective scholarship forms: Freshman Scholarship or Transfer Scholarship, which should be submitted along with the Application for Admission to the University. The incoming freshman deadline is May 15, while the transfer student deadline is July 15.

Students also should complete the FAFSA form at www.studentaid.gov.

For more information, please visit Scholarships.

Facilities

In addition to classrooms located on the Alva campus, Northwestern’s Agriculture program currently has a working University Farm, located approximately 8 miles southwest of the city of Alva. The 320-acre farm consists of both tillable wheat ground and mixed-grass prairie. Improved buildings include a 16-crate swine farrowing barn, hay & equipment barns, cattle working facilities, classrooms, and the Wisdom Family Agriculture Education Building.

Student Learning Outcomes

SLOs - Agriculture Department

Students will characterize / differentiate between species of, and anatomical features of, agriculturally important animals.
Students will design, create, and defend practical feed rations for domestic livestock.
Students analyze and effectively communicate important concepts in agronomy and animal science.
Students will characterize / differentiate between species of, and morphological structures of, agriculturally important plant species.