HCCTC Student Senate Donates to Local Cancer Support Group
In a heartwarming display of generosity, Highland Community College Technical Center students came... Read More
AB 101 Small Scale Local Food Production (3)
This course will cover garden practices as they relate to food production. Fruit and vegetables will be raised in a college garden site. The course will specifically cover the principles of plant growth, garden planning, soil preparation, planting and tending crops, marketing, and processing garden produce.
Syllabus • Locations and Class Schedule
AB 108 Principles of Animal Science (3)
This course will introduce the field of animal science. The course will focus on fundamental concepts of genetics, animal breeding, physiology, anatomy, nutrition, digestion, and the scope of the livestock industry.
AB 114 Ag Orientation (2)
This course will provide an introduction to the various careers in agriculture. The course will also cover career and job trends, setting academic goals, note taking, designing a term study plan, preparing for tests, and test taking strategies and skills.
AB 120 Introduction to Beekeeping (3)
This course will provide an introduction to the basics of beekeeping. The course will cover equipment and supplies necessary for setting up an apiary, appropriate apiary locations, installing a colony of bees, and checking the progress of a colony.
Syllabus • Locations and Class Schedule
AB 121 Honey Products Development and Marketing (3)
This course is designed to provide an introduction to the legal requirements of honey product packaging and quality control of the product. The course will also cover packaging and marketing strategies to maximize profits. Other value-added products will be introduced for diversification of sales possibilities.
Syllabus • Locations and Class Schedule
AB 122 Colony Health and Treatment of Disease (1)
This course is designed to provide an introduction to the recognition, diagnosis, and treatment of honeybee diseases and pests. The course will also cover preventative maintenance methods for general colony health.
Syllabus • Locations and Class Schedule
AB 123 Spring Apiary Management (2)
This course is designed to provide an introduction to the basics of spring apiary management. The course will cover preparing colonies for spring honey production, promoting colony health, and increasing the number of colonies.
Syllabus • Locations and Class Schedule
AB 124 Beekeeping Equipment Construction (1)
Prerequisite: Permission
This course will provide a hands-on learning experience in making a complete beehive from wood. The course will also cover assembling pre-made beehive components.
Syllabus • Locations and Class Schedule
AB 126 Principles of Agronomy (3)
This course presents instruction in crop plant classification, use, and identification. The course also covers cropping systems, tillage methods, planting methods, harvesting methods, and crop growth patterns. Course emphasis will be balanced between theoretical and practical crop science.
Syllabus • Locations and Class Schedule
AB 202 Agriculture Economics (3)
This course provides an introduction to the field of agricultural economics as well as some of the basic tools and concepts of decision making. Concepts are illustrated in terms of selected contemporary social and economic issues, including the role of agriculture in both the national and international dimensions. Topics will include the structure of U.S. agriculture, consumer food issues, world food problems, agribusiness, and rural development.
AB 203 Soil Science (4)
Prerequisite: AB 210 and PS 111 or 2 years high school chemistry or permission
This course will provide a study of the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soils and how these properties determine the nature of each soil and its crop productivity. The course will also cover soil management practices.
AB 207 Fundamentals of Animal Nutrition (3)
Prerequisite: AB 108 or permission
This course covers the role of carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, minerals. vitamins, and water in animal nutrition. The course will emphasize digestion, absorption, metabolism, and excretion of nutrients and their metabolites.
AB 208 Applied Animal Nutrition (3)
Prerequisite: AB 207 or permission
This advanced course will cover various techniques involved in the formulation, preparation, and construction of animal nutrient rations.
AB 210 Crop Science with Lab (4)
Prerequisite: PS 107, PS 111, or permission
This course will examine plant morphology and anatomy and will also provide a history of plant agriculture. The course will emphasize plant structures and systems related to the five major field crops found in the local region: corn, sorghum, wheat, soybeans, and alfalfa. Growth stages, critical periods of development, plant nutrition, mineral elements involved in physiology, and grain grading and marketing will also be covered.
AB 212 Livestock Production (3)
Prerequisite: AB 108 or permission
This advanced animal science course is designed so students can expand their expertise working with livestock. The course will cover lactation, genetic applications, physiology of reproduction, animal ecology, and the impact of livestock production on the quality of life.
AB 216 Farm Marketing (3)
Prerequisite: AB 202 or permission
This introductory course will cover operations involved in the movement of agricultural commodities from the farmer to the consumer. The course will focus on the essential marketing functions of buying, selling, transportation, storage, financing, standardization, pricing, and risk bearing.
AB 220 Beef Production (3)
Prerequisite: AB 108 or permission
This course will cover the basic husbandry practices used in modern beef production. The course will focus on the latest advancements in technology as they apply to cattle production. Special emphasis will be placed on genetics, physiology of reproduction, beef nutrition, health programs, management methods, use of electronic ID systems, ID databases, and marketing methods.
AB 222 Sheep Production (3)
Prerequisite: AB 108 or permission
This course is designed to introduce the technology required for modern sheep production. The course will focus on genetics, reproduction, health, nutrition, management concepts, marketing, budgets, and the proper care and handling of wool.
AB 224 Range Management (3)
Prerequisite: AB 210 or permission
This course is designed to give students knowledge about forage and range management. The course will cover principles of plant species selection, establishment, fertilization, and weed control. Utilization and grazing of natural grasses will also be covered, as well as improved cultivators. The course will include discussion of intensive grazing design and temporary forage systems, silage, and haying methods.
AB 225 Animal Diseases and Health (3)
Prerequisite: AB 108 or permission
This course will cover general concepts and applications for designing and developing an effective flock or herd health program. The course will emphasize effective sanitation, disease prevention, control of ectoparasites and endoparasites, disease identification, and methods of effective chemotherapy.
AB 227 Ag Microcomputer (3)
Prerequisite: 2 years high school math or permission
This course is designed for students who have had some experience with computers. The course will cover the start-up dialogue, care and maintenance of software and hardware, and what to look for when purchasing a farm computer system. The course will also emphasize the use of integrated software packages and their agricultural applications.
