Thank you for your interest in the Agricultural Institute.
This presentation will go over information for students that are interested in learning
more about this program as well as information for those that have already been accepted.
The Agricultural Institute is NC State's only associates of applied science degree program.
We are part of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
We currently offer six degrees.
Agribusiness management is great for those interested in accounting, owning their own
business, taking over a family farm or wish to be at a managerial-level position within
the agricultural industry.
Field crop technology covers information about growing and harvesting southern row crops
such as tobacco, corn, cotton and peanuts.
Livestock and poultry management is our version of an animal science degree.
We focus on large animals so your dairy and beef cattle, swine and poultry such as chickens
and turkeys.
Horticulture science is broken into two concentrations.
Ornamental and landscape technology would be for a student that is interested in having
or working for a landscape business, a nursery or a botanical garden.
This major really focuses on the green industry.
Small-scale farming is for anyone looking to farm less than 50 acres and high profit
crops such as melons and bell peppers.
Turfgrass management would be a great fit for anyone looking to maintain the turf of
golf courses or athletic fields.
Over the years, we have had a few students within this major intern and manage the turf
for Nascar speedways and major league baseball teams.
General agriculture is a great fit for students who are interested in agriculture but not
really sure what sector they would like to go into.
This major includes courses from all the other majors and really gives a broad knowledge
of the agricultural industry.
If you would like to learn more information on these majors, please click on each link.
There, you will be able to see a curriculum breakdown outlining all the courses that are
required for that particular degree.
There are many benefits to attending a community college such as smaller class sizes and cheaper
cost.
Attending the Agricultural Institute gives you the best of both worlds.
We have class sizes similar to that of a community college, and although the tuition for two-year
students at NC State is the same for four-year students, there are tons of resources that
our students have access to.
These include NC State's research and education units, on-campus resources such as Carmichael
Gym, NC State libraries, Student Health Services and the ability to have that college experience
by living on campus and attending sporting events.
How are we different from the Bachelor's program?
Well, besides taking half the amount of time to complete your degree, we also have smaller
class sizes, about 15-25 people, fewer general education courses and more hands-on learning.
We really try our best to get students to apply their knowledge directly in the field.
This means more time in the greenhouse, at the animals units and utilizing skills that
you will be using everyday once in the work industry.
Our goal is not only to give you a quality education, but to assist in lining
up a job after graduation.
We do this by introducing you to industry representatives.
As a first-year student, we frequently have industry reps come speak to you in the classroom
and during our annual luncheon, so you can get to know each other and learn more about
the opportunities they offer such as job positions and internships.
All students are required to complete an internship the summer between their first and second
year.
We have an internship database exclusively for AGI students where employers post open
intern opportunities.
We understand that as a student, you have a lot of responsibility, and we want your
time to be valued.
Therefore, these internships are paid, and on average the pay rate is $10-14/hour.
Our hope is that through these internships you will gain more experience and use the
opportunity to narrow down your interest and secure a job opportunity for after graduation.
The only difference between two-year and four-year students at NC State is that
two-year students cannot play any varsity sports regulated by the NCAA.
This is because the NCAA's regulations state that a player must be enrolled in a four-year
degree seeking program.
Other than this, Ag Institute students can live anywhere on campus.
There is no specific part on campus for the Ag Institute.
They can live with a two-year or four-year student as their roommate, join clubs and
organizations, play JV, club and intramural sports, join Greek life organizations that
allow two-year students and go to all sporting events such as basketball and football games.
Although Ag Institute classes are smaller than that of the four year, these courses
are taught by the same instructors that teach the four-year courses.
This is an advantage to any student looking to transfer into the four-year program because
you will become familiar with how these instructors teach and organize their exams.
AGI students also use the same educational units and labs as the four-year and can go
on study abroad trips.
Every year there are about one to two study abroad trips that are planned through the
Ag Institute office.
In order to apply to the Ag Institute, a student must have a 2.25 GPA out of high
school and include a letter of recommendation from anyone not related to them.
Our application for the fall closes June 1.
Please take note that this is after the decision for the four year.
Due to this, if a student applies and is denied admission to the four-year CALS program, we
are known as a pathway to CALS.
This is meant to be a pathway for students who are passionate about gaining an agriculture-related
education at NC State.
If you were denied to the four-year or applied and have decided to switch your application
to the two-year, the Ag Institute, please email the Ag Institute.
Please know that the application for the Agricultural Institute is not on the Common App.
The link to our application can be found on our website or by clicking application on
this slide.
Another unique quality of the Agricultural Institute is that we will accept some of your
high school ag classes as credit.
This only applied to the animal I and II courses and the horticulture I and II courses.
You must take both the first and second section of the course, make a B or higher in the course
and pass the final exam for both courses with an 80 or higher.
The animal science I and II courses will take place of our introduction animal class, and
the horticulture courses will come in as our plant growth and development class.
If you plan on bringing these courses into NC State, please ask your ag instructor to
have the scores of these exams added to your transcript
After the Agricultural Institute, can you continue your education?
Absolutely.
If you're interested in continuing your education after your time with the Ag Institute, just
let us know.
During your time in the the Institute, we will advise you on how to transfer into your
preferred major or institution.
We have a partnership with NC A&T, and we also have many students transfer into the
College of Ag and Life Sciences bachelor program at NC State.
The CALS A to B program allows students who are getting ready to graduate
from the Agricultural Institute to matriculate into a ag-related bachelor's degree program
within CALS.
In order to matriculate, the student must meet the requirements listed: a minimum of
a 3.0 GPA, completed their two-year degree from the Ag Institute, taken and passed the
required science and math courses and passed them with a C- or better, have 30 transferable
credits, some of these credits will be acquired from the Ag Institute curriculum and others
must be completed by taking additional courses.
The student must also complete an intent to transfer application which is offered through
the Ag Institute office.
In addition to these requirements, the students undergo CALS A to B advising which they can
do by contacting our office once they are enrolled in the Ag Institute.
If you have already been accepted to the Agricultural Institute, congratulations
on becoming a member of the Wolfpack.
There are a few items that we need to go over before you start classes in the fall.
Ag Institute students do not take the university placement test.
We have our own math placement test that will be administered during orientation.
The purpose of this exam is to gauge your current mathematical skills.
If you do well on the exam, then our math instructors will waive your requirement for
a level one math and place you directly into our second level math.
We would like to stress that our math courses are structured so that the foundation that
you learn in math I, is heavily used for the learning in math II.
If you are not someone who would is strong in math, don't worry about your score for
this test.
Taking our level one math is already in your Ag Institute curriculum and will not affect
the amount of time it takes you to complete your degree.
We highly recommend staying enrolled in our level one math if you feel that you will need
some more time to build your skills before leveling up.
You do not have to worry about contacting your adviser.
We typically do not assign advisers until you are enrolled in the fall.
Due to this, you will enroll yourself in classes using the course planning tool.
If you have any questions, please contact our office.
In July, you will receive an email from the Ag Institute office with specified
instructions on how to use the course planning tool.
This tool is meant to assist students in figuring out which courses they need to enroll in.
This is done by asking students what classes they plan to transfer in from community colleges
and if they have taken either of the two high school agriculture classes and wish to receive
credit for them.
Once you complete the tool, it will generate a list of courses you should enroll in for
the fall semester.
This tool will not automatically enroll in your classes.
It is simply a guide.
Once you have the list of courses you will enroll into your classes using the enrollment
wizard within your MyPack Portal.
An instructional tutorial of how to use the enrollment wizard is linked on this slide.
We would like to assure you that the Ag Institute office will be verifying all schedules for
accuracy during orientation after you have already self-enrolled.
At that time, we will make any adjustments needed.
Here is a list of our commonly asked questions.
Where do I send my transcripts?
When applying please send your official transcripts to Undergraduate Admissions.
You can physically mail a copy or have them emailed, but they must be an official copy.
Please refer to the new student checklist to find more information regarding applying
for on-campus housing, choosing a meal plan and any questions you may have about financial
aid.
Many people ask "where is the Ag or Ag Institute part of campus?"
There is not one.
All of courses are taught from their home departments, meaning that your classes will
be spread out all over main campus, not confined to a single building or area.
What is the cost of tuition?
The cost of tuition for the Agricultural Institute is the same as the cost for any four-year
students attending NC State.
Please refer to the financial aid website for a breakdown of the tuition, fees and expenses.
Are there scholarships for Ag Institute students?
Yes, there are scholarships for Ag Institute students, however, most of these are reserved
for those in their second year.
There are scholarships available for incoming students, and these can be found listed on
the CALS scholarship website.
We also encourage you to look at the university scholarship website and contact your local
organizations to inquire about their scholarship opportunities as well.
Can I schedule a visit or how can I schedule a visit?
The Agricultural Institute is adhering to the guidelines set by Chancellor Woodson and
university policy.
That being said, at this time, all campus gatherings have been suspended.
To stay up to date on the status of campus operations, please visit NC State's website
linked on this slide.
Thank you so much for viewing this presentation.
If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact us.
You can call at 919-515-3248.
Please keep in mind that following university policy we may be in and out of the office.
If we do not answer, please be sure to leave a voicemail with your name and phone number,
and we will return your call.
You can also email us at ag_institute@ncsu.edu or visit our website
for more information.
Thank you for your interest in the Agricultural Institute and Go Pack!