Department of Agriculture, Geosciences, and Natural Resources

Dr. Wesley Totten, Chair
257 Brehm Hall
731-881-7262
fax 731-881-7968

Faculty

Clint A. Ary, William A. Bird, Emalee B. Buttrey, Matthew D. Chesnut, John T. Cole, Meghan M. Cunningham-Corvin, Barbara A. Darroch, Craig S. Darroch, Anthony R. Delmond, Thomas A. DePriest, Stan P. Dunagan, Paula M. Gale, Jessica M. Crews-Garcia, Michael A. Gibson, Kimberly J. Leiter, Isaac Lepcha, Joey E. Mehlhorn, Sandy A. Mehlhorn, Zachary M. Morphis, Scott D. Parrott, Audrey N. Pattat, Eric C. Pelren, J. Ross Pruitt, Jason F. Roberts, Jefferson S. Rogers, Robert M. Simpson, Philip L. Smartt, Rachna Tewari, F. Wesley Totten, Angela M. Van Boening, Amanda M. Waldon, Danny R. Walker, Timothy J. Wallace, Diana L. Watson, Todd A. Winters, Bethany R. Wolters, Tara L. Woods

Mission

The Department of Agriculture, Geosciences, and Natural Resources is in the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences. The primary mission of the Department of Agriculture, Geosciences, and Natural Resources is to provide a high quality undergraduate education, with extensive experiential learning activities, to all students who major in agricultural business, agriculture, geosciences, and natural resources management. This goal is achieved by (1) offering major degree programs that are designed to introduce students to the full array of disciplines within each program; (2) offering degree concentrations that allow students to gain in-depth knowledge and experiential learning in particular disciplines; (3) offering courses which collectively provide training in theory, concepts, research skills, data collection, laboratory-based analyses, fieldwork, technical writing, and oral presentations; and (4) staffing all courses with highly-qualified instructional personnel. Bachelor degree programs are designed to prepare students for professional careers, graduate studies, and other professional programs. The majors are distinctive in that students are exposed to all principal disciplines within each program, while maintaining the flexibility to choose a concentration discipline that fulfills their career goals. The department provides a variety of general education courses that are intended to significantly broaden and enhance the knowledge and skills of all students who attend the university. Students in each program have opportunities to obtain field experience, prepare for postgraduate studies, and engage in scholarly and professional activities that promote regional, national, and international experience. The Fellows Research Program provides a structured avenue for qualified undergraduate students to enhance their undergraduate preparation for graduate or professional schools. The department offers an online Master of Science in Agriculture and Natural Resources (M.S.A.N.R.) degree program through Educational Outreach at The University of Tennessee at Martin. This M.S.A.N.R. degree is designed to provide working professionals expanded scientific knowledge and advanced managerial foundations for career advancement. The faculty and staff of the department support the university, the region and the greater academic community through public service and research activities. Students are encouraged to participate in these endeavors. The department houses the Center of Excellence for Experiential Learning in the Agricultural Sciences that promotes student-mentor based applied research, public outreach, and pedagogy development as prominent mission goals.

Expected Outcomes

The roles and objectives of the Department of Agriculture, Geosciences, and Natural Resources closely parallel those of The University of Tennessee at Martin. The statements of mission for the university and the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences both emphasize undergraduate education as the core of instructional effort with applied research and public outreach complementing this endeavor. Goals and objectives of the department support the mission of the college and thereby complement the educational goals of the university.

Programs of study in the department lead to a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Agricultural Business, Agriculture, Geosciences, or Natural Resources Management, with multiple areas of concentration and options within each degree program. Three concentrations are currently offered in Agricultural Business: agribusiness, farm and ranch management, and veterinary technology management. Four concentrations are currently offered in Agriculture: agricultural science, agricultural engineering technology, animal science, and plant and soil science. Three concentrations are offered in Geosciences: geology, meteorology, and geosystems. Four concentrations are offered in Natural Resources Management: environmental management, park administration, soil and water conservation, and wildlife and fisheries biology. In addition to the degree programs mentioned above, UT Martin’s Department of Agriculture, Geosciences, and Natural Resources also offers a pre-professional program in veterinary medicine. All curricula in the department have a broad general education base. This provides a foundation necessary for living a quality life in a rapidly changing modern society while providing a knowledge base for study that is specific to a major field. Students have the opportunity to study with highly qualified faculty who provide individualized educational opportunities with a high priority on experiential learning experiences to achieve the greatest personal potential.

Majors

The bachelor of sciences degree programs in agricultural business, agriculture, in geosciences and in natural resources management include the following majors, areas of concentration and options. The professional education option within agricultural science is accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation Program.

Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Business (with a major in Agricultural Business)
Concentrations
Agribusiness (1171)
Farm and Ranch Management (1172)
Veterinary Technology and Management (1173)

Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (with a major in General Agriculture)
Concentrations
Agricultural Engineering Technology (Agriculture Engineering Technology and Precision Agriculture Options) (1124-GEN, 1124-PAT)
Agricultural Science (Agricultural Production, Professional Education, and Agriculture Communications) (1112, 1113, 1120)
Animal Science (Production, Business and Management; Animal Science; Veterinary Science; and Veterinary Health Technology Options) (1130, 1132, 1128 and 1129)
Plant and Soil Science (Crop and Soil Management, and Golf Course and Landscape Management Options) (1121, 1123)

Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources Management (with a major in NRM)
Concentrations
Environmental Management (1154)
Park Administration (1151)
Soil and Water Conservation (1152)
Wildlife and Fisheries Biology (Wildlife Science & Fisheries Science Options) (1156, 1155)

The bachelor of science in agricultural business and agriculture degrees include a set of general education requirements, common agricultural core requirements and concentration requirements for a major field. Students will meet general education requirements for biological and physical systems, communications, fine arts (aesthetics), humanities, mathematics and social and behavioral sciences. It requires completion of a minimum 120 semester hours of course work. Course requirements during the first two years are similar to those of other universities, a feature that facilitates transferring to or from other universities and community colleges. After completing basic courses in agriculture and supporting subjects, students may elect an area of concentration according to their interests. Each concentration provides a broad general education and excellent preparation for advanced study.

The bachelor of science in natural resources management also includes general education requirements, common natural resource management core requirements and concentration requirements for a major field. Each of the major field concentrations is designed to provide a broad general education in management of natural resources as well as specialization in the major field. Completion of any of these curricula with selection of proper electives provides an excellent foundation for graduate study.

All of the curricula available in agricultural business, agriculture or natural resources management include elective courses to allow flexibility in selection of courses according to interests of the individual student. Electives must be selected by the student with consultation and approval of his/her academic adviser. Many courses include field trips to, and work experiences with, leading agricultural businesses, farms and resource management agencies such as state and national parks and wildlife refuges. Thus, students have an opportunity to observe proper application of new concepts and information, technology and principles of management to real-life situations. The master of science in agriculture and natural resources degree is described in the graduate section of the catalog.

Bachelor of Science (with a major in Geoscience)
Concentrations
Geology Concentration (1162).
Meteorology Concentration (1163)
Geosystems Concentration (1164).

Minors

Minors are available in agricultural business, agriculture, geosciences, and in park administration.

Agriculture, geosciences, and natural resources management students wishing to complete an optional minor in a second degree area are invited to do so. All requirements for the minor as set forth by the granting department must be met. Minors are available through a number of different departments on campus.

Facilities

The UT Martin Agricultural and Natural Resources Field Teaching/Demonstration Complex, located adjacent to the campus, provides an experiential learning laboratory for Agriculture, Geosciences, and Natural Resources students. The 640 acre complex features beef cattle, horses, sheep, goats, swine, a fully functional companion animal (dog and cat) laboratory, indoor/outdoor aquacultural production units, and a veterinary surgery suite. Students have numerous opportunities to work with the animals in classes and laboratories throughout their undergraduate education. The University also maintains an Animal Diagnostic and Disease laboratory, which is used to perform necropsies and diagnostics for livestock producers of West Tennessee. The complex also has greenhouses, ornamental landscape gardens, wildlife areas, weather station, and field/forage crop demonstration areas. The Rhodes Golf Complex provides a seven-acre outdoor teaching and experiential learning center consisting of a full length driving range with two USGA putting greens (featuring two popular hybrid Bermudagrass varieties), multiple bunkers, and tee boxer allowing the Rhodes Golf Complex to simulate multiple golf holes. A 3,000 square foot building features three indoor inclement-weather driving bays allowing UT Martin Golf Team members year-round practice capability. The Field Teaching/Demonstration Complex provides a working laboratory to meet the broad objectives of the Center of Excellence in Experiential Learning for the Agricultural Sciences.

The organization outlined above enables students to become familiar with research conducted at the teaching farm, other experiment stations of the UT Institute of Agriculture, Agriculture and Natural Resources Field Teaching/Demonstration Complex, and other laboratories of the university. UT Martin, in this way, occupies a unique position that differentiates it from other institutions.

Geosciences instructional facilities also include: three fully equipped geology laboratories; a fully-functioning 15 seat geographical information systems/cartography computer lab with a 36”x 48” digitizer, a large-format printer plotter and a flatbed scanner; a remote weather station and a study room. The department is a repository for U.S. Geological Survey maps and maintains a large collection of topographic maps, aerial photographs, rocks, minerals, fossils and visual aids. The department is included in the Tennessee Earthquake Network. Field trips to areas of geological and geographical interest form an integral part of the programs.

UT Martin also has the Ned McWherter Agricultural Complex (pavilion and stalling facility), an Equine Center and the Smith Livestock Center, with all of these hosting a variety of events throughout the year.

Departmental Awards/Scholarships

Department scholarships are available to Agriculture, Geosciences, and Natural Resources students who meet specific eligibility criteria. Departmental scholarship application forms are submitted online via The University of Tennessee at Martin Scholarship Aviator and are due by the end of February for the following academic year. For more information and to access scholarship application forms visit the university website: https://utm.academicworks.com/.

Student Organizations

The Department of Agriculture, Geosciences, and Natural Resources students are active in several organizations which include the Student Mechanization Branch of the ASABE, Agronomy Club, Alpha Gamma Rho, UT Martin Student Chapter of the American Meteorological Society, Association of Women Geoscientists, Block and Bridle Club, Collegiate Farm Bureau, Collegiate FFA, Collegiate 4-H, Eta Alpha (UT Martin chapter of Sigma Gamma Epsilon, the Earth Sciences National Honor Society), GeoClub, Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANNRS), National Agribusiness Marketing Association (NAMA), The National Association for Interpretation (NAI) at The University of Tennessee at Martin, Equestrian Team (Athletics), Rodeo Team (Athletics), UT Martin chapter of the Wildlife Society, Student Cattlemen’s Association, Turf Club, Sigma Alpha and UT Martin Veterinary Club. These student organizations provide opportunities for meeting established professionals in the field, enhancing leadership skills and participation in social activities.

Internship Programs

Supervised field experience, or an internship, is available for academic credit. It is required of all students in park administration, agricultural business, agricultural science production and plant science programs, and strongly encouraged for students in all other agricultural, geosciences and natural resources management degree programs. Internships are designed to enable a student to obtain credit for completion of a prescribed program of work with an approved business or agency. Students have served as interns in a variety of agricultural management and marketing positions and as interns with a variety of city, state and federal agencies.

Supervision and evaluation are provided by faculty and on-the-job supervisors. An essential element of this program is that the work experience be designed so it contributes to a student’s learning and level of competence in his/her chosen career area; routine summer jobs or seasonal employment that do not meet these criteria cannot be considered for internship credit. Students interested in the program should apply for participation one semester in advance and they should have achieved senior standing at the time the work experience begins in the case of park administration - and junior standing in the case of other concentration areas.

Judging Teams

Teams composed of students enrolled in agriculture or natural resources management annually participate in intercollegiate contests in livestock judging, crops judging, horse judging, NAMA Marketing Team, SAEA Quiz Bowl and soil judging. Instruction and coaching are provided by faculty members and membership on the team is based upon participation and competitive performance in practice exercises. The teams have received awards in regional and national competition. They provide excellent opportunities for interested students to sharpen their evaluation skills. Equestrian competition is also available to interested students through the UT Martin athletics program.