Ivy Tech School of Advanced Manufacturing, Engineering & Applied Science
Agriculture
Take learning out of the classroom and into the field.
What You'll Learn
Agriculture feeds the world. From learning how to grow produce to put in grocery stores to working with farmers to raise cattle, agriculture is an important part of this nation's economy.
The Agriculture program at Ivy Tech Community College engages students in hands-on activities in and outside of their classrooms while preparing them for real-world, high demand, agricultural careers. The program focuses in the diverse areas of agriculture, including:
AgriBusiness
Livestock Production
Agronomy
Agriculture Equipment
Horticulture
Landscaping
Career Options
Graduates of the agriculture program go to pursue careers such as
Agriculture Manager
Agriculture Sales Manager
Field Technician
Greenhouse Technician
Pest Control Technician
Agriculture Equipment Operator
Farmer
Animal Agriculture Laborer
Agribusiness Employee
Food Industry Employee
Grain Systems Manager
Landscaper
Golf Course Curator
Degree Types Offered
Credential Type
Associate Degree – Career-Ready Degree
Associate Degree – Transferable Degree
Long-Term Certificates
– known as Technical Certificates (TC)
Short-Term Certificates
– known as Certificates (CT)
Note: Program availability varies by location and not all program tracks are offered at each campus/location.
Associate Degree – Career-Ready Degree
The Associate of Applied Science in Agriculture is a fast track to a career in agriculture. From hands-on experience in an internship to working with faculty with real-world expertise, graduates from this program are prepared to excel in an agricultural career.
The Associate of Science in Agriculture is a great way to obtain a quality education for a fraction of the cost! This option allows students to be closer to home for two years before traveling on to obtain their 4-year degree at another university.
The Associate of Science in Agriculture degree program is designed for students who wish to transfer to a four-year college or university to pursue a bachelor’s degree. You can save upward of $10,000 by completing your first two years at Ivy Tech and then transferring!
Explore our transfer options and talk to our transfer advocates for information about continuing your education after completing your associate degree at Ivy Tech. You are also encouraged to contact the university to which you plan to transfer.
Time to Complete
An Associate of Science in Agriculture degree can be achieved in 4 semesters, or about two years.
Required Courses
Graduates must complete a total of 60 credit hours:
Long-Term Certificates
known as Technical Certificates (TC)
The Controlled Environment Agriculture Technical Certificate (TC) is made for students who want to improve their knowledge of the production side of agriculture. From hydroponics to greenhouses, this certificate gives graduates the tools they need to have a successful career in agriculture production.
The General Agriculture Technical Certificate (TC) is for the student who wants to truly immerse themselves in ag education but isn't necessarily sure what they want to do in the industry. Some of our students have completed several dual-credit agricultural courses in high school and simply want to use those credits to earn a credential. Others use this certificate as a foundation to their associates degree. Either way, this credential shows employers that you are serious about agriculture.
Short-Term Certificates
known as Certificates (CT)
The Agribusiness Management Certificate (CT) is a great foundation for students who want to pursue the business side of agriculture. Whether you are looking for a certificate to pick up on your way to an associate's degree or you have completed dual-credit courses in high school that apply to this program, it is worth taking a look at how this credential would help boost your resume.
The Animal Agribusiness Certificate (CT) is great for students who see themselves working as a livestock farmer. Whether you are looking to work on a farm or manage an agribusiness, this credential will give you the proof that you are prepared to enter the workforce.
The Food Science Certificate (CT) is for the student who wants to work in food production or processing. Unlike culinary arts, food science is the study of the food supply and how we can use it in ways that are sustainable and useful for our community. With this credential, graduates can work in many different positions in the food industry.
The Grain Systems Certificate (CT) leads graduates into a career in crop management and grain system design. This credential gives students the opportunity to learn about how grain systems affect our food supply, and how to operate and maintain them to help feed our communities.
The Horticulture/Landscape Management Certificate (CT) is the ideal credential for students with a green thumb. Whether you have your own landscaping business or you want to work sell at the farmers market, this certificate will give you the knowledge to best maintain your plants.
The Controlled Environment Agriculture Technology Certificate (CT) is for the student who wants to work in a hydroponics or aquaponics. From working in a greenhouse to working with algae, this lesser-known subject is important to our ecosystem. A credential in hydroculture will set you apart in the agriculture industry.
The Landscape Technician Certificate (CT) will take you from lawn mower to lawn expert. Whether you want to make the golf course look crisp or you want to start your own landscaping business, this credential will teach you all you need to know about landscaping.
The Plant Production Certificate (CT) gives students the knowledge they need to be successful in a career in agronomy or plant production. Whether you want to work as a laborer or in the office, this certificate will show employers that you are ready for the workforce.
The Urban Horticulture Certificate (CT) is great for those with an interest in agriculture who might want to live in a large city. Whether you are looking to manage a community garden or want to learn about food deserts in urban areas, this credential will teach you all you need to know about urban horticulture.
Ivy Tech's OSHA 10-Hour Workforce Certification can be achieved through the course AGRI 101, which is part of the curriculum for the AAS degree or as a standalone course for students only seeking this certification.
The course incorporates mandatory OSHA 10 certification program in which successful completion results in students earning their OSHA 10 General Industry certification. Students can expect to learn about:
Principles of collecting, managing, and retrieving financial, physical, and spatial data from farm operations to support the farm’s decision-making and reporting.
The use of financial, statistical and logical spreadsheet functions, GIS systems, record-keeping for fertilizer and pesticide usage and regulation, and specialized software applications, including integration of information from various sources and packages.
Are you curious about opportunities in urban agriculture?
Are interested in how crop and plant production can create a secure food supply
Are you Entrepreneurship minded and/or dream of owning your own business
Do you have a love for Agriculture and a passion for education?
Do you like working with State of the Art Equipment?
Sound Like You?
If you identify with any of the traits above, agriculture may be the path for you! Take the next step to get started or speak with your local advisor to learn more.
There are no prerequisite courses required for applicants of the Agriculture program.
No Expiration of Credits
There is no expiration date for course credits that were earned in previous years from Ivy Tech Community College.
Transfer Credit for Prerequisite Courses
Prerequisite courses completed at colleges other than Ivy Tech will only be considered for general education selection points if transfer credit has been awarded and courses appear on the Ivy Tech transcript prior to the application deadline.
TR grades are not recognized by the online application. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that transfer credit has been awarded and that TR grades are updated to transfer letter grades (TA, TB, TC) on their Ivy Tech transcript.
It is recommended that college transcripts be submitted to the Registrar’s office for evaluation and transfer credit at least 4 weeks prior to the program application deadline to ensure adequate time for processing.
Agriculture Courses
Descriptions of agriculture courses can be found in our online course catalog. View required classes and course descriptions for:
See when specific classes will be offered by searching our class list in Schedule Builder. First, select the semester you’re looking for and then enter the name of the class in the search bar.
If you’re a current student, upcoming classes are easy to find in Schedule Builder in MyIvy.
Class Formats
Agriculture courses are offered in a variety of class formats, including in-person, .
Applying to Ivy Tech is Free & Easy
The Ivy Tech application is free and easy—you don’t need a certain test score, GPA, or class rank to get started at Ivy Tech. Applying takes about 10-15 minutes and can be completed entirely online.
No Application Deadlines
Ivy Tech does not have a deadline for admission. Our 8-week class sessions start throughout the year—in January, March, June, August, and October—and there is no hard deadline for applying for any of the start dates. It's important, though, to apply early enough that you'll be able to complete all the degree planning, financial aid, and registration activities that need to happen before your first day. We recommend you apply about one month before you intend to start classes. See upcoming start dates
Start with a Certificate
For many Automotive Technology programs, Ivy Tech recommends applying for either a long-term certificate or short-term certificate (previously called technical certificates and certificates, respectively) when filling out the online application for admission, even if your end goal is to complete an Associate of Applied Science degree.
By starting at certificate level, you will be able to earn several stackable workforce certifications as part of your education and training.
Steps to Apply
(1) Apply to Ivy Tech
If you’ve never applied to Ivy Tech Community College before (or if it’s been two years since you last attended classes here), your first step is to apply to Ivy Tech. You can apply online or in person. To apply in person, reach out to your local admissions team and arrange a meeting. Or, stop by any campus on any Tuesday for Tuesdays@TheTech to receive personal assistance with applying and registering for classes.
After you submit your application, you'll be asked to upload documentation—such as SAT/ACT/PSAT scores or high school and college transcripts—that can assess your readiness for college-level coursework and help us make sure you are taking classes that are the right fit for you. How to upload assessment documents
If you don't have your scores or transcripts at your fingertips, don’t worry. Go ahead and submit your application. You can go back to upload assessment documents at any time until the end of the term for which you applied.
(3) Look for a Confirmation Email
Once your application is processed, you will receive a confirmation email at the email address provided on your application. Typically the email will arrive within 1-2 business days of submission, but during peak processing periods (April-June) could take up to 5-10 business days.
The email will contain instructions on how to register for classes, as well as important information regarding your Ivy Tech student portal (MyIvy account), tuition, payment options, and more.
(4) Create an Account in MyIvy
MyIvy is Ivy Tech's online student portal. Students use MyIvy to check e-mail, register for classes, pay tuition, manage financial aid, get the latest news and announcements, and much more. MyIvy also contains "QuickLinks" to the Ivy Tech websites and online tools you will use most often. Learn more about MyIvy
Before you can register for classes you will need to submit documentation or complete an assessment test. Your test scores can help us determine the best English and math starting classes for you. See the Test Score Course Placement Chart
If you submitted assessment documentation during the application process, your advisor will likely be able to work with those documents to determine course placement and you won't need to take any further steps. If you don't have any of those documents or the scores don't meet minimum thresholds, don’t worry! Your advisor will direct you to complete our freeKnowledge Assessment to help develop your customized learning path to better prepare you for courses.
(6) Register for Classes
Once you have completed the steps above, you may register for classes. Ivy Tech students register for courses using the Schedule Builder tool which can be accessed withinMyIvy. If you are a new, first-time Ivy Tech student, we recommend that you meet withyour advisor who will help you develop your Academic Completion Plan and help you sign up for courses that are the best fit for you.
For a complete list of registration steps, including detailed registration steps, deadlines, and information about holds, withdrawals, waitlists, and refunds, visit our Registration 101 page.
(7) Pay Your Tuition
After registering for your courses, your bill can be viewed in yourMyIvy account > Student Dashboard- > View/Pay Balance. Payments can also be made in your MyIvy account. For complete information about payments, including payment options, payment plans, how to make immediate payments, due dates, information about refunds, and more, visit our Payments page.
Agriculture is one of the largest sectors of Indiana’s economy with a $20 billion annual impact, and as this sector becomes more high-tech, the need for trained college graduates in agriculture is increasing. Graduates of the Agriculture program can enter directly into the agriculture workforce in exciting, competitive-paying careers or they may transfer to many of our four-year partners.
Valparaiso Campus is offering a Certificate in Grain Systems. Earn this CT in one year!
AGRI 128 Agriculture Safety INDT 113 Basic Electricity INDT 103 Motors and Motor Controls INDT 114 Introduction to Welding AGRI 127 Grain Systems INDT 205 PLC I (Programmable Logic Controllers)
Watch a virtual info session for the Agriculture program in Valparaiso.
“Ivy Tech jump started my career by providing an affordable education in a smaller setting.”
–Samantha O. | 2018 Grad
“Ivy Tech in Lafayette and their staff have given me some of my greatest academic experiences, and they are guiding me to future successes as I transfer to Purdue University.”
–Cora O. | Current Student
“Going to school at Ivy Tech led me to have an opportunity to work for the agriculture department. It was a wonderful experience because it showed me how much technology in agriculture is changing. I am thankful for the opportunity. ”
–Zachary W. | 2023 Grad
“I had an amazing time in the agriculture program, I made lots of friends that became family and created so many memories and connections through the agriculture program. I was able to take what I learned and contribute to our crop production and livestock production. I will never forget my time in the program and will cherish and carry the things I learned and memories I made forever.
Tyler adds: After completing my construction degree I joined the agriculture department to further my knowledge on livestock production to help on my families farm. I had a great time in the agriculture program, I learned a lot and was able to create memories and connections that I will never forget.”
–Kelly & Tyler C. | 2020 Grads
Featured Faculty & Staff
Kraig Bowers
Agriculture & Precision Agriculture Equipment Technology Department Chair
Matt John
Department Chair for Agriculture and Precision Agriculture
Kraig Bowers
Agriculture & Precision Agriculture Equipment Technology Department Chair
Matt John
Department Chair for Agriculture and Precision Agriculture
Has helped acquire and/or oversee, over 2 million dollars' worth of grant funding used toward the implementation of cutting-edge agricultural technology and applied research on Lafayette's 65-acre farm, while expanding conservation practices. Administrates the innovative and award-winning Pathway to Purdue College of Agriculture program with Purdue partners.
"Kraig Bowers is an exceptional Department Chair that has grown and developed the Lafayette Agriculture Program since 2018. He brings decades of teaching experience plus successful grant planning and implementation. Kraig is advancing the Pathway of Purdue Agriculture program through stewarding a strong relationship with Purdue University College of Agriculture. He builds relationships with employer partners and students through his involvement with the FFA Organization. "
— Andrea Schwartz - Dean of the School of Advanced Manufacturing, Engineering & Applied Science, Lafayette
The Columbus program has the Ivy Mobile Agriculture Classroom (IVY MAC) We also offer classes at Shelbyville and Franklin campuses and teach Dual Enrollment classes at 2 area high schools.
Find Local Admissions Contact Info
Don't see a nearby location?
Call 1-888-489-5463 and we'll get you started.
Madison Advising Center
590 Ivy Tech Drive
Madison, IN 47250
Fax 812-265-4028
Zoom Video Calls Available by appointment only. Call 812-256-2580, ext. 4502 to make an appointment.
Advising Team Tricia Miracle 812-265-2580 ext. 4137 tmiracle2@ivytech.edu Text during business hours 812-510-3844 Virtual Drop-In Advising Hours: Wednesdays 9:00-1:00pm & Thursdays 2:00-5:30pm Zoom Link
Lisa Kelley 812-265-2580 ext. 4163 lkelley3@ivytech.edu Text during business hours 502-414-1597 Virtual Drop-In Advising Hours: Tuesdays 1:30pm-5pm & Thursdays 8:30am-12pm Zoom Link
Starting Oct. 28th Tuesdays: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Fridays: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. All other days by appointment from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. **Special Saturday December 7 @ 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
1 Source: US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. May 2022 State Occupational Employment and Wage estimates: Indiana.(2023). Lightcast™, lightcast.io. Occupational Overview for Indiana, 2023-2024
2 Associate degree cost is determined by tuition for an in-state, full-time student. Certificate and technical certificate costs are determined by tuition for an in-state, part-time student. Additional fees may be applied. Visit the Tuition & Fees page to learn more.
