Got a question?

Questions about College of Agriculture & Life Sciences Distance Education courses and programs can be directed to (800)747-4478 or by E-mail. For a list of all courses and programs available from Iowa State University, call (800)262-0015 or visit www.lifelearner.iastate.edu.

New Course Development

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences has invested $660,000 in the development or updating of courses for delivery at a distance during 2002 - 2008 and $410,000 in technology used in course development. The overall objective is to increase student credit hours thru Distance Education courses asynchronously delivered in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Additional objectives are to: 1) improve the quality of credit offerings delivered at a distance; 2) increase the number of courses available for delivery at a distance; 3) increase the shelf life of offerings; and 4) extend offerings beyond the State of Iowa.

Agricultural Education & Studies

AgEdS 490F - Agricultural Environmental & Natural Resources Law (1 cr - Spring) The course examines the economic and legal relationships between agriculture and the environment. Examined are the various legal systems for allocating water to agriculture, the reasons legal constraints are necessary for handling natural resource issues, constitutional issues arising from the regulation of land-use activities, and the federal (and state) regulation of air, soil, water, land use, livestock grazing, animals and plants, seed and food products.

AgEdS 550 - Foundations of Agricultural Education (3 cr - Fall) Philosophical premises, ethical principles, historical development, contextual applications, and knowledge bases for agricultural education.

AgEdS 533 - Introduction to Learning Theory in Agricultural Education (3 cr - Spring) Introduction to a variety of theoretical perspectives of learning and how they may be used within the context of agricultural education. Emphasis will be on the major jomains of learning, developmental considerations, basic assumptions, concepts, and principles of various learning theories; understanding how each theoretical perspective may be used in both formal and non-formal educational settings.

Agronomy

Agron 342 (ENV STD, FSHN, TSC, UNIV STD) - World Food Issues (3 cr) Under Development Now / World hunger and malnutrition in social, ethical, historical, and environmental context. Emphasis on the origins and effects of global inequity on population trends, socioeconomic policies, and food systems in the developing world. Exploration of directions and improvements for the future. Team projects. Nonmajor graduate credit.

Agron 484/584 - Organic Agriculture: Theory & Practice (3 cr - Spring) Understanding of the historical origins and ecological theories underpinning the practices involved in organic agriculture. Interdisciplinary examination of crop and livestock production and socio-economic processes and policies in organic agriculture from researcher and producer perspectives. Nonmajor graduate credit.

Animal Science

AnS 421/521 - Environmental Management of Livestock (4 cr) Under Development Now / Relationship of livestock production to environmental quality. Management approaches to preserve environmental quality and optimize productivity on farming enterprises through effective resource use in confinement and grazing-based livestock productions systems. Use of computer models to develop nutrient and grazing management plans for livestock to minimize damage to air, water, and soil resources.

AnS 537F - Topics in Farm Animal Environmental Physiology, Behavior, Stress and Welfare (3 cr - Spring) An online course between three universities, Texas Tech University , University of IL , and Iowa State University . Each spring and fall semester student focus on different topics related to farm animal environmental physiology, behavior, stress and welfare. Each module is separate and distinct so students can sign up for one or more of these modules (at the discretion and approval of the students research committee). These modules are open to MS and Ph. D. student. The same modules can not be taken twice. May be repeated for credit. A. Animal rights and philosophies, B. Brain mechanisms of stress, C. Measuring behavior and welfare, D. Environmental stressors, E. Stress and the immunity, F. Other related topics

Biology

Biol 486 - Aquatic Ecology (3 cr - Fall) Structure and function of aquatic ecosystems with application to fishery and pollution problems. Emphasis on the comparative analysis of aquatic ecosystems, examining lakes, ponds, wetlands, streams, rivers, and estuaries. Lectures will acquaint students with the current state of knowledge in the aquatic sciences. Nonmajor graduate credit.

Community Development

C Dev 535 - Immigration and Community Inclusion (3 cr) Under Development Now / The course will take a comparative approach to how different countries and different communities have responded to new immigrants. Class members will carry out case studies of the inclusion of immigrants in their own community and create an action plan for increasing inclusion to contribute to the economic vitality of that place. (GP IDEA Community Development)

C Dev ??? Sustainable Communities (3 cr) Under Development Now / The course will explore theoretical frameworks, methodological investigation and applied practices in relation to community sustainability. Perspectives to be examined include sustainable development, smart growth, the Community Capitals Framework, and others. (GP IDEA Community Development)

Horticulture

Hort 493 - Vegetable Production & Management (2 cr - Spring) Principles of vegetable production with emphasis on sustainable practices, market outlets, business aspects, and risk management. Organic techniques will be discussed. Major crop climatic conditions, growth and development, harvesting, storage, and marketing. In addition to exams, quizzes there will be a few special project assignments. Nonmajor graduate credit.

Plant Pathology

PLP 252 (Hort 252, ENT 252) - Integrated Management of Turfgrass Diseases & Insect Pests for Professional Turfgrass Managers (1 cr Spring) This course describes principles of Integrated Pest Management of diseases and insect pests of turfgrass (golf courses, lawns, sports turf, and sod production). It also describes the major disease and insect problems of turfgrasses in the Upper Midwest , and how to manage them.

Seed Science & Business Technology

STB/AGRON 510 - Crop Improvement (3 cr - Fall) A study of the basic principles and methods in the genetic improvement of crop plants. Methods used in manipulating genomes through the use of biotechnology. Methods of cultivar development. Quantitative procedures for describing response to selection. Analysis of the relationship of reproductive characters and growth characteristics to response to selection. Restricted to students admitted to the distance education Master of Seed Technology and Business degree program or by special arrangement with the instructor.

STB/AGRON 535 - Introduction to the Seed Industry (1 cr - Fall) An analysis of the defining characteristics of the seed industry and introduction to the Master in Seed Technology and Business curriculum. The tasks of crop improvement and seed production will be analytically related to basic management functions and classifications of management activities that are used in the study of business administration. Management tasks and roles will be analyzed in related to the public policy issues that shape the seed industry, including ethical and economical approaches to biotechnology, intellectual property, and corporate responsibility. Restricted to students admitted to the distance education Master's in Seed Technology and Business degree program, or by special arrangement with the instructor.

STB/AGRON 536 - Quantitative Methods for Seed (1 cr - Fall) Quantitative Methods for analyzing and interpreting agronomic and business information for the seed industry. Principles of experimental design and hypothesis testing, regression, correlation and graphical representation of data. Use of spreadsheets for manipulating, analyzing and presenting data. Restricted to students admitted to the Master's of Seed Technology and Business degree program or by special arrangement with the instructor.

STB/PLP 592 - Seed Health Management (2 cr - Spring) Occurrence and management of diseases during seed production, harvest, conditioning, storage, and planting. Emphasis on epidemiology, disease management in the field, seed treatment, effects of conditioning on seed health, and seed health testing. Restricted to students admitted to the Master's of Seed Technology and Business degree program or by special arrangement with the instructor.

Technology Systems Management

TSM 337 - Fluid Power Systems Technology (3 cr - Spring) Fundamental fluid power principles. Fluid properties. Function and performance of components such as pumps, valves, actuators, hydrostatic transmission and continuously variable transmissions. Basic analysis of fluid power systems. Introduction to electrohydraulics.

TSM 272 - Introduction to Occupational Safety (2 cr - Spring 09) Under Development Now / Introduction to occupational safety and health dministration and management. Focus on development and management of safety programs and obtaining employee involvement in occupational safety programs.

TSM 370 - Occupational Safety (3 cr - Spring 09) Under Development Now / Identifies safety and health risks in industrial work environments. Focus on how managers and supervisors meet their responsibilities for providing a safe workplace for their employees. Includes the identification and remediation of workplace hazards. Nonmajor graduate credit.

TSM 372 - Legal Aspects of Occupational Safety and Health (2 cr Fall 08) Under Development Now / Legal implications of legislation as it applies to health and safety in the workplace. Includes OSHA regulations, worker's compensation, and workplace liability.