www.cpp.edu/~agri
Lisa A. Kessler, Interim Dean
Peter Kilduff, Interim Associate Dean
As the founding college of the University, instruction in the College of Agriculture is offered in eight majors leading to the Bachelor of Science degree. There are four Master of Science subplans offered in Agricultural Science, Animal Science, Nutrition and Food Science, and Plant Science.
The College of Agriculture prepares students for careers in a wide variety of positions throughout the agricultural, food, apparel/textile industries, environment, science, retail, and healthcare fields. Careers can be found in business, industry, education, conservation, recreation, specialized services, governmental work, as well as production. Positions can vary from technical and analytical to creative and entrepreneurial. Career opportunities for men and women are numerous with many being relatively unknown a few years ago. Challenging occupations exist at both the domestic and international level, especially for individuals with dual language skills. Students from rural and urban communities will find a broad spectrum of opportunities that suit their interests and abilities.
The Agriculture Industry
The agriculture industry serves the State by generating food for the U.S. and the world. While less than two percent of California’s population now lives and works on the farm, approximately 80,500 farming businesses produce food worth $47 billion and well over $100 billion in processing, packaging and distribution of the food supply. Agriculture graduates find careers in areas such as production, research, biotechnology, governmental regulation, environment and natural resource management, water management, golf course management, and education.
The Food Industry
The Southern California food industry provides an ever increasing number of job opportunities for graduates. Careers can be found in areas such as nutrition science, dietetics, food chemistry, food processing, sensory evaluation, product development, food management, food marketing, food safety, and culinology. Nutrition science and dietetics is a pathway for many students pursuing graduate programs in the medical and healthcare fields.
The Apparel Industry
The California apparel sector is the largest and most dynamic in the United States. Los Angeles is a major international fashion hub, containing many top apparel brands and retail groups. Career opportunities are diverse, embracing buying, designing, product development, production, visual merchandising, supply chain management, store operations management, and brand marketing. Employers vary from global corporations to young entrepreneurial businesses, drawn from across the manufacturing, distribution, technology, textiles, and creative services sectors of the industry.
Facilities for Animal Science, Animal Health Science, and Plant Science
Facilities on or near the campus make possible practical laboratories for the various majors. The university farm consists of fertile soils typical of the southern California area with enough variation in soil type and climate to give students broad experience. Over 700 acres of university owned land are available for pastures, crops, groves, and ornamental plantings. Animal production flocks and herds are maintained for undergraduate instruction and graduate research.
Facilities for Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Science and Technology
Classrooms and laboratories are housed in Building 7. Laboratories include sophisticated testing and research equipment for numerous faculty and student research projects in nutrition and product development.
Facilities for Apparel Merchandising and Management
Classrooms and laboratories are housed in Building 45. Laboratory space includes a textile testing lab, a digital dyeing, printing and manufacturing lab, and three computer labs equipped with apparel industry specific software in patternmaking, product development, and store operations management. A senior apparel production lab and a senior retail boutique are used for the production students AM2 line of clothing and ApparelScapes, a fashion retail micro-business.
Academic Programs
Majors
Agribusiness and Food Industry Management B.S.
Agricultural Science (Education) B.S.
Animal Health Science B.S.
Animal Science B.S.
with subplans in Animal Science and Pre-Veterinary Science/Graduate School
Apparel Merchandising and Management B.S.
with subplans in Apparel Production and Management, Fashion Retailing, and Textiles
Food Science and Technology B.S.
Nutrition B.S.
with subplans in Dietetics and Nutrition Science
Plant Science B.S.
Minors
Agribusiness and Food Industry Management
Agronomy
Animal and Veterinary Science
Culinology®
Equine Science
Fashion Merchandising
Food Safety
Food Science and Technology
Horticulture
International Agricultural Business Management
Nutrition
Pest and Disease Management
Soil Science
Urban and Community Agriculture
Water Resources and Irrigation Design
Credentials
Agricultural Specialist, Agriculture Single Subject (in Ag. Science)
Master of Science in Agriculture
with subplans in Agricultural Science, Animal Science, Nutrition and Food Science,
and Plant Science
Departments
Dean’s Office
Building 2, Room 216
(909) 869-2200
(909) 869-4454 and 869-4074 fax
(888) 2DAYS AG (toll free)
E-mail: agriculture@cpp.edu
www.cpp.edu/~agri
Graduate Programs
Building 2, Room 212
(909) 869-3021
Yao Olive Li, College Graduate Programs Coordinator
yaoli@cpp.edu
University Advancement
College of Agriculture
Melissa Watkins, Senior Director of Development
(909) 869-2863
mewatkins@cpp.edu
Recruitment and Retention Office
Building 2, Room 114
(909) 869-2869
Rhonda Ostrowski, Recruitment and Retention Coordinator
rlostrowski@cpp.edu
Animal and Veterinary Sciences
Building 2, Room 123
(909) 869-2216
Shelton Murinda, Interim Chair
semurinda@cpp.edu
Apparel Merchandising and Management
Building 45, Room 152
(909) 869-3377
Muditha Senanayake, Interim Chair
mudithas@cpp.edu
Agribusiness, Food Industry Management, and Agriculture Education
Building 2, Room 209
(909) 869-2213
Jon Phillips, Chair
jcphillips@cpp.edu
Human Nutrition and Food Science
Building 7, Room 110
(909) 869-2226
Harmit Singh, Chair
harmitsingh@cpp.edu
Plant Science
Building 2, Room 209
(909) 869-2214
Valerie Mellano, Chair
vjmellano@cpp.edu
College of Agriculture Programs
Agricultural Research Institute (ARI)
The College of Agriculture is an active participant in the State’s Agricultural Research Institute (ARI). The program provides public funds that are matched “dollar for dollar” with industry and governmental agency resources to support food and agricultural research. Using university facilities, the faculty, technical staff, and students are able to conduct funded research targeted to improve the economic efficiency, productivity, profitability, and sustainability of California agriculture and allied industries.
California Agricultural Leadership Program
Cal Poly Pomona, through the College of Agriculture, is one of four universities in the state which participate in the California Agricultural Leadership Program. Under the auspices of the Agricultural Education Foundation, the Program consists of a series of seminars and travel experiences designed to broaden the perspectives of selected mid-career agricultural professionals who have demonstrated leadership potential. Participants complete the program with a greater capacity to accept leadership responsibility in any part of society. For more information, contact the Dean of the College of Agriculture.
Special Programs for Agriculture Students
Ag Recruitment
The College of Agriculture has developed an ongoing outreach program for prospective students from both high schools and community colleges. Students and staff regularly visit southern California schools to talk to students, parents and teachers about attending college, studying programs offered by the college and attending Cal Poly Pomona. Our Ag Recruitment Office also provides campus tours and pre-admission counseling, as well as serving as a contact point for new and prospective students. For assistance, please call Ag Recruitment at (909) 869-2869.
Cooperative Education
The College of Agriculture commenced a cooperative education program with industry, business and government in 1978. This program is designed to provide alternating periods of full-time study and full-time work. It is expected that each student in the co-op education program will spend up to three semesters over a three-year period gaining work experience. For this experience the student will receive 12 units of academic credit.
The co-op education program will:
- Provide the opportunity for the student to gain experience in agricultural production, agribusiness, agricultural research, and/or government. This experience should stimulate the student’s interest in those areas of academic instruction that relate to the newly acquired experience.
- Provide students with the opportunity to evaluate alternative careers.
- Provide an opportunity for students to earn a salary which will enable them to attend school full-time during alternating semesters.
- Provide an opportunity for prospective employers to get acquainted with co-op students.
More information may be obtained from the Office of the Dean of Agriculture and/or the University’s Career Center.
Student Enterprise Projects
Students in the College of Agriculture are provided an opportunity to learn the interrelated skills involved in the production of a crop or animal project by means of the Student Enterprise Project experience. This supervised work program allows the student to utilize College of Agriculture facilities and equipment, along with financing provided through the Cal Poly Pomona Foundation. All aspects of project design, initiation and completion are developed by the student in consultation with the supervising faculty member. In addition to valuable experiential learning, the student is able to share in the profits generated by the project. Interested students should see their department chair for further information.
Student Organizations and Activities
Students in the College of Agriculture have the opportunity to become involved with many different types of student organizations, whether it be for a specific major or for a team that competes inter-collegiately. Organizations offer students the opportunity to meet informally with students and faculty outside of the class room and to network with alumni and industry representatives. Students are encouraged to broaden their college experience by joining one of the following student organizations: Ag Ambassadors, Agricultural Biology Club, Agricultural Council, American Association of Textile Chemists & Colorists-SoCal Broncos, Animal Health Science and Technology Association, Apparel Merchandising & Management Association, Collegiate FFA, Horsemanship Club, Fashion Society, Food Science Society, Agribusiness Management Club, Foods and Nutrition Forum, Golf Course Superintendents Association of America Club, Horse Show Team, Crops, Livestock, and Soils Judging Teams, Livestock Show Teams, Los Rancheros, Los Robles, Peer Advisors, Phi Tau Sigma Food Science Honor Society, Phi Upsilon Omicron, and the Pre-Vet Club. In addition to student organizations, there are many opportunities for students to work or volunteer for the farm, livestock units, nursery, farm store, and horse center.
College Of Agriculture Orientation Proficiency
All students majoring in academic programs offered by the College of Agriculture must be acquainted with program opportunities, academic skills and proficiencies, and knowledge of academic support entities which are necessary for a successful college career. All new students entering the College of Agriculture can demonstrate these abilities by either completing their department’s first year experience course in their first year or by having completed 24 semester units, prior to admission, of college level course work from an accredited college or university. New students entering the College of Agriculture with less than 24 semester units completed, who have not completed a first year experience course must enroll in their department’s first year experience course within two semesters of college residency.
