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Agriculture is the number 1 industry in California, with career opportunities available in all fields of food and agricultural sciences. The College of Agriculture at Cal Poly is the fourth largest undergraduate agriculture program in the nation, with more than 3,500 students. The College awards an average of 650 baccalaureate degrees each year, nearly half of all baccalaureate agriculture degrees granted in the state.

"Learn By Doing" - students learning both theoretical knowledge and hands on skills in small classes taught by experienced and helpful professors.

The College emphasizes a "Learn by Doing" teaching methodology. We offer small classes and close faculty/student interaction, along with both theoretical and hands-on instruction. Students have numerous opportunities to participate in applied research projects, many of which are sponsored by agricultural industries. 

This "Learn by Doing" educational philosophy helps develop leaders through education. This dedication to leadership is a part of the California Agriculture Leadership Program, which has a professional bond with Cal Poly and other agricultural programs. The Agriculture Leadership Program is dedicated to developing agriculture professionals who are confident and are prepared to be leaders at home, work, and within their communities, nation and world. Cal Poly is proud to share this affiliation.

Cal Poly offers 17 Majors in the College of Agriculture that provide you with instruction and experience in a wide variety of agriculture related subjects... Check out our majors... Agricultural Business  Agricultural Science  Agricultural Systems Management  Animal Science  BioResource & Agricultural Engineering  Crop Science  Dairy Science  Earth Sciences Environmental Horticultural Science Environmental Management and Protection Food Science Forestry & Natural Resources Fruit Science Nutrition Recreation Administration Soil Science Wine and Viticulture

Enterprise projects, internship programs and cooperative education experiences are encouraged.

More than 6,000 acres are allocated for agriculture instruction on the campus at San Luis Obispo. There is rangeland for grazing, and more intensively cultivated parcels are used for orchards, vineyards, fruit and nut crops, vegetable production, field crops, agroforestry and turf management. Greenhouses, the Leaning Pine Arboretum and shops and facilities for livestock, meat, fruit and vegetable processing are available for production and instructional use. A modern dairy processing plant and a poultry complex were completed in 1995.

Seventeen undergraduate majors in the College of Agriculture provide instruction and experience in a wide array of agriculture-related practices, including production, processing, marketing, distribution and packaging of food and fiber products, as well as new product development, resource allocation, business management and technical analysis. For students wishing to continue their education beyond the Bachelor of Science degree, the College also offers three Master of Science Degrees in Agriculture with 12 specializations.

Several Centers of Excellence are based at the College of Agriculture. These Centers promote cooperation between experts from Cal Poly, industry and other universities. Resource development, research and in-depth educational opportunities highlight the work of the Ag Safety Institute, the Brock Center for Agricultural Communication, the Coastal Resources Institute, the Dairy Products Technology Center, the Global Agricultural Trade and Marketing Research Project (GATMAR), the Irrigation Training and Research Center (ITRC), the Multicultural Agriculture Program (MAP), and the Urban Forest Ecosystems Institute (UFEI).

	In any given year, we produce 50% of all agricultural baccalaureate degrees in California and 50% of all new K-12 teachers of agriculture in California.

The College of Agriculture also operates the 3,200-acre Swanton Pacific Ranch in Santa Cruz County. This facility gives students an opportunity to live and work on a commercial ranch with forestry, cattle and crop production activities. Students take classes offered at Cal Poly through a distance learning laboratory.

Student Clubs and organizations are an important part of the "Learn by Doing" philosophy. More than 40 clubs are sponsored by the College of Agriculture, providing leadership, educational, social, community service and recreational opportunities.

University Career Services assists graduates seeking jobs. The College of Agriculture consistently ranks at the top of the university in placing graduates for professional jobs upon graduation. Our more than 23,000 alumni and industry managers know the value of hands-on education and look to hire our graduates whenever possible.

The faculty in the College of Agriculture are experts in their disciplines and are dedicated to the philosophy of "Learn by Doing." The strong mission, unique educational philosophy, and the dedication of the faculty provide an environment in which students gain the knowledge and skills necessary to help them meet the agriculture-related needs of our society, both economically and environmentally. 

More than $500,000 in scholarships are awarded each year to students in the College of Agriculture. Other financial assistance programs are available to students demonstrating financial need.

A practical academic path will prepare you for gaining admission to the College of Agriculture. 

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