Preparing for Your Future in the Diversified Agriculture Major at the
College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
University of Nebraska - Lincoln |
| Dr. Steve Danielson, Coordinator |
Department of Entomology
Room 211 Entomology Hall
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Lincoln, NE 68583-0816
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telephone: (402) 472-8693
email: sdanielson1@unl.edu |
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Welcome to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and the Diversified Agriculture major. The faculty and staff hope to make your study at UNL an enriching and worthwhile experience.
During the time you spend here we encourage you to work diligently, get involved in department, college and general university activities. . . and enjoy your stay. Your education should be more than just attending classes and taking exams. Get involved, develop a broad based educational mission and work toward your goals. Your advisor will assist you in developing your program. All the faculty in our college encourage you to stop by their offices and get acquainted. Their doors are always open to assist you with any problems that may arise.
This handbook provides an overview of the opportunities available in the major and our college. It can be used both as a guide for developing your career plans and as a checklist for working toward your goals while at UNL. The handbook is divided into the following sections:
 | Career Planning and Personal Growth provides guidelines to establish your career goals and assist in your evaluation of career opportunities. |
| Educational Goals provides an overview of the program of study offered by the major and guidelines for you to follow to best suit to your educational goals. |
| Academic Success describes UNL resources designed to help students make the most of their university experience. |
| Comprehensive Education Program is a campus-wide general education program that you will be involved with while at UNL. The four components of information discovery and retrieval, co-curricular experience, essential studies, and integrative studies are discussed. |
| Minors are a way that students can focus their educational experience at UNL in disciplines that are complementary to their major. The requirements for completing a minor and the areas that can be considered minors are explained. |
| Scholarships and Financial Aid discusses opportunities for financial assistance at UNL, including opportunities for co-op programs, internships, and part-time or summer employment. |
| Checklist of Important Procedures includes information about procedures for financial aid, employment through UNL, and opportunities after graduation. |
| Interview Tips are a series of helpful suggestions for improving your ability to successfully interview for employment and/or educational opportunities. |
| Other Sources of Information are references that you may want to read and consult for additional information about a successful academic experience and career. |
We welcome you to the Diversified Agriculture major. If there is anything we can do to make your study and work more comfortable or rewarding, please bring it to our attention.
Career Planning and Personal Growth
Establishing a Plan
Your education at UNL will provide you with many opportunities. Perhaps the most significant is the opportunity to change into the person you want to be. The knowledge gained in your classrooms and laboratories will develop the foundation of technical skills such as communication and leadership. You must dedicate yourself to life-long learning to remain technically current, and you must develop the non-technical skills needed in the 21st century. Now is the time to rededicate yourself to becoming the person you want to be.
What skills are needed for a successful career? Some skills include:
- Communication: speaking, writing and listening.
- Leadership: recognizing opportunities, making things happen, following through.
- Organization: time and resource management.
- Teamwork: leading and following, group goals, compromise/negotiation, participation.
- Thinking: seeking opportunities, looking at the other side, striving for quality and adhering to ethics.
- Planning: doing things in the right order, doing important things, balancing activities.
- Community Involvement: recognizing your responsibility to give something back to society, experiencing the reward of service.
Change won't just happen. You need a career development plan. The plan should consist of several elements. First you must establish goals or objectives to work toward. Usually, one should have both professional and personal goals. Without an idea of where you are going, how will you know what to do? You need to set several types of goals. The first goal should be long range. This long range goal should help you get where you want to be five years after graduation. This goal can deal with the type of work you want to do, where you want to live, how much money you want to make, etc. The point is, the goal should be your goal and it should be realistic. A long range goal sheet you may want to use in this planning is provided here.
You also need short range (annual) goals, which will be much more specific and action-oriented. At the start of each school year your annual goal should be established. Again, this should be your goal. Your annual goal could be broken into curricular and extracurricular areas. You may want to set a grade point average (i.e. GPA) goal for the year, join or become an officer in a club, buy a car, make an athletic team, play in the band, etc. The point is: You need to define where you want to go and how you want to change. Your goals should be written and referred to periodically throughout the year. A short range goal sheet that you may find useful is provided here.
Once your goals have been defined, you have to ask what is required to accomplish them. To decide what needs to be done you have to evaluate where you are today (i.e., self assessment). This step involves listing what needs to be done and how much you have already accomplished toward achieving the goal.
After you have set your goals, decided what is needed to succeed, and assess where you are, you need to decide what to do next. What activities can you participate in that will best prepare you to accomplish this goal? Many times we continue to do things we are already good at. Instead, you need to reach beyond the comfort zone to develop the weakest link. These activities should be specific things you enter into with a purpose. You also must be careful not to try too many things, such that quality drops in other areas. Always try to be as realistic as possible.
The next three pages lay out a format you might consider to establish these plans. Don't be afraid to share these with your advisor, another faculty member, or other students you know. You will be surprised how good it feels to accomplish a goal you have set.
Possible Activities
You cannot set good goals and select appropriate activities without some research and help. You are probably not yet aware of the many things you can be involved in at the University, in Lincoln, etc. Go exploring every now and then to see what is out there that you didn't know about. The career planning checklist provides a number of ideas you might consider. The Office of Student Involvement in the Nebraska City and East Campus Unions also has an extensive list of campus organizations. If you have any questions, see your advisor or visit with another faculty member.
One of the best places to start is to join one of the clubs on campus. The Student Involvement Office, room 300 in the East Campus Union, can give you more information about these clubs. There are also opportunities to be involved in college level activities such as serving on the CASNR Advisory Board or becoming a member of many other University-wide organizations. Know why you are in the organization and then get involved, participate, and volunteer so you get something out of it.
Long Range Goal Sheet
Short Range or Annual Goals for this Academic Year
Career Planning Checklist
Courtesy of University of Nebraska-Lincoln Career Services. Contact the CASNR Career Specialist for career counseling and preparation for job interviews.
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First Year - Explore Careers
- Assess your interests, values, and skills by visiting with a career counselor in Career Services
- Register for a Career Development course like Agricultural Sciences 388 or Educational Psychology 150.
- Explore part-time employment through the Career Services
- Browse the Career Resource Center in 225 Nebraska Union.
- Seek career-related summer employment on your own or by attending the Student Job and Internship Fair.
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Sophomore - Gain Experience
- See a Career Services Counselor to assist in the identification and clarification of your career options.
- Choose a college major, if you have not already done so.
- Investigate internships at Career Services and subscribe to Husker Hire Link for internships at the end of your sophomore year.
- Develop an initial resume for use in applying for internships and part-time/summer employment.
- Seek an internship or career-related summer job on your own or through the Student Job and Internship Fair.
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Junior - Develop Skills
- Use your interests, abilities, and values to set career goals.
- Conduct informational interviews with people currently working in your field of interest.
- Participate actively in career-related student organizations.
- Update your Husker Hire Link information and re-subscribe as needed.
- Attend the Fall and Spring career fairs including the Student Job and Internship Fair; or better yet, volunteer to help!
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Senior - Finalize Plans
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Educational Goals
The faculty in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources have established several broad goals for the teaching, advising, co-curricular and other academic activities in which you will be involved. These goals emphasize education instead of training, and they focus on the whole person, not on narrow individual skills.
Broad Educational Goal
The overall goal of the educational program of the Diversified Agriculture major is to provide students the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of agricultural production.
Program Goals
To achieve the broad goal identified above, educational objectives have been established for majors in Diversified Agriculture:
- Assure students master the fundamental knowledge necessary to produce agricultural crops and/or livestock.
- Develop graduates to enter agriculture with concern for and capabilities to responsibly address issues of ethics, safety, professionalism, internationalism, cultural diversity, and the social and environmental impacts of decisions made by them and others.
- Assure students will be knowledgeable of current agricultural literature and be capable of applying the knowledge in developing solutions to problems they encounter during their careers.
- Convince students that the baccalaureate degree is the conclusion of one phase of their education, and they must continue their education for professional growth and productivity.
- Assure graduates will successfully integrate their technical knowledge with skills in communication and persuasion, their ability to lead and work effectively in teams, and their understanding of the non-technical forces that impact agricultural decisions.
Outline of Program of Study
This outline provides a representative four year program of study for a Diversified Agriculture major at UNL. Consultation with an academic advisor is recommended to explain and elucidate the various aspects of this outline.
Diversified Agriculture: First Year, First Semester
| AGRI 103 | 3 sch | Food, Agric. & Nat. Res. Systems |
| Communication | 3 sch | Written Communication Requirement |
| Mathematics | 3 sch | Math & Analytical Skills |
| BIOS 101 & 101L | 4 sch | General Biology |
| Elective | 3 sch | Free Elective |
| | 16 sch | |
Diversified Agriculture: First Year, Second Semester
| Historical Studies | 3 sch | Essential Studies Requirement |
| CHEM 109 | 4 sch | General Chemistry |
| Communications | 3 sch | Oral Communications Requirement |
| Commodity Protection | 3 sch | Major Requirement |
| Elective | 3 sch | Free Elective |
| | 16 sch | |
Diversified Agriculture: Second Year, First Semester
| Physical Principles/Physics | 4 sch | College Requirement |
| Human Behav. ,Culture, & Soc.Org | 3 sch | Essential Studies Requirement |
| Production & Prod. Mgm't. | 3 sch | Major Requirement |
| Economics and Mgm't. | 3 sch | Major Requirement |
| Elective | 3 sch | Free Elective |
| | 16 sch | |
Diversified Agriculture: Second Year, Second Semester
| Genetics | 4 sch | Nat. Sciences College Requirement |
| Math and Analytical Skills | 2 sch | Math & Analytical Skills College Req. |
| Communication & Inter Skills | 3 sch | College Requirement |
| Production & Prod. Mgm't | 3 sch | Major Requirement |
| Elective | 4 sch | Free Elective |
| | 16 sch |
Diversified Agriculture: Third Year, First Semester
| Resource Characterization | 3 sch | Major Requirement |
| Commodity Protection | 2 sch | Major Requirement |
| Utilization | 3 sch | Major Requirement |
| Economics and Mgm't. | 3 sch | Major Requirement |
| Humanities Elective | 3 sch | Essential Studies Requirement |
| Elective | 2 sch | Free Elective |
| | 16 sch | |
Diversified Agriculture: Third Year, Second Semester
| Production & Prod. Mgm't | 3 sch | Major Requirement |
| Utilization | 3 sch | Major Requirement |
| Economics and Mgm't. | 3 sch | Major Requirement |
| Resource Characterization | 3 sch | Major Requirement |
| Elective | 4 sch | Free Elective |
| | 16 sch | |
Diversified Agriculture: Fourth Year, First Semester
| Capstone | 3 sch | College Requirement |
| International Focus Req. | 3 sch | College Requirement |
| Economics and Mgm't | 3 sch | Major Requirement |
| Resource Characterization | 3 sch | Major Requirement |
| Elective | 4 sch | Free Elective |
| | 16 sch | |
Diversified Agriculture: Fourth Year, Second Semester
| Economics or Agric. Economics | 3 sch | College Requirement |
| Production & Prod. Mgm't | 3 sch | Major Requirement |
| Arts | 3 sch | Essential Studies Requirement |
| Race, Ethnicity, and Gender | 3 sch | Essential Studies Requirement |
| Elective | 4 sch | Free Elective |
| | 16 sch | |
Total for Graduation
with B.S. Degree | 128 sch | |
Academic Success
Even the brightest students will fail if they do not discipline themselves and work at their studies. Students who are academically average, or even below average, often succeed if they discipline themselves and work hard at their studies. Time management, motivation, concentration, writing ability, and test-taking skills are as important as pure intellectual prowess.
UNL provides many opportunities for enhancing your skills in those areas. Four programs offer assistance along those lines:
- Tutoring programs are common at UNL. They are especially evident in the beginning level mathematics courses. Tutors are available many daytime and evening hours in the unions, dormitories, and classroom buildings. Check with a mathematics instructor or the math department for exact times and locations. Tutoring programs are also available in beginning level chemistry and English courses.
- Writing Center is located in 129 Andrews Hall. Writers help fledgling writers explain ideas, get started writing, draft, revise and edit for all types of writing projects. This program is offered free to all UNL students.
- Counseling and Psychological Services is located in room 213 of the University Health Center. Professional counselors offer confidential help with emotional, social, and cultural concerns.
- Career Services, in Room 301 of the East Campus Union and Room 230 of the Nebraska Union, assists students with choosing a major, determining a career path, and acquiring experience to achieve career goals.
Comprehensive Education Program
The Comprehensive Education Program (CEP) is a campus-wide, general education program which applies to all UNL undergraduate students. CEP is designed to enhance your knowledge in a broad variety of academic areas and to help develop intellectual and social skills vital to a college graduate in the 21st century. It has four components: information discovery and retrieval, co-curricular experience, essential studies, and integrative studies.
Information Discovery and Retrieval
Embedded with all the curricula of the Diversified Agriculture major are the necessary actions for students to learn how to not only use the UNL library system, but also how to do research with electronic databases. No formal coursework is required unless specifically requested. However, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Love Library faculty is making available to all incoming students a 1-credit-hour course which will teach you not only how to use the library system on campus but also how to do research with emerging electronic databases.
Co-Curricular Experience
Students will receive information and assistance to help them become involved in experiences outside the classroom. Such opportunities will contribute to their growth as an active, knowledgeable, self-aware, open-minded, and healthy individual.
Essential Studies (ES)
Each student will take a total of nine courses in essential areas of learning: communication, the social and behavioral sciences, mathematics, natural science, historical studies, the humanities, the arts, and human diversity. This requirement represents the minimum experience for an undergraduate student in the full range of university offerings. Thus no ES course can simultaneously fulfill the requirements for two areas. For more information check the current Undergraduate Bulletin, beginning on page 14.
Integrative Studies (IS)
Each student will take 10 courses which have been reviewed and designated as Integrative Studies (IS) courses. These are university courses which engage students intensively in those intellectual activities which are the hallmarks of the educated person - writing, speaking, critical thinking, and the consideration of human diversity. Integrative Studies courses can be taken from any university department (including the major), with a limit of three from one department. Out of 10 IS courses, at least one must be a 200-level course, one a 300-level course, and one a 400-level course.
NOTE: Many IS course will also be ES courses, so that students will be able to fulfill both requirements without adding to the hours needed for graduation. Helpful resources to find courses carrying the IS or ES designation are the ES and IS Lists beginning on page 14 of the current Undergraduate Bulletin.
Minors
Students with minors in their academic programs have distinctive areas of expertise beyond their majors that may convince a prospective employer that they are the person for the job and this expertise will likely benefit them in their future career choice. Minors are not required, but are available in most subject matter areas in CASNR and other colleges at UNL.
Minors in the College will consist of 18 hours in the minor area of study, including at least six hours at the 300- and/or 400-level. Alternatively, 12 hours of 300- and/or 400-level courses will meet the requirement. At the discretion of the department(s) responsible for the minor, up to three hours of independent study may be counted toward the minor. Departments may specify additional requirements for their minor(s).
Minors currently offered through CASNR include: agribusiness, agricultural economics, agronomy, animal science, biochemistry, community economics and social dynamics, diversified agricultural studies; environmental studies, food science and technology, forestry, fisheries and wildlife, horticulture, insect science, integrated pest management, international affairs, landscape architecture, leadership and communication, mechanized systems management, natural resources economics, plant protection sciences, range science, soil science, and water science. Additional minors will be offered as they become available.
Students who wish to declare a CASNR minor, must file the "Application for a Minor" form with the CASNR Dean's Office prior to applying for graduation.
A student with a major in agricultural sciences or natural resources who wants to obtain a minor in a department in the College of Arts and Sciences should follow the procedure on page 58 of the current Undergraduate Bulletin.
Scholarships & Financial Aid
Scholarships
Scholarships and financial aid are available in many forms and from many sources. For example, scholarships can come from the University level (Regents, Walter Scott, etc.), from the College level (K-Mart, U.S. Harkson, Holling, etc.), and from non-University sources (National Merit, Coca-Cola, Foodtown, Soil and Water Conservation Society of America, etc.).
Remember:
To be considered for new or continuing University and/or College scholarships, you must apply every year by the All University Deadline, which occurs in early January of each year! Check in December to be sure of the deadline for the coming year.
You should consider doing this over Christmas Break because you may wish to demonstrate financial need - thus your parents may have to fill out a more detailed application form. Upperclass Scholarship Application can be done online by going to the Scholarships and Financial Aid page and choosing Upperclass Scholarship Application.
Other Financial Aid
There are many other means through which you can earn money to help meet your college expenses, including:
- Summer internships
- Co-op programs
- Part-time work at UNL or another local employer
- Work-study
- Student loans
- Summer jobs elsewhere
Summer Internships
For information on internships, see www.unl.edu/careers/seic.
Part-Time Work
Part-time work is a popular method of earning money, gaining valuable experience and making contacts with people who might serve as references or even potential employers in the future. The work is often similar to that done through work-study, but you do not have to meet the sometimes strict financial requirements of work-study. Pay scales may be identical, but professors prefer work-study because the federal government cost-shares in your salary.
To obtain part-time work around campus,
- Check to determine if there are jobs available. Listings are posted on the Career Services web site for part-time job opportunities (including work-study) on and off campus.
- Ask around! Find out from your classmates who is working for whom and who might be hiring. You may want to go to the departments on campus periodically to see if they have openings that may interest you.
- Above all, be aggressive. Don't sit back and wait for opportunities to come to you.
Student Loans
Plummer Loans
The Plummer Loan Fund was established in 1943 for needy students who have been regularly enrolled in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources for at least one semester. Students must have a minimum GPA of 2.5 to be eligible. Interest on this loan starts when the loan is approved, and the principal is billed six months after graduation at an agreed-upon rate of monthly payment.
Application for these loans can be made at:
Office of the Dean
College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources
103 Ag Hall
East Campus 0702
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Checklist of Important Procedures
You want to:
- Apply for a scholarship - The scholarship application form must be submitted to the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid each year. These forms are available from Scholarship and Financial Aid Office, 16 Canfield Administration Building or the web site www.unl.edu. Submission of this form qualifies you for scholarships offered by the College and the University.
- Work part-time and / or summers - Fill out an employment application and turn it in to the Career Services Center. . Or talk to your advisor or instructors and ask if they are aware of part-time employment on campus.
- Have a Minor - Minors are discussed on page 58 in the Undergraduate Bulletin. Your advisor also will be helpful on this subject. Apply for a minor before you submit the application for the degree.
- Graduate with a degree - Submit a degree application early in your final semester or summer term with the Graduation Services Office of Registration and Records in 109 ADM.
- Fulfill Comprehensive Education Program Requirements - Consult your advisor for more information about this requirement.
- Continue your education by going to: -
Graduate School - Obtain more information from Graduate Studies in SEH 1100.
Medical & Veterinary School - Medical school requirements in Nebraska, Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences degree programs at UN-L.
- Review Tips for a job interview - See the next section for a summary of some of the most frequently asked questions and suggestions for your responses.
Interview Tips
The key to a successful interview is meticulous planning. Learn everything you can about the company you're going to be interviewing with. Below are some of the zinger questions that are asked frequently:
Tell me about yourself? This is a favorite among interviewers. The interviewer wants to know facts that demonstrate that you're the person for the job.
Why should I hire you? A variation on the above question, the interviewer wants to know you're the best person for the job. Give him or her information that proves it. Cite projects and part-time jobs that demonstrate your strong points. Don't be afraid to brag. Remember, you're there to sell yourself. The best way to do it is to stress your accomplishments.
Another variation of this question is: What can you do for us? Again, shower your interviewer with impressive and specific facts and figures that demonstrate you're the most qualified person.
What are your weaknesses? The real question: Do you have any weaknesses that are actually positives within the work setting? Possible answer: You tend to be a perfectionist, compulsive about your work. Or you could talk about a weakness that you're in the process of correcting.
What are your strengths? Don't spell out all your assets laundry-list fashion. The employer is only interested in strengths that demonstrate your ability to do the job well.
What are your goals? Nothing ridiculous like earning a million dollars before you're 30, or retiring at 45. Your interviewer wants someone who has given careful thought to the future and who sees it in realizable, practical terms. He or she wants to know that you have a realistic career plan and that you intend to build a career with the company.
Where do you see yourself in five years? A variation of the above, don't say: "As manager of a department" or "vice-president or supervisor." Be careful: your interviewer could be the person you will be reporting to and could be threatened by your answer. Because it takes time and money to train and retrain an employee, companies try to weed out potential job hoppers.
Why are you interested in our organization? Here's where meticulous research pays off. The interviewer wants to know how much you know about the company and the industry. Demonstrate that you've done some homework.
What are your job priorities? The winning word is contribution. Companies want serious, hard-working employees who can make a contribution. Say you are ready and willing to learn and that you want to build a productive career with the company. Say no more. Your interviewer will get the message.
Tell me about a project you initiated? The interviewer wants to know about a project that identifies you as an ideal candidate. Cite projects that call for technical prowess, organizational abilities and "people skills" - abilities that will be needed on the job. The interviewer wants to know how you dealt with conflict and challenge.
What is your GPA? Does it reflect your abilities? Even if you're pleased with your grades, express some dissatisfaction with your school performance. It paints you as a candidate who is constantly working on self improvement. The last thing a company wants is a smug, self-satisfied candidate.
What characteristics do you think this position requires? Another think question. You can't fudge this one. If you are prepared, you ought to know the key qualities necessary for the job.
How have your educational and work experiences prepared you for this position? The real question is how did you prepare for this job? To prove that you are disciplined and committed to building a career, tie your school experience and full-and part- time jobs to your prospective employer's needs. Demonstrate consistent thinking. If you took off a year to get some hands-on experience, for example, make sure you weave it into your answer.
How do you think you have changed since you started college? The interviewer isn't interested in what you learned in college. Instead, he or she is looking for an answer that reveals maturity, perceptivity, and intellectual growth.
How do you deal with pressure? Knowing how to cope with it is crucial. The interviewer wants to hear that pressure doesn't stand in your way. Instead, you find a certain amount of it a motivating force for planning and getting projects done on time.
What can you contribute to the company? Focus on your training in the area in which you want to work. Connect school projects to the work you would be doing.
What traits are key to being a good manager? How have you displayed these? The question behind the question is: Prove that you have managerial skills? A good manager must have advanced leadership skills, which translate to knowing how to work closely with and motivate others.
What kind of salary are you looking for? Naming an unreasonable high salary can do more harm than good. A company can only pay you what its budget allows. In order to negotiate realistically, know what competitive companies are paying recent college grads. Money should never be the most important reason for taking a job. Finally, try to communicate enthusiasm about the job in the questions you ask the interviewer.
Other Sources of Information
Many sources of information are available to help you in your personal and professional development, resume writing and job search skills. The following brief list of books and web sites is a starting point for finding helpful sources. Check out the links page for more information.
- Bolles, Richard N. 2004. What Color is Your Parachute? - A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers. Ten Speed Press, Berkeley, CA. And the supplemental web site.
- Corporate Technology Directory, 1990, 5th Edition. Corporate Technology Information Services, Inc., Woburn, MA.
- Covey, Stephen R. 1991. The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. Simon and Schuster, New York.
- Dictionary of Occupational Titles. 1992. U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training, Washington, D.C.
- Directory of American Research and Technology Organizations Active in Product Development for Business. 1998. R.R. Bowker/Martindale-Hubbell, New Providence, NJ.
- Lathrop, Richard. 1989. Who's Hiring Who? 12th Edition. Ten Speed Press, Berkeley, CA.
- Moore, David J. 1991. Job Search for the Technical Professional. John Wiley and Sons, New York.
- Wegmann, Robert and Robert Chapman. 1990. The Right Place at the Right Time: Finding a Job in the 1990's. Ten Speed Press, Berkeley, CA.
Also, take advantage of the Career Services Center's Career Resource Library in 230 Nebraska Union or see their homepage, http://www.unl.edu/careers/
And don't forget about databases and other on-line sources of information available through UNL, public libraries, etc. Often these are the best sources because they carry the most current information in almost any area you are interested.
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