School of Agriculture
2015-2016

Some academic departments and colleges do not provide a major at the graduate level. However, these departments or colleges do offer courses for graduate credit. Permission to use these courses in a degree program must be obtained from the appropriate Departmental Graduate Committee.

Interim Director: Andrew J. Baker
School Office:  Knoblauch Hall 145
Telephone: (309) 298-1080
Website: wiu.edu/ag

Graduate Faculty
Professors

  • William C. Bailey, Ph.D., University of Missouri-Columbia
  • Andrew J. Baker, Ph.D., University of Missouri-Columbia
  • Winthrop B. Phippen, Ph.D., Purdue University
  • Danny E. Terry, Ph.D., University of Tennessee

Associate Graduate Faculty
Associate Professors

  • Kevin J. Bacon, Ph.D., Oklahoma State University
  • Mark Bernards, Ph.D., Michigan State University
  • Mark D. Hoge, Ph.D., Michigan State University

Assistant Professors

  • Samantha Cunningham, Ph.D., Texas A&M University
  • Jason Franken, Ph.D., University of Illinois
  • Joel Gruver, Ph.D., University of North Carolina

Course Descriptions

Agriculture (AGRI)

439G Special Methods in Agriculture. (3) Analysis of objectives, selection, development, and organization of teaching units; development of procedural techniques, program implementation, and evaluation.  Includes clinical experience.  Grade of C required in this class.  Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.

507 Seminar. (1, repeatable to 4) Student participation and presentation of current topics in the major area.

508 Special Topics. (1–5, repeatable to 5) Topics which are not assigned or covered in other courses. The title and outline of the course will vary according to the topic, instructor, and needs of the students. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.

Agricultural Economics (AGEC)

442G Marketing Grain and Livestock Products. (3) Economic principles of marketing grain and livestock, with an emphasis on the marketing activities of producers and distributors of grain, livestock and their products. Risk and quality management issues are included. Prerequisite: AGEC 333.

443G Agricultural Finance. (3) Financing problems and opportunities in agriculture. Sources of finance, financing costs, analysis of investment opportunities, financial management and estate planning. Three hours lecture Prerequisite: AGRI 220 or ECON 232.

447G Commodities Markets and Futures Trading. (3) Futures trading institutions, technical analysis, multiple hedging, and speculation. Three hours lecture. Prerequisite: AGEC 333 or ECON 330 or ECON 332 or FIN 311 or FIN 331.

455G Advanced Agricultural Marketing. (3) Options on futures, applied research methods, current events. Three hours lecture. Prerequisite: AGEC 447.

457G Market Profile®. (3) Use of the Chicago Board of Trade Market Profile®; and Liquidity Data Bank®; for hedging and speculation.  Not available to students who have completed AGEC 459.  Three hours lecture. Prerequisite: AGEC 447.

539 U.S. Agricultural Trade. (3) An examination of the role of U.S. agricultural trade from an applied perspective.  Trading blocs’ impact on agriculture in aligned and non-aligned countries will be considered.  Business practices and cultural norms will be addressed.  The “Americas” will be emphasized. Prerequisite: ECON 548 or equivalent, or permission of the instructor.

Agriculture Occupations Education (AGED)

520 Basic Curriculum and Skill Development in Agriculture Mechanics. (3) The course is designed to teach basic curriculum and skill development in agricultural mechanics for agriculture teachers with seven or less years of teaching experience. Students will have the opportunity to apply mechanical principles in metal fabrication, carpentry, woodworking, internal combustion engines, and electrification in a laboratory setting associated with the agriculture field.  Students will also be able to learn theoretical principles behind agricultural mechanics. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.

Agricultural Technology Management (AGTM)

458G Agricultural Construction and Confined Animal Environments. (4) Addresses principles, design, and construction of wood, metal, and concrete structures in agriculture.  Study of livestock manure and water systems, and environmental control of confined livestock facilities. Prerequisite: AGTM 250 or permission of the instructor.

461G Surveying and Soil and Water Conservation Engineering. (4) Development of surveying skills using a self level, transit, total station, GPS receiver and related software. Study of principles of water and wind erosion. Design of grass waterways, terraces, and other erosion control structures.  Not open to students with credit in CSTM 236. Prerequisite: AGTM 250 or permission of the instructor.

Agronomy (AGRN)

479G Weed Control. (3) Identification, biology and distribution of weeds; weed interference of desirable plant growth; herbicide classification, use, and environmental fate; appropriate application of chemical, cultural, biological, and mechanical weed control methods. Two hours lecture, two hours lab. Prerequisites: AGRN 373.

Animal Science (ANSC)

415G Beef Production and Management. (4) Consideration of commercial cow-calf, purebred, stocker, and finishing beef production systems. Integration of genetics, nutrition, and reproduction. Record keeping and business aspects.  Three hours lecture, two hours lab. Prerequisites: ANSC 314 and 322, or permission of the instructor.

416G Swine Science. (3) A study of selection principles, nutrition, breeding, reproduction, disease prevention, and management practices applied to swine production. Two hours lecture, two hours lab. Prerequisites: ANSC 314 and 322, or permission of the instructor.

424G Physiology of Reproduction and Lactation. (3) Principles of physiology and functioning of the endocrine system in relationship to reproduction, infertility, and lactation in farm animals. Three hours lecture. Prerequisite: ANSC 112 or BOT 200 or ZOOL 200.

Conservation (CONS)

405G Soil and Water Conservation. (4) The study of the maintenance of a quality environment through the conservation of soil and water resources. Four hours lecture.

Forestry (FOR)

406G Arboriculture. (4) Detailed study of woody plants with emphasis on growth and development, planting, pruning, fertilization, maintenance, valuation, hazard assessment, pest management, diagnostics, and site vegetation management. Prerequisite: FOR 200 or 208, or permission of the instructor.

407G Urban Forest Management. (3) Management principles for urban vegetation with emphasis on plant selection and usage, tree inventories, tree ordinances, specifications manuals, Arbor Day tree programs, and tree laws.  Two hours lecture; two hours lab. Prerequisite: FOR 200 or 208.

Horticulture (HORT)

485G Turf Management. (3) Establishment and maintenance of turf grass for lawns, golf courses, and recreational areas including athletic fields. Two hours lecture; two hours lab. Prerequisite: AGRN 176 or HORT 180.