Agriculture

Course Code: 280470, 280480, 280490
Open to: Grades 9-12
Prerequisite: None
Length of Course: Two trimesters
CTE Pathway: Agriculture Business Introduction
 

The purpose of this course is to accent agriculture education and the Future Farmers of America (FFA) Association in developing young people to be premier leaders with a vision.  Critical thinking and evaluation skills will be an important aspect of the curriculum.  Just as important will be the incorporation of articulation skills, both written and verbal.  Students will develop and enhance their leadership skills through self-enhancement, goal setting, cooperative learning, speech proficiency, parliamentary procedures, book reviews, and presentations.  To maximize critical thinking skills, current events in agriculture will be brought in by the students and used in a decision-making forum.  This process will include both written and oral skills.

Note: Fall Ag Leadership A is open to all students. Ag Leadership B is aimed at state CDE (Career Development Event) team preparation and requires teacher approval prior to enrollment.

• CTE

Course Code:   281510, 281520
Grade Level:  9-12
Prerequisite: None
Length of Course: Two trimesters/semesters (repeatable)
CTE Pathway: Agriculture Business/Concentrator
College Entrance: Meets one year of UC/CSU (g) Elective requirement 

Speech will cover all aspects of physical delivery as well as written and verbal organization, and listening skills.  Presentations will include speeches to inform, demonstrate, persuade, and entertain as well as oral interpretation and panel discussion.  Special attention will be paid to topics in agriculture.  Instruction is also given in leadership, citizenship, and project programs through department activities.

• CTE

Course Code: 281310, 281320
Grade Level:  9-12
Prerequisite: None
Length of Course: Two trimesters/semesters
CTE Pathway: Ornamental Horticulture/Concentrator
College Entrance: Meets one year of UC/CSU (f) Elective requirement 

The Art and History of Floral Design provides an introduction to artistic and creative perception including aesthetic valuing through a series of projects in various media including tempera, pencil, flowers, tile, and a variety of papers.  Students are also introduced to the elements and principles of visual art design such as line, shape/form, color, balance, and emphasis using a series of floral-based projects to explore the connections, relations, and application to visual arts design.  Students will research and study floral trends to understand and develop an appreciation for floral design within historical and cultural, formal and casual, ceremonial and traditional, including an understanding that floral designs are affected by society, culture, history, politics, and economic influence.  Various assignments based on abstract two and three dimensional designs, historical culture and theory, color theory, and analytical critiques of various floral art works using design vocabulary in conjunction with development of technical skills in floral art will serve as a foundation for more complex works such as multi-part floral designs and creative expression through wedding consultations.

Course Code: 281710, 281720
Grade Level:  9-12
Prerequisite: None
Length of Course: Two trimesters/semesters 
CTE Pathway: Animal Science/Concentrator
College Entrance: Meets one year of UC/CSU (g) Elective requirement 

This course includes job-specific training for care and management of small animals, such as dogs, rabbits, poultry, goats, and fish.  The skills include handling, health care, nutrition, anatomy, diseases, surgical procedures, and housing for small animals.  Students will work with professionals in the field and prepare for continued training as a veterinary technician or animal science specialist at the university level.  Instruction is also given in leadership, citizenship and project programs through department activities.

Course Code: 281610, 281620
Grade Level:  10-12
Prerequisite: Biology P or Agricultural Biology P AND either Animal Science or Small Animal Science/Pre-Veterinary
Length of Course: Two trimesters/semesters 
CTE Pathway: Animal Science/Concentrator
College Entrance: Meets one year of UC/CSU (g) Elective requirement 

This course is concerned with the study of the structure, function, and veterinary care of the animal body.  Emphasis is placed on homeostatic mechanisms, the role of chemistry, levels of organization, cytology, histology, organ systems, diseases, dysfunction, veterinary tools, common veterinary surgical procedures, and veterinary diagnosis and treatment of disease.  Biological applications will include studies in cells, genetics, evolution, and ecology as they pertain to the animal/veterinary field.  It is a laboratory class designed for those students interested in animal health careers.