Core Course Descriptions

200N. Philosophy and Practice of Agricultural Development (5)
Lecture/discussion—5 hours; term paper. Introduction to key elements of the philosophy and practice of agricultural development in less developed countries. Introduction to the major paradigms of development, the historical context within which these paradigms have operated, and the various development techniques and initiatives that have emerged from agricultural production to institutional capacity building and management. Not open for credit to students who have completed former course 202.—I. (I.) To Be Announced

201. The Economics of Small Farms and Farming Systems (4)
Lecture—3 hours; discussion—1 hour. Prerequisite: Agricultural and Resource Economics 100A or Economics 100 or the equivalent and/or concent of the instructor. Economic perspective on small farm development. Establishes a basis for predicting farmers’ responses to changes in the economic environment, and for proposing government policies to increase small farm production and improve farmer and national welfare.—II. (II.) Vosti

202N. Analysis and Determinants of Farming Systems (4)
Lecture—3 hours; discussion—1 hour. Prerequisite: Plant Sciences 110A or Plant Sciences 110C, and Plant Sciences 120.
The unifying concepts of cropping systems in temperate and tropical climatic zones; agroecosystems stability, diversity and sustainability; management strategies, resource use efficiency and their interactions; the role of animals, their impact on energy use efficiency, nutrient cycling, and providing food and power. Not open for credit to students who have completed former course 200.—III. (III.) Van Kessel

203N. Project Planning and Evaluation (4)
Discussion—1 hour; workshop—3 hours. Prerequisites: IAD courses 200N, 201,and 202N . Interdisciplinary setting for application of student skills and specialization to a “real world” development project. Focus on team-building and effective interdisciplinary problem-solving methods, with the objective of producing a project document and presentation within a specified deadline. —III. Brown

290. Seminar in International Agricultural Development (1-2)
Seminar—1-2 hours. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. Discussion and critical evaluation of advanced topics and issues in international agricultural development. May be repeated for credit. (S/U grading only.)—I, II. Van Horn

- Back to Top -