AGR 250 - Controlled Environment Agriculture

4 Credit(s)

Controlled environment agriculture (CEA) emphasizes the principles and practices of crop production in controlled environment systems, including high tunnels, greenhouses, vertical farming, and hydroponic growing facilities. Students will engage in hands-on labs, system design projects, crop production cycles, and facility management exercises across multiple CEA platforms. By the end of the course, students will have developed proficiency in environmental control, nutrient management, crop scheduling, and system maintenance, demonstrating readiness for employment in the expanding controlled environment agriculture industry.

Prereqs: AGR 170 & AGR 171
Course Type: Combo
Tuition Tier: Base
Delivery Method:
In-Person
Course Learning Outcomes:
CLO 1) Students will evaluate controlled environment agriculture (CEA) systems-including high tunnels, greenhouses, vertical farms, and hydroponic facilities-to determine their advantages, limitations, and appropriate applications.

CLO 2) Students will manage environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, light, and air circulation to optimize plant growth and production efficiency in controlled environment settings.

CLO 3) Students will operate hydroponic and soilless growing systems while monitoring and adjusting nutrient solutions for crop health.

CLO 4) Students will implement crop production practices appropriate for controlled environments, including propagation, transplanting, crop scheduling, pollination, and harvest timing for year-round production.

CLO 5) Students will perform routine maintenance and troubleshooting on CEA infrastructure, including irrigation systems, climate control equipment, lighting systems, and growing structures.

CLO 6) Students will evaluate the economic and sustainability considerations of controlled environment production, including input costs, energy efficiency, water use, and market opportunities for CEA-grown products.