COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL AND HUMAN SCIENCES

Wade F. Faw, Interim Dean and Director of Agriculture
Sue Bailey, Director of Human Ecology
Sheila Green, Director of Nursing

MISSION AND PURPOSES

The mission of the College of Agricultural and Human Sciences is to promote a strong academic environment for its students and to preserve and expand knowledge in the fields of agriculture, human ecology, and nursing, knowledge contained in its library and in the minds and intellects of its faculty. The College is equally supportive of the education of men, women, and minorities.

Teaching, research, and public service activities form a foundation for College goals of:

1. Providing a baccalaureate degree in the fields of agriculture, human ecology, and nursingthat will prepare students for entry and advancement in those fields.
2. Providing curricula that will prepare agriculture, human ecology, and nursing students for entry and advancement in graduate/professional programs.
3. Providing educational experiences that will enhance agriculture, human ecology, and nursing student leadership and social development.
4. Conducting scholarly and public service activities that will enhance the fields of agriculture, human ecology, and nursing.

ORGANIZATION

The College of Agricultural and Human Sciences consists of three schools offering curricula leading to the bachelor's degree: (1) the School of Agriculture, (2) the School of Human Ecology, and (3) the School of Nursing.

REQUIREMENTS FOR DEGREE

Curricula in the School of Agriculture lead to the degree of Bachelor of Science in Agriculture. In the School of Human Ecology, the curricula lead to the degree of Bachelor of Science in Human Ecology. In the School of Nursing, the undergraduate curricula lead to the degree of Bachelor of Science in Nursing. The student must complete the curriculum for the major subject chosen and must comply with the university requirements for a degree. The School Director, or a faculty member designated by the Director, serves as the student's academic advisor.

SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE

Professors Airhart, Byler, Faw (Interim Dean), Stearman, Winfree;
Associate Professor Greene; Assistant Professors Baier, Branson, Young; Instructor Ligon

The curricula of the School of Agriculture are designed to prepare students for careers in the increasingly complex and scientific field of agriculture. Following completion of the B.S. degree, students may also choose to enter graduate study.

The School of Agriculture offers the following curricula and undergraduate degree:

Individual curricula
Course descriptions

AGRIBUSINESS MANAGEMENT

Agribusiness Management provides training in economics and business management principles related to the production, distribution, and consumption of agricultural goods and services. Graduates enter careers in government agencies, commodity trading, communications, public relations, finance, marketing, sales, and agribusiness management.

AGRICULTURAL COMMUNICATION

The Agricultural Communication Concentration prepares students for careers in agricultural communications and related fields. This curriculum provides an opportunity for students to combine technical agriculture with Agricultural Education, Journalism, Professional Communications, and Business Communications. Possible career areas include agricultural information agencies, newspaper writing and editing, magazine feature writing and editing: agricultural-related publications, public relations, advertising and sales, environmental reporting, and Agricultural Extension.

AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION

Agricultural Education prepares students for careers as high school agricultural education instructors, Agricultural Extension agents, and other related fields. Students learn how to evaluate community needs and how to implement an education program.

AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY

Agricultural Engineering Technology provides basic training in engineering and agriculture. Students are prepared to solve problems related to agricultural production and processing systems, and the management and conservation of agricultural land and water resources. Graduates pursue careers in food and fiber handling and processing facilities, farm machinery sales and service, management of large mechanized farms, and other sectors of Agricultural Engineering Technology.

AGRONOMY AND SOILS

Agronomy and Soils students study the complex processes of plants, and composition of soil in which they grow.  Areas of interest are crop science and soil science. Graduates pursue careers as agronomists; Extension agents; natural resource managers; and herbicide, fertilizer, and seed industry research and development specialists and sales representatives.

ANIMAL SCIENCE AND PRE-VETERINARY SCIENCE

Option I, (Animal Science), deals with all phases of the dairy and livestock industry. Areas emphasized are the applications of nutrition, physiology, genetics, management technology, quality control, and environmental regulations. Graduates enter careers in farm management, Extension Service, food quality control, governmental health agencies, and farm credit institutions. Option II, (Pre-Veterinary Science), should enable a student to meet admission requirements for a College of Veterinary Medicine.

ENVIRONMENTAL AGRISCIENCE

Environmental Agriscience is an environmentally oriented curriculum that offers courses in soils, geology, ecology, hydrology and biology in an environmental context in addition to traditional agriculture courses. Graduates in Environmental Agriscience could work in fields such as water quality, reclamation, and developing environmental impact statements. Environmental consulting firms, the EPA, state health departments, the Natural Resource Conservation Service, and the Agricultural Extension Service are a few examples of possible employers.

HORTICULTURE

Horticulture combines training in the biological and physical sciences with sound plant cultural practices. Training is offered in the production and handling of greenhouse crops, containerized nursery crops, and landscape ornamentals. Graduates enter careers in management, production, processing, sales, education and in governmental agencies related to the green industries.

NURSERY AND LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT

Nursery and Landscape Management provides students an opportunity to combine training in agribusiness management and horticulture for managerial, production, and sales positions in the nursery and landscaping industries.

TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT

Turfgrass Management provides basic training in the science and culture of managing turfgrasses and the economics and business management principles related to the turf industry. Graduates are prepared to pursue careers in management of athletic turf, golf courses, municipal, industrial, home lawns and other types of turf and related business.

SCHOOL OF HUMAN ECOLOGY

Professor Bailey, Director; Professors Cunningham, Plant; Associate Professors Mullins, Southward;
Assistant Professors Anderson, Swafford

The discipline of human ecology is the study of the reciprocal relationships humans have with their environments--social, cultural, physical-and-home, work, leisure, community-and the interactions between the two. The purpose of the discipline is to enhance the quality of life for individuals and families. The knowledge base of the discipline integrates concepts of individual and family development, food and nutrition, textiles, apparel and merchandising, housing and furnishings, design, and consumer science. The curricula of the School of Human Ecology are designed to prepare students for careers in business, education, and service professions and/or for advanced studies.

The School of Human Ecology offers the following curricula and undergraduate degree:

Individual curricula
Course descriptions 

CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

The Child Development and Family Relationships concentration focuses on the preparation of students for careers with people across the lifespan.  The employer of graduates from this program is often local, state, and national government agencies.

FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES EDUCATION

Family and Consumer Sciences Education with Occupational Family and Consumer Science Education endorsements in Child Care Services, Culinary Arts, or Fashion and Fabric Services prepares students for careers as teachers in middle and high schools, as USDA Cooperative Extension Agents, and for other positions involving human services. Licensure for teaching is available; however, it is not mandatory nor necessary for those students planning to pursue careers other than teaching.

FOOD, NUTRITION AND DIETETICS

Food, Nutrition and Dietetics curriculum offers two options. In the dietetics option, the focus of the program is on training students for careers in health care, product development and testing, research, media and communication within the complete food and nutrition industry. In the food systems administration option, the focus is on training students for careers in food production and service, management opportunities in the food industry, and entrepreneurial activities.

HOUSING AND DESIGN

Housing and Design focuses on adapting space to meet the psychological and physical needs of people in residential and commercial environments. Graduates pursue careers in planning, designing, building, display, historic preservation, workroom coordination, real estate, house management, and many more areas.

MERCHANDISING AND DESIGN

Merchandising and Design curriculum focuses on the design, production, distribution and selection of consumer products. Career opportunities include positions in management, merchandise buyer, sales representative, shopper/stylist, fashion coordinator, textile researcher, fashion designer and many others.

MINOR IN HUMAN ECOLOGY

The minor in Human Ecology consists of 15 semester hours of courses offered by the School of Human Ecology as follows:

SCHOOL OF NURSING

Associate Professor Green, Director; Assistant Professors Clark, Franklin, Geist, Hanna, Howard, Jared, Russell, Stearman, Stewart

The Bachelors of Science Nursing degree provides a high quality professional nursing education with emphasis on meeting health needs of rural and semi-rural communities. Specifically, the program provides opportunities for students to develop knowledge, attitudes, and skills that form the basis for professional nursing practice. The program emphasizes the utilization of the nursing process, which includes critical thinking and decision-making in planning, implementing, and evaluating health care services.

The curriculum is designed to prepare the generalist professional nurse to function in and contribute to the delivery of health care services to individuals, families, and groups in homes, clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, schools and community health care settings. The first two years provide a basic foundation in the physical and social sciences, humanities, nutrition, computer technology as well as an introduction to nursing.

The last two years comprise the professional nursing major with its focus on the understanding and the application of the nursing theory, nursing process, scientific principles, and the research process to health promotion, disease prevention, and care of the sick. The clinical practica utilize major hospitals, mental health facilities, primary care centers, community and state health departments, private health care offices, and other agencies in the Upper Cumberland region and occasionally in urban settings. Students must meet academic requirements as well as requirements for performance in clinical practice. These requirements are found in the TTU School of Nursing Student Handbook and course syllabi.

Freshmen entering the nursing program follow a two-year directed plan of study (Lower Division Nursing) that prepares them to apply for acceptance into Upper Division Nursing. Students may also apply to the Upper Division Nursing after two years of required course study at a liberal arts or junior college.

The TTU School of Nursing has articulation agreements with Tennessee Board of Regents Community Colleges offering "Associate of Applied Science Degree in Nursing" and general education courses required for the TTU School of Nursing curriculum. The detailed agreements are available in the TTU School of Nursing.

When two candidates for admission are equally qualified, preference for admission to Upper Division will be given to students at TTU, to transfer students from TBR colleges, and to those who are Tennessee residents.

Candidates apply to the School of Nursing by December 1 for acceptance to the following Fall Upper Division Junior Level. The School of Nursing Admissions and Credits Committee implement the admission process. Candidates are required to have a 2.5 quality point average (QPA) in all university course work to compete for admission to Upper Division Nursing. Also, candidates must complete all required courses in Lower Division prior to entering into Upper Division. Conditional acceptance may be given to candidates completing required Lower Division course work prior to Fall Semester entry. Admission to Upper Division Nursing is limited to space available. Students must have a valid Basic Life Support CPR Certification for Health Care Providers as part of admission to Upper Division Nursing.

Students must attain a grade of "C" or better in each required social, physical science, and nursing course.

A comprehensive overview of admission, progression, and retention policies for the program are in the School of Nursing Handbook. The Handbook can be accessed on the TTU School of Nursing web page.

The School of Nursing is fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (One Dupont Circle, Suite 530, Washington, DC 20036-1120, 202-887, 6791), and approved by the Tennessee Board of Nursing. Graduates may be admitted to the examination for license to practice as registered nurses (R.N.) following successful completion of the BSN.

Registered nurses who have a diploma or associate degree and are currently licensed or eligible for licensure in Tennessee may also enter the School of Nursing for a BSN. A flexible program of study designed for RN's offers opportunity for part-time study or online study in a time frame that allows for continued employment. Under the Tennessee Career Mobility Plan, registered nurses who have graduated from programs accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission at the time of their completion, have earned the grade of "C" or better in their previous nursing course work, and have been active in clinical practice during the last three years (or graduated from their nursing program within the last three years) will be awarded 33 semester hours of credit (NURS 3220, 3250, 3280, 3360, 3361, 3370, 3371, 4000, 4001, 4100 & 4101) after the successful completion of 12 hours of Upper Division nursing course work (NURS 3281, 3380, 3465, 4230). Registered Nurses not meeting these requirements will be required to complete the NLN Mobility Profile II exams.

All Upper Division Nursing students are required to complete and submit the Student Health Form that shows proof of certain immunizations required for clinical practice. Because the School of Nursing seeks to provide a reasonably safe environment for its nursing students and their patients, a student may be required during the course of the program to demonstrate physical and/or emotional fitness to meet the essential requirements of the program. Such essential requirements may include freedom from communicable diseases, the ability to perform certain physical tasks, and suitable emotional fitness. Any appraisal measures used to determine such physical and/or emotional fitness would be in compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Upper Division Nursing students are required to purchase liability insurance and will be assessed fees for achievement tests. The School of Nursing supports and enforces the TTU drug free campus/work place policy. Criminal background checks may be a requirement for training at some affliated clinical nursing sites. Based on the results of these checks, an affiliated clinical site may determine not to allow a student's presence at their facility. This could result in the students' inability to complete the program. The THA.com website has links available for requesting this check, a list of available vendors can be provided on request or the student may choose to use the vendor used by the clinical site.

Individual curricula
Course descriptions