Students usually select a curriculum or major when they enter the college. They are provided faculty academic advisors in their major fields. Students enroll in general agriculture if they want to enter some part of professional agriculture but are not yet ready to identify a particular major. They are assigned an academic advisor in the academic programs office or an advisor in one of the academic departments. These students are urged to choose majors before the end of the freshman year.
The curriculum or major may be changed at almost any time and with relative ease, though a change after the sophomore year may delay graduation.
Electives permit adaptation of the program to the student's goals. The student should work with an advisor to develop the most beneficial and effective academic program.
Many students work part time at K-State laboratories, greenhouses, and farms. This experience adds greatly to students' learning and understanding.
Most major fields of study in agriculture provide for selection of groups of courses known as options. Some typical options include:
Students who wish to emphasize business, marketing, and management related to agribusiness firms may select an option in business and industries. Course work includes classes in business administration and economics.
Those who plan to enter farming, ranching, horticultural production, landscape and turf management, or other technical positions in agriculture or agribusiness may select a production/technical option. Study in one of these options allows students to gain more depth in the technical aspects of their majors.
A science/professional option prepares students for research and graduate and professional schools. This option allows students to structure programs strong in the basic sciences and/or other areas that will enhance success in graduate and professional schools such as law and veterinary medicine.
Additional options are available in certain curricula or majors to allow students to develop specific strengths or specializations.
The following list includes courses that will satisfy non-specific humanities and social science requirements for most agricultural majors. Requirements in some majors may be more specific in these areas. Students should consult their advisor for details.
| American ethnic studies—any course | ||
| Architecture, planning, and design—any course in history or appreciation of architecture or environmental design | ||
| Anthropology—any course | ||
| Art—courses in appreciation and theory | ||
| Dance—any course | ||
| Economics—above ECON 110 Principles of Macroeconomics | ||
| English—any except courses in composition | ||
| Geography—any except GEOG220 Environmental Geography I and GEOG 221 Environmental Geography II | ||
| History—any course | ||
| Family studies and human services—any course | ||
| Modern languages—any course | ||
| Music—any course in theory or appreciation of music | ||
| Philosophy—any course | ||
| Political science—any course | ||
| Psychology—any course | ||
| Sociology, anthropology, and social work—any course | ||
| Theatre—any course | ||
| Women's studies—any course |
Many majors require additional communications courses beyond expository writing and speech. The following list includes courses that will satisfy non-specific communications requirements for most agricultural majors. Requirements in some majors may be more specific. Students should consult their adivsor for details.
| AGCOM 400 | Agricultural Business Communications | 3 |
| ENGL 300 | Expository Writing III | 3 |
| ENGL 516 | Written Communications for the | |
| Sciences | 3 | |
| SPCH 311 | Business and Professional Speaking | 3 |
| SPCH 321 | Public Speaking II | 2 |
| SPCH 322 | Interpersonal Communications | 3 |
| SPCH 325 | Argumentation and Debate | 3 |
| SPCH 326 | Small Group Discussion Methods | 3 |
| SPCH 726 | Seminar in Persuasion | 3 |
| MC 200 | News and Feature Writing | 3 |
| MKTG 542 | Professional Selling and Sales Management | 3 |
| EDSEC706 | Teaching Adults in Extension | 3 |