Agriculture Pest Control Adviser Preparation
Agriculture Pest Control Adviser Preparation
The Certificate of Achievement in Agriculture Pest Control Adviser Preparation is designed to prepare students to develop the core skills necessary to meet the needs and challenges of modern agricultural production. Students integrate concepts from plant science, pest management, and agronomy, and apply them to agricultural production operations. A student completing the Certificate of Achievement in Agriculture Pest Control Adviser Preparation may apply the credits completed towards qualification for examination to take the Agricultural Pest Control Adviser (PCA) licensing exam through the Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR).
Students who complete this certificate will be prepared for careers in crop protection, pest control, agronomy, crop science, soil science, agricultural biology, entomology, and environmental applications related to pest management. The program emphasis is on local career opportunities such as pest management and control, pest control advising, agronomy, and agricultural inspection. This program will also adequately prepare students for further study in many agricultural science fields including: agriculture plant science, crop protection, agriculture science and agronomy.
| Course ID | Title | Units/Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Core Courses (33 units minimum): | ||
Category 1 - Physical & Biological Sciences: | ||
Complete 12 units minimum from the following: | ||
| BIOL V01 & V01L | Principles of Biology and Principles of Biology Laboratory | 3 +1 |
| BIOL V03 | Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology | 5 |
| BIOL V04 | Cell and Molecular Biology | 5 |
| BIOL V10 | Introduction to Environmental Issues | 3 |
| BIOL V14 | Field Biology: A Natural History of California | 4 |
| CHEM V01A & V01AL | General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Laboratory | 3+2 |
| CHEM V01B & V01BL | General Chemistry II and General Chemistry II Laboratory | 3+2 |
| CHEM V12A & V12AL | General Organic Chemistry I and General Organic Chemistry I Laboratory | 3+2 |
| CHEM V12B & V12BL | General Organic Chemistry II and General Organic Chemistry II Laboratory | 3+2 |
| CHEM V20 & V20L | Elementary Chemistry and Elementary Chemistry Laboratory | 4+1 |
| CHEM V21 & V21L | Introduction to Organic and Biochemistry and Introduction to Organic and Biochemistry Laboratory | 3+2 |
Category 2 - Crop Health: | ||
Complete 9 units minimum from the following: | ||
| AG V04 | Introduction to Soil Science | 3 |
| AG V42 | Plant Identification and Culture: Spring Specimens | 3 |
| AG V43 | Plant Identification and Culture: Fall Specimens | 3 |
| AG V95 | Agriculture Internship I | 1-4 |
| or AG V96 | Agriculture Internship II | |
| ESRM V14 | Conservation of Natural Resources | 3 |
Category 3 - Pest Management: | ||
Complete 6 units minimum from the following: | ||
| AG V20 | Principles of Pesticide Use | 3 |
| AG V21 | Introduction to Integrated Pest Management (IPM) | 3 |
| AG V22 | Introduction to Plant Pathology: Insects and Diseases of Plants | 3 |
Category 4 - Production Systems: | ||
Complete 6 units minimum from the following: | ||
| AG V06 | Introduction to Plant Science (with Laboratory) | 3 |
| AG V30 | Plant Propagation and Production | 3 |
| AG V61 | Introduction to Animal Science | 3 |
| Category 5 - Restricted Electives (9 units): | 9 | |
Complete an additional 9 units from Categories 2-4 above. | ||
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||
| TOTAL | 42 units | |
One-Year Plan:
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Units/Hours | |
| AG V06 | Introduction to Plant Science (with Laboratory) | 3 |
| AG V20 | Principles of Pesticide Use | 3 |
| AG V21 | Introduction to Integrated Pest Management (IPM) | 3 |
| AG V22 | Introduction to Plant Pathology: Insects and Diseases of Plants | 3 |
| AG V43 | Plant Identification and Culture: Fall Specimens | 3 |
| Units/Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| AG V04 | Introduction to Soil Science | 3 |
| AG V30 | Plant Propagation and Production | 3 |
| AG V42 | Plant Identification and Culture: Spring Specimens | 3 |
| AG V61 or ESRM V14 | Introduction to Animal Science or Conservation of Natural Resources | 3 |
| Select course(s) from Category 1 - Physical & Biological Sciences | 3 | |
| Units/Hours | 15 | |
| Summer Semester | ||
| AG V95 or AG V96 | Agriculture Internship I or Agriculture Internship II | 3 |
| Select courses from Category 1 - Physical & Biological Sciences | 9 | |
| Units/Hours | 12 | |
| Total Units/Hours | 42 | |
Two-Year Plan:
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Units/Hours | |
| AG V06 | Introduction to Plant Science (with Laboratory) | 3 |
| AG V22 | Introduction to Plant Pathology: Insects and Diseases of Plants | 3 |
| AG V43 | Plant Identification and Culture: Fall Specimens | 3 |
| Select course(s) from Category 1 - Physical & Biological Sciences | 3 | |
| Units/Hours | 12 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| AG V04 | Introduction to Soil Science | 3 |
| AG V30 | Plant Propagation and Production | 3 |
| AG V42 | Plant Identification and Culture: Spring Specimens | 3 |
| AG V61 or ESRM V14 | Introduction to Animal Science or Conservation of Natural Resources | 3 |
| Units/Hours | 12 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| AG V20 | Principles of Pesticide Use | 3 |
| AG V21 | Introduction to Integrated Pest Management (IPM) | 3 |
| Select course(s) from Category 1 - Physical & Biological Sciences | 5 | |
| Units/Hours | 11 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| AG V95 or AG V96 | Agriculture Internship I or Agriculture Internship II | 3 |
| Select course(s) from Category 1 - Physical & Biological Sciences | 4 | |
| Units/Hours | 7 | |
| Total Units/Hours | 42 | |
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Identify and describe various methods to diagnose and manage a wide range of plant pests for effective crop protection.
- Prescribe economical, effective, legal, and safe control measures for agricultural and horticultural pests in various agricultural production settings.
- Demonstrate effective application of pesticides in a safe manner, include selecting proper PPE, mixing, calibration and application.