Fundamentals of Agricultural Systems Technology

This course introduces the core mathematical and physical science concepts important in the mechanization of agriculture. Students will explore key topics, including machinery mechanics, hydraulic systems, internal combustion engines, and precision agriculture technologies like GPS and GIS. The curriculum emphasizes practical problem-solving, covering concepts such as power, torque, irrigation, soil erosion prevention, and machinery efficiency. By blending foundational knowledge with real-world applications, this course provides a comprehensive understanding of agricultural systems technology.

About the Series

The Razorback AgCademy gives high school students the opportunity to access online courses that align withspecific credit courses within the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food, and Life Sciences. The program helps students keep their tuition costs down, engages them in online learning experiences that model theU of A’s commitment to high quality teaching and learning, and exposes them to the wide array of career opportunities within various agricultural industries.

Requirements

Students must meet the requirements below to be eligible for credit for prior learning:

• Be a current high school sophomore, junior, or senior.
• Register for an AgCademy course through Professional and Workforce Development at Global Campus. Students will have 6 months from the date of registration to complete the course.
• Pending high school graduation, apply and be accepted to the University of Arkansas - Fayetteville. Upon acceptance, contact Hanna Estes in the Department of Agricultural Education, Communications and Technology to schedule course credit examination(s). An exam fee will be charged to the student’s financial account for each exam taken.

Benefits

• Once a Razorback AgCademy student has applied and been admitted to the University of Arkansas - Fayetteville, the student will have the opportunity to take a course credit exam for each of the modules they accessed. Students receiving at least an 80% will receive 3 credit hours for the aligning course.
• Academic Benefits – students can receive up to 9 credit hours for agricultural courses, which can count as required courses for many students majoring in agricultural areas, broadening electives for many students majoring in agricultural areas, and general electives for students majoring in areas outside of agriculture. Acquired credit hours can reduce students’ course load each semester, thereby increasing their likelihood of academic success and reducing their time to graduation.
• Financial Benefits – students will see substantial cost savings for up to 9 credit hours.

Prior Learning

This noncredit course is beginner-friendly, with no prior expertise required. However, to ensure success, students should:

• Be comfortable reading and understanding English, as all materials are provided in English.
• Have basic computer skills, including navigating the internet, downloading/uploading files, installing software, and using applications like Microsoft Word.

These foundational skills will help you engage fully with our primarily online courses.