Welcome to Cal Poly Pomona's College of Agriculture!
Dr. Wayne R. Bidlack, Dean
Dr. John E. Trei, Associate Dean

Dynamic technological changes have increased management efficiency to the point where less than two per cent of California's population lives and works on farms yet agriculture is this state's leading industry. California is, in turn, the nation's agriculture leader. Although fewer people are needed on farms, positions in the nonfarming segments of agriculture have increased spectacularly. A College of Agriculture graduate can look forward to an exciting future in agriculturally-related occupations business industry, specialized services, education, conservation, and recreation, as well as production. These expanding careers provide challenging opportunities for men and women over a broad spectrum of interests and abilities. Hundreds of careers, many relatively unknown a few years ago, are attracting men and women from both urban and rural communities.

Instruction in the College of Agriculture is offered in 13 majors leading to the bachelor of science degree. There are three Master of Science degrees offered in Agricultural Science, Animal Science, and Foods and Nutrition.

Animal production flocks and herds are maintained for undergraduate instruction and graduate experimental programs.

Facilities on or near the campus make possible practical laboratories for the various majors. The university farm consists of fertile soils typical of the Southern California area with enough variation in soil type and climate to give students a broad background of experience. Over 700 acres of university-owned land are available for pastures, crops, groves, and ornamental plantings.

To assure each student of occupational competence, the university provides an opportunity to learn the fundamental skills involved in the care, maintenance and operation of agricultural equipment and facilities. All departments offer employment for student assistants.

The College of Agriculture is involved in a wide variety of continuing education programs. They range from workshops in equine management to cultural food classes from agricultural leadership conferences to food distribution seminars, pest management and citronomics. Industry and agricultural faculty work cooperatively together in planning and presenting conferences to satisfy the needs of the agribusiness industry. A unique conference for the past several years has been the Agricultural Business Management conference for Japanese supermarket operators on food distribution in the United States. Short courses are provided by the agricultural education faculty in the newly emerging technical areas. Faculty stand ready to assist industry, government and others in sponsoring programs to meet the needs of the community at large.

Because of the commitments of the College of Agriculture to contributing to the total lifestyle of handicapped persons, special education concerns are incorporated into appropriate courses within the College.

As an adjunct to the academic programs, the College of Agriculture is actively engaged in international programs. One important component of these programs is the USDA's sponsorship of students from less developed countries who work for baccalaureate and master's degrees in agriculture. Another part of this international program activity is the preparation of faculty members to serve as advisors in less developed countries. Their goal is to teach the native people how to increase food production.

Gamma Sigma Delta, an honorary society in agriculture, is open to all students in agriculture. Information concerning requirements for membership can be obtained from the Dean's Office in the College of Agriculture.