Winter 07/Spring 08 Course Descriptions

All courses below are approved to be taught in Winter 2007 and Spring 2008; however, some (or all) may not be offered in either term.  The courses that are offered in Spring link to the Schedule of Classes.  Classes with alternative delivery modes (Web based, cable TV, correspondence, etc) are noted in the Schedule at the section level.  The complete list below is a good indicator of what may be offered over the next few years (contact department about offerings).  For explanations of course elements see the Key to Course Descriptions.

Agricultural Systems Management (ASM )  Department Info

ASM 193 -- Internship  (1-3 units)
Description:  Specialized work on an individual basis, consisting of training and practice in actual service in a technical, business, or governmental establishment.
Grading:  Alternative grades are awarded for this course: S P C D E.
May be repeated:  for credit 3 times (maximum 4 enrollments).
Usually offered:  Fall, Spring.

ASM 195A -- Introduction to Agricultural Systems Management  (1 unit)
Description:  Instruction often includes lectures by several different persons, usually in a small group setting. Designed to give students insight into the concepts and practices which typify different academic disciplines, and introduce students to the methods and standards of the discipline for discovering new knowledge, the values which characterize the field of study, advances in the field, impact on society, and career opportunities.  This is a First-Year Colloquium Course.
Grading:  Regular or alternative grades can be awarded for this course: A B C D E or S P C D E.
Usually offered:  Fall, Spring.

ASM 199 -- Independent Study  (1-3 units)
Description:  Qualified students working on an individual basis with professors who have agreed to supervise such work.
Grading:  Alternative grades are awarded for this course: S P C D E.
May be repeated:  for credit 4 times (maximum 5 enrollments).
Usually offered:  Fall, Spring, Summer.

ASM 299 -- Independent Study  (1-3 units)
Description:  Qualified students working on an individual basis with professors who have agreed to supervise such work.
Grading:  Alternative grades are awarded for this course: S P C D E.
May be repeated:  for credit 4 times (maximum 5 enrollments).
Usually offered:  Fall, Spring, Summer.

ASM 299H -- Honors Independent Study  (1-3 units)
Description:  Qualified students working on an individual basis with professors who have agreed to supervise such work.
Grading:  Regular grades are awarded for this course: A B C D E.
May be repeated:  for credit 4 times (maximum 5 enrollments).
Usually offered:  Fall, Spring.

ASM 300 -- Operations and Systems  (2 units)
Description:  Introduction to concepts of ergonomics, computer decision making, and personal planning using computer simulation and market and management policies.
Grading:  Regular grades are awarded for this course: A B C D E.
Usually offered:  Fall.

ASM 311 -- Quantitative Business Analysis in Agricultural Systems  (3 units)
Description:  Methods of collection, tabulation, and analysis of business and economic data, including measures of central tendency and dispersion, probability theory, frequency distributions, statistical inference, and statistical decision making.
Grading:  Regular grades are awarded for this course: A B C D E.
Prerequisite(s):  College Algebra (grade of C or better).
Usually offered:  Fall, Spring.

ASM 321 -- Personnel Supervision in Agricultural System Management  (3 units)
Description:  The functional relationship between management and the labor force; principles of handling the human factor to maximize the productive efficiency of the firm through sound procurement, development, utilization and maintenance of the human resources in the enterprise with an additional project emphasizing Agricultural Systems.
Grading:  Regular grades are awarded for this course: A B C D E.
Prerequisite(s):  Principles of Marketing or Equivalent Course; or consent of instructor.
Usually offered:  Fall.

ASM 350 -- Business Writing and Communications  (3 units)
Description:  This course is about achieving success in the workplace and in business courses by mastering the principles and techniques of effective business and professional communication, both oral and written.
Grading:  Regular grades are awarded for this course: A B C D E.
Usually offered:  Fall, Spring.

ASM 380 -- Leadership in Agricultural Systems Management  (3 units)
Description:  Overview of significant historical and current leadership models, analyze individual behaviors and characteristics often associated with effective leaders, conduct an overview of concepts associated with team leadership and become familiar with current organizational leadership practices.
Grading:  Regular grades are awarded for this course: A B C D E.
Usually offered:  Fall, Spring.

ASM 393 -- Internship  (1-6 units)
Description:  Specialized work on an individual basis, consisting of training and practice in actual service in a technical, business, or governmental establishment.
Grading:  Alternative grades are awarded for this course: S P C D E.
May be repeated:  for credit 2 times (maximum 3 enrollments).
Usually offered:  Fall, Spring.

ASM 399 -- Independent Study  (1-4 units)
Description:  Qualified students working on an individual basis with professors who have agreed to supervise such work.
Grading:  Alternative grades are awarded for this course: S P C D E.
May be repeated:  for credit 4 times (maximum 5 enrollments).
Usually offered:  Fall, Spring, Summer.

ASM 399H -- Honors Independent Study  (1-3 units)
Description:  Qualified students working on an individual basis with professors who have agreed to supervise such work.
Grading:  Regular grades are awarded for this course: A B C D E.
May be repeated:  for credit 4 times (maximum 5 enrollments).
Usually offered:  Fall, Spring.

ASM 401 -- Agricultural Structures and Environment  (3 units)
Description:  Overview of agricultural structures and environmental considerations related to commodity storage, livestock industries, and waste management.
Grading:  Regular grades are awarded for this course: A B C D E.
Prerequisite(s):  ASM 300.
Typical structure:  3 hours laboratory, 2 hours lecture.
Usually offered:  Fall.

ASM 404 -- Irrigation Principles and Management  (3 units)
Description:  Principles of operating farm irrigation systems, evaluation of systems, selection of systems, basic irrigation scheduling, measurements of water flow, soil moisture, pump and system efficiencies.
Grading:  Regular grades are awarded for this course: A B C D E.
Course includes 1 or more field trips.
Prerequisite(s):  MATH 110, SWES 200. Open to non-majors only.
Typical structure:  2 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory.
Identical to:  SWES 404.
May be convened with:  ASM 504.
Usually offered:  Fall, Spring.

ASM 409 -- Systems and Advanced Technologies in Agriculture  (3 units)
Description:  This course introduces basic concepts in utilizing the INTERNET and other advanced technologies for information acquisition, communication, and research data acquisition. Other new technologies such as GPS, voice acquisition, and uses of artificial vision and Decision Systems models are introduced.
Grading:  Regular grades are awarded for this course: A B C D E.
Usually offered:  Fall.

ASM 470 -- Scientific and Technical Sales  (3 units)
Description:  Principles of selling technical and scientific products. Preparing future/benefit analyses and government bids and contracts. Use of computer statistical scheduling and routing. Computer multimedia presentations.
Grading:  Regular grades are awarded for this course: A B C D E.
Usually offered:  Fall.

ASM 481 -- Simulation and Decisions  (3 units)
Description:  Mathematical descriptions of environmental components and processes for use in decision making. These quantitative descriptions are used to examine the natural functioning of the environment, the farm and ecosystems as well as the effects of our modifications and impacts to them. It is a broad interdisciplinary course addressing such areas as water quality, plant physiology, irrigation, animals, ecology, energy, crops, economics, and management.
Grading:  Regular grades are awarded for this course: A B C D E.
Prerequisite(s):  MATH 110.
Typical structure:  3 hours laboratory, 2 hours lecture.
Usually offered:  Spring.

ASM 490 -- Case Studies for Agricultural Systems Management  (3 units)
Description:  Builds upon concepts developed in 195 and 300. Students utilize knowledge and solve "real life" management problems using cases from agricultural systems settings.
Grading:  Regular grades are awarded for this course: A B C D E.
Usually offered:  Fall.

ASM 493 -- Internship  (3-6 units)
Description:  Specialized work on an individual basis, consisting of training and practice in actual service in a technical, business, or governmental establishment.
Grading:  Alternative grades are awarded for this course: S P C D E.
May be repeated:  for credit 2 times (maximum 3 enrollments).
Usually offered:  Fall, Spring, Summer.

ASM 498H -- Honors Thesis  (3 units)
Description:  An honors thesis is required of all the students graduating with honors. Students ordinarily sign up for this course as a two-semester sequence. The first semester the student performs research under the supervision of a faculty member; the second semester the student writes an honors thesis.
Grading:  Regular grades are awarded for this course: A B C D E.
May be repeated:  for a total of 9 units of credit.
Usually offered:  Fall, Spring.

ASM 499 -- Independent Study  (1-5 units)
Description:  Qualified students working on an individual basis with professors who have agreed to supervise such work.
Grading:  Alternative grades are awarded for this course: S P C D E.
May be repeated:  for credit 4 times (maximum 5 enrollments).
Usually offered:  Fall, Spring, Summer.

ASM 499H -- Honors Independent Study  (3 units)
Description:  Qualified students working on an individual basis with professors who have agreed to supervise such work.
Grading:  Regular grades are awarded for this course: A B C D E.
May be repeated:  for credit 4 times (maximum 5 enrollments).
Usually offered:  Fall, Spring.

ASM 504 -- Irrigation Principles and Management  (3 units)
Description:  Principles of operating farm irrigation systems, evaluation of systems, selection of systems, basic irrigation scheduling, measurements of water flow, soil moisture, pump and system efficiencies. Graduate-level requirements include a special project on a current irrigation topic.
Grading:  Regular grades are awarded for this course: A B C D E.
Identical to:  SWES 504.
May be convened with:  ASM 404.
Usually offered:  Fall, Spring.