Overview

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences educates students for a wide range of career opportunities in agriculture, natural resources, and in family and consumer sciences. The various curricula offer professional preparation for careers in agribusiness, government, public service agencies, retail and service industries, human health institutions, the food service and processing industry, financial institutions, youth development agencies, conservation and environmental organizations, farming and, ranching, research, extension, communication and education. The College covers a broad education in professional knowledge areas combined with foundation courses in the natural and social sciences, communications and the humanities to develop a well-rounded academic experience.

As the primary land-grant component of the University, the College administers a variety of programs and engages in cooperative efforts with federal, state and county governments and agencies.

There are three broad divisions in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences:

• Teaching:     Includes formal, on-campus instruction and informal, off-campus instruction. There are 32 undergraduate and graduate majors among the 12 departments and schools within the College with the major subjects covering Agricultural and Biological Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Family and Consumer Sciences and Natural Resources. The teaching area of the College is coordinated by the Office of Academic Programs.
• Research:     Highlights state priorities, with consideration for regional, national and international needs. Research is conducted across all academic units within the College and at 9 off-campus research and demonstration centers strategically located throughout the state. The research area of the College is coordinated by the Agricultural Experiment Station.
• Outreach:     Networks non-formal education throughout the state, bringing research-based information into communities to help people improve their lives. Extension is part of a nationwide educational network of scientists and educators who help people solve problems and put knowledge to use. There are 24 offices in the 15 counties plus 5 offices on Indian reservations. The outreach/extension area of the College is coordinated by Arizona Cooperative Extension.

Mission

Our mission is to improve the quality of life through exploration and discovery to enhance agriculture, the environment, our natural resource base, family and youth well-being and the development of local communities. We accomplish this mission by development, integration, dissemination, and application of knowledge in the agriculture and life sciences.