Applied Nutrition and Physical Activity

Upon completion of the OMALS degree with a concentration in Applied Nutrition and Physical Activity each student will be able to:

• Demonstrate a foundational understanding of nutrition and physical activity sciences and their application to health promotion.
• Demonstrate an in-depth knowledge in applied nutrition, physical activity, or public health policy as dictated by the student’s area of specialization.
• Apply research methods in nutrition, physical activity, or public health to design, implement, and evaluate projects or programs.
• Apply nutritional, exercise, or public health policy practices to assess and implement best practice interventions for health and well-being.
• Communicate nutrition, exercise, or public health messages across diverse audiences.

Education

The Education concentration is designed for individuals desiring to advance their teaching/learning, leadership, extension and communications skill sets in this dynamic and evolving field. This in-depth program will provide concrete strategies for assisting individuals and communities with diverse needs and interests, and providing them with the abilities to acquire and retain the information shared, including youth and adult program management, program curriculum design, STEM integration in agriculture education, and service to international service and partnerships. 

This program is designed to advance your position as an agricultural leader, educator, and communicator.  Upon completion of the OMALS degree with a concentration in Education each student will be able:

• Examine the scholarly literature and illustrate connections to the practice of teaching and learning
• Design, implement and evaluate educational curriculum, programming and outreach in agricultural and life sciences
• Integrate research based agricultural, leadership, and community educational models into practice
• Perform and evaluate research applications in agricultural, leadership, and community education
• Evaluate the use of technology in agricultural, leadership, and community education curriculum

Environmental Sciences

The Environmental Science concentration will provide students with the knowledge and skills to solve real-world environmental issues. As a student in this program, you will interact with faculty and professionals in the field. Working through hands-on activities you will gain a greater understanding of environmental science theory and practical application. This tailored educational experience will position you to effectively and strategically lead in this field.  Upon completion of the OMALS degree with a concentration in Environmental Science each student will be able:

• Demonstrate breadth and depth of interdisciplinary knowledge related to complex environmental issues and processes.
• Design, implement, and evaluate an assessment and mitigation plan for diverse at-risk ecosystems.
• Apply a variety of regulatory practices, standards, or policies related to water and soil quality and use.
• Identify, analyze, and evaluate evidence-based literature and practice related to water and soil quality.
• Apply research methods to design, implement, and evaluate sustainable approaches of environmental management for a variety of at risk ecosystems.

Food Safety and Biosecurity

Upon completion of the OMALS program with a concentration in Food Safety and Biosecurity each student will be able to:

• Demonstrate breadth and depth of knowledge of evidence-based food safety and food biosecurity practices.
• Apply scientific literature to critically evaluate the practices of legal and regulatory issues on food safety and food biosecurity
• Demonstrate in-depth knowledge of fundamental concepts relevant to food safety and food biosecurity practices across diverse agriculture scales (local, state, national, and global).
• Design, implement, and evaluate food safety and food biosecurity management programs and practices.
• Identify sources of food safety and food biosecurity information and distinguish reliable sources from unreliable sources.

Leadership Studies

Students will gain the expertise necessary to lead in a diverse and multicultural environment. Programmatic emphasis is placed on leadership in a global society, problem-solving, and the role of agricultural professionals as agents of change in our communities throughout the world.  Upon completion of the OMALS degree with a concentration in Leadership Studies each student will be able to:

• Demonstrate leadership for effective problem solving with groups, organizations, and communities.
• Critically analyze leadership theory and practices through scholarly inquiry.
• Examine social responsibility in diverse and multicultural environments.
• Design, implement, and evaluate collaborative leadership efforts in real-world settings.

Plant Science and Pest Management

Students will gain a sophisticated understanding of this interdisciplinary field with specialized skills in areas such as weed science, plant pathology, and crop management.  Upon completion of the OMALS degree with a concentration in Plant Science and Pest Management each student will be able to:

• Demonstrate in-depth multidisciplinary knowledge of fundamental concepts relevant to plant science and pest management practices across diverse agriculture scales (local, state, national, and global).
• Examine and apply the evidence-based literature to resolve relevant complex plant science and pest management issues within multiple agricultural sectors.
• Design, implement, and evaluate plant science and pest management programs and practices across diverse scales of agriculture.
• Analyze the research applications/models/procedures to demonstrate interconnections between plant science, pest management, and human ecology, and animal health.
• Apply multimedia strategies to communicate topics and concepts that enhance plant science and pest management practices in diverse communities and scales of agriculture.

Agribusiness

The Agribusiness concentration prepares individuals to analyze, assess, and contribute to the ever-evolving, broadly-defined agribusiness industry by developing skills in management, marketing, economics, finance, policy, and quantitative analysis. 

Students will gain the skills necessary to contribute as employees or managers within the broad industry of agribusiness, including the sectors of input supply, farm production, and output marketing.  Emphasis is placed on developing skills for the diverse, multicultural workplace in an increasingly global society, with a focus on critical thinking and problem-solving within the firm, farm, or support organization.  Upon completion of the OMALS degree with a concentration in Agribusiness, each student will be able to:

• Demonstrate management skills for effective interactions with coworkers or clients.
• Develop a marketing plan for a product, service, or training.
• Evaluate impacts of micro- and macroeconomic conditions on the organization.
• Analyze and interpret financial statements.
• Assess data and determine their implications for the organization.

Applied Animal Behavior and Welfare

Upon completion of the OMALS degree with a concentration in Applied Animal Behavior and Welfare each student will be able to:

• Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of behavioral principles from the fields of applied behavior analysis and ethology.
• Identify, describe, and measure behavior and its environmental determinants in a variety of applied scenarios.
• Assess the influence of biological and psychological principles on behavior in applied settings.
• Construct and implement training and behavior plans for diverse behavioral/training scenarios using evidence-based behavioral principles, and following industry best practices and ethical guidelines.
• Critically and empirically assess the efficacy of behavior and training interventions using appropriate research methods and utilize those assessments to modify future intervention decisions.
• Communicate evidence-based behavior and training principles and solutions to diverse audiences.
• Synthesize the biological and psychological factors that influence behavior.
• Serve as an industry leader promoting evidence-based best practices and scientific approaches.