CTE

Agriculture Pathways






SUSTAINABLE AGRI-BIOLOGY

This one year course, organized into four major units, integrates biological science practices and knowledge
into the practice of sustainable agriculture. Unit one addresses the question, what is sustainable agriculture?
Unit two, how does sustainable agriculture fit into our environment? Unit three, what molecular biology
principles guide sustainable agriculture? Unit four, How do we make decisions to maximize sustainable
agricultural practices within a functioning ecosystem? Within each unit, specific life principles integrate with
agricultural principles, as students gain knowledge of how the two disciplines inform each other, culminating
in the development of a sustainable farm model and portfolio of supporting student research.

CHEMISTRY AND AGRISCIENCE

This course explores the physical and chemical nature of soil as well as the relationships between soil, plants,
animals and agricultural practices. Students examine properties of soil and land and their connections to plant
and animal production. Using knowledge of scientific protocols as well as course content, students develop an
Agri-science research program. To complete that whole project each student will investigate and test an Agri-
science research question by formulating a scientific question related to the course content, formulating a
hypothesis based on related research conducting an experiment to test the hypothesis, collecting quantitative
data, and formulating a conclusion based on analysis of the data. The result of this research program is an in
depth research and experimentation paper that is technically written, based on scientific protocol, and cited
using APA formatting. Additionally, students develop and present a capstone soil management plan for
agricultural producers, demonstrating their knowledge of the soil chemistry content learned throughout the
course. Throughout the course, students are graded on participation in intra-curricular FFA activities as well
as the development and maintenance of an ongoing Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) program.

VETERINARY SCIENCE

This course is designed to provide students with the principles of veterinary science, focusing on the areas of
anatomy and physiology, nutrition, disease and genetics, and professional opportunities in veterinary
medicine. Students can apply “hands-on” practices with livestock on the school farm. FFA and record
keeping skills, along with student projects, are a part of the course and give students opportunities to put
classroom learning into real life practice.

AG ENGINEERING 1

This course prepares students for careers related to the construction, operation, and maintenance of equipment
used by the agricultural industry. Basic agricultural mechanics skills and safety cover woodworking,
electrical systems, plumbing, cold metal work, concrete, and welding technology. Basic skills are enhanced
through small project design and construction. In this course, students are encouraged to develop their
leadership abilities through active participation in the Fallbrook FFA. Students also gain valuable career
skills by having an SAE project that provides Supervised Agricultural Experiences outside of the classroom
and includes instruction of record-keeping skills. These two intra-curricular components (FFA and SAE)
enhance student performance and serve as the foundation for hands-on learning.

AG ENGINEERING 2: Small Engine Repair

Agriculture Small Engine Mechanics is a year-long Career Technical Education course in the Agriculture
Career Pathway. The course is aligned to both Agriculture and Career Technical Education California State
Standards. The course is presented to students at the introductory level of instruction. Instruction will take
place in the areas of tool use, measurement, preventative maintenance, diagnostics, personal and shop safety,
and application and design as it pertains to the subject of small internal combustion engines. Instruction will
be both classroom and lab setting, both individual and group designed. Throughout the course, students will
be graded on participation in intracurricular FFA activities as well as the development and maintenance of an
ongoing Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) program. Pending UC approval

ADVANCED AG ENGINEERING

This course expands on the skills learned in Agriculture Mechanics and provides the opportunity for students
to work on independent projects. Advanced topics deal with metal fabrication, small engines, agriculture
power and technology, and agriculture construction. In this course, students are encouraged to develop their
leadership abilities through active participation in the Fallbrook FFA. Students also gain valuable career
skills by having an SAE project that provides Supervised Agricultural Experiences outside of the classroom
and includes instruction of record-keeping skills. These two intra-curricular components (FFA and SAE)
enhance student performance and serve as the foundation for hands-on learning.

ENVIRONMENTAL HORTICULTURE SCIENCE

This course provides students with theories and principles related to environmental horticulture
science. Agricultural effects of environmental ecology, plant physiology, plant pathology, soil structure, and
biotechnical applications in environmental horticulture are some of the topics covered in this course. Students
will explore careers associated with the horticultural industry along with the development of a horticulture
project and participation in the activities of the FHS FFA as an intra-curricular portion of this course.

ADVANCED ENVIRONMENTAL HORTICULTURE SCIENCE

This integrated class combines an interdisciplinary approach to laboratory science and research with
agricultural management principles. Using skills and principles learned in the course, including the chemical
and biological principles that govern plant science and crop production, students design systems and
experiments to solve agricultural management issues currently facing the industry. Throughout the course,
students will be graded on participation in intracurricular FFA activities as well as the development and
maintenance of an ongoing Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) program.

FLORAL DESIGN

Students will develop an appreciation for floral design through a series of projects in various media including
tempera, pencil, flowers, and tile. Students are introduced to the elements and principles of visual art design,
such as line, shape/form, color, balance, and emphasis, using a series of floral-based projects to explore the
connections, relations, and applications to visual arts design. Various assignments based on historical culture,
color theory, and analytical critiques of various floral art works in conjunction with the development of
technical skills in floral art will serve as a foundation for more complex works such as multi-part floral
designs, topiary, and Bonsai art forms. Students will explore careers associated with the floral industry as
well as participate in floral classroom projects and FFA activities as an intra-curricular portion of this course.

ADVANCED FLORAL DESIGN

The Advanced Floral Design course allows students to apply an advanced artistic approach to floral design, as
well as incorporate the essential components of plant science, advanced business and leadership skills, and the
industry components outlined as a capstone course in an Ornamental Horticulture - Floral Design (sub
pathway) course of study within the Agriculture CTE Pathway. Students will expand on topics learned in the
first course, The Art and History of Floral Design, as well as their experiences in a variety of other agriculture or science courses. Topics will include floral design trends, historical time periods of the floral industry, post-harvest physiology, cut flower and plant identification, art concepts, elements and principles of design, cut flower and retail plant production, proper design techniques and mechanics, retail sales, and marketing strategies. In this course, students are encouraged to develop their leadership abilities through active participation in the Fallbrook FFA. Students also gain valuable career skills by having an SAE project that provides Supervised Agricultural Experiences outside of the classroom and includes instruction of record-keeping skills. These two intra-curricular components enhance student performance and serve as the foundation for hands-on learning.

Supervised Agricultural Experience Program (SAEP)