Job opportunities in the agriculture sector are increasing in Texas, and with no other two-year Agriculture program in the Rio Grande Valley, Texas Southmost College is filling the need with its new Agriculture and Agribusiness programs beginning fall 2022.
“Whenever we consider creating a new program, we look into the demand, the job opportunities in that particular field and after extensive research, we found that there are diverse opportunities in agriculture and many students in the Rio Grande Valley are seeking degree programs like this one,” said TSC Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Dean Murad Abusalim, Ph.D.
According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in agriculture sectors is projected to grow 6% through 2026. In Texas, the projected growth is 14.1%, indicating a healthy growth.
Abusalim added that more than 2,000 students are enrolled in agriculture related classes within local school districts.
“Introducing these two new agriculture programs allows us to offer students more opportunities and career paths close to home,” said Abusalim. “This is going to immediately impact thousands of students.”
TSC’s Agriculture and Agribusiness programs will offer an Associate of Science. The agriculture pathway will prepare students to transfer to a four-year university and pursue a bachelor’s degree in agriculture, agriculture science or animal science.
Agribusiness will also prepare students to transfer, but covers advanced topics such as the business and economics foundation of agriculture and horticulture. Graduates from this program can pursue a four-year degree in agriculture business, agriculture economics, horticultural science, plant and soil sciences or poultry science.
“Agriculture is a broad field,” said Abusalim. “Our advisory committee is comprised of agriculture professionals from our region and across the state, so our curriculum was designed to ensure our students are ready for success in any occupation they may choose.”
There are six major sectors in which graduates from these programs can work in – agriculture business, agriculture mechanics, animal science, environmental services, food science, natural resources and veterinary.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and Texas Workforce Commission report that in the state of Texas the total employment in these sectors was more than 80,000 in 2019 with more than 60,000 positions in agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting.
“This is a rewarding career path that offers a number of opportunities and with this program we have the chance to build a strong foundation for gainful employment and to positively impact the lives of our students and their families,” said Abusalim.
Registration for TSC’s new Agriculture and Agribusiness programs for fall 2022 began April 1.
For more information, email [email protected] or call 956-295-3747.