The Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Operation's Technology (AOT) integrates applied mechanics and electronic/computer technologies, agricultural sciences, and agribusiness. These areas prepare graduates to work with increasingly complex agricultural machinery, equipment and processes that use advanced technologies.

Students can follow a technology track or an agri-business track for the Agricultural Operations Technology degree.

MSU-Northern offers a two-year Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in Agricultural Technology and a four-year Ag Operations Technology Bachelor of Science degree. Completion of the AAS degree in Agricultural Technology meets all requirements for the first two years of the Bachelor's degree in Agricultural Operations Technology, thus forming a two plus two-year degree program.

Production, agribusiness, government agencies, agri-lending
Almost 1/5 of the jobs in the U.S. are related to agriculture
Agriculture is a huge and diverse industry with many unique career opportunities
A changing scene (bio-fuels, alternative agriculture, organic farming/ranching, spatial mapping)
Opportunities to work with people, animals, plants, technology, machinery or a mixture of these

The Agriculture Operations Technology (AOT) degree is designed to prepare students for careers requiring the integration of agricultural sciences, agribusiness and related applied technologies. The AOT program can be easily moved into by students finishing the two-year agriculture technology (A.A.S.) degree. The degrees have been designed to be a 2 + 2 format and students completing the A.A.S degree have most of the first two years of the AOT degree fulfilled. The AOT degree requires some core agriculture classes and allows students to select a minor which is around 30 credits of coursework in a complementary program area such as business.

The AOT degree is in demand by the agriculture industry and employers benefit by gaining students with both applied agriculture knowledge and business and management skills. A number of agriculture career options with government agencies and agribusinesses are available to AOT graduates and some graduates return to the farm or ranch.

Companies and agencies that provide products, technical support, and services for production agriculture or agribusiness industries typically employ AOT graduates. Graduates are also frequently self-employed as owners of commercial farming/ranching businesses, as technical consultants, and production specialists.

William (Bill) Danley
   Office: Brockmann Center 210E
   Phone: (406) 265-4154

Tom Welch
   Office: Brockmann Center 210M
   Phone: (406) 265-4159