NMSU's College of Ag and Home Ec: It Isn't Just for Rural Students
Date: April 30, 1997
Editor: D'Lyn Ford (505) 646-6528, dlford@nmsu.edu
LAS CRUCES -- While continuing its heritage as a place to learn about raising animals and growing crops, New Mexico State University's College of Agriculture and Home Economics is opening doors to new careers in food technology, environmental science and hotel management.
"The college provides 16 unique major fields of study not offered at any other university in New Mexico," said Anthony Chavez, college recruiter.
These majors include agricultural biology; agricultural business; agricultural economics; agricultural and Extension education; animal science; environmental science; fashion merchandising; fishery science; general agriculture; horticulture; hotel, restaurant and tourism management, human nutrition and food science; pest management; range science; soil science; and wildlife science.
Students earning degrees in agriculture and home economics are facing a surplus of jobs in their fields, according to a 1996 Purdue University study.
Most of these jobs are downstream from the farm or ranch. That means they're in areas like dietetics and food processing; supermarket, hotel or restaurant management; merchandising and sales; environmental science; and research and product development.
In addition to preparing tomorrow's leaders through academic programs, college scientists conduct a variety of research projects that affect all New Mexicans. Inside the college's walls, skilled researchers perform experiments that increase the quality of cotton for clothing, intensify the color of chile used in dyes, enhance livestock diets for better meat, and improve food safety techniques.
Knowledge gained from research conducted by the college's Agricultural Experiment Station makes its way to the public through the outreach efforts of the Cooperative Extension Service with offices in all 33 counties. These county offices also administer 4-H and youth programs for more than 56,000 youth statewide.
To learn more about the unique opportunities at NMSU's College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences , call toll-free 1-888-700-NMSU. In-state tuition is available for El Paso residents.