Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources

Prerequisites: None

Recommended Grade Level: 9th grade

Required Assessments: None

Graduation Requirement: Third Lab Science Credit; This course satisfies one of three credits required for an elective focus when taken in conjunction with other Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resource courses. 

Credit: 1

EPSO: No

Course Description: Agriscience is an introductory laboratory science course that prepares students for biology, subsequent science and agriculture courses, and postsecondary study. This course helps students understand the important role that agricultural science and technology plays in the twenty-first century. In addition, it serves as the first course for all programs of study in the Agriculture, Food, & Natural Resources cluster. Upon completion of this course, proficient students will be prepared for success in more advanced agriculture and science coursework. This course counts as a lab science credit toward graduation requirements. 

Course Content: Students will learn about the following topics in this course:

• Agriscience Safety and Careers

• Agriscience Investigation and Overview

• Fundamentals of Environment Systems

• Fundamentals of Cell Structures and Processes

• Fundamentals of Genetics, Genomics, and Heredity

• Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology

• Fundamentals of the BioChemistry of Animal Digestion

• Fundamentals of Plant and Soil Science

• Fundamentals of Animal Reproductive Systems

• Fundamentals of Power and Energy Systems

• Fundamentals of Engines

Scope & Sequence: Armentrout (DBHS), Ford & Conger (DCHS)

TN State Standards 

Textbook: None

Aligned Student Organization: Future Farmers of America (FFA)

*This course is a level 1 career and technical education course for the following programs of study: 

• Environmental and Natural Resource Management Program of Study (DBHS & DCHS)

• Horticulture Science Program of Study (DCHS Only) 

• Veterinary and Animal Science Program of Study (DBHS Only)

Prerequisites: Agriscience (level 1)

Recommended Grade Level: 10th grade

Required Assessments: None

Graduation Requirement: This course satisfies one of three credits required for an elective focus when taken in conjunction with other Agriculture, Food, & Natural Resources courses. 

Credit: 1

EPSO: No

Course Description: Principles of Plant Science and Hydroculture focuses on essential knowledge and skills related to the science of plant growth. 

Course Content: This course covers principles of plant health, growth, reproduction, and biotechnology, as well as fundamental principles of hydroponics and aquaponics. Upon completion of this course, proficient students will be prepared for more advanced coursework in horticulture science. 

Scope & Sequence: DBHS, DCHS

TN State Standards 

Textbook: None

Aligned Student Organization: Future Farmers of America (FFA)

This course is a level 2 career and technical education course for the following program of study: 

• Horticulture Science Program of Study - (DCHS only)

  • Students should have completed Agriscience (level 1) before registering for this course. 

Prerequisites: Principles of Plant Science and Hydroculture

Recommended Grade Level: 11

Required Assessments: None

Graduation Requirement: This course satisfies one of three credits required for an elective focus when taken in conjunction with other Agriculture, Food, & Natural Resources courses.

Credit: 1

EPSO: No

Course Description: Greenhouse Management is an applied-knowledge course designed to prepare students to manage greenhouse operations. 

Course Content: This course covers principles of greenhouse structures, plant health and growth, growing media, greenhouse crop selection and propagation, and management techniques. Upon completion of this course, proficient students will be equipped with the technical knowledge and skills needed to prepare for further education and careers in horticulture production. Greenhouse Management is a dual credit course with statewide articulation. 

Scope & Sequence

TN State Standards 

Textbook: None

Aligned Student Organization: Future Farmers of America (FFA)

This course is a level 3 career and technical education course for the following program of study: 

• Horticulture Science Program of Study (DCHS only)

  • Students should have completed Agriscience (level 1) and Principles of Plant Science (level 2) before registering for this course. 

Prerequisites: Greenhouse Management (Level 3)

Recommended Grade Level: 12th grade

Required Assessments: None

Graduation Requirement: This course satisfies one of three credits required for an elective focus when taken in conjunction with other Agriculture, Food, & Natural Resources courses. In addition, this course satisfies the Fine Arts requirement for graduation. 

Credit: 1

EPSO: No

Course Description: Landscaping and Turf Science is an applied course designed to provide challenging academic standards and relevant technical knowledge and skills needed for further education and careers in landscape design, maintenance, and turf management. 

Course Content: Content includes site analysis and planning, principles of design, and plant selection and care techniques. Upon completion of this course, proficient students will be prepared to pursue advanced study of landscaping and turf science at a postsecondary institution. 

Scope & Sequence

TN State Standards 

Textbook: None

Aligned Student Organization: Future Farmers of America (FFA)

*This course is a level 4 career and technical education course for the following programs of study: 

• Horticulture Science Program of Study (DCHS Only)

  • Students should have completed Agriscience (level 1), Principles of Plant Science and Hydroculture (level 2), and Greenhouse Management (level 3) OR Dual Enrollment Horticulture Science before registering for this course. 

Prerequisites: Agriscience (level 1)

Recommended Grade Level: 10th grade

Required Assessments: None

Graduation Requirement: This course satisfies one of three credits required for an elective focus when taken in conjunction with other Agriculture, Food, & Natural Resources courses. 

Credit: 1

EPSO: No

Course Description: Small Animal Science is an intermediate course in animal science and care for students interested in learning more about becoming a veterinarian, vet tech, vet assistant, or pursuing a variety of scientific, health, or agriculture professions.

Course Content: This course covers anatomy and physiological systems of different groups of small animals, as well as careers, leadership, and history of the industry. Upon completion of this course, proficient students will be prepared for more advanced coursework in veterinary and animal science. 

Scope & Sequence:

TN State Standards 

Textbook: None

Aligned Student Organization: Future Farmers of America (FFA)

This course is a level career and technical education course for the following program of study: 

• Veterinary and Animal Science Program of Study  (DBHS only)

  • Students should have completed Agriscience (level 1) before registering for this course. 

Prerequisites: Small Animal Science (level 2)

Recommended Grade Level: 11th grade

Required Assessments: None

Graduation Requirement: This course satisfies one of three credits required for an elective focus when taken in conjunction with other Agriculture, Food, & Natural Resources courses. 

Credit: 1

EPSO: No

Course Description: Large Animal Science is an applied course in veterinary and animal science for students interested in learning more about becoming a veterinarian, vet tech, vet assistant, or pursuing a variety of scientific, health, or agriculture professions.  

Course Content: This course covers anatomy and physiological systems of different groups of large animals, as well as careers, leadership, and history of the industry. Upon completion of this course, proficient students will be prepared for success in the level-four Veterinary Science course and further postsecondary training. 

Scope & Sequence:

TN State Standards 

Textbook: None

Aligned Student Organization: Future Farmers of America (FFA)

This course is a level career and technical education course for the following program of study: 

• Veterinary and Animal Science Program of Study  (DBHS only)

  • Students should have completed Agriscience (level 1) and Small Animal Science (level 2) before registering for this course. 

Prerequisites: Large Animal Science (level 3)

Recommended Grade Level: 12th grade

Required Assessments: None

Graduation Requirement: This course satisfies one of three credits required for an elective focus when taken in conjunction with other Agriculture, Food, & Natural Resources courses. 

Credit: 1

EPSO: No

Course Description: Veterinary Science is an advanced course in animal science and care for students interested in learning more about becoming a veterinarian, vet tech, vet assistant, or pursuing a variety of scientific, health, or agriculture professions. 

Course Content: This course covers principles of health and disease, basic animal care and nursing, clinical and laboratory procedures, and additional industry-related career and leadership knowledge and skills. Upon completion of this course, students will be able to pursue advanced study of veterinary science at a postsecondary institution. 

Scope & Sequence

TN State Standards 

Textbook: None

Aligned Student Organization: Future Farmers of America (FFA)

This course is a level 4 career and technical education course for the following program of study: 

• Veterinary and Animal Science Program of Study  (DBHS only)

  • Students should have completed Agriscience (level 1), Small Animal Science (level 2), and Large Animal Science (level 3) before registering for this course. 

Prerequisites: FFA Officer/Leadership Team

Recommended Grade Level: 10-12

Required Assessments: None

Graduation Requirement: No

Credit: 1

EPSO: No

Course Description: Organizational Leadership and Communications is an applied-knowledge course for students interested in learning more about the attributes and skills of successful leaders in the agriculture industry. 

Course Content: This course covers organizational behavior, communication, management, and leadership topics. Students participate in activities that will assist them in the development of communication and interpersonal skills transferrable to any agribusiness application. Upon completion of this course, proficient students will be prepared for the level-four Agricultural Business and Finance course and advanced study at a postsecondary institution. Standards in this course are aligned with Tennessee State Standards for English Language Arts & Literacy in Technical Subjects as well as National Agriculture, Food, & Natural Resources Career Cluster Content Standards. 

Scope & Sequence

Textbook: None

Aligned Student Organization: Future Farmers of America (FFA)