Agricultural and Food Science Technicians

• Examine characteristics or behavior of living organisms.
• Research methods to improve food products.
• Prepare scientific or technical reports or presentations.
• Record research or operational data.
• Examine characteristics or behavior of living organisms.
• Research crop management methods.
• Research diseases or parasites.
• Research sustainable agricultural processes or practices.
• Analyze chemical compounds or substances.
• Prepare biological samples for testing or analysis.

• Having face-to-face discussions.
• The importance of being accurate or exact.
• Working with a group or team.
• Freedom to make decisions without supervision.
• Wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats, or life jackets.
• Working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions.
• Responsibility for others' health and safety.
• Exposure to contaminants (like gases or odors).
• Meeting strict deadlines.

• Food Technology and Processing

• Food Science and Technology

Enrolling in a community college can be a great place to start your four-year degree. While all 31 Minnesota State community colleges, technical colleges and universities offer all or part of the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (a 40-credit package of general education courses accepted for transfer to other state colleges and universities, the University of Minnesota, and some private colleges and universities), not all two-year colleges offer degrees intended to transfer to a four-year bachelor's degree.

If you plan to transfer to obtain a four-year bachelor's degree, it is important to know which degree path is right for you:

• Associate of Arts (AA) degrees offered at community colleges are designed to transfer into liberal arts four-year majors.
• Associate of Science (AS) and Associate of Fine Arts (AFA) degrees offered at community and technical colleges transfer into specific four-year majors and will likely require completing additional general education courses at a university.
• Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees offered at technical and community colleges are not designed to transfer. They lead to immediate entry into the workplace.
• Diplomas and certificates offered at technical colleges are not designed to transfer. They lead to immediate entry into the workplace.

Talk to a transfer specialist as early as possible to determine the best associate degree for your goals. Be sure to review your Degree Audit Report (DARS) each semester to best prepare for transfer. Get more help understanding transfer using the tools below.

• Visit Transferology to see if your courses will transfer.
• Search Articulation Agreements to find formal transfer agreements between schools.

• Thinking Critically—Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Reading—Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Writing—Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
• Solving Complex Problems—Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
• Listening—Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Monitoring Performance—Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
• Speaking—Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Being Aware of Others—Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
• Coordinating with Others—Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
• Learning New Things—Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

• Biology—Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
• Computers and Electronics—Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
• Geography—Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
• Mathematics—Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
• Clerical—Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
• Chemistry—Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal m
• English Language—Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Administration and Management—Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
• Education and Training—Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
• Personnel and Human Resources—Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.

• Realistic—Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
• Investigative—Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

• Nuclear Technicians
• Precision Agriculture Technicians
• Animal Breeders
• Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers
• Chemical Technicians
• Geological and Petroleum Technicians
• Forest and Conservation Workers
• Pharmacy Technicians
• Food Batchmakers
• Forest and Conservation Technicians
• Recordkeeping Weighers and Checkers
• Biological Technicians
• Medical Laboratory Technicians
• Agricultural and Food Science Technicians
• Agricultural Inspectors

• Food Manufacturing
• Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
• Management of Companies and Enterprises
• Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods
• Support Activities for Agriculture and Forestry

• Nuclear Technicians
• Precision Agriculture Technicians
• Animal Breeders
• Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers
• Chemical Technicians
• Geological and Petroleum Technicians
• Forest and Conservation Workers
• Pharmacy Technicians
• Food Batchmakers
• Forest and Conservation Technicians
• Recordkeeping Weighers and Checkers
• Biological Technicians
• Medical Laboratory Technicians
• Agricultural and Food Science Technicians
• Agricultural Inspectors